Wakefield

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1:59

Wakefield

R

Released May 19, 2017

1h 49m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

74%

Tomatometer

66 Reviews

52%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Howard Wakefield, a New York City lawyer, hides out in the attic of his home for weeks, coming out in the daytime when his family is gone to shower and eat. His withdrawal leads him to examine his life, and he rationalizes that he has not abandoned his family because he is still in the house. When a former boyfriend re-enters his wife's life, he realizes that he may not be able to return to life he has abandoned.

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Critics Consensus

Thanks to a committed, powerhouse performance by Bryan Cranston, Wakefield is a fascinating character study of a decidedly unpleasant character.

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Michael Sragow

Film Comment Magazine

Swicord's movie is about the angst of a rigorously constructed and airtight suburban life...she arrives at an intricate mosaic style that accommodates both eloquent portraiture and deft tableaux.

Jul 11, 2017

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Ben Sachs

Chicago Reader

Uneventful and dull to look at, the film adapts a short story by E.L. Doctorow that probably should have stayed on the page.

Jun 22, 2017

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David Sims

The Atlantic

It isn't the dull midlife crisis movie it initially presents itself as. But it also doesn't do enough to lurch into more nightmarish territory.

Jun 9, 2017

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Cranston is excellent in the central role, with Garner (who deserves a more vibrant career) offering solid support.

Rated: 3/4

Nov 1, 2021

Full Review

Leslie Combemale

Cinema Siren

The real reason so see Wakefield is the tour-de-force performance Bryan Cranston brings to it.

Rated: 4/5

Oct 18, 2019

Full Review

Nicholas Bell

IONCINEMA.com

While this monotonous one-man show may be a testament to Cranston's talents, the film becomes a tedious exercise.

Rated: 2.5/5

Oct 10, 2019

Full Review

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diane S

Was this ending supposed to be clever or did they just run out of time before they could finish the story. The main thing on the audience's mind throughout and especially at the end is what will the reaction of his wife be if and when he shows up at the door. Which means this movie was a complete flop as it totally failed to provide that most important part of the story.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

05/21/25

Full Review

Tonya L

This is an incredibly myopic viewpoint into what it’s like to be a self-consumed, narcissistic, passively sadistic human being incapable of empathy. It’s incredibly boring to be inside that kind of mind for the length of an entire film. There was literally nothing redeeming or fascinating about Howard’s character. He lives in the garage for months and delights in his wife’s pain as he watches her navigate life after his “disappearance.” He literally laughs while she cries and says, “Here come the waterworks!” He waxes nostalgically about how he wooed his wife despite really only being interested in her out of competition with another man. He admits he only wanted to sleep with her if there was the excitement of jealousy added in, which was really just him being a controlling jerk. He only returns home when he realizes she is ready to move on and actually have a chance to be happy. It’s not just abhorrent, but abhorrent in the most boring of ways. The only positive I can see about this movie is that it reveals the sad truth of how some people think, but I’d rather not watch it for an entire movie.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

11/18/24

Full Review

Ev B

This is the worst movie I’ve ever seen in my entire life

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

11/16/24

Full Review

Ryan R

Slow building but well worth the watch.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/05/24

Full Review

Just S

Can't imagine any other actor pulling a role this big. Meaningful and thoughtful, the movie runs through it all. Especially liked the slowness of the movie, it drags you into his life, how slow and lonely it is. It makes you feel it all, and with such great ambient music, you do. Also liked the idea with the ending of the movie, how every viewer will have his/hers own ending. Truly a masterpiece.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/08/24

Full Review

Diego H

Aburrida perdi 1:40:00 horas viéndola

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/06/24

Full Review

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Robin Swicord

Director

Bryan Cranston

Howard Wakefield

Jennifer Garner

Diana Wakefield

Jason O'Mara

Dirk Morrison

Beverly D'Angelo

Babs

Ian Anthony Dale

Ben Jacobs

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Wakefield: Trailer 1

1:59

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Synopsis

Howard Wakefield, a New York City lawyer, hides out in the attic of his home for weeks, coming out in the daytime when his family is gone to shower and eat. His withdrawal leads him to examine his life, and he rationalizes that he has not abandoned his family because he is still in the house. When a former boyfriend re-enters his wife's life, he realizes that he may not be able to return to life he has abandoned.

Director: Robin Swicord
Producer: Julie Lynn, Bonnie Curtis, Elliot Webb, Carl Moellenberg, Wendy Federman
Screenwriter: Robin Swicord
Distributor: IFC Films
Production Co: Mockingbird Pictures, Dominion Pictures Corporation
Rating: R (Some Sexual Material|Language)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 19, 2017, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 25, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $259.4K
Runtime: 1h 49m

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