Ranking Every Richard Linklater Film Worst To Best

Another Linklater effort based on a bestselling novel, Where'd You Go, Bernadette makes for an interesting concept and is aided by a great starring turn from Cate Blanchett, but is in many ways the director's most disappointing and disjointed efforts.

On the one hand, the film has a solid story, which follows the titular character as she battles agoraphobia, neighbourhood feuds and drug dependency, but underneath this intriguing set-up, there's isn't much there worth remembering. Blanchett is great in the lead role, securing herself a Golden Globe nod, but outside of Bernadette few of the characters seem likeable or even realistic.

Between the frustrating character interactions and the lack of any real hook, Where'd You Go, Bernadette does have some merits. For one thing, the performances are great, even from the more meandering characters (Judy Greer and Kristen Wiig are decent stand-outs), and the themes of following your dreams and family are well-handled as a whole. It's just a shame it never lives up to the book that inspired it.