Manchester by the Sea

Genre: psychological drama  

With: Casey Affleck (Lee Chandler), Kyle Chandler (Lee’s brother, Joe), Ben O’Brien and Lucas Hedges (Joe’s son, Patrick, as a child and a teenager respectively), C.J. Wilson (George, a good friend), Michelle Williams (Randi, Lee’s ex-wife), Gretchen Mol (Elise, Joe’s wife)

Director: Kenneth Lonergan

Screenplay: Kenneth Lonergan

Release: 2016

Studio: Amazon Studios, K Period Media, Pearl Street Films, The Media Farm, B Story et al.

Rating: 14A

MBiS score: 8.5/10





Of Old Wounds and New Realities





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Story-line: a gloomy and quick-tempered janitor living in Boston must face unpleasant memories and new circumstances when a family tragedy leads him back to his hometown of Manchester.  

Pluses: a dominant, Oscar-winning turn by Casey Affleck (as a slouching, broken-voiced loner who doesn’t always look at people when he speaks to them), exemplary support from Lucas Hedges and Michelle Williams (who makes the most of her limited screen time, especially her incandescent 3-minute duo with Casey at the 1 hour, 54 minute mark), a patient, realistic and very full Oscar-rewarded screenplay dotted with quirky moments, eloquent scenes and ironic twists, appropriate production values, tactful direction and lovely cinematography, fine editing and an interesting, eclectic choice of music.

Minuses: at first, you may be thrown off by the story’s shifts between past and present-day (the opening scene, for instance, happened 8 years before, when Patrick was a youngster) but you won’t need much time to get the hang of it.  

Comments: I wasn’t very confident when I chose to see the much-celebrated MANCHESTER BY THE SEA because homecoming movies can easily sink into formula but, much like YOU CAN COUNT ON ME, Kenneth Lonergan’s other fine reunion film, this stirring work examines serious issues, from contentious families, personal loss and self-inflicted wounds to the oppressive situations and unexpected adjustments that daily life imposes upon us. I wouldn’t call it a feel-good movie but its quiet power and commitment are ultimately inspiring. As John Lennon famously said, “Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans.”





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