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.

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

Slow building but well worth the watch.

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.

Aburrida perdi 1:40:00 horas viéndola

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.

Wakefield An abusive man manipulates two people and destiny to get a woman to fall in love with him. They are married and expecting before he realizes that happiness comes from within, and that he is an empty shell of a man. One day, he justifies a non-traditional abandonment of his wife and two daughters, claiming to be abandoning himself (and life), instead. It has a snowball effect, going from hours to days then weeks, with no reasonable way for him to return home. He watches the suffering of his wife, from a separate building on their property, every day, entertained. He gets a disturbing satisfaction from this, while rationalizing the cruelty of the circumstances. By disappearing without a trace, she is not able to move on, and left without closure. It wouldn't be socially acceptable for her to move on, especially with a new partner. This is his way of leaving her while keeping her under his control. When she turns down the sleazy advances of another man, and several other occasions, he takes pride in how his actions have created (and kept) a sense of ownership over her. He watches her sadness, with pleasure and criticism, because it's not enough unless she entirely falls apart as a mother, distraught over the fate of her husband. He is endlessly critical of how she copes, delighting in times when she has to struggle to do the job of both parents, feeling somehow vindicated by watching her take out the trash. He watches her struggle financially, to feed their daughters, while criticizing her decision to give them a sense of normalcy, by still taking them on an annual vacation. He scoffs that she might be going into their savings, later learning it is being financed by his (despised) mother in law. In perfect character, the moment he gets closest to choosing to return home, is as selfish as the petty as the reason he went missing to begin with. He doesn't want to be exposed for the deception he began their relationship with, or risk her actually finding happiness, apart from the ungrateful man she was conned into being with. This isn't a spoiler, either. You'll see it coming a mile away. The only thing missing from the ending is a restraining order, although it leaves enough of an open door for you to imagine a happily ever after for her. Everything else in the story, seems like the babbling justifications of an abuser about the abuse he is perpetrating, as if you're in his head with him. Not deep or thought-provoking. Yes, we've all had the urge to just "run away from life", but don't, because of those it would hurt. I agree with many others, that the same could've been accomplished in an hour, or as a short film. It gets to the point that you're just waiting for him to return home, where the film soon ends, unremarkably. Minus a star for that. Minus another star for the fact that I don't think the story was intended to portray an abusive relationship, when it is clearly one. Apparently, the viewer was supposed to find connection with, or sympathy for, this man. That part is probably more disturbing than the film, itself.

Interessante, quase doentio, mas bem como o protagonista afirma "quem nunca teve vontade de fugir da sua própria vida", fato, todos nós já sentimos esse impulso, mas poucos tem a coragem ou talvez atrevimento de tanto, soa sádico, ver o sofrimento das filhas e da amorosa esposa ante seu desaparecimento, e frieza calculista do plano simples arquitetado, e ao trollar o expectador com suas ações em pesamentos, como se executas tivessem sido... Profundo, reflexivo, analítico, final abrupto, injusto, queríamos saber sobre o impacto do retorno, da ressurreição...

I thought this was a really interesting film, in terms of the main plot. I admit I have, once in a while, wondered what response there'd be if I just didn't show up at work, didn't come home etc. Its selfish, I know but I could, to some extent, relate to the protagonist, as I'm someone who can be pretty scathing about things at times. I thought Bryan Cranston was a good choice of actor to play the main role, someone who does good, clear narration and he certainly looked the part, as the increasingly more dishevelled person in hiding. I couldn't help but think that paranoia was playing a part, due to some of the thoughts he has and also his habit of viewing people and things from a low, crouched position (to avoid being seen). I suppose that's to be expected, to an extent. I thought it was somewhat poignant, with one key quote going as follows - 'I didn't lose my family, I lost myself'. I suppose you could argue its a little like Rear Window, only what he's witnessing is the actions of those he's (they likely believe) left behind. The way he talks, at times, about himself in third person, I found a bit creepy. It may not suit everyone but I thought it was a quite intriguing and interesting, with good performances from Cranston and Jennifer Garner and so I'd recommend it on that basis.

Wow. Talk about slow movies.

Bryan Cranston does his best, but even he can't salvage this tedious and cynical story. After half an hour you really start disliking his character and not long after that, it's hard to keep watching. An embarrassing, boring and unlikeable film.

11 months into a global pandemic and being isolated from friends and family make this movie seem especially close to the heart. It's easy to relate to Bryan Cranston's existential crisis and self imposed isolation. And for those of us who have gone nearly a year without having our hair and nails done, or putting on a nice outfit, Cranston's homeless shabby look is a welcome relief. It's cathartic! The character himself is not likeable, hiding out in his attic to observe his gorgeous wife and personality-less twin daughters move on without him. He examines his life decisions and his actions. And, sadly, the ending goes to show that past behavior is a prediction of future behavior. At least when it comes to what motivates him to be with his wife. Cranston's acting is superb, not many could have carried this off, as basically he narrates the entirety of the film. But what a fascinating actor he is!

Doesn't quite justify its own length, but anyone who enjoys Cranston's performances in general should check this one out as another showcase of his talents. With a less talented actor, this film would have been unbearable, but somehow he forces you to maintain your focus from the first instant to the last, and it is only afterwards that you realise the film could have been so much shorter.

Loved hit. Hilarious. But I'm European & I like more subtle movies like this. ALL married men feel like this — if you're a guy, you'll feel seen. Bryan Cranston is a tour de force.

Terrible boring movie starring Bryan Cranston.

Terrible. But a perfect example of a narcissist. True mental disorder. Everything was about him. And the ending, what was that? No explanation.

Howard Wakefield is not a pleasant man, he manipulates every situation he finds himself in for his own benefit, even to the extent that the woman he married he only pursued because he felt it was a challenge to take her from his best friend who was dating her at the time. He now has a teenage daughters, a successful job on Wall Street and a strained relationship with his wife. He returns home from work one day, having fought with his wife earlier in the day and decides to take a break in a room he has above his garage that has long since been forgotten about and is now only used for storage. From here he can see his house and all the comings and goings. What begins as taking half an hour out of his life turns into days and then weeks and months as he sets up home in his abandoned garage and quietly observes his family and neighbours while leading the existence of a scavanger. This was a strange film. The central character is very unlikeable and you won't find yourself rooting for him in any way. The other characters are all viewed through his eyes so we only get a one sided view of the lives they are leading, including those of his family. At it's core, it's a character study of a manipulative self centred man who believes the world owes him something, very rarely realising that his situation is of his own making. Despite the unlikeable lead it is very well acted and Bryan Cranston's performance will keep you hooked. My only disappointment really was the ending, it left me thinking, and....?

The absolute worst movie I have ever watched! I was so angry at the ridiculous ending that I actually screamed. My god giving it 1 star at all pained me! Jesus I'm still angry that I'll never get every painful minute of this movie back

Wakefield was an odd film. Bryan Cranston turned in a great performance and it was genuinely a strange film and wild concept.

Wakefield attempts to simply demonstrate a "What if?" premise taken too far but ultimately depicts Bryan Cranston's character (excellently played to his most dramatic heights) gradually decline into primal reduction in a calmingly numbing work of art.