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Wakefield

Play trailer 1:59 Poster for Wakefield R Released May 19, 2017 1h 49m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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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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Wakefield

Wakefield

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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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Critics Reviews

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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 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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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 Mildred M I enjoyed the dynamic experience of the characters. Cranston is well worth the watch! I've seen this four times already. Only wish there was insight to how things went beyond the ending. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/12/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Wakefield

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Movie Info

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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