Manchester by the Sea

The Afflecks are a talented family:  Ben did wonders in Argo, which garnered numerous awards, including the Oscar for Best Picture.  And who could forget his great role as a working class guy in Good Will Hunting, which he co-wrote with Matt Damon?

Brother Casey is no slouch as an actor.  He got an Oscar nomination for his role as the "coward" Ford who shot Jesse James.  He's also known for his fine work in Gone Baby Gone, a kidnapping thriller.  But my personal favorite is his role as a crazy psychopath in The Killer Inside Me.  Don't miss that one!

Manchester is a serious piece.  No spoiler, but the basic plot is that Casey's character is a perennial loser. He has botched just about everything he's done in life, including marriage and jobs.  Unexpectedly, he's called upon to care for a troubled teen, the son of his brother who died.

Check out the picture:  There they are, the troubled twosome.

Does the "loser" rise to the challenge?  If he can't care for himself, how can he care for the nephew?  What about his own search for success?

These are only the surface questions in this dreary, depressing flick.  The tone:  Yes, somber.  Never anything else.  Good thing the story takes place by the sea: up there, it's always cloudy, rainy, and overcast.  Let's not let any sun shine on this tale!

OK, I'm a bit sarcastic on the tone.  Some will argue it's "real."  In fact, pundits of the "slice of life" genre will say that life is a bitch, so just deal with it.  Or better, view it at the movies!

Here's the rub:  I can live with dark films.  I can handle a bleak view of life.  BUT:  I do expect something in return.  What?  Simple:  Character growth and development.

I would argue that nearly every satisfying film teaches us something.  We usually enjoy seeing folks change, hopefully for the better, given a set of life circumstance.  Some might call this redemption.  I would insist that at the minimum a film needs to present characters who grow.

Does Casey's character grow?  Does he learn anything from life's trials?  What about his ex-wife? Does she grow?  And what about the teen's estranged mother....any growth there?

I would argue:  NO!  But others might disagree.

This is the best reason to see this film.  How will you find the characters?  Will you consider them static or organic?  Will you find a redeeming feature in the dour, sour, gloomy mood of the film?

I hope so!

Please note that I have said almost nothing of the plot. There are several plot details that, I must admit, are intriguing.  Check out the flashbacks.  There's good stuff there.

I never spoil films for the viewer. But I must opine on a film I find woefully weak:  Manchester by the Sea.

My grade:  C-    This is generous.  And, by the way, most reviewers LOVE this film.  Guess I've never been a follower.