Brooklyn Heights

Brooklyn Heights native getting rave reviews for role in Manchester by the Sea

Lucas Hedges Praised for Film Garnering Oscar Buzz

December 22, 2016 By John Alexander Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Lucas Hedges poses in the press room with the award for best young actor/actress for "Manchester by the Sea" at the 22nd annual Critics' Choice Awards. Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP
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Brooklyn Heights native Lucas Hedges is receiving critical acclaim and Oscar buzz for his powerful performance as Patrick in writer-director Kenneth Lonergan’s “Manchester by the Sea.” The film, produced in part by Matt Damon, is about the troubled Lee Chandler, played by Casey Affleck, a Boston janitor who becomes the legal guardian of his brother’s teenaged son, after the brother dies. Upon losing his only sibling, Chandler moves back to his Manchester, Massachusetts hometown to care for his hockey-loving nephew.

Hedges, 19, has previously appeared in the 2012 film “Moonrise Kingdom” and 2014’s “The Grand Budapest Hotel.” He also appeared in the 2015 NBC TV series “The Slap.” His mother is the actress and poet Susan Bruce Titman.

His father, Peter Hedges, is an Oscar nominated screenwriter and director, and the author of 1993’s critically acclaimed “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape.” He wrote the screenplays for 1999’s “A Map of the World” and 2002’s “About a Boy,” and served as writer and director for 2003’s “Pieces of April.”  He also co-wrote and directed 2007’s “Dan in Real Life” and 2012’s “The Odd Life of Timothy Green.” His novel, “The Heights” was published in 2010.

“Manchester by the Sea” has already been named Film of the Year by the National Board of Review, and stands as a major contender for an Oscar nomination for best picture of the year.

Critics have singled out stars Affleck, Michelle Williams, who plays Lee’s wife, and Hedges himself for possible Oscar contention. In fact, Hedges recently won the best young actor/actress award for “Manchester” at the 22nd annual Critic’s Choice Awards.

When the Oscars are announced, Hedges could end up with a best supporting actor nomination. Critics have called his acting both humorous and gut-wrenching, and a standout performance in one of the best-reviewed films of the year.

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