Every year there’s one movie (typically in the fall months) that you hear a lot about, and seems like a surefire award contender, and it’s usually a production that seems to come out of nowhere (unless you follow the film festival circuit). The movie to watch during this award season is MANCHESTER BY THE SEA, which features a powerhouse performance by the always underrated Casey Affleck. Ben’s brother is quite talented, and has already starred in some great films, but for some reason never seems to get the attention he deserves when the award shows roll around. This should change that. It was already a big hit with critics at the Sundance Film Festival, and is set to screen at the New York Film Festival and the Toronto International Film Festival before opening wide this November. Directed by Kenneth Lonergan (MARGARET), it co-stars Michelle Williams, Lucas Hedges, Kyle Chandler, C.J. Wilson, Gretchen Mol, Tate Donovan and Matthew Broderick. Take a look at the trailer below and tell us your thoughts in the comments.
After the death of his older brother Joe (Kyle Chandler), Lee Chandler (Casey Affleck) is shocked to learn that Joe has made him sole guardian of his nephew Patrick (Lucas Hedges). Taking leave of his job, Lee reluctantly returns to Manchester-by-the-Sea to care for Patrick, a spirited 15-year-old, and is forced to deal with a past that separated him from his wife Randi (Michelle Williams) and the community where he was born and raised. Bonded by the man who held their family together, Lee and Patrick struggle to adjust to a world without him. In his first film since 2011’s acclaimed Margaret, Lonergan once again proves himself a powerful and visionary storyteller as he seamlessly weaves past and present together, crafting a tension-filled tale that deftly eschews sentimentality in favor of penetrating emotional insight and deeply affecting human relationships.
Born and raised in Dallas, Mark has been a movie critic since 1994, with reviews featured in print, radio and National TV. In 2001 he started the Entertainment section of the Herorealm website, where he contributed film reviews and celebrity interviews until 2004. After three years of service there, he started Bigfanboy.com, which has become one of the Dallas film community's leading information websites. Bigfanboy hosts several movie screenings in the Texas area, and works closely with film and TV studios and promotional partners to host exciting events and contests. The site also features a variety of rare celebrity and filmmaker interviews, and Bigfanboy.com regularly covers the film festival circuit as well. In addition to Hollywood reporting, Mark has worked for many years as an advertising and sci-fi/comic book artist. Clients have included Lucasfilm Ltd., Topps Trading Cards, The Dallas Mavericks and The Dallas Stars. From 2002 until 2015 he managed the Dallas Comic Con, Sci-Fi Expo and Fan Days events in the DFW area. He currently catalogs rare comic books and movie memorabilia for Heritage Auctions, and runs the Dallas Comic Show conventions, but remains an avid moviegoer and cinema buff. 
