Manchester-By-The-Sea Review

I'm taking a break from the top 1000 greatest films to review a film that my friend recommended me.  This is the film that snagged Casey Affleck the Oscar for best actor: Manchester-By-The Sea.

Lee Chandler (Casey Affleck) is a depressed, damaged, socially awkward handyman living in Boston, Massachusetts.  Having become withdrawn and resentful since the death of his children and break-up of his marriage, 8 years earlier, his world becomes rocked when his older brother dies of a heart attack.  Things become more complicated when Lee discovers that his brother has named him the legal guardian of his 16 year old son who lives in Manchester-by-The-Sea.

Casey Affleck was well-deserving of the best actor award.  His portrayal of Lee Chandler was sympathetic, when it could have been bitter and unlikeable.  Affleck gave the character a humanity.  Chandler is a tragic character and it was easy to feel sorry for him.  But this was also down to his strong characterisation.  His tragic past was the most logical motivation for him taking so reluctantly to his new guardianship role.

Lucas Hedges was also great as Lee Chandler's nephew, Patrick.  Just like Chandler, I feel that it would have been too easy to have made his character bitter and resentful.  However, again he was very sympathetic, as he navigates his teenage life without a father figure.  The scenes with Patrick also provided some much needed comic relief.  Considering just how depressing the film is, this comic relief was greatly appreciated.

I've read IMDB reviews of this film that have argued that while Casey Affleck and the other actors were great, the script was half-baked and I would agree with this.  A lot of Lee Chandler's backstory is told through flashbacks.  I think that by switching back and forth between the flashbacks and the present-day timeline a little difficult to follow.  Having said that, this only applies to the first half of the film.  As it progressed, things did become clearer.

Secondly, I would argue that film was mostly flat throughout.  There were a few dramatic incidents such as discovering how Lee's children died or Patrick's breakdown, but there was no payoff or climax.  Other than a lot of arguing, nothing much happened.  Obviously, I wasn't expecting explosions or a car chase, but I was hoping the film would end a little more dramatically.

However, even if it was a little undramatic, I did like the film's ending.  *SPOILERS AHEAD* 

Lee eventually turns over guardianship of Patrick to his friend George, as Lee cannot get over the guilt he feels for the death of his own children.  This was very sad, but also a satisfactory and logical conclusion, considering the tragic nature of Lee's character.

Ultimately, this is a good film with some great performances by Casey Affleck and Lucas Hedges.  Despite its shortcomings, it worth watching at least once.  It's too damn depressing to watch a second time.