Skip to main content

Dome Pondering Movie Review: Manchester By The Sea (2016)

What is it about? 

An uncle is asked to take care of his nephew after his brother's death, while coming to grips with his own issues. 

Who is in it? 

Casey Affleck - Lee Chandler 

Kyle Chandler - Joe Chandler 

Michelle Williams - Randi Chandler


Favorite Scene: 

While walking, Lee runs into Randi who wants to apologize and make up for the past. The two have a weird but trying embrace before Lee bows out because he's not ready to deal with it all. 

Favorite Quote: 

"I can't beat it. I can't beat it. I'm sorry. 

Review: 

I think I may have had too much of an expectation for this film AFTER The Oscars. And can you blame me? Casey Affleck won a big time Oscar for the role. Regardless, Manchester By The Sea was a really, really good film. And yes, the tremendous acting carried it. 

The best part about MBTS is the authenticity of the characters. All of them are so real, so deep, so through in the complexities of the situation and their lives. Especially, how they each deal with the situation that is presented to them. This is especially enriched once the flashbacks of a horrific day comes is unveiled, and you gain understanding of what makes Lee so troubled, and in some ways, how you root for his overall growth. 

And as mentioned, there is the acting. The obvious - yes, Casey Affleck was tremendous in his role as Lee. However, for some reason, I felt that Michelle Williams was fantastic in her short spurts, and that Lucas Hedges really brought the film to another level in his role as Patrick. And as always, I have to show love to my Friday Night Lights alums - Kyle Chandler is boss. 

My only gripe? The ending felt flat. Just me. But the film just felt like it hung there after the credits started to roll. 

Overall, Manchester By The Sea was fantastic. The acting alone is worth the watch. 

Review: 4.5/5

Recently Read

Was It Ever Real?

Does time change me? Or, did I evolve through experience? How many signals did I miss? Or, did I choose this fate? Do I understand the wrongs and regrets? Or, did I act with the best interest in the moment? What did they say about me? And, what will they say about me today? Was I appreciated? Or, did I imagine that? What were the opinions in the shadows? And, what were the feelings expressed before me? Is it a misunderstanding?  Or, a matter of not confirming?  Why didn’t it last? Or, was it never meant to? …ever able to? Was it ever real? Some of it? Part of it?

Sunday Sundown Rundown - 2/23/25

3 Up   1. New Old Cookbook - I thought this was really cool. The oldest published cookbook just got a remake and is now available. The cookbook, by Malinda Russell, is 160 years old. There has to be some really good (clean) stuff in that book. It's also Black History Month (are we still allowed to push that?), and there's a lot of history and significance that can be found through food.  2. Frankie Munoz - This dude went from Malcolm in the Middle and decided, I'm gonna be a race car driver! Munoz finished 10th recently in his debut as a NASCAR driver.  3. Yankees Policy - It's about time. The Yankees really were eventually going to find themselves in something MUCH uglier than a narrative surrounding "would George have done this?!" or "Why, this is the Yankee way!". Kudos to Hal Steinbrenner for the move.  3 Down 1. Another Plane Crash - This one in Toronto. A place landed on its roof. What is going on out there? Doesn't help when you read and ...

2025 NBA All-Star Weekend - "Throw this format in the trash"

There's no other way to put this, the NBA has a serious problem on their agenda going forward regarding All-Star Weekend. What was once the standard for All-Star presentations and must-watch television has quickly turned into social criticism and an entity that undoubtedly reminds fans of what used to be.  Simply put, NBA All-Star Weekend is broken.  I don't want to pile on like we expect the talking heads and personalities to do. This is fixable. Like everything else in sports. However, this...what we experienced tonight, is not it.  Other quick thoughts on the 2025 NBA All-Star Weekend:  The Skills Challenge was cool when it was first introduced. Now, it's become over-produced. The map of the floor, the gadgets involved, and even the rules...just ask Chris Paul and poor Victor Wembanyama.  By the way, the constant camera focus on both of them following the "disqualification" had such "Principal Office" vibes.  The Three-Point content remains the purest...