I went out to see Manchester By The Sea with all of the good reviews and award nominations that is has received. Casey Affleck then last night wins the Best Actor Award in a Drama for his performance.
A quick sidebar about the Golden Globes last night. La La Land was nominated in 7 categories and won every one. It became the movie with the most Golden Globe wins ever. I have to say that I have little interest in seeing this homage to Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, nor particularly in the whole musical on film genre. Best Picture Oscars have been awarded to Chicago and The Artist and other such films but for me they are not all that intriguing. I certainly do not need to see them on the big screen, especially in this instance with Golden Globe winner Emma Stone who I really don’t like much. Meryl Streep went off on a political rant as well as others such as Hugh Laurie. In the end, they all need to accept the fact that Americans voted as they did. And they’re not going to like it for the next four years. Some of the dresses were pretty, others less so. I wonder why dudes (like Jonah Hill) who wear sneakers with a tux don’t get lambasted as much for their lack of class and fashion sense than the women do.
Onto the Misery by the Water. As described by Alison this was not a feel good movie. This is a movie of an emotionally detached guy, and for good reason, who needs to address and accept the death of his brother, and his brother’s unilateral decision to make him the guardian of a walking hormone 16 yo son. There are good performances all around. This is NOT the Best Picture of the Year. Casey himself is a portrait of a man who internalizes and then lashes out unexpectedly at times. He has an alcohol issue and should be kept away from most bar situations. The story then unfolds as he and the boy and those around them address this new state. The use of flashback sequences is effective to fill in the gaps about these people, and what occurred, to show their history and current attitudes. There is some humour, mostly with the boy and the interactions with his uncle. I think that the music was used as effectively as at any time in recent memory. The music plays, much like the first few minutes of UP where you see the couple’s life unfold without words, with the voices being muffled and you see the body language and emotions of those on screen to the actions that have taken place. It is powerful. In the end there is a thought-provoking story that raises many questions to be discussed. I am glad to have seen it, but I had to be prepared for it. Everyone here is damaged in one way or another, without fail. I was a little taken aback by the conclusion. I’ll leave it at that. Is this a movie about depression? I am not sure. It is certainly a movie about death and dealing with it. It can also be about small town issues and dealing with small minds and one’s past. Lion in comparison had emotional aspects to it that were powerful. Here too there was power in the message but different. Hard to describe.
Mondays With Robbie 