Review of The Squid and the Whale (2005) by Kylie P — 15 Feb 2010

From July 28, 2008:

The Squid and the Whale was directed by Noel Baumbach and is a semi-autobiographical account of his own experience dealing with the divorce of his parents. This was a worthwhile story that danced among many different and interwoven themes. On one hand, it was a straightforward story of the effects of divorce on a family, including the emotional blackmail and overcompensation that often accompanies joint custody situations. On the other hand, it's an examination of deeply flawed characters who form this family unit and somehow have to manage to tolerate each other for the sake of each other. The film also offers a biting examination of the types of writers who think of themselves as more than they are (both Bernard and Walt, for example, seem fond of snap judgments about literature they've never read). The whole film is told with a sardonic undercurrent that lightens what would otherwise be tragic in terms of the failed marriage and the degrading relationships between parents and children. The emotions and reactions explored are visceral and uncompromised.

The performances were very good, especially the amazingly mature performance by Owen Kline (who is Kevin Kline and Phoebe Cates' son, so he's got some genetic predisposition for acting greatness). Also, the soundtrack is amazing, intermixing 80s pop hits with some more contemporary, alternative singer-songwriter tracks and prominent, effective, and hilarious use of Pink Floyd's "Hey You." Also, the art direction and costuming was very good; it felt like the 80s again watching this film. One particular prop of note was Burger King glasses such as the kind that would have been sold separately with a Whopper and a Coke, which was a nice touch. Also, Mr. Baumbach and his photographers and cinematographer used the camera well in capturing the essence not only of the time period but of the flavor of New York City. Brooklyn and its neighborhoods were as much a character in the story as any one person.

One complaint about this movie stems from the abrupt ending (vaguely spoilery ahead) that found no resolution for the characters and no sense even of the direction the characters might be headed, at least apart from Walt, the film version of Mr. Baumbach's younger self. It would have been much more satisfying if one of these four flawed family members took something away from their vicious cycle of pain and strife or had an inkling about where that character might be headed given what was past. It didn't have to be a happy ending - just one that implied some conclusion to the painful leg of life's journey depicted by this picture. Maybe what was there was supposed to do that, but the story simply felt incomplete when the final credits rolled. The imagery of the title sea creatures was effective - but the story was as much about the characters individually as it was about how they related to one another. There was something of a cop out at the end, relying on a contrived trauma to, at least temporarily, end the bickering and force serious self-examination, at least for Walt, without showing some of the results of that self-examination.

Perhaps, the imperfect ending is meant to be a larger symbol of the imperfection of these realistically flawed human characters. The Squid and the Whale was on the right track but seemed to stop short of becoming something truly profound. In any case, it was an admirable and enjoyable attempt at painting a true portrait of human nature and reaction in an all-too-common occurrence in today's society. The Squid and the Whale is recommendable, though, because, at the very least, it's a mature and poignant examination of the internal and external conflicts that frequently motivate our actions - whether those actions are mature and/or poignant or not.