2016 | Dir. Kenneth Lonergan | 137 Minutes
"I can't beat it."
A character study of a damaged man who quietly but adamantly refuses to forgive himself, Kenneth Lonergan's Manchester by the Sea is a deceptively powerful film. Unexpectedly given the legal obligation to look after his recently-orphaned nephew Patrick with several incentives to begin a new life in his hometown, Lee makes it clear that he would consider any living arrangement that would not require him to stay in town - with or without his nephew. Lee can't make small talk, preferring to drift through the rest of his days with minimal human interaction outside of provoking the occasional bar fight. Artfully, Lonergan's narrative alternates between Lee's present, doing a poor job of helping his nephew cope with loss, and his seemingly happier (if dysfunctional) past leading up to the earth-shattering event that cost him his family. The reveal and subsequent fallout are nothing short of operatic.
In a performance exclusively consisting of subtle choices, Casey Affleck is absolutely captivating as the sullen Lee, every movement furtively taken as if poisoned by the winter air surrounding him in every frame of the film. His co-star Lucas Hedges, playing nephew Chandler, perfectly complements Affleck's turn with defiant youthful energy. Though her screen time is limited, Michelle Williams delivers one of the best performances of the film (in a film rich with wonderful performances) playing Lee's heartbroken ex-wife. As Patrick's estranged mother, Gretchen Mol plays the dramatic foil to Affleck's Lee, a recovering alcoholic seeking redemption, trying to recover what remains of her family. Seasoned actor Kyle Chandler is expectedly reliable appearing in flashbacks as Casey's brother Joe. The film also features C.J. Wilson, Kara Hayward, Anna Baryshnikov, and Heather Burns in small but notable supporting roles. Amusingly, Matthew Broderick appears in one scene as Patrick's off-putting religious step-father.
Driven by a nuanced but powerful performance by Casey Affleck, Manchester by the Sea presents its audience with considerably challenging dramatic questions: At what point would one deserve forgiveness for a fatally devastating mistake that resulted in tragic personal loss? Is living with irreparable loss punishment enough? As compelling as it is contemplative, the picture does not offer any easy answers. It is a story of slow, agonizing defeat. Sometimes, one cannot go home again.
FRAGMENTS
- Writer/director Kenneth Lonergan's screenplay for the film was featured on the 2014 Black List (The Black List is an annual survey of the most-liked Hollywood movie scripts not yet produced)
- Lonergan makes a cameo appearance as a pedestrian who makes a sarcastic remark regarding Lee's poor parenting
- Producer Matt Damon was set to direct or star in the film during various points of its development but declined both opportunities due to scheduling conflicts
- Stephen Henderson, who has a small part as Lee's boss, also appears in Fences, also nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2017
