Wakefield

Bryan Cranston stars as suburban husband and father Howard Wakefield, a successful corporate attorney who, coming home late one night, chases a raccoon into the attic of his carriage-house garage and decides to stay there hidden from his family, who he feels do not properly appreciate him. What is initially meant to be a couple of hours stretches on for months, as Wakefield drops out completely, living like a hermit while spying on his family by day, scavenging trashcans for food by night, and justifying his continued absence through stream-of-consciousness narration. Cranston carries the film--directed by Robin Swicord from her adaptation of a short story by E.L. Doctorow--with a vivid performance as a man driven by competitiveness and conflict who takes perverse pleasure in the chaos and pain caused by his sudden disappearance. Jennifer Garner costars as his wife, usually seen from afar but also in memories. The literary pedigree and the presence of award-winning actor Cranston will draw interest for this oddball portrait of mid-life crisis gone extreme. Recommended. (S. Axmaker)