Manchester by the Sea
/“Uncle Lee, are you fundamentally unsound?”
Filmology Rating: 3.88 out of 4
“Manchester by the Sea” throws its’ hat into the ring as another Oscar contender released in the dusk of 2016. The film has all the basic tenants of what might be considered “Oscar-bait”. A quiet drama? Check. Talented actors? Check. An operatic score? Check. So what sets “Manchester by the Sea” apart? The answer is a skillful blending of sadness and humor unlike anything I’ve seen in years.
Lee Chandler (played by Casey Affleck) is a simple janitor who lives alone in a one-bedroom apartment in Boston. We learn from his boss, after Lee’s fight with a tenant, that he is a hardworking individual who always shows up to work. In spite of this, Lee is a cold individual who seems to display no emotion or affection whatsoever. Underneath his cold exterior, Lee can be relentlessly sarcastic. Following his brother’s death, Lee must travel back to Manchester to manage his brother’s estate and take care of his teenage nephew. What follows is a humorous exploration of grief, both past and present.
Where to start with this movie… Forgetting to mention the performances would be a punishable crime. Casey Affleck brilliantly leads the film as Lee Chandler in what I believe to be his best performance yet. The infinite amount of subtle nuances to his character are only outshone by the acting range that he is able to display on screen. Making us truly feel the pain of his character, Affleck embodies his character with a sense of realism that I have rarely felt from a film this year. Even more impressive is his ability to make us laugh in spite of the films morbid subject material. In my honest opinion, Affleck is the clear front runner for best actor at this year’s Oscars. While the film is anchored by Affleck, the supporting cast is no less impressive. Lucas Hedges plays off Affleck’s performance incredibly well. His youthful vigor and razor sharp comic talents provide the perfect counterbalance to Affleck’s subdued performance. Rarely have I seen a pairing that so well captures the uncle-nephew dynamic. While both Kyle Chandler and Michelle Williams have minimal roles in the film, the parts they play are well executed and memorable. Performances alone can only bring a film so far; the real credit must be given to writer/director Kenneth Lonergan.
Films can often live or die based soley on their direction and screenplay. “Manchester by the Sea” not only lives, but thrives under the considerable talent of Kenneth Lonergan. The camerawork and cinematography fit perfectly into the quiet drama. Close up shots are handled patiently, while long shots of the Massachusetts coast convey a certain level of beauty and coldness that echo throughout the film. Perhaps the strongest demonstration of Lonergan’s skill lie in both the writing and screenplay of “Manchester”. Lonergan’s script, in the vein of dark humor, is not only incredibly humorous, but also authentic. Both the dialogue and accents in “Manchester” feel honest and unfiltered. Unlike most Oscar caliber dramas, everything on screen is minimal and raw. The verbal authenticity of “On the Waterfront” is paired with the dark humor of “Fargo”, and it works brilliantly. Without giving much away, Lonergan’s screenplay must be given the lion’s share of the credit. “Manchester” boldly and effortlessly switches between past and present throughout the film and offers a narrative unlike most films today. These two parallel narrative of grief intermingle and build on one another to craft a story that hits lowest of lows, and the highest of highs. Humor and grief, perfectly combined.
Rating: See It
-Tyler
Lee Chandler is a handyman for a Boston apartment block. He is very much a loner and keeps to himself. He gets a call one day and hears that his brother’s heart has given out suddenly, and he’s been named guardian to his 16-year-old nephew. He must then travel back to Manchester to decide what he is going to do. His return back to this city brings up dark moments of Lee’s past.
Manchester by the Sea is a movie that is getting a lot of Oscar buzz and for very good reason. (This film has already won many smaller awards already and been nominated for several Golden Globes) This really is one of the most well rounded films of the year. We have a great very quiet drama that makes a very loud impact on its viewers.
This story is brought to life by some very talented actors Casey Affleck (who is the frontrunner for the Oscar for best male actor in a leading role) and Lucas Hedges (who won the Critics’ Choice Movie Award for Best Young Performer). Together, they have one of the best dynamics I have ever seen when it comes to father son, mentor and mentee, and in this case uncle and nephew. They had such chemistry and worked so well with one another that it felt completely real. Never did I doubt the authenticity of their relationship. Now this is a very subtle nitpick that I have with Casey Affleck’s character and his performance. Throughout the film, we learn about why Lee Chandler is the way that he is and it is heartbreaking. Then with his brother dying, having to become a father figure to his nephew all of a sudden, old issues coming up again, I really wanted this character to have an emotional release and a breakout scene. This never really happened. While he did play this subtle, loner, and emotionally tormented man perfectly, I just wanted to see a little more. Still, he was absolutely fantastic and is has my vote so far for the Oscar.
Manchester by the Sea is an emotionally moving film that felt authentic. I got teary eyed many times during this film. One thing that I did not expect is that they made these emotionally gut-wrenching scenes almost funny in a way. When something emotional is happening, there is some form of dark humor or a line given that forces you to smile. This was so emotionally confusing but I loved it! I wanted to cry but the dialogue was so brilliantly written that I couldn’t help but laugh or smile when something happen. It was the most bizarre thing and something that I have never experienced with a movie before.
Kenneth Lonergan, you did a fantastic job writing and directing this masterpiece. You brought something so real and authentic to the screen that it was hard not to love. Even though this movie was over two hours long, I didn’t even notice because I was so engaged with this story. This films authenticity and emotional appeal is rivaled right now by the film Moonlight. I am very curious as to see which one takes home best picture because these two are the clear two choices so far.
Rating: See It
-Nick