The Bottom Line
Writer/director Noah Baumbach pours out his very personal story in this touching and emotionally moving film and by doing so has created a thought-provoking movie you'll want to revisit every couple of years - making it perfect to own on DVD.
- Honest and real
- Jeff Daniels and Laura Linney give superb performances
- The two younger actors are equally fantastic
- Decent collection of bonus features
- None worth noting
Description
- Commentary by writer/director Noah Baumbach
- Behind the scenes featurette
- A conversation with Noah Baumbach and writer Phillip Lopate
- DVD Release Date: March 21, 2006
Guide Review - "Squid and the Whale" DVD Review
Bernard's real income comes from teaching as his dreams of being a great American novelist are fast sliding toward oblivion. As Bernard's writing career stalls, Joan's own career takes off causing a chasm to open up between the two. Arguments arise over petty things and soon they decide the only logical thing to do is divorce. Their two sons, Walt (Jesse Eisenberg) and Frank (Owen Kline), wind up caught in the middle. Joint custody is chosen as the solution but as their parents continue to fight, the boys become like little pawns in a grown-up game of chess where there can be no single winner.
"Squid and the Whale" isn't the easiest film to sit through. The subject matter is heavy and at times, because of the honesty of writer/director Noah Baumbach's words (this is based on his own childhood experiences), the film makes you feel uneasy. However the performances are so strong, the characters so human, that it's nearly impossible to not become involved in the lives of this particular family over the course of the film.
