Brittany Runs A Marathon

I hate running.

It's not the exercise itself. I grew up an athlete and still, as an older man, will beat your ass in a game of basketball.

No, I just hate running. It's boring, and I can't find the motivation to do it. With sports-that-serve-as-exercise -- basketball, tennis, and (perhaps) golf -- I can use the competition with others as motivation. But running?  I'm just competing with myself.

And that's a lot less fun.

However, something about Brittany Runs A Marathon inspired me. I understood why she felt stagnant; I connected with her desire to create new life habits. Hell, during this 103 minute flick I had three different "concessions" while watching from my couch.

The COVID-19 pandemic has created some real challenges to living a more healthy lifestyle. I hunkered down in my house for a long while, planning to resume my normal activities once it dissipated. I moved less, stayed distressed, and gained weight.

Clearly, I need a new plan. The well written, well acted, comedy-drama Brittany Runs A Marathon inspired me see that.

Jojo Rabbit

There's nothing funny about Hitler . . .  except when he's an imaginary role model for a 10-year-old boy figuring out the world is more complicated and complex than he's been led to believe.

Where'd You Go, Bernadette?

When one reaches a certain age one begins to question things: life choices, career path, personal relevance, etc.

And I'm of that certain age.

I've lived life, and I've done some things. I've built strong relationships, mentored many from the next generation as they grew into adulthood. and tried to improve myself along the way.

But will I leave a legacy? Have I made a difference?

It's the question Bernadette Fox ponders throughout Richard Linklater's film, Where'd You Go, Bernadette? An accomplished architect revered by her peers, Bernadette spent years being a mother and a wife. Important and necessary, for certain. But being focused on others for so long cost her a bit of creativity and, as a result, caused a bit of an identity crisis.

And it's an identity crisis that requires dramatic intervention to resolve.

Where'd You Go, Bernadette? is uneven. The first half is rock solid as it provides insight into Bernadette and her relationships, while the second half is uneven and melodramatic, and has a conclusion that's hard to believe. The cast is very good -- Cate Blanchette is nominated for a Golden Globe for her role -- but they can't save the film from the over-the-top finish.

Far from perfect, Bernadette still gives the viewer some things to ponder about life and the choices we make. That, and Blanchette's performance, make the flick worth watching.