Manchester by the Sea: Kenneth Lonergan tells a sad, sad story in this film; it’s beautifully written, subdued but heartbreaking through and through, an unpleasant experience (but in a good way). The dialogue manages to alternate between the painful and the funny, all the more realistic because of it. Acting is top-notch; Casey Affleck has never been better, full of quiet intensity; Michelle Williams matches him note for note in one great scene; and Lucas Hedges is a great find as well. The film is efficiently but simply crafted: well edited by Jennifer Lame, and nicely shot by Jody Lee Lipes.