Review of The Squid and the Whale (2005) by Sherry L — 20 Jan 2010

Really good and honest indie-movie about a family going through a divorce in 1980s New York.

Both parents are famous writers. He (Jeff Daniels) had his golden time years ago and is working as a teacher nowadays, and she (Laura Linney) has just became famous. After explaining to their two boys, they are going to divorce, the two boys who are very different from each other, react in different ways. The teenage son Walt who is looking up to his dad very much, and have plans becoming a writer himself just like his father (note; not like his mother) blame his mother naturally after hearing tales from his dad about his mothers affairs with other men. And the younger son, 12-year old Frank, takes his mothers side and prefer being with her, and not seeing his dad at all. Frank is mommy's boy, and very interested in tennis, and starts to imitate what he thinks is grown-up behaviour as a reaction to his parents divorce.

This is one of the best roles Jeff Daniels ever did. There's no doubt about it.

The complex characters adds even more quality to this. And the script is nearly brilliant. It really makes you think a lot.

You'll also spot a little bit older Anna Paquin (not old, but older then she is in The Piano at least!) as the father's young girlfriend.

This is a fine movie, I can easily recommend!