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‘Manchester by the Sea’ With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Sean Fennessey

March 26, 2024 · Manchester by the Sea (2016) · Drama · 1:41:41

IMDb ↗Letterboxd ↗

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Casting What-Ifs

Bill Simmons▶ 12:53Matt Damon — Matt Damon was supposed to be the lead but did The Martian instead - questions whether Damon could have delivered the same performance, noting Damon never had his 'best actor movie' like this
Chris Ryan▶ 14:31Matt Damon — Suggests Stillwater was Damon's version of making Manchester - a makeup movie with similar withdrawn, working class character traits
Sean Fennessey▶ 14:57Matt Damon — Argues Damon is too much of a 'charisma machine' - audiences expect him to crack jokes or be charming, while Lee is trying to disappear and be invisible

Most Rewatchable Scene

Bill Simmons▶ 32:23Opening sequence establishing Lee's sad life - janitor work, plunging toilet, getting in fights; Patrick's hockey scenes; Patrick hanging out with buddies talking about Star Trek; Lee's buddies in the basement flashback scene
Chris Ryan▶ 33:37The basement scene with Lee's buddies where his wife yells at them and Lee apologizes, then says 'She can't talk to us that way' after she leaves; mentions Tate Donovan as Patrick's hockey coach
Sean Fennessey▶ 35:45Discusses Lonergan's use of flashbacks and how information is withheld from the audience, particularly around the fire scene and what characters say to each other

Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award

Chris Ryan▶ 45:48The scene after the bar fight where Lee breaks down in George's wife's arms is better than the hill scene

What's Aged the Best

Bill Simmons▶ 51:48Josh Hamilton's presence, Affleck's dead-eyed pissed off New England drunk performance, Amazon Studios being put on the map leading to more movie investment, Leslie Barber's score, having a boat, New England vibe, and the accents (rating Casey a 10/10, Gretchen Mol a 9/10)
Chris Ryan▶ 53:11Casey's Massachusetts behavior (bar fights, driving style), the Casey Affleck trying to shoot himself meme, and Patrick's Bridge Nine Records poster/flag detail
Sean Fennessey▶ 56:39Gretchen Mol's redemption arc, emerging as one of the better character actresses of her generation

Butch's Girlfriend Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:03:21The wife getting out while the kids don't survive the house fire - it's not properly explained and strains credibility
Chris Ryan▶ 1:04:14Too much driving in the movie - Leah constantly driving between houses for 25 minutes of screen time
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:04:29Patrick's complete lack of empathy for Lee's situation throughout the entire movie - never recognizing what returning home is doing to him

Is There a Better Title?

Bill Simmons▶ 1:08:47No

Dion Waiters Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:16:45Gretchen Mol — Gretchen Mol (Patrick's second girlfriend, Baryshnikov's daughter)
Chris Ryan▶ 1:18:10Kenneth Lonergan — Kenneth Lonergan for his parenting portrayal
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:17:14Matthew Broderick — Broderick's youth pastor character

Apex Mountain

Bill Simmons▶ 1:19:41Casey Affleck — Yes for Casey Affleck - this movie over 2007, and yes for Lonergan who won the Oscar
Chris Ryan▶ 1:19:47Kenneth Lonergan — Implies yes for Lonergan, noting he hasn't made a movie in nine years since this peak

Half-Assed Internet Research

Bill Simmons▶ 1:20:42Multiple facts: John Krasinski was initially floated for Casey Affleck's role but wasn't seriously considered by Lonergan; Manchester changed its name to Manchester by the Sea in the late 80s for tourism/distinction from England; Michelle Williams' filmography including Shutter Island connection; No Packy stores open at 3am in Massachusetts
Chris Ryan▶ 1:20:32Discussed Krasinski casting what-if and whether it keeps him up at night; noted Shutter Island's similar plotline to Manchester; participated in various trivia discussions
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:22:06Discussed Michelle Williams' career trajectory through Synecdoche New York, Blue Valentine, Shutter Island, My Week with Marilyn, then Manchester by the Sea; noted Shutter Island has similar plotline to Manchester

Is This Movie Better With

Bill Simmons▶ 1:32:31Kenneth Lonergan — Suggests several actors (Wayne Jenkins, Danny Trejo, etc.) and fictional characters (Sergeant Dignam) for inclusion, ultimately leaning towards Lonergan as a pick, and then pivots to discussing Hanks/Cruz for 'Fences'.
Chris Ryan▶ 1:32:47Kenneth Lonergan — Proposes adding Sergeant Dignam from 'The Departed' to the list and ultimately agrees with Lonergan as a pick.
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:34:05Tom Hanks — Hanks for 'Fences'

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Bill Simmons▶ 1:34:11Did Centorian ever put out an album? What happened the next day? Why is Matthew Broderick so weird in every movie for like 15 years?
Chris Ryan▶ 1:34:13No, but they play a couple parties where the girls find out about each other. Patty winds up having to stay on that boat all summer because those girls are hunting for him.
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:34:28Did you talk about Patty's issues with the condom? Matthew Broderick subverted his image by playing sniveling, awful characters after Ferris Bueller.

Best Double Feature

Bill Simmons▶ 1:36:39You Can Count on Me — You Can Count on Me (start with that, then finish with this movie) and Shutter Island
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:36:44Good Will Hunting

Movies Referenced (43)

You Can Count on Me (2000)

15 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons▶ 9:45IMDb ↗Lb ↗

La La Land (2016)

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey▶ 4:05IMDb ↗Lb ↗

The Town (2010)

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 1:15:54IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Blue Valentine (2010)

4 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey▶ 20:11IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Gone Baby Gone (2007)

4 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 13:35IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Good Will Hunting (1997)

4 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 5:47IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Inherent Vice (2014)

4 mentions · Sean Fennessey▶ 1:19:06IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Moonlight (2016)

4 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 4:05IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Shutter Island (2010)

4 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey▶ 1:22:06IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Oppenheimer (2023)

3 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan▶ 22:00IMDb ↗Lb ↗

The Martian (2015)

3 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 12:56IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Alien (1979)

2 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan▶ 1:41:18IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Directors Referenced (9)

Ben Affleck

8 mentions · Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey · Known for Argo, Gone Girl, The Town▶ 13:31IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Martin Scorsese

4 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons · Known for Taxi Driver, Killers of the Flower Moon, Mean Streets▶ 16:53IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Ridley Scott

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey · Known for The Martian, Blade Runner▶ 1:01:11IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Alexander Payne

2 mentions · Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey · Known for The Descendants▶ 18:20IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Chris Moore

1 mentions · Sean Fennessey · Known for Manchester by the Sea, The Adjustment Bureau▶ 24:12IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Doug Liman

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Edge of Tomorrow, Swingers, Fair Game▶ 1:12:05IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Joy Division

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Donnie Darko▶ 1:22:46IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Kosta Jokic

1 mentions · Chris Ryan▶ 48:01IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Paul Thomas Anderson

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Punch-Drunk Love, Licorice Pizza, There Will Be Blood▶ 1:19:30IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Actors Referenced (54)

Matt Damon

29 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey · Known for Good Will Hunting, The Martian, The Departed▶ 5:52IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Casey Affleck

16 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey · Known for Manchester by the Sea, Light of My Life▶ 7:06IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Daniel Sea

16 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan▶ 1:46IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Lucas Hedges

16 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for Manchester by the Sea, Lady Bird▶ 7:03IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Tom Hanks

16 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey · Known for Cast Away, Big, Forrest Gump▶ 1:24:34IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Michelle Williams

13 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan · Known for Blue Valentine, My Week with Marilyn, Manchester by the Sea▶ 7:05IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Kyle Chandler

8 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan · Known for Argo, Manchester by the Sea, Super 8▶ 7:08IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Matthew Broderick

8 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan · Known for The Producers, WarGames, Ferris Bueller's Day Off▶ 45:11IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Timothée Chalamet

6 mentions · Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey · Known for Call Me by Your Name, Lady Bird▶ 1:14:13IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Tate Donovan

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan · Known for Argo, Hercules, Shooter▶ 33:23IMDb ↗Lb ↗

John Krasinski

4 mentions · Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey · Known for A Quiet Place▶ 11:30IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Luke Wilson

4 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey · Known for Old School, The Royal Tenenbaums▶ 1:09:20IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Writers Referenced (6)

Kenneth Lonergan

33 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan · Known for Manchester by the Sea, You Can Count on Me▶ 6:32IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Paul Brickman

2 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Risky Business▶ 15:59IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Damien Chazelle

1 mentions · Sean Fennessey · Known for Whiplash, La La Land, First Man▶ 8:06IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Harvey Weinstein

1 mentions · Sean Fennessey · Known for Shakespeare in Love, The Hateful Eight▶ 17:23IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Malcolm X

1 mentions · Sean Fennessey · Known for Malcolm X▶ 1:26:27IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Tom Stoppard

1 mentions · Chris Ryan · Known for Shakespeare in Love, Brazil▶ 18:12IMDb ↗Lb ↗