The scene which drew the most critical praise featured the characters Randi and Lee speaking again years after their divorce . Anthony Lane called it the " highlight " of the movie . Speaking of Williams ' performance , Tom Shone said that " if this actress were put on earth to do one thing only , it would be this scene . " Along those same lines , Chang mentioned that Williams " has one astonishing scene that rises from the movie like a small aria of heartbreak . " Zoller called the scene " a duet of mortification and mercy that stacks up with the best of Mike Leigh ( '' Secrets and Lies '' ) ... The effect is cathartic . " Affleck says he strove to show restraint while acting the scene , explaining , " The challenge was to have all of those feelings and hold it without weeping and wailing and gnashing your teeth . To be there , and not be there . " '' Manchester by the Sea '' received six nominations at the 89th Academy Awards : Best Picture , Best Director , Best Actor ( Affleck ) , Best Supporting Actor ( Hedges ) , Best Supporting Actress ( Williams ) and Best Original Screenplay , winning two for Best Original Screenplay for Lonergan and Best Actor for Affleck . It was the first-ever film released by a digital streaming service to be nominated for Best Picture . Affleck won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama ; the film was nominated for four additional awards at the 74th ceremony : Best Picture , Best Director , Best Supporting Actress ( for Williams ) and Best Screenplay . '' Manchester by the Sea '' received six nominations at the 70th British Academy Film Awards : Best Film , Best Direction , Best Actor in a Leading Role ( Affleck ) , Best Actress in a Supporting Role ( Williams ) , and Best Original Screenplay ( Longergan ) . Affleck won Best Actor in a Leading Role and Lonergan won Best Original Screenplay . The National Board of Review listed the film as their top of 2016
89th Academy Awards
89th Academy Awards
Manchester by the Sea (film)