MANCHESTER-BY-THE-SEA


Writer/Director Kenneth Lonergan missed the boat in Manchester-By-The-Sea by focusing on the relationship between an uncle and his nephew when the Real Story is between husband (Casey Affleck) and wife (Michelle Williams). How do I know this? Every time Michelle Williams is on the screen (about 5 minutes in a 2-hour 17 minute movie) the movie bursts with energy and drama. By focusing on the relationship between Casey Affleck’s nephew (Lucas Hedges), a difficult teenager who has just lost his father to a heart-attack, the movie has less impact and more dull patches. Essentially, Casey Affleck’s character, Lee Chandler, makes a Big Mistake. A really, really Big Mistake. And Manchester-By-The-Sea is basically the story of Affleck living with the consequences. If Lonergen had focused on Affleck and Michelle Williams, this could have been a great movie. GRADE: B

15 thoughts on “MANCHESTER-BY-THE-SEA

    1. george Post author

      Bill, I delayed seeing MANCHESTER-BY-THE-SEA for weeks. Diane refused to go. “I don’t need more sadness right now,” she told me. It’s been a year since Diane’s mother died (just before Christmas) and then my Mom died (just before Christmas) so Diane’s emotions were pretty raw.

      Reply
  1. Jeff Meyerson

    Interesting take. Now that they’ve brought this back (to South Florida, at least) we have been considering whether or not to see it.

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    1. george Post author

      Jeff, Michelle Williams is incandescent. This is the best role Casey Affleck has had to date. Just be prepared for sadness. Lots of it.

      Reply
  2. Patti Abbott

    I liked it more. He could not even bear to spend even a minute with Michelle. He didn’t feel like he deserved her. He needed to punish himself by having no one in his life, no decent job, no decent housing. What he needed was therapy. His brother should have made him get some.
    So it would have been hard to frame it along those lines, I think. BLUE VALENTINE was that movie, I think.

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  3. maggie mason

    I’ll eventually see it, when it’s on hbo or starz. This is the type of movie I least like (Drama). I watch those on my dvr, and watch as much as I can at one sitting, then pause and resume. Sometimes I’ll do that the whole movie, others it gets better and I’ll watch the last half or so all in one sitting.

    I much prefer thrillers or comedies, or musicals

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  4. Rick Robinson

    Oh boy! Sadness. Lots and lots of sadness! That’s just what everyone needs these days, isn’t it? With the election results so joyous, and the “first week in office” so wonderful, and… but I needn’t go on. Yes, sir, bring on oodles of that sadness stuff. Sure. You bet.

    Um, maybe not.

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    1. george Post author

      Rick, I’m with you on the sadness of our times. I was on the bubble with MANCHESTER-BY-THE-SEA. But, I’m glad I saw it despite the sadness. There are some fine performances in this film.

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  5. Cap'n Bob

    Why? I won’t live long enough to see, read, or build all the things on my plate now! A sappy, sad movie doesn’t appeal to me!

    Reply

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