Wakefield 2017

With sharp tonal shifts from dramatic to comedic and from introspective to genuinely creepy, Wakefield manages to be an entertaining watch for all of its runtime. Cranston really gives a powerhouse performance here. He was nominated for Trumbo, but I think he's even better in this, carrying the whole movie on his shoulders with a solitary and varied performance, making his unlikable Howard Wakefield a sympathetic character.

An interesting take on middle-age crisis, and how it affects the protagonist and the people around him.

1 / 2 directing & technical aspect

0 / 1 story

1 / 1 act I

1 / 1 act II

0 / 1 act III

1 / 1 acting

1 / 1 dialogue

1 / 1 originality

1 / 1 lasting ability to make you think

7 out of 10

Cranston is the life and soul of this film, and he is perfect in the role of a man who has 'lost' everything. The ending frustrated a little - I wanted to know what happened next - but the plot really takes a back seat to Howard, and the introspection he goes through while watching events from afar.

Film 42 (Goal: 300) of 2024

I honestly don't know what to make of this film. I don't know if I like it but I know I didn't dislike it - so I'm on the fence here. A problem is that the protagonist played by Bryan Cranston is so unlikeable and the initiation of the premise not executed well enough, that I struggled to buy into the notion that a mental breakdown had occurred. It's an interesting idea - giving up everything that holds you including the notion of a marriage, and being free, even if that leads to no possessions, poor hygiene, eating scraps from garbage, etc. But I think the execution could be better. This applies to the ending as well. Some may appreciate the choice, I can't say I did.

Can Bryan Cranston make a bad movie? Nope - this guy is a chameleon. The movie is a little different, but enjoyable. 7/10

I kinda seriously disliked that ending but besides that, well acted uniqueish movie.