Clutch Problem

Just started having a "problem" with my 2006, 4-cyl Solara. It has 45,000 miles on it. The clutch pedal suddenly seems very "weak" at the start and goes halfway down with very little resistence. Then at a specific point it stiffens up to normal. The release point from the floor has always been low, but seems maybe a little lower now. Hard to tell. The engine engages okay and the car moves fine, but when the clutch pedal gets back up to the halfway point it again feels very weak. So there's a sudden point about halfway down when it acts like a normal clutch, and anything above that seems "loose". There is no "free-play" and actually never was. Also, this car SELDOM goes easily into reverse from the first day I had it. It usually involves going in and out of 2nd and 3rd, and sometimes letting the clutch out in neutral first. Any ideas?

Thanks,
Dick