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Manchester by the Sea 3.5/5

Always tough when you're the last to see a highly praised movie.  In this case, the typical occurred . . . it did not live up to the praise.  Casey Affleck is very good as the guilt ridden uncle who is appointed guardian of a teen-ager, the son of his deceased brother. Affleck was responsible for the death of his own two children in a house fire.  Drunk, he put logs on the fire then left the house. No firescreen. Logs rolled out, children died.

Affleck at various times seems about to be able to redeem himself through the new responsibility, but in the end he admits that he "can't do it." He arranges for the teen-ager to be adopted by friends of the brother and returns to live alone, though he does say that he wants the teen-ager to visit him.  Earlier he has turned down overtures for romance from women and also overtures of renewed friendship from his ex-wife.  Volatile temper is constant.

Affleck won an academy award.  Not much range required. Did he win because people felt sorry for the character he played?

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