Where'd You Go, Bernadette

Started out at little slow and ended strong. The Director took to long to help us understand the complexity of Bernadette and her real struggles -which we can all identify with, so that we really liked and rooted for her. Once the movie got there it took off and ended strong. One criticism overall and not so much about this movie but an overall statement. If a movie is set in a specific city - film it in that city. There were obvious obligatory scenes of Seattle but It was clearly filmed mostly elsewhere.

Just I love it. Not only for the basic motif than Cate Blanchett is one of my favorit actress , for the art of Billy Crudup or because the young Emma nelson reminds me one of my students, but because all is...just lovely. Amix of depression, family, life , passion, loneliness and the result of vocation. An adorable film. Just an adorable one. For storytelling, acting, humor , extravagance and tension. And in few scenes, for the status of mirror.

Some reviewers criticized the film's pacing, I was fine with it. It's clear from the beginning the family is non-tradiotional, living in partially renovated, unkempt colossal house in a high end Seattle among well kept homes. Snobbery abounds. The viewer wonders about the past and it is revealed little by little in various ways. Bernadette & her daughter are unusually close, the parents less so. The ultimate strength of their bonds is what drives the last 1/3. I did snort-laugh a few times, for the record. A good film for families ( kids over 12 or so) to watch which may lead to discussions. Cate B's performance is excellent!

My wife and I went to see this movie because Kristen Wiig is in it and it looked like it would be funny. It is funny - but it is a lot more. It is quirky (we love quirky movies!), edgy, sometimes uncomfortable, but mostly enlightening (as in bringing light in). It could have been titled "Where'd you go Human Spirit?", or "Where'd you go Imagination?, or "This is what happens to society when fear drives honest, loving, intelligent people to start acting weird and give up on each other". And it shows us the answer in a very positive way. So, it was not Bridesmaids. Closer to "Welcome to Me" or "Skeleton Twins" maybe (I loved both), but not really like any other movie I can think of. Note: The critics seemed to not like it. That is almost a sure sign of a good movie to me. Bless their pointy little heads.

Yes, it's a Hollywood film with all the clever coincidences and neat n' tidy endings, but it is also very clever, well acted, and even poetic. Go see a film that doesn't involve flying superheroes, gun fights, or animated toys...you'll be glad you did.