Ken Lonergan? Kenny Lonergan? Really? I hated every second of this film - nothing rang true, I cannot stand mumbling actors, and it just went on and on. I'm glad some found humanity, character, humor, and suffering - I only found suffering - my own.
I also don't get the love for this movie. I thought it was way too long and there wasn't even much of a story in the film. One of the Oscar noms I certainly don't get was Michelle Williams; I like her but the character didn't have much to do in the few scenes she was present.
"Contentment, it seems, simply happens. It appears accompanied by no bravos and no tears."
I too am rooting for an Oscar for LaLa Land for best picture and it's director but I love to see great writers rewarded and I believe Manchester was the best original story this year. Lonergan' writing is not uplifting or whimsical but it's humanity is undeniable. Dealing with death and grief is something most people can relate to in some way, certainly more than aspiring actors and musicians in Hollywood.
The only review of a show that matters is your own.
Manchester is far too bleak and depressing for anyone to truly enjoy. I also have a problem with the length of the movie and I found Casey Affleck's performance to be far from brilliant. Is it a good movie? Yes. Is it great? No. It all feels very clinical and lacking in any real emotion. Also the story just kind of fizzles out, in my opinion. It's pretty pretentious, TBH.
It's just my opinion, I know, but when I wanted to see great screenwriting this year I needed to look no further than "Moonlight."
Kenneth Lonergan's denoumentwas amateurishness to the nth degree.
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Did you really just cite Moonlight as a brilliant movie while complaining about the denouement of Manchester? One of those movies had a serious problem with an ending, and it definitely wasn't the one by Lonergan.
I don't like MANCHESTER for various reasons - but the screenplay is not one of them. It's brilliantly crafted.
"Oh look at the time, three more intelligent plays just closed and THE ADDAMS FAMILY made another million dollars" -Jackie Hoffman, Broadway.com Audience Awards
I was disappointed in Manchester, mainly because Lonergan's play LOBBY HERO is one of my favorites. This film said nothing to me except for "here's a guy who had a rough life." (I think the same about Moonlight).
Casey Affeck's performance was right for the material, but I don't think it was much of a stretch for him.
"Did you really just cite Moonlight as a brilliant movie while complaining about the denouement of Manchester? One of those movies had a serious problem with an ending, and it definitely wasn't the one by Lonergan."
It is just my opinion, I know, but [minor spoiler]:
If one character giving another character a bullet-point list of what's going to happen to him, with no input at all from that character whose life is about to be changed, is your idea of well-written ending, then I see how our opinions could diverge over movie quality.
If you think Manchester By the Sea is one of the best-written films of all time, then there is no hope for either you or this world. How old are you? Have you ever seen a classic film before, you know, perhaps one written by Billy Wilder and any of his genius collaborators? Perhaps one written by Joseph Mankiewicz? Perhaps, I don't know, Chinatown, by Robert Towne? Perhaps North by Northwest by Ernest Lehman? Perhaps Citizen Kane by Herman Mankiewicz and Orson Welles? Perhaps, well, I could list perhaps 1,000 films right off the top of my head that would be better written than Manchester By the Sea. It's fine that you LOVED it, and it's also fine you think it's the best written film of all time - but to make that pronouncement in public, well, please.
If you think Manchester By the Sea is one of the best-written films of all time, then there is no hope for either you or this world. How old are you? Have you ever seen a classic film before, you know, perhaps one written by Billy Wilder and any of his genius collaborators? Perhaps one written by Joseph Mankiewicz? Perhaps, I don't know, Chinatown, by Robert Towne? Perhaps North by Northwest by Ernest Lehman? Perhaps Citizen Kane by Herman Mankiewicz and Orson Welles? Perhaps, well, I could list perhaps 1,000 films right off the top of my head that would be better written than Manchester By the Sea. It's fine that you LOVED it, and it's also fine you think it's the best written film of all time - but to make that pronouncement in public, well, please.
Also, I'm confused by the fact that those characters didn't "ring true" while the deliberate caricatures in the movies of Billy Wilder apparently do?
For the record, I really don't care for most modern movies, with my preference being those old Hollywood films that you just tried to shame me for not having seen. With the exception of a few films (mostly Howard Hawks films), there's not many films that carry the depth and complexity of Manchester. Even better than Manchester is Margaret, though.
If you think Manchester By the Sea is one of the best-written films of all time, then there is no hope for either you or this world. How old are you? Have you ever seen a classic film before, you know, perhaps one written by Billy Wilder and any of his genius collaborators....blah blah blah"
You are totally out of line in throwing insults and character judgment at Baker Williams because his opinion is different from yours.