‘Blu-ray or Bust’ - MANCHESTER BY THE SEA

‘Blu-ray or Bust’

MANCHESTER BY THE SEA (2016, R, 137 Minutes, AMAZON STUDIOS/LIONSGATE)

It’s occasionally difficult to describe a film to you. This is important to remember, because I’m typically a moron. I know a lot about film and about the movie-making process, and by now you all know how easy I find it to voice my opinion here.

But MANCHESTER BY THE SEA does something so many other films don’t even try to accomplish. The last one to really get it right was SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK, and that was five years ago. So when I get to watch a film that is difficult to categorize, I typically am impressed. Of course, it helps if the movie doesn’t suck. And MANCHESTER does not suck.

At times funny and endearing, this heart-wrenching and dramatic slice of New England life is one of the more realistic dramas you will see this year. Estranged brother Lee Chandler suddenly finds himself guardian to his teenage nephew, and must relocate to a town that holds a whole lotta past for Lee. His struggle with a new reality is as comedic as it is occasionally difficult to watch, and what Casey Affleck does with the role is nothing short of astonishing. He captures the heartache of extraordinary loss and the process of slow redemption like no other; his role is emotional and sincere and quietly effective. It also helps that he is surrounded by a cast that seems so natural that you feel as though you are watching a documentary.

As young Patrick Chandler, Lucas Hedges (MOONRISE KINGDOM, THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL) perfectly illustrates an emotional and comedic portrait of a teenager thrust into an impossible situation. Affleck and he share several scenes together that will either leave you laughing or shaking your head. These two are mismatched not because of a generation gap, but because each is processing their grief in different ways, and neither knows how to reach out to the other.

Which brings me to one of the most affecting scenes I have watched all year: Lee runs into ex-wife Randi (Michelle Williams—oh, my goodness…), and what transpires is a perfectly captured moment of tenderness and remorse. It is a conversation apparently years in the making, and the emotions and pure artistic talent on display is utterly captivating.

What also adds to the majesty of this film are the words and direction of Kenneth Lonergan (he wrote the screenplays for ANALYZE THIS and GANGS OF NEW YORK, among others). The situations, the conversations… each of these characters is so richly drawn that the film plays out naturally. There is no showboating, no over-acting, just real people trying to cope with life and tragedy.

And if all that doesn’t grab you, the cinematography of Jody Lee Lipes is like watching a visual love letter to New England. Much of the film was shot in the actual Manchester-By-the-Sea, and the scenery of Massachusetts never looked better. From Quincy to Gloucester, the places where they shot this film almost plays out as if it were a road map of idyllic places.

The special features include a “making of” doc that covers several aspects of the film, and three deleted scenes that probably could have been kept in the film—seriously, your runtime is already over two hours and twenty minutes, what’s six more?!? I would have liked to have had a bit more behind the scenes, though—to know Lonegran’s writing process, the locations, that wonderful cinematography…

On Sunday night, The Academy was smart enough (despite that best picture debacle) to recognize the core elements of MANCHESTER that made it work so well; it was awarded with Best Actor (Affleck) and Best Original Screenplay. And deservedly so; remember me mentioning SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK earlier? Jennifer Lawrence won for Best Actress, and the film was nominated for seven others, including the screenplay. There’s something to say about every aspect of a film coming together, from the words written down by an author, to how those words are interpreted by the actors who utter them. This is storytelling at its finest.

Now go grab a box of tissues and try not to cry on your kids.

Grade: A

Special Features: B-

Blu-ray Necessary: Most Definitely

-- T.S. Kummelman