Manchester By The Sea (2016)

Casey Affleck, Michelle Williams

The rumors are true -- this movie is depressing. But not in a satisfying way.

Let me explain: this movie, which deals with loss on a number of levels, is inherently depressing. It centers on a depressing premise, has depressing characters, a depressing score throughout, and even a gloomy and depressing landscape. It is also oppressively slow, making the sadness of everyone in the movie really linger.

But unlike my go-to references for the "Saddest Movie Ever" title -- Amour and Revolutionary Road--this movie lacked a purpose. Revolutionary Road was a brilliant commentary on the lives and choices of women in the 1950's; Amour, while far less entertaining, was a searing look at commitment and what it really means to love someone. Manchester By The Sea is simply a look inside the depressing life of a single character. If there was supposed to be a larger lesson in learning to cope with loss or maintaining familial ties, I missed clearly missed it.

Michelle is amazing. Minus her wig. That's distracting.

It's not a terrible watch, it just lacks climax and closure, which are two fairly desirable traits in a movie. Michelle Williams, though rarely seen in the film, provides probably the most powerful performance, which is both impressive and a testament to how much of the movie drags along with a "sameness." Casey Affleck is convincing as a depressed and tortured soul, but isn't necessarily entertaining to watch as such. He looks like crap throughout, to be sure, but I'm a little surprised he won the Golden Globe for his performance.

This story may resonate with viewers who have experienced loss on the scale that Casey Affleck's character does -- clearly I have not. But from where I sit, it seems like a sad movie that lacks purpose.

Final word: It's certainly sad.