Alien at the Movies

This is not a sneak preview. This film has already released.

A janitor/handyman, Lee Chandler (Casey Affleck), from Quincy returns to his hometown of Manchester when his older brother (Kyle Chandler) suddenly passes away. Complications arise when the will is read. This sad & heartbreaking story takes it's time to fully develop as the mystery of Lee's background & the sources of his pain & suffering are revealed. He has an awkward relationship with his teenage nephew Patrick. Lee is a man caught in a situation placing him between a rock & a hard place. Affleck is outstanding as the troubled soul riddled with guilt. Michelle Williams has a small part as Lee's ex but still belts out a powerful performance. This touching film about dealing with loss may not be for everyone & you have to give it a lot of time to see where it is going, partly due to inter-spliced flashbacks. It's trivial everyday life in wintry small town Massachusetts with bursts of anger exploding but it packs an emotional wallop if you are patient & don't give up on it too soon. Rated "R" for language & sexual content.

Alien gives it 3 "Claudia Marie" stars out of 4.