The Squid and the Whale (2005)

Surprisingly incoherent and boring

a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Did the other reviewers neglect to mention that the two supposedly well educated parents constantly used the most foul language imaginable to and about their two early teen children? Or that the younger boy was sexually gratifying himself and spreading the guk all over the library books at school? Be warned before you pay money to watch this movie. 12-1-07

So bad. So very, very bad. The tale of a family is disarray; the mother an insipid up-and-coming author, the father a narcissistic, has-been writer, and their two pathetic and very disturbed sons. Painfully acted, despite a wonderful cast. Poorly written cringe-worthy scenes of shallow people behaving badly. There is a Woody Allenesque taint to this movie in the worst possible way. Painful. The only redeeming aspects are the street scenes of New York city neighbourhoods that are far beyond the economic reach of most people, which essentially amounts to nothing more than real estate porn. Everyone involved in this movie should be very ashamed. My advice to the writers, actors, director etc.: do not include this movie on your Curriculum Vitae.

The Squid and the Whale follows two parents as they separate and how that affects their entire family. Something that jumped out at me almost immediately was the writing. The father character in particular is shown to be a very real, well- realized character right off the bat. And the rest of the characters are pretty much written around him, and it all works perfectly. But what is good writing with bad actors? The leading cast here is fantastic. Each one plays off of each other well enough to feel like a real family but poorly enough that you feel that every conflict has depth and gravitas. Especially towards the end when the characters begin to come to realize certain things the movie manages to really tug on some emotional heart strings and really make the audience feel for the characters, even the hardest ones. The movie is directed with hand-held camera, giving it a found footage/documentary vibe. And as a result it feels much more realistic. Not to say that the conflict seemed fake, but the directing just added to it. Overall I loved The Squid and the Whale. The direction, acting, and writing are all fantastic. It's hard to watch, and yet it's so engaging. In the end I would definitely recommend seeing this movie.

"The Squid and the Whale" (2005) reminded me a bit of "Thumbsucker" (2005), "Me and You and Everyone We Know" (2005) and "Little Miss Sunshine" (2006). I guess weird "Indie" (aka "art house") movies about dysfunctional families where "a thing" a decade ago, although I have to say that "The Squid and the Whale" is by far the most disturbing in the list. While still far from the disturbia scale of "Happiness" (1998), "The Squid and the Whale" had more than enough of those moments that are just so awkward you can only shrug your shoulders in disbelief.If you're into weird 2005-ish "Indie" movies about dysfunctional families, "The Squid and the Whale" is a movie that should not be missed. If not, you might want to skip it. You won't be missing much.