Squid And The Whale

Year: 2005

Grade: B+

Country: USA

Director: Baumbach

Review

very fine film that’s part wes anderson and part woody allen. it’s well-written, extremely well-balanced, and has a very solid cast. a sleeper hit. nice to see it get a screenplay nomination.

i liked the realistic portrayal of separation – the way the parents use the children as pawns, the way the kids take sides, the relative nature of “good guy” and “bad guy,” etc. also impressive was the realistic treatment of other relationships depicted in the film. ann paquin’s inappropriate relationship with daniels and the older son, is a prime example. it’s too frequent that a film depicts sexual relationships like this in a melodramatic, overblown, or romanticized way. the squid and the whale, though, treats these relationships with the requisite complexity and depth.

perhaps my favorite element of the film was its balance. it shifted between comedy and drama so effortlessly, and did both so well that it was quite a joy to watch. worthwhile.

Watched in theater