Review of Where'd You Go, Bernadette (2019) by Greatmartin — 16 Aug 2019

There are some actresses that even when quiet still are acting up a storm and you can almost hear what they are thinking and Cate Blanchett is certainly one of those. In "Where's You Go, Bernadette" while talking, listening, acting, reacting, smiling, serious, crying, etc., makes no difference her whole body mesmerizes you making it impossible for you to not get involved with her and her character!

The first half of the film takes its time setting up why Bernadette disappeared leaving her brilliant computer smart husband (Billy Crudup) and a daughter (Emma Nelson) who loves her and sees her as her best friend. Twenty years previously the very successful and admired architect , Bernadette Fox (Cate Blanchett) and her husband left Los Angeles moving to Seatle where Elgin can advance his career with Microsoft while Bernadette, after a few tries, gives birth to Bee and devotes her life to both while working, slowly, on an old former reform school. Aside from fixing the house and taking care of her family Bernadette seems to have no friends or life and when Bee calls them on a promised trip to Antarctica for her school accomplishments Bernadette disappears.

The screenwriters, Holly Gent and Vincett Palmo, Jr., the director Richard Linklater and the actress Blanchett, hints at why she disappears but all 3, and the supporting cast, in telling you where she disappears to and the reasons makes the second half of the film fast moving and involving.

There is an extraneous story line that seems far fetched regarding a scam and the ending is too much 'Hollywood' but Blanchett is a marvel, it is good seeing a mature Billy Crudup with that little boy's grin and newcomer Emma Nelson as their daughter is a find.

"Where'd You Go, Bernadette" is not a must see film but is certainly a film worth seeing.