MANCHESTER BY THE SEA
Written and Directed by Kenneth Lonergan
Starring Casey Affleck, Kyle Chandler, and Michelle Williams
Nothing is simple in this masterful exploration of grief.
Casey Affleck, Michelle Williams and Lucas Hedges star in Kenneth Lonergan’s “Manchester by the Sea.” Lonergan creates a realistic story as Lee (Affleck) learns of the death of his brother and is now charged with the responsibility of caring for his nephew, Patrick (Hedges). The story is a beautiful, deep and sometimes harsh look into family obligation, love and guilt.
This extraordinary writer and director masterfully tells the story while creatively using a nonlinear form; Lonergan does this with ease. We know from the beginning that Lee is carrying a heavy emotional load, but what and why remains to be revealed. Initially, we get a glimpse into the drudgery of his life — the routine of being a janitor and inexplicable angry outbursts.
To read the review in its entirety as it was printed in the Friday, December 2nd, 2016 edition of The Daily Journal go here