The Squid and the Whale (2005)
Genre: Drama / Comedy
Duration: 81 minuten
Country:
United States
Directed by: Noah Baumbach
Stars: Jeff Daniels, Laura Linney and Jesse Eisenberg
IMDb score:
7,3 (94.494)
Releasedate: 5 October 2005
The Squid and the Whale plot
"Joint custody blows."
Brooklyn, 1986. Bernard, once a successful novelist, and his wife Joan, a promising writer, decide to end their marriage. Their two sons Walt, 16, and Frank, 12, have to get through their confusing and conflicting feelings on their own. The road to adulthood becomes a difficult period in his life for Walt, while it is forced to come too soon for Frank.
Actors and actresses
Bernard Berkman
Joan Berkman
Walt Berkman
Frank Berkman
Ivan
Lili
Carl
Graduate Student
Pretty Girl
Sophie Greenberg
Reviews & comments
Insignificance
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- 3220 messages
- 5589 votes
Apparently it is very difficult to put together a logical tennis scene. Well, that way the relationships are immediately clear. The kind of indie movie that usually works for me quite well. Everything a bit off-the-cuff, while recognizable things are bubbling up in the meantime.
Probably because the characters are a lot closer to people than the sophisticated roles that the great dramas often run off with. Not that this is a sympathetic family. Far from even. Both parents are certainly not averse to a good dose of selfishness and wallow in self-pity.
Then you don't have much use for that supposed intelligence. Especially Daniels can put down a very arrogant and haughty cock. He does it with gusto. Of course that results in two more or less screwed up children. Especially the smallest, who are going to eat crazier things, is becoming more and more fun.
The conversation with the dean about his excesses is even hilarious. No matter how sad it is for the kids, I am mainly watching this with dark glee. About what people do to each other. Of course, such a divorce ends in a fiasco with mounting tensions and an eruption.
In the end, Baumbach is a little too sweet for the Berkmans. As far as I'm concerned you can deal with this more mercilessly. Via Walt, the film fades out a bit instead of closing with a bang and a dry aftermath. That's a bit of a shame, but oh well. That Figure Eight song is pretty annoying.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Baboesjka
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- 891 messages
- 1952 votes
These kind of movies are my thing. I like the type of humor, I like some absurdism and craziness and it's nice and small. Nice atmosphere, a sensitive story and convincing image and acting. An 8. 4*
Translated from Dutch · View original
Mescaline
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- 7095 messages
- 3256 votes
As Boenga pointed out, it is indeed a more than successful combination of drama and humor. The short playing time also ensures a pleasant course in the story. This film proves that a long running time is not especially necessary to make a film impressive, The Squid and the Whale regularly knows how to look for the edges and is certainly not ashamed to show that. In any case, the story comes across as lifelike and the characters due to the very strong acting performances (even the young actors) also come out very well.
Maybe it secretly could have lasted another 20 minutes or so, but at the same time this is perhaps the strength of this film? Tell and show what it takes and don't try to force anything, that's a lesson that can be learned from The Squid and the Whale. 
Also, the way of filming (as I mentioned earlier) is done very creatively!
From 4 to 4.5.
Translated from Dutch · View original
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