I heard good things about this movie for a while, a good directoon, an excellent script, but above all, an excellent performance by Casey Affleck, however, I never had a real interest in seeing the movie, even though today I finally decided to see it I did it with resistance, but when the first images appeared on the screen, I simply let myself be carried away by this enveloping story, which has left me very satisfied, being able to corroborate for myself the good work done in the film.
Year: 2016
Category: Drama.
Director: Kenneth Lonergan.
Cast: Casey Affleck, Lucas Hedges, Ben O'Brien, Michelle Williams, Kyle Chandler, Gretchen Mol, C.J. Wilson, Tate Donovan, Kara Hayward, Anna Baryshnikov, Heather Burns, Erica McDermott, Matthew Broderick, Oscar Wahlberg, Stephen Henderson, Josh Hamilton
Plot
Lee Chandler must travel to Manchester because his sick brother has finally died, there will find out that he is now the legal guardian of his 16 year old nephew named Patrick, so he will have to deal with all that situation while his presence in the city evokes the personal ghosts of his past.
Opinion
Lee Chandler, a janitor and handyman, lives in a basement in Quincy, Massachusetts, and spends his days doing different plumbing and repair jobs, when receives the news that his brother who had been ill for years has finally died. Lee immediately travels to Manchester to take charge of the funeral arrangements and to take care of his 16 year old nephew Patrick until the funeral. But surprisingly for Lee, his brother had appointed him Patrick's legal guardian, leaving everything premeditated to make it so.
One of the first things that the viewer can notice from the first scenes is that the personality of the main character is not well, it is evident that he is a person who is in a very affected emotional state, but we do not know why. Later, while the film progresses, through a series of successive flashbacks we can complete little by little the puzzle and thus discover the emotional background that affects him.
The direction work is fantastic, the images are really excellent, showing the beauty of the sea and the setting in which the whole story unfolds. Kenneth Lonergan I knew him for a couple of previous jobs but always as a writer, I had never seen him directing, but this time he decided not only to write the story but also to direct it, and I must say he did a great job, especially having so little experience as director. Kenneth becomes the fundamental behind-the-scenes architect of this entire work.
The acting work is really wonderful, especially the work done by Casey Affleck who won an Oscar deservedly for the performance in this film and successfully transmits the hard and difficult emotional state that his character must have. Lucas Hedges also does a good job, and although he had already participated in some films, this is the first time I have the opportunity to see him work. Michelle Williams also does a good job despite her few minutes on the screen, her participation in this film reminded me of a slight connection between what happened in this film and another very different film like Shutter Island.
The film is really very good, I think it addresses an original story, and quite emotional, a drama in every sense of the word.
Trailer
Score
8/10
In general terms is an excellent film, with a great story, great script, and great performances, I can not find a reason not to see it, unless, obviously, you are not a fan of the drama genre.
Is that true? I'm gonna watch this right now.
Yup!
I love this film. Especially that one scene in the police station. Oscar bait at its finest.
Oh, my god. That scene absolutely floored me. The emotional gravity that built up into that scene was so amazing. The scene reminds me that this is the movie for dry winter seasons for moistening your eyes.
Yes me too. It's a fantastic scene, and a good triumph at the Oscars.