Where'd You Go, Bernadette

Based on the best selling novel by Maria Semple, this was a box office failure and received bad to mixed reviews upon its release; however, while certainly not an overwhelming success, it isn't really half bad. It is often as eccentric as a Wes Anderson movie and sometimes as whimsical as something like THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY. Blanchett excels in making Bernadette Fox simultaneously vulnerable, exasperating, sympathetic and outrageous. It's a memorable character and performance, and she is backed by a strong supporting cast, most notably Kristen Wiig as Bernadette's neighbor and arch nemesis. Also very appealing is Nelson in her film debut as Bernadette's teenage daughter. As I said above, if you like Wes Anderson movies, particularly something like THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS, you're probably apt to enjoy this more than the average Joe.

Thematically its a mess, but there are some fantastic scenes. Ultimately Blanchett saves this movie, giving one of her best performances here.

Just watched this film on Amazon Prime. Based on the novel of the same name by Maria Semple, the film charts the life of Bernadette Fox (played by Cate |Blanchett), an architect who was renowned decades ago and won the prestigious MacArthur Genius Grant (an actual award). This is told in an Internet documentary. After the house that won the award is bought by a misanthropic neighbor who has it torn down, Bernadette moves to Seattle and gives up architecture and becomes a recluse an agoraphobe. In a brilliantly filmed dialogue that cuts back and forth between Bernadette talking to an old architectural mentor (played by Laurence Fishburne) from her Los Angeles days and her husband and a psychiatrist talking about Bernadette's problems, Her old friend tells her her problem is that she is a creative individual who gave up her creativity. She needs to get back to doing what she loves. The rest of the film elaborates on how she eventually finds her path back to architecture. It includes a trip to Antarctica. The character of Bernadette reminded me somewhat of the character of Howard Roark in The Fountainhead, an architect passionate about his work who pursues hid craft with uncompromising integrity. The trauma caused by the destruction of her prize winning house caused Bernadette to adopt a Dominique Francon state of mind, where she gives up on architecture because the world isn't good enough for her creativity. And the story ends with Bernadette redeemed and finding herself again. I though this was a great movie, brilliantly plotted and acted.

Personally, I love this movie. I also used to be an architect turned stay-at-home mom married to a man with an absorbing career. I love that this is a positive movie with people coming to better understand each other. It has so many good messages all around, and it also has a bit of a goofy side. Also love that the main character's reaching out to find herself again doesn't mean that her relationships fall apart, but instead are flexible.

B. i enjoyed some parts but I think it would have been better without the comedic bits.

Excellent movie with deliberate pacing centered around Bernadette, a once famous young architect, and her family. Daughter in private school, husband works at Microsoft; they live in a dilapidated unused school house from the turn of the last century. Snooty neighbor insists on denuding the hillside below Bernie's house but above her own, stupidly not realizing that the bushes are the only thing holding back the hill's mud from her pristine garden. That is just the straw that brings out the anxiety and depression Bernie suffers as the result of her lack of purpose. She ends up on the run from hubby, psychiatrist and FBI, but it's a beautiful trip with the best outcome. Do watch this movie and decide for yourself!

I found it very boaring.

Everyone seems to enjoy to story of quirky Bernadette (Cate Blanchett), so I it appears that I am in the minority in my lack of connection with the character, who I did not find sympathetic at all. Instead, my sympathies and frustrations lay with her husband and daughter, which made the already slow story drag on once it really got going with its story of Bernadette's disappearance and subsequent epic adventure to rediscover her creativity.

It's not a movie you should consider exciting, but I say this in a good way. It is funny and enjoyable. This movie is perfect for calm afternoons.

Это космически красивый фильм! The best! Как же я прошел мимо такого самородка! Фильм о том тяжелейшем этапе жизни, когда тебя затягивает паника и лютая тревожность. Когда тебе самому не очень понятно - что с тобой черт возьми происходит. Хорошая семья, любимая работа, любимые люди рядом, прекрасный дом и прочие радости жизни. Тогда почему жизнь вдруг остановилась, а ты в каком-то в полусне. Или во сне, очень страшном сне, где ничего не происходит. Когда ты пытаешься убежать от своей жизни, а она тебя догоняет. В общем, это великая история о семье, о любви, о долге. Что делать и как себя спасти В фильме есть эпизод, где героиня история со своей дочкой едут со школы домой и поют песню Синди Лопер "Time After Time". Эта же песня играет на титрах. Эта песня выводит эту историю, фильм на какой-то новый уровень, куда-то в стратосферу. Посмотрите, послушайте, почитайте!