by Brian Zitzelman
As a vital player in Kenneth Lonergan's Manchester by the Sea, which at this point in the Oscar race appears a lock in many a category, if not particularly a frontrunner in any of them, Lucas Hedges might seem preordained to be a member of the Best Supporting Actor club in the months to come.
However, Hedges isn't - hopefully - getting in by shear wave of momentum for the movie. His Patrick is a vital, memorable part of the Manchester puzzle...
In other words, Patrick is human. Hedges sands down what could be overplayed traits to make a three dimensional young-man that is confronting his life's difficulties as they come along. When Patrick is trying to convince Uncle Lee (Casey Affleck) to come into one his girl's homes to chit-chat (aka distract her mother to allow for some teenage spirit), Hedges plays it cool. He's casual charm, almost bullying Lee about how much of a square he'd be to refuse help. It doesn't read as cruel with Hedges opting for relaxed instead. When he breaks though, as everyone in Manchester does no matter strong the wall they've erected to seel off the pain, Hedges goes full-force into the grief. Torn up and unable to think of how his dead father's remains wait in limbo for the moment, Hedges uncontrollably sobs and howls to powerful effect. Like much else in Manchester, the moves may not all be original or groundbreaking; they are done quite perfectly though.
If nominated, the newly twenty year-old Hedges wouldnt be close to the youngest ever in the category, with Kramer vs Kramer's Justin Henry having cracked in at a mere 8. A win, however, would be record-breaking. Hedges would be the youngest winner for Supporting Actor, just barely beating out another actor who got the gold for a tale of familial troubles; Timothy Hutton in Ordinary People (who was also 20). But first things first. Hopefully Hedges makes it to the final five.
