Home/Episodes/Manchester by the Sea
‘Manchester by the Sea’ With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Sean Fennessey
March 26, 2024 · Manchester by the Sea (2016) · Drama · 1:41:41
Categories
Casting What-Ifs
Bill SimmonsMatt 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▶ 12:53
Chris RyanMatt Damon — Suggests Stillwater was Damon's version of making Manchester - a makeup movie with similar withdrawn, working class character traits▶ 14:31
Sean FennesseyMatt 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▶ 14:57
Most Rewatchable Scene
Bill SimmonsOpening 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▶ 32:23
Chris RyanThe 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▶ 33:37
Sean FennesseyDiscusses 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▶ 35:45
Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award
Chris RyanThe scene after the bar fight where Lee breaks down in George's wife's arms is better than the hill scene▶ 45:48
What's Aged the Best
Bill SimmonsJosh 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)▶ 51:48
Chris RyanCasey's Massachusetts behavior (bar fights, driving style), the Casey Affleck trying to shoot himself meme, and Patrick's Bridge Nine Records poster/flag detail▶ 53:11
Sean FennesseyGretchen Mol's redemption arc, emerging as one of the better character actresses of her generation▶ 56:39
Butch's Girlfriend Award
Bill SimmonsThe wife getting out while the kids don't survive the house fire - it's not properly explained and strains credibility▶ 1:03:21
Chris RyanToo much driving in the movie - Leah constantly driving between houses for 25 minutes of screen time▶ 1:04:14
Sean FennesseyPatrick's complete lack of empathy for Lee's situation throughout the entire movie - never recognizing what returning home is doing to him▶ 1:04:29
Dion Waiters Award
Bill SimmonsGretchen Mol — Gretchen Mol (Patrick's second girlfriend, Baryshnikov's daughter)▶ 1:16:45
Apex Mountain
Bill SimmonsCasey Affleck — Yes for Casey Affleck - this movie over 2007, and yes for Lonergan who won the Oscar▶ 1:19:41
Chris RyanKenneth Lonergan — Implies yes for Lonergan, noting he hasn't made a movie in nine years since this peak▶ 1:19:47
Half-Assed Internet Research
Bill SimmonsMultiple 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▶ 1:20:42
Chris RyanDiscussed 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▶ 1:20:32
Sean FennesseyDiscussed 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▶ 1:22:06
Is This Movie Better With
Bill SimmonsKenneth 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'.▶ 1:32:31
Chris RyanKenneth Lonergan — Proposes adding Sergeant Dignam from 'The Departed' to the list and ultimately agrees with Lonergan as a pick.▶ 1:32:47
Probably Unanswerable Questions
Bill SimmonsDid Centorian ever put out an album? What happened the next day? Why is Matthew Broderick so weird in every movie for like 15 years?▶ 1:34:11
Chris RyanNo, 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.▶ 1:34:13
Sean FennesseyDid you talk about Patty's issues with the condom? Matthew Broderick subverted his image by playing sniveling, awful characters after Ferris Bueller.▶ 1:34:28
Best Double Feature
Bill SimmonsYou Can Count on Me — You Can Count on Me (start with that, then finish with this movie) and Shutter Island▶ 1:36:39
Movies Referenced (46)
| Title (year) | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| You Can Count on Me (2000) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 15 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons | ▶ 9:45 |
| La La Land (2016) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 4:05 |
| Blue Valentine (2010) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 20:11 |
| Gone Baby Gone (2007) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 13:35 |
| Good Will Hunting (1997) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 5:47 |
| Inherent Vice (2014) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Sean Fennessey | ▶ 1:19:06 |
| Moonlight (2016) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 4:05 |
| Shutter Island (2010) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 1:22:06 |
| Oppenheimer (2023) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | ▶ 22:00 |
| Alien (1979) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | ▶ 1:41:18 |
| CODA (2021) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:09:04 |
| Moonrise Kingdom (2012) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Sean Fennessey | ▶ 1:16:59 |
Directors Referenced (9)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ben Affleck | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | Argo, Gone Girl, The Town | ▶ 13:31 |
| Martin Scorsese | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons | Taxi Driver, Killers of the Flower Moon, Mean Streets | ▶ 16:53 |
| Ridley Scott | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | The Martian, Blade Runner | ▶ 1:01:11 |
| Alexander Payne | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | The Descendants | ▶ 18:20 |
| Chris Moore | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Sean Fennessey | Manchester by the Sea, The Adjustment Bureau | ▶ 24:12 |
| Doug Liman | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Edge of Tomorrow, Swingers | ▶ 1:12:05 |
| Joy Division | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Donnie Darko | ▶ 1:22:46 |
| Kosta Jokic | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | ▶ 48:01 | |
| Paul Thomas Anderson | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Punch-Drunk Love, Licorice Pizza, There Will Be Blood | ▶ 1:19:30 |
Actors Referenced (54)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matt Damon | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 29 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | Good Will Hunting, The Martian, The Departed | ▶ 5:52 |
| Casey Affleck | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 16 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | Manchester by the Sea, Light of My Life | ▶ 7:06 |
| Daniel Sea | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 16 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | ▶ 1:46 | |
| Lucas Hedges | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 16 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Manchester by the Sea, Lady Bird | ▶ 7:03 |
| Tom Hanks | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 16 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | Cast Away, Big, Forrest Gump | ▶ 1:24:34 |
| Michelle Williams | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 13 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | Blue Valentine, My Week with Marilyn, Manchester by the Sea | ▶ 7:05 |
| Kyle Chandler | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | Argo, Manchester by the Sea, Super 8 | ▶ 7:08 |
| Matthew Broderick | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | The Producers, WarGames, Ferris Bueller's Day Off | ▶ 45:11 |
| Timothée Chalamet | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | Call Me by Your Name, Lady Bird | ▶ 1:14:13 |
| Tate Donovan | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | Argo, Hercules, Shooter | ▶ 33:23 |
| John Krasinski | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | A Quiet Place | ▶ 11:30 |
| Luke Wilson | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | Old School, The Royal Tenenbaums | ▶ 1:09:20 |
Writers Referenced (6)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kenneth Lonergan | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 33 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | Manchester by the Sea, You Can Count on Me | ▶ 6:32 |
| Paul Brickman | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | Risky Business | ▶ 15:59 |
| Damien Chazelle | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Sean Fennessey | Whiplash, La La Land, First Man | ▶ 8:06 |
| Harvey Weinstein | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Sean Fennessey | Shakespeare in Love, The Hateful Eight | ▶ 17:23 |
| Malcolm X | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Sean Fennessey | Malcolm X | ▶ 1:26:27 |
| Tom Stoppard | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | Shakespeare in Love, Brazil | ▶ 18:12 |