Manchester by the Sea

I know you’re excited to see the big movies playing the theater right now. I am too. Before you see the titles that are going to be there for weeks on end, making the top 5 and such... make sure you see “Manchester By the Sea”. This is a small picture, but it’ll make a big number for itself once the critics’ lists of “Best of the Year” films get released.

Lee Chandler (Casey Affleck) has just learned that his brother (Kyle Chandler) has passed away. Now he must look after his 16-year-old nephew Patrick (Lucas Hedges), deal with funeral arrangements and settling his brother’s affairs.

This is a deceptive picture. The story doesn’t sound like anything monumental, and in a way it isn’t. It’s about a man who suddenly finds responsibility thrust upon him. What makes this film great is HOW it tells this story. At first, I couldn’t wrap my mind around Lee. He’s kind of a loser. He works as a janitor, his apartment sucks, he doesn’t seem to have any friends. There’s something wrong with him, but you can’t tell what. I couldn’t understand why I had been told that Casey Affleck was so good in the role. He’s often monotone and so reserved it hardly feels like a performance at all. Then, you begin to learn more about who Lee is and your eyes are opened. You realize that beneath the quiet exterior is a maelstrom of emotions, a story that profoundly heartbreaking. This revelation transforms you and enables you to feel and understand everything that has made the character who he is now.

“Manchester By the Sea” is so good at being real. There are some deeply rooted problems, and not all of them are going to be resolved. That’s not how it works; sometimes people need time, a long time to finally pull themselves out of their rut. Some emerge and are able to leave what happened to them behind, others sink deeper no matter how hard you try to reach out. Despite the lack of explosions or big twists, it’s a gripping story. Your heart bleeds for Lee; his state of mind is infectious and he is hurting others around him. You desperately hope that in this poisonous environment, Patrick will be able to deal with the death of his father and that he doesn’t follow the same path as his uncle. It's not that anyone is negligent, it's that there's so much pain here that it's hard to bear - which makes it a treat for us audience members who get to experience all of that from a safe place and examine the subtle decisions that bring this tale to life.

It’s a completely unpredictable story. To watch “Manchester by the Sea” is to be plunged into the life of these people. There’s never a time where you pull yourself out of it and observe how good Casey Affleck of Michelle Williams are, but you realize it after the credits have finished rolling. We get sequels to big films all the time, even when they’re not necessary. This story, I’d love to see continue. I’ve grown deeply attached to the men and women in this film. They’re all so human and there are so many little moments to be treasured within in that 137 minutes doesn’t feel like nearly enough. I don’t want to say too much more about the plot, as some of the surprises within are what make the film so good. This is the kind of picture that will hit you like a brick to the face, particularly if you have lived through, or know someone who has been in the same position as the people of “Manchester by the Sea”.

There are so many layers to the story, to the characters and to their actions that you want to see it again so you can pick up the clues you missed the first time around and discuss them with your friends. Like a great thriller or whodunit, it's a treat to get together with others and discuss the hints that everyone picked up along the way. “Manchester by the Sea” is a full-bodied story. It lingers with you even long after it’s over. It features some of the best performances, directing and finest screenplays of 2016. What we have here is one of the best films of the year. (Theatrical version on the big screen, December 18, 2016)