Certificate: 15
Running time: 137 minutes
Directed by: Kenneth Lonergan.
What's it about: Loner Lee Chandler (Casey Affleck) is forced to return to his hometown after the death of his brother. Once there he must face up to the challenges of taking care of his nephew, and the past he left behind.
The verdict: This film has been gathering a lot of Oscar buzz, and looks set to gain several nominations. A lot of this is centred around Casey Affleck's performance, and I can see why, because he is brilliant in this. His performance is subtle yet engaging. It can be difficult to portray emptiness and numbness in a character but Affleck does this well. He is tightly wound with a sea of emotions rippling beneath the surface. His character doesn't always behave in the best way but you can't help but root for him. And ultimately you want him to find peace.
The supporting cast are also brilliant. Lucas Hedges who plays Patrick, Lee's nephew, is certainly one to watch, and Michelle Williams provides heartbreaking support as Lee's ex wife.
This is a film that is not afraid to make the audience work. The pace is slow, and the reveals are gradual. Don't go to see it expecting action scenes and thrills, this is a quiet and unfussy film. But the audience's patience is rewarded with a wonderfully told story that deals with grief and loss. Something I particularly liked about this film was its attention to detail and the way it accurately reflects real life. It shows the minutiae of dealing with a bereavement - from picking up the person's belongings to ringing around funeral homes. This made the film feel so relatable.
Something I wasn't expecting from this film was the clever way it used humour. I certainly wasn't expecting to laugh out loud, but there are lots of moments where humour is used and this adds an element of warmth and comfort to the film. The humour is mostly used in interactions between Lee and Patrick, and this again demonstrates the wonderful performances of both actors but also the relatable nature of the film. You can suffer from terrible loss and unimaginable tragedy, but life goes on and you will laugh again.
As the film ended, several of the audience groaned aloud in disappointment because they wanted to watch more. This is a film that has the ability to capture your imagination and teach you a bit more about life.
Should you watch this film? Absolutely yes! Wonderfully written, directed and performed, this is a film that everyone should watch.
The verdict: This film has been gathering a lot of Oscar buzz, and looks set to gain several nominations. A lot of this is centred around Casey Affleck's performance, and I can see why, because he is brilliant in this. His performance is subtle yet engaging. It can be difficult to portray emptiness and numbness in a character but Affleck does this well. He is tightly wound with a sea of emotions rippling beneath the surface. His character doesn't always behave in the best way but you can't help but root for him. And ultimately you want him to find peace.
The supporting cast are also brilliant. Lucas Hedges who plays Patrick, Lee's nephew, is certainly one to watch, and Michelle Williams provides heartbreaking support as Lee's ex wife.
This is a film that is not afraid to make the audience work. The pace is slow, and the reveals are gradual. Don't go to see it expecting action scenes and thrills, this is a quiet and unfussy film. But the audience's patience is rewarded with a wonderfully told story that deals with grief and loss. Something I particularly liked about this film was its attention to detail and the way it accurately reflects real life. It shows the minutiae of dealing with a bereavement - from picking up the person's belongings to ringing around funeral homes. This made the film feel so relatable.
Something I wasn't expecting from this film was the clever way it used humour. I certainly wasn't expecting to laugh out loud, but there are lots of moments where humour is used and this adds an element of warmth and comfort to the film. The humour is mostly used in interactions between Lee and Patrick, and this again demonstrates the wonderful performances of both actors but also the relatable nature of the film. You can suffer from terrible loss and unimaginable tragedy, but life goes on and you will laugh again.
As the film ended, several of the audience groaned aloud in disappointment because they wanted to watch more. This is a film that has the ability to capture your imagination and teach you a bit more about life.
Should you watch this film? Absolutely yes! Wonderfully written, directed and performed, this is a film that everyone should watch.
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