Manchester by the Sea (2016)

Wow! Jack and I loved this story of an angry, repressed, single man who has to cope with guardianship of his teen nephew (and much more). It's skillfully written, perfectly acted, beautifully shot, and realistically paced. The movie and its makers are on short lists for Oscar nominations (nominations January 24, awards February 26) and are racking up others quickly (here's my running tally).

Heading the large cast, Casey Affleck (last blogged for Ain't Them Bodies Saints) gives us the all the depth required for Lee, without that many words. Lucas Hedges (played one of the scouts in Moonrise Kingdom and a few other things) is a talented young man who can portray the sadness and snark of the suddenly bereft sixteen-year-old Patrick, melding it in with typical high school behavior. Michelle Williams (most recently in Certain Women) isn't in a lot of scenes as Lee's wife, but makes a profound effect in all her work here. Jack commented that they were all so good we forgot they were acting.

Director/writer Kenneth Lonergan (co-wrote Analyze This (1999) and Gangs of New York (2002), solo wrote The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle (2000), and then wrote and directed You Can Count on Me (2000) and Margaret (2011)) is profiled beautifully in a New Yorker article which, I'm pleasantly surprised to report, has no spoilers about this movie. The article tells the origins of this movie and Lonergan's other work and details, among other things, Lonergan's close friendships with Matt Damon and Matthew Broderick (the former is among the producers and the latter has a short cameo). I highly recommend you read it. The script actually has some laughs here and there but this is definitely a drama.

The lovely images are thanks to cinematographer Jody Lee Lipes (after I blogged about him in Martha Marcy May Marlene he shot Trainwreck) and the glorious New England seaside locations.

I can't remember why, but composer Lesley Barber (scored You Can Count on Me for Lonergan and several others) will not eligible for an Oscar nomination this year. Her tracks are available for streaming on YouTube at this link. Then there are fifteen or so songs, some classical, some not, including a wonderful 1945 rendition of I'm Beginning To See the Light sung by the Ink Spots and Ella Fitzgerald. Imdb has published an abridged list of the songs.

Rotten Tomatoes' critics, averaging 97%, and its audiences at 98, are among the many swooning over this picture. Don't be left out. Go see it as soon as you can. Rated R for language and sexuality.