Review: Manchester by the Sea (Movie)

I avoided watching the much-praised film Manchester by the Sea (written and directed by Kenneth Logan) for a number of reasons, but recently decided it was time to see what all the buzz was about.

When Lee, a broken man (played by Casey Affleck), returns to his home town to put his late brother's affairs in order, he learns he has been named the sole guardian of his nephew, Patrick (played by Lucas Hedges). This is a heartbreaking movie of a family beset by tragedy and troubles.

The acting, especially the performances by Affleck and Hedges, is fantastic. They push their characters' conflicts and emotions front and center, making it almost impossible for the viewer to turn away from the screen. The filming too is beautifully done, evoking the dark themes of the movie and providing a look into life in an East Coast sea town.

Manchester by the Sea is deserving of its many awards and nominations, but I'm recommending it with reservations. It's a difficult movie to watch, with little relief from the overriding sadness. It explores grief, forgiveness, broken relationships, and loss of self-confidence/-respect. Often times we moviegoers hope for great leaps of character growth or tidy, happy resolution of difficult issues. This film won't give you that.

In fact, my first reaction to the ending was, "What? That's it? No!" But like all good stories, Manchester by the Sea wouldn't leave my head. The more I thought about the final scenes, the more I began to understand what happened to Lee and Patrick during the months they lived together. This is one of those slow-burning films that you'll mull over for days.

If you can handle a movie that focuses on loss, disconnection, and loneliness, then put Manchester by the Sea in your queue. You might want to watch this one with a buddy.