#1- Manchester by the Sea

It’s hard to put into words just how special this film is. The script, the performances, the realism, and even the editing all make “Manchester by the Sea” the masterpiece that it is. Casey Affleck plays Lee Chandler, an emotionally stunted janitor who is made to care for his teenage nephew after his brother tragically dies. Affleck gives the best performance by any actor this year; his nuanced subtlety is brilliant and even his slightest facial expressions indicate constant heartbreak. Lucas Hedges plays Lee’s nephew, Patrick and will definitely be a star one day. Topped off by a perfect “Bah-stan” accent, Hedges makes a masterful foil to Affleck’s soft spoken Lee. Hedges is loud, funny, charming, and heartbreaking all at once. “Manchester” is expertly written and incredibly performed, and a film that will go down in history as one of the best films of the 21st Century.