I could write a whole separate piece on why I think award season is an absolute load of crap. Studios make films that very few show through limited releases, with the sole purpose of winning as many awards as humanly possible. The same films got nominated every year. Okay, maybe not the same films, but the same formulaic types. There's always several biopics, heart winners, and my least favorite of all, the over serious drama. Last year it was Todd Haynes' Carol, which was an absolute snoozefest with beautiful cinematography. So, ladies and gentlemen, drumroll, please! Without further ado, I proudly present, this season's over-serious drama: Manchester by the Sea. (The crowd fails to roar, as they were too depressed or bored after the movie.)
Manchester by the Sea follows janitor Lee Chandler (Casey Affleck), who is one of the most unlikeable and bland characters in cinematic history. In this film, Lee is named guardian of his nephew Patrick Chandler (Lucas Hedges) after the untimely death of Patrick's father. The story unfolds through a series of flashbacks, why is is so painful for Lee to return to Manchester after many years of being away. This is a dreary tale of morbidly depressed people who feel this way as a consequence of their own downfalls as humans. Many of the characters are incredibly unsympathetic, as you have seen as they destroy themselves. Anytime I as the view start to believe that I will begin to like Lee Chandler, or that he will have some heartwarming moment, writer/director Kenneth Lonergan laughs in my face. He then has to follow any kind action with an immediate dickish action that makes him unsympathetic. Frankly, Casey Affleck pretty much plays himself in the drama, brooding, uninteresting, and just a human version of the word "meh".
From the first two paragraphs of this review, you might truly believe that I hate this film. That, however, is not the case. the film has glimmers of brilliance, and another outstanding performance from once of my favorite actresses, Michelle Williams, who is chasing her fourth Oscar nomination before her 37th birthday. i do believe, that this story could have used some brevity, as a 137 minute running time is not nearly necessary to tell this story. When a film gets a 98% on Rotten Tomatoes, I expect it to contribute something special to the overall history of cinema or something that is different. Unfortunately, Manchester by the Sea fails to do this, and be another forgettable drama of awards season.
Score: (7.5/10)
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