Review of The Squid and the Whale (2005) by Héliø L — 09 Jun 2015

Academics getting divorced would always provide excellent material for a quirky film. It helps that Baumbach lived through it all and didn't mind getting so personal in what is regarded by many as his best film yet.

If the absurdity of the situations depicted here ends up feeling just like your usual first world problem - and a bit too much - then again, remember it's going to be hard to find a film that captures the moment when we discover our parents aren't perfect so perfectly.

I have a feeling people of low socioeconomic backgrounds and those with no academic aspirations will absolutely hate this. And so they should. It's definitely wanky stuff like you would spread at school lockers or public library books if you were 12 and a character in this eccentric family saga.

It would probably have been way cooler if Bill Murray was cast for the leading role as originally intended!