Manchester by the Sea

MANCHESTER BY THE SEA (2016)

Way back in 2002 there was this huge campaign to unleash this unknown man called Hayden Christensen onto the world. He was cast as Anakin Skywalker and like every other StarWars fan I was intrigued and excited. And the actor in me was drooling! Imagine being a teenager, born in the 80s and landing the role of a young Darth Vader? What a lottery win! Anyway like any true obsessive fan I investigated the hell out of this Canadian.

I discovered he’d recently treaded the boards in the West End with Anna Paquin and Jake Gyllenhaal. Again give that thought a second. They starred in a play called This is Our Youth by Kenneth Lonergan. I did what any impressionable actor would do, I purchased the text of the play and learned the major speeches for drama school auditions. I loved Lonergan’s pacy energetic dialogue but more importantly how real his characters were.

15 years later this new literary hero of mine is at the helm of an Oscar Nominated Picture. He’s also nominated for Best Director and takes home gold for Best Original Screenplay. Makes sense; The dialogue is perfect. It’s as real as eavesdropping into a conversation at dining table next to yours at a restaurant. And just as awkward.

The characterisations are spot on. Any fan of Dawson’s Creek knows they can rely on Michelle Williams to deliver a heartfelt speech but Casey Affleck is pitch perfect. His pain is agonising. Both are nominated for Oscars.

The silences are flawless. I believed everything. One part I cried so hard my glasses steamed up which is a first.

10 Soul Searching Thumbs Up!