Posted 9:08 am Tuesday, November 27, 2012
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LOST & FOUND: 'The Squid and the Whale' shows sharp edge, soft heart as family tries to survive divorce
Some times when I “buy” a DVD I hadn't seen, with the intent to watch the movie, it involves screwing up my Netflix account.
That is the case with “The Squid and the Whale.”
I've had in my care a red Netflix envelope holding “The Squid and the Whale” for more than four months and I might be low-balling my guess there.
It was finally time to watch the film and it was worth it.
“The Squid and the Whale” was written and directed by Noah Baumbach and starred Jeff Daniels, Laura Linney and Jesse Eisenberg.
It's set in 1986 Park Slope Brooklyn and is the story of the disintegration of the marriage of Bernard (Daniels), a snobbish once-great writer, and his wife Joan (Linney), an up-and-coming writer with recent acclaim, and how Bernard and Joan and their two kids, Walt (Eisenberg) and Frank (Oliver Klein), deal with the wreckage.
As the parents grapple with joint custody, 16-year-old Walt pretends he wrote “Hey You” by Pink Floyd and is being mean to his sweet girlfriend, Sophia (Halley Feiffer); and 12-year-old Frank has started to drink beer and … well, let's just say, is entering puberty.
That is the case with “The Squid and the Whale.”
I've had in my care a red Netflix envelope holding “The Squid and the Whale” for more than four months and I might be low-balling my guess there.
It was finally time to watch the film and it was worth it.
“The Squid and the Whale” was written and directed by Noah Baumbach and starred Jeff Daniels, Laura Linney and Jesse Eisenberg.
It's set in 1986 Park Slope Brooklyn and is the story of the disintegration of the marriage of Bernard (Daniels), a snobbish once-great writer, and his wife Joan (Linney), an up-and-coming writer with recent acclaim, and how Bernard and Joan and their two kids, Walt (Eisenberg) and Frank (Oliver Klein), deal with the wreckage.
As the parents grapple with joint custody, 16-year-old Walt pretends he wrote “Hey You” by Pink Floyd and is being mean to his sweet girlfriend, Sophia (Halley Feiffer); and 12-year-old Frank has started to drink beer and … well, let's just say, is entering puberty.
Walt and Frank feel the urge to take sides in the divorce and ultimately lose their closeness.
Bernard and Joan are doing much better.
Joan has taken up with Frank's tennis coach Ivan (William Baldwin) and Bernard, who teaches at an area college, has rented out a room in his new place to one of his admiring students, Lili (Anna Paquin).
Both Joan and Bernard are lousy parents.
Bernard gives Walt horrible advice about dating Sophia. Bernard thinks Walt could do better and that he should experiment sexually before settling down. Walt is 16.
During an argument, Joan tells Walt the divorce has “nothing to do” with him.
The things divorced parents say or do to their kids can create so much damage, and Bernard and Joan are both oblivious to the carnage they are creating and compounding in Walt and Frank.
Bernard and Joan are doing much better.
Joan has taken up with Frank's tennis coach Ivan (William Baldwin) and Bernard, who teaches at an area college, has rented out a room in his new place to one of his admiring students, Lili (Anna Paquin).
Both Joan and Bernard are lousy parents.
Bernard gives Walt horrible advice about dating Sophia. Bernard thinks Walt could do better and that he should experiment sexually before settling down. Walt is 16.
During an argument, Joan tells Walt the divorce has “nothing to do” with him.
The things divorced parents say or do to their kids can create so much damage, and Bernard and Joan are both oblivious to the carnage they are creating and compounding in Walt and Frank.
As stark and brutal as “The Squid and the Whale” can be it is also pretty funny and eventually a redeeming film with a soulful heart.
Besides, it's only 81 minutes long. It won't be emotionally draining to watch.
“The Squid and the Whale” is a beautifully acted and directed film free of irony and snarkiness.
And yes, there is a squid and a whale in the movie.
There is one red Netflix envelope leaving my home and another one heading my way in a few days.
Oh, hey, Netflix?
I'll see if I can get that one back to you much sooner.
Besides, it's only 81 minutes long. It won't be emotionally draining to watch.
“The Squid and the Whale” is a beautifully acted and directed film free of irony and snarkiness.
And yes, there is a squid and a whale in the movie.
There is one red Netflix envelope leaving my home and another one heading my way in a few days.
Oh, hey, Netflix?
I'll see if I can get that one back to you much sooner.
