Manchester By The Sea Movie Review
Nathan Swank
December 2nd, 2016
To say MANCHESTER BY THE SEA is emotionally draining would be a drastic understatement. Led by excellent performances from Casey Affleck and newcomer Lucas Hedges, director Kenneth Lonergran executes a near-perfect, heartfelt examination of sorrow and grief.
Lee Chandler (Affleck) is a quiet man who lives alone and works as a handyman. He drinks in the evening, keeps to himself, refuses engagement from attractive women, and eventually gets into bar fights. Lee learns that his brother has passed away and must head to his hometown in Manchester, Main to take care of Joe’s estate and Joe’s sixteen-year-old son, Patrick (Lucas Hedges). This is a much more difficult task than already expected as the audience slowly becomes aware through a series of flashbacks interspersed throughout the film revealing a traumatic event from Lee’s past.
I went in knowing very little about MANCHESTER BY THE SEA and am extremely grateful. It’s not because the film is full of surprises. While we learn things about the character as the film moves forward, it’s not so much about what is discovered but how the emotions are felt and processed.
Time, place and people are captured with a physical presence vividly and honestly. Every dreary moment of death and loss is felt through the wintery cold in Manchester. The emotions are as broken as their old boat that costs too much to get fixed and as cold as the frozen earth that is too hard to bury their dead brother and father underneath.
MANCHESTER BY THE SEA is the definition of a drama built around the seriousness of loss and family. But what perfects these moments is the humor that breaks the silence of sadness. The observation of life is funny even in pain. There are moments all around us that one can identify through their relationships that can only be observed through the closeness of family. These few moments of laughter makes the hardships more tangible and in return make those funny moments appreciative.
There are many recognizable actors with very brief supporting roles. Michelle Williams has a limited time on screen as Lee’s ex-wife, but is a definite standout through just a couple of scenes. Young Lucas Hedges is also impressive in a difficult role as a teenager who is without his parents. But it’s Casey Affleck who shoulders the load. Sure his expression of stoic silence may not seem like much but his deep despair is felt through the screen.
Directing one of my favorite films from 2000, YOU CAN COUNT ON ME, Lonergran has a knack for combining authentic family dynamic during death and sorrow. MANCHESTER BY THE SEA is his best work yet, which makes it even harder to recommend as the desolation is nearly unbearable.
MANCHESTER BY THE SEA resonates deeply, observing loss and sorrow. The film’s ability to cause reflection and meditation on what it means to love and be loved, not only within your own family but also to understand the possible pain and loss of others as well, is an accomplishment rarely achieved. Quite frankly, it wrecked me and stayed with me long after my viewing.
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