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.