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The Squid & the Whale (2005 - Noah Baumbach)
A portrait of middle-class fractured family dynamics, thankfully with more emphasis on character than melodramatic plot machinations. Set in 1986 Brooklyn, we meet the Berkmans. The father, Bernard (Jeff Daniels), is a literature professor who a couple decades before had promise as a novelist - though he hasn't published in years. The mother, Joan (Laura Linney), is trying her hand at writing herself, and these days has much more interest than her husband. The elder son, Walt (Jesse Eisneberg), is a bright High School student who very obviously patterns himself on hero worship of his father, and the younger boy, Frank (Owen Kline), isn't sure what he wants to be yet, but he's pretty sure whatever it is it isn't going to be anything like Dad. There is a palpable "us against them" feeling in the family, between Bernard & Walt on one hand and Joan & Frank on the other.
Shortly after being introduced to the Berkmans and their dynamics, the parents announce that they will separate, with Bernard moving across Prospect Park to a run-down townhouse and Joan keeping the much nicer house. They will share joint custody, with the boys basically alternating between houses every other night.
What follows after that set-up is a really nice character piece where all four family members are fully drawn, and all the actors are quite good in their roles, especially Jeff Daniels as an arrogant and petty man who isn't much of a husband and is frankly a horrible parent. Casting Daniels, who has a very likeable and affable screen presence, as this rather unattractive character is a winning idea. Had it been an actor who is known for playing more arch and twisted roles it wouldn't have made sense that Walt would admire him so. But Walt buys into his father's bullsh!t bigtime, and his story is about reconciling his ideas of who both his parents are wth his own sense of self. It's very well written with some subtle shading, and Eisenberg, who was so memorable in Roger Dodger, is up to the task. Laura Linney probably gets the least screentime of the four, but she makes the most of every scene, inhabiting this woman who simply couldn't take it anymore and wants to move on with a life that doesn't include Bernard. She is flawed, but owns up to her mistakes in a way her husband wouldn't even think of, much less actually do in front of his children or wife. Frank, who is eleven or so, is the family member who most obviously takes the problems and feelings onto himself, and he acts out in bizarre ways, including new habits of secretly drinking alcohol and masturbating in public places, like the library at school. They are a quirky, complicated lot, though it isn't overplayed for either easy laughs or reflexive tears.
There's a nice, laid back tone that I really appreciated with the material, and all four of the Berkmans are well realized people. You may not empathize with them at all points along the way, but you do come to understand how the personalities and weaknesses of each individual works either with or more often against the others.
I enjoyed writer/director Noah Baumbach's debut, Kicking & Screaming (1995), but this film is definitely more accomplished and polished. Friend Wes Anderson, with whom he co-wrote The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, co-produced The Squid & the Whale, and one thing I noticed that must have influenced Noah working with Wes is his fantastic choice of soundtrack. Pink Floyd's "Hey You" features prominently in the plot, and in addition to that there's a wonderful mix of stuff from Lou Reed, Loudon Wainwright III, The Cars and one of my favorite pieces a mourful ode to the number eight from "Schoolhouse Rock". Like Wes Anderson's choices, they don't feel random, but perfect and eclectic pieces that compliment the emotional lives of the characters and the tone of the movie perfectly. Until The Life Aquatic and Squid Noah hadn't done much since that good debut a decade ago, but he seems to be back and better than ever. Now he's a name I'll definitely be on the lookout for.
GRADE: B+
The Squid & the Whale (2005 - Noah Baumbach)
A portrait of middle-class fractured family dynamics, thankfully with more emphasis on character than melodramatic plot machinations. Set in 1986 Brooklyn, we meet the Berkmans. The father, Bernard (Jeff Daniels), is a literature professor who a couple decades before had promise as a novelist - though he hasn't published in years. The mother, Joan (Laura Linney), is trying her hand at writing herself, and these days has much more interest than her husband. The elder son, Walt (Jesse Eisneberg), is a bright High School student who very obviously patterns himself on hero worship of his father, and the younger boy, Frank (Owen Kline), isn't sure what he wants to be yet, but he's pretty sure whatever it is it isn't going to be anything like Dad. There is a palpable "us against them" feeling in the family, between Bernard & Walt on one hand and Joan & Frank on the other.
Shortly after being introduced to the Berkmans and their dynamics, the parents announce that they will separate, with Bernard moving across Prospect Park to a run-down townhouse and Joan keeping the much nicer house. They will share joint custody, with the boys basically alternating between houses every other night.
What follows after that set-up is a really nice character piece where all four family members are fully drawn, and all the actors are quite good in their roles, especially Jeff Daniels as an arrogant and petty man who isn't much of a husband and is frankly a horrible parent. Casting Daniels, who has a very likeable and affable screen presence, as this rather unattractive character is a winning idea. Had it been an actor who is known for playing more arch and twisted roles it wouldn't have made sense that Walt would admire him so. But Walt buys into his father's bullsh!t bigtime, and his story is about reconciling his ideas of who both his parents are wth his own sense of self. It's very well written with some subtle shading, and Eisenberg, who was so memorable in Roger Dodger, is up to the task. Laura Linney probably gets the least screentime of the four, but she makes the most of every scene, inhabiting this woman who simply couldn't take it anymore and wants to move on with a life that doesn't include Bernard. She is flawed, but owns up to her mistakes in a way her husband wouldn't even think of, much less actually do in front of his children or wife. Frank, who is eleven or so, is the family member who most obviously takes the problems and feelings onto himself, and he acts out in bizarre ways, including new habits of secretly drinking alcohol and masturbating in public places, like the library at school. They are a quirky, complicated lot, though it isn't overplayed for either easy laughs or reflexive tears.
There's a nice, laid back tone that I really appreciated with the material, and all four of the Berkmans are well realized people. You may not empathize with them at all points along the way, but you do come to understand how the personalities and weaknesses of each individual works either with or more often against the others.
I enjoyed writer/director Noah Baumbach's debut, Kicking & Screaming (1995), but this film is definitely more accomplished and polished. Friend Wes Anderson, with whom he co-wrote The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, co-produced The Squid & the Whale, and one thing I noticed that must have influenced Noah working with Wes is his fantastic choice of soundtrack. Pink Floyd's "Hey You" features prominently in the plot, and in addition to that there's a wonderful mix of stuff from Lou Reed, Loudon Wainwright III, The Cars and one of my favorite pieces a mourful ode to the number eight from "Schoolhouse Rock". Like Wes Anderson's choices, they don't feel random, but perfect and eclectic pieces that compliment the emotional lives of the characters and the tone of the movie perfectly. Until The Life Aquatic and Squid Noah hadn't done much since that good debut a decade ago, but he seems to be back and better than ever. Now he's a name I'll definitely be on the lookout for.
GRADE: B+