Manchester by the Sea, Blu-ray (2016)

by | Feb 27, 2017 | DVD & Blu-ray Video Reviews

A real downer of a film but worth watching, perhaps twice.

Manchester by the Sea, Blu-ray (2016)

Actors: Casey Affleck, Michelle Williams, Kyle Chandler, Lucas Hedges
Director: Kenneth Lonergan
Studio: The Farm/ Lionsgate [2/21/17] (2 discs)
Video: 1.85:1 for 16:9 screens, 1080p color HD
Audio: English DTS-HD MA 5.1
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish
Extras: Conversation with writer/dir. Kenneth Lonergan, Deleted scenes, “Emotional Lives” – The Making of Manchester by the Sea
Length: 137 min.
Rating: ****1/2

The Ebert site said this was a very depressing film, and it was, but with terrific acting that made you feel you were really a part of the story on the screen. Casey Affleck plays a working-class man recently divorced and overpowered by losses and love. You might grasp the complexity of the various characters on a second viewing and appreciate it more. Do not view it if you are in a bad mood to begin with.

Now wonder the film has five Golden Globe Nominations, which is highly promoted in the publicity for the film. There is humor in the film, but just enough to not make it a total downer. You think that towards the end he will fall for the mother of his young guardian’s girlfriend, but not even that interests him. One also gets a feel from why he moved away from Manchester to Boston. The film deals with all the raw emotions of everyday life and death, and mostly is about how life goes on in spite of death and grief. The gloomy saga is still a masterpiece of filmmaking.

—John Sunier

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