Writer/Director
Kenneth Lonergan has a reputation for
depicting affecting, human conflict realized by excellent acting. In Manchester
by the Sea, he has mastered the art of observing intimate behavior where you
can feel and even smell this world inhabited by real people right down to minor
characters.
Lee
(Casey Affleck in an Oscar worthy
performance) is a handyman in Boston who suffers the loss of his brother
(Kyle Chandler) and must deal with the prospect of being guardian for his
teenage nephew, Patrick (Lucas Hedges). Their
tentative relationship and bond experiences growing pains. Traumatized by previous events, Lee also carries
hidden rage, and when a face from his past visits, it brings back painful memories
as he must reconcile not just his past, but his nephew’s future.
The
film is as much about revisiting old wounds and finding a way to move on in
life. It is about the fragility of family dynamics where a delicate balance can
be thrown into disarray. Beautifully
filmed, there is good use of its New England setting, and the film is structured
in a series of timely flashbacks that give crucial background to present events.
Lonergan is not afraid to linger on a scene an extra beat to let it
play out with fully developed characters.
Honest
and unflinching, it is about real life where there are sometimes no simple
answers, and the issues may not be tied up neatly. It’s a beautifully
rendered drama that does not take the easy path.
****
of **** stars
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