‘Extremely moving but no fun’. That was the Sunday Times verdict on
Manchester-by-the-Sea, currently playing at the Mazarin cinema in Aix.
It tells the story of Lee Chandler, an irritable loner who is a handyman for a Boston apartment block. When he gets a call to tell him of the death of his brother, in their home town of Manchester-by-the-Sea, he rushes home to find himself named guardian to his 16-year-old nephew. Raising a teenager is enough of a challenge but his past, too, returns to traumatise him.
The film has been nominated for five Golden Globes, although it is surprising to see no nomination for Lucas Hedges who plays the teenage nephew with such veracity. Casey Affleck who plays Lee, on the other hand, is in line for a Best Actor award, as is Michelle Williams, his ex-wife in the movie.
It’s beautifully filmed and the music is outstanding. I’m sure it will clean up at awards’ time, but I did find it a little déprimant. Looking forward to ‘La La Land’ which sounds more cheerful!
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