The Squid and the Whale poster

2005·81 min·Released

The Squid and the Whale

“Joint custody blows.”

Comedy
Drama

Based on the true childhood experiences of Noah Baumbach and his brother, The Squid and the Whale tells the touching story of two young boys dealing with their parents' divorce in Brooklyn in the 1980s.

7.0(1,079 votes)

Popularity2

Videos

The Squid and the Whale Trailer (2005)

Cast & Crew

Jeff Daniels

Jeff Daniels

Bernard Berkman

Laura Linney

Laura Linney

Joan Berkman

Jesse Eisenberg

Jesse Eisenberg

Walt Berkman

Owen Kline

Owen Kline

Frank Berkman

William Baldwin

William Baldwin

Ivan

Halley Feiffer

Halley Feiffer

Sophie Greenberg

Anna Paquin

Anna Paquin

Lili

David Benger

David Benger

Carl

Molly Barton

Molly Barton

Graduate Student

Bo Berkman

Bo Berkman

Graduate Student

Matthew Kaplan

Matthew Kaplan

Graduate Student

Simon Kaplan

Simon Kaplan

Graduate Student

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Wuchak

Written on 2/9/2019

***Gripping realistic account of divorce and its consequences; it’s also occasionally comical*** “The Squid and the Whale” (2005) is a frank, quirky and amusing drama about a family from Brooklyn in 1986 that encounters divorce and the ramifications thereof. The father (Jeff Daniels) is a literary professor and fading author while the wife (Laura Linney) is an emerging writer, a sweet liberal who for some reason can’t stop having affairs. The two boys are played by Jesse Eisenberg and Owen Kline. William Baldwin is on hand as a tennis instructor while Anna Paquin plays a college student. The story is unsurprisingly based on director/writer Noah Baumbach’s own family’s experience. I say “unsurprisingly” because the movie smacks of real life with its candid and sometimes comical approach. A few viewers didn’t ‘get’ the father, Bernard Berkman (Daniels), and have interpreted him in an uber-negative way. Yes, he’s a grotesquely competitive, pompous cheapskate, but his comical flaws are rounded out by an inherent decency. He’s clearly not the unfaithful partner and wants to keep the family together. He takes the time to spend quality time with his boys and mentor them, especially Walt (Eisenberg), who idolizes him. Speaking of the father and Walt, Eisenberg and Daniel’s characters and their performances are the highlight of this picture. Both characters are fascinating psychological studies. Eisenberg possesses the intense, intelligent charisma of James McAvoy and Brando. Is it any wonder that he went on to play The Joker in the DCEU? Winsome Halley Feiffer is on hand as his girlfriend. Speaking of females, Anna Paquin is another highlight even while her lack of modesty isn’t very becoming. Nevertheless she looks great in jeans. The movie runs 1 hour, 21 minutes and was shot in Brooklyn, New York. GRADE: A-

Media

From the Archives: Noah Baumbach on The Squid and the Whale | NYFF43

From the Archives: Noah Baumbach on The Squid and the Whale | NYFF43

Behind the Performances in THE SQUID AND THE WHALE

Behind the Performances in THE SQUID AND THE WHALE

'The Squid and the Whale' | Critics' Picks | The New York Times

'The Squid and the Whale' | Critics' Picks | The New York Times

The Squid and the Whale Trailer (2005)

The Squid and the Whale Trailer (2005)