When the film opens, you hear a voice coming from a boat, sailing the north shore of Boston. The man from the voice, Lee, is joking around with his brother (Kyle Chandler) and his nephew, Patrick (Lucas Hedges.) You’re certain that when the camera zooms in you’ll be seeing the voice turn into Ben Affleck. Instead, you get his younger brother, Casey Affleck.
The movie intercuts to present day. Lee Chandler (Casey Affleck) is a down-on-his-luck kind of Boston guy. But down on what luck? He’s got a solid job as a plumber, seems to have his health, his looks, and his local pub in order. What’s so bad?
For starters Lee can’t even say ‘good morning’ to customers and he’s occasionally rude. Nevertheless, we love Lee’s uneasiness and his steady performance almost instantly. We’re certain something burns beneath his demeanor. And we’re right..
Slowly we learn that Lee’s brother has heart disease, and when he dies, Lee will be appointed guardian to the nephew he doesn’t want to be responsible for. But why? The nephew is smart, handsome, popular and involved in school sports. What’s going on here?
The questions slowly unravel into answers, as we meet Lee’s ex-wife played by Michelle Williams. The bigger question (and without spoiling the plot) is how does Lee live with the guilt of walking away when he feels he’s guilty? And soon you find out why.
The film is so solid, so authentic, so New-England-working-class on the seashore. Director Kenneth Lonergan has done a splendid job creating one of those little gems that always garnish Oscar Attention out of Boston. Think Good Will Hunting or Casey Affleck in Gone Baby Gone, he’s nailed it down to the mood, the accent and the Pabst Blue Ribbon beer. As an audience you’re completely sold on something so ordinary but extraordinary, so mesmerizing but so everyday.
A mini-masterpiece with incredible depth and pain, as seen through the eyes of what will be an Oscar nomination, for a long-overdue Casey Affleck living in his real life brother, Ben’s, shadow. 4 tiaras