Director: Richard Linklater
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Billy Crudup, Kristen Wiig, Laurence Fishburne, Judy Greer
Running Time: 109 minutes
Synopsis: In Seattle, Bernadette Fox (Cate Blanchett) lives in a fixer-upper mansion with her husband Elgie (Billy Crudup), a Microsoft executive, and their teenaged daughter Bee. Bernadette was once a rising star in the world of architecture, but stopped working after a series of set-backs. She now avoids socializing, relying on an India-based digital assistant for most tasks, and particularly dislikes her intrusive neighbour Audrey (Kristen Wiig). When Bee proposes a family trip to Antarctica, Bernadette's stress levels spike.
What Works Well: The first two thirds offer a razor-sharp comic-dramatic portrait of a strong-willed woman in emotional trouble. With Cate Blanchett in fine form, director and co-writer Richard Linklater adapts Maria Semple's book with an emphasis on Bernadette gliding through life using a caustic attitude to avoid confronting depression. Laughs combine with revelations, all anchored by a warm mother-daughter relationship offering an escape route from the doldrums.
What Does Not Work As Well: The final act is a bland let-down, descending into a schmalzy combination of glacier scenery and simple solutions suddenly available in the remotest corner of the planet. Some characters, including a therapist (Judy Greer) and an FBI agent, enter with a flourish but are then summarily abandoned.
Conclusion: Bernadette sparkles when restless in Seattle, but slips when surrounded by ice.
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![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQrMKC1DExUaux3ojFJuNQIOXkxGHYZarQZc_SMwQuerYkFJR9q4yaSUt-BWRCl1w4W9Nq_rvlJ1VpV5FgrEM4q4AzLuoN1MMd6n2eFLR8H72bWIQJB463zRq4v597ovo6P84ZOKFTKdhL6qdvy2Viss6Fj4Iv0lMMtR1UxZhjd3cxlrjUEFyUlPJiBwE/w200-h58/Four%20Stars.png)
All Ace Black Movie Blog reviews are here.
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