Movie Review - Manchester by the Sea

Manchester by the Sea ***½ (out of 5) (R) Casey Affleck underplays his lead role to fine advantage in this somber drama. His character, Lee, is toiling as the resident custodian of a run-down apartment building near Boston, living a life so depressing that it feels like some sort of self-imposed penance. When his brother suddenly dies in their eponymous home town a couple of hours away, he returns to the surprising news that he’s been named as guardian of his teenaged nephew, Patrick (Lucas Hedges), despite his estrangement from the family. Patrick has no desire to leave his friends and the full life he has as a popular jock; Lee can’t or won’t move back home, for reasons we eventually learn. Those issues include his ex-wife (Michelle Williams), who is still there.

As author, Kenneth Lonergan crafted relatable characters in a gritty, realistic setting, and avoided all the potential cliches and pat explanations The Studios serve up all too often. As director, he assembled suitable blue-collar locations, all grayed with grime and mist, to mirror the tone of the proceedings and the moods of the players. He also cast his principals perfectly, potentially leading to some acting nominations. Ben’s the brother with a big frame and personality, providing range from comedy to action fare. Casey’s the Affleck you want when the part calls for insecurity, introspection or any variety of introvert.

But once again, Lonergan undermines his product when wearing both hats. At well over two hours, there’s not enough material to justify the running time. Empathy yields to impatience over time in low-key fare of this nature. He did the same in his two prior attempts to fill both sets of boots - Margaret and You Can Count on Me. The man truly needs an editor he respects to make the length of his films more supportive of the screenplays, so none of the punch of his prose gets diluted by trimmable fat. Once he gains that degree of perspective, great things should follow. (12/2/16)