Manchester by the Sea

29 October 2018

Manchester by the Sea 2016

• Director: Kenneth Lonergan
• Based on the novel: no
• Cast: Casey Affleck, Michelle Williams, Kyle Chandler, Lucas Hedges
• Personal “oh yeah him/her” reaction, i.e. have seen this actor in:
• Casey Affleck – Interstellar, Lonesome Jim, Hamlet, Good Will Hunting
• Michelle Williams – My Week with Marilyn, Shutter Island, Brokeback Mountain, Station Agent, The United States of Leland, A Thousand Acres
• Kyle Chandler – The Day the Earth Stood Still, King Kong
• Lucas Hedges – Moonrise Kingdom, Dan in  Real Life
• Why? I like the title
• Seen: 28 October 2018      

       Sadly it’s not Manchester, England, England, it’s Manchester by the Sea in Massachusetts (I Googled it, it’s a real place).

       Lee (Affleck) is not happy with his job as a janitor in Boston. He’s not happy in his life. When his brother Joe (Chandler) dies of a massive coronary, he goes back to Manchester by the Sea to help his teen-aged nephew Patrick (Hedges), back to a complicated family situation, including his ex-wife Randi.

       Lee seems to be notorious is the town for reasons we don’t yet know. In flashbacks we see his brother’s illness, Lee’s life with Randi and their children, Patrick’s childhood. Between the flashbacks we see how Lee and Patrick are dealing with Joe’s death, practically and emotionally.

       Lee is dismayed when Joe’s will insists that Lee move from Boston to become Patrick’s guardian.

       It’s low key and dramatic at the same time. Quotidian details and life-destroying tragedies at the same time. There’s even some humour in it. We appreciated the Minnetonka, Minnesota jokes.

       Though flawed – the flashbacks are confusing at times and the New England accent is a bit forced – it is a tour de force.

4* of 5