Proving that his only Oscar nomination nine years ago for The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford ain't a one hit wonder and coming out of the shadows of his brother Ben, Casey Affleck dominates and gives the signature performance of his career in this masterpiece.
Affleck plays Lee Chandler, a janitor in an apartment complex in Boston whose temper often gets him into trouble with the tenants and even at the local bar. You know that there's something inside that's bothering him. It begins to unravel when he gets a call that his older brother Joe (Kyle Chandler) has passed away unexpectedly.
Going home to the tiny town of Manchester by the Sea (hence the film's title), Lee is surprised to find out that he has been given legal rights to be the guardian of his brother's only child Patrick (Lucas Hedges) and because of it, is forced to move back. It's not an easy task since he can easily face again his ex-wife (a magnificent Michelle Williams, on her way to a 4th Oscar nomination for this film) with whom he shares a tragic bond.
On the surface, this is not an easy film to watch. The circumstances that plagued Lee are too much for a person to bear that you would not even wish to happen to your enemies. But Manchester by the Sea proves that in tragedy, there is redemption. This is a film of self-discovery and second chances. An amazing cast plus top-notch writing and direction by Kenneth Lonergan make this film one of 2016's best.
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