20 Best Movies Of 2016
3. Manchester By The Sea
Kenneth Lonergan (You Can Count On Me, Margaret) delivers his finest film to date with this emotionally shattering depiction of a man (Casey Affleck) returning to his hometown to care for his nephew following the sudden death of his brother (Kyle Chandler).
Casey Affleck gives an Oscar-worthy performance, easily the best of his career, in the central role, and though she has a much smaller part, Michelle Williams is also terrific as his beleaguered ex-wife.
Expertly balancing humanistic drama with surprising humour, this is a fierce, fine-tuned drama for those prepared to stomach some occasional divergences into shocking grimness. Ultimately, the rewards are worth the heartbreak.