Manchester by the Sea (2016): Review
Kenneth Lonergan’s new drama Manchester by The Sea is an emotional assault with near flawless execution. The avid playwright tackles an emotional tale of one man’s grief and regrets. With breakthrough performances, and a near perfect screenplay, it’s no doubt that Manchester by the Sea is one of the year’s best films.
Manchester by The Sea tells the story of Lee Chandler (Casey Affleck), a disgruntled middle aged man who is forced to become the guardian of his nephew after his brother, Joe Chandler, dies. Reluctantly, Lee accepts the task of taking care of his nephew for the time being. With these characters, Lonergan creates a unique world that is reminiscent of his stage works. And this technique seamlessly mixes onto the screen. Taking this intimate style of directing from the stage to the screen, he brings about some of the years most memorable performances.
Affleck is absolutely electrifying in this role. We often don’t see Casey in a lead role, and he has always been more of a strong supporting actor. But Affleck manages to command every single scene that he’s in. At first his performance feels straight forward and bland. But as the film progresses and we dive further into the character, it is obvious that Affleck also continues evolving. Reaching an emotional crescendo by the third act, him and Williams perfectly counter each other. Specifically, in the flashback scenes where we see how they used to interact. These scenes hold a lot of happiness, countering the constantly melancholic scenes with Affleck and his nephew. But the ultimate moment of drama, is the final encounter with the pair. Without giving any spoilers, at this point in the film we have seen the growth and decay of the relationship between these two. Affleck and Williams run into each other in the street, and Williams apologizes for the past the two have shared. This causes a cyclone of emotions between the two. Williams begging for forgiveness, and Affleck refusing to face his emotions. The astonishing performances are clearly the crutch of the film.
The only negative aspect of the film is its grudgingly long runtime. Clocking in at two hours and 17 minutes, the film has several sequences that just seem to drag and drag. This tends to be a repeating aspect of stage directors. Whenever masters of the stage take their chance on the screen, it seems like they tend to drag out their pieces. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, the drama is powerful and forces you to feel something as a viewer. Just as the film continues, the runtime manages to bog down the viewer.
The next strongest aspect of the film is the screenplay. The screenplay is near perfect. And since Lonergan is known more for his writing on the stage, every interaction between characters is immaculate. One thing that adds a light-hearted mood to the film versus just strictly being depressing, are the moments of comedy. There are several moments that are quite hilarious. Whether it be the constant bickering between Lee and his nephew, or the interactions between Lee and his brother. This adds another level of depth to film. Creating an even more intimate connection with the characters, versus just forcing us to be depressed with them. Not only do we get to see these characters and their downfall, but we also get to see them at their highest points as well.
Manchester by The Sea is a vicious drama piece that forces you to connect with these uniquely complex characters. Due to Lonergan’s experience on the stage, the film boasts a near perfect screenplay. Every character holds an intense amount of emotion, and we get to see them not only at their lowest moments but at their highest. And with career high performances from both Casey Affleck and Michelle Williams, the two will definitely be in the talks for that golden statuette. Manchester by The Sea is an emotional tale filled with grief, regret, and heartbreak. It still manages to bring a smile to our face, while simultaneously breaking our hearts.
