"The Squid and the Whale" is like a photo album chronicling the turbulent dissolution of a Brooklyn family in 1986. The movie doesn't have a dramatic flow to release the negative tension in moments of catharsis. In fact, the abrupt ending has a resounding sense of sadness — a gaping wound that has yet to heal. Despite these problems, there is a lot to take away from "The Squid and the Whale." At the least, it is a cautionary tale against pretentious narcissism (as embodied by the movie's parents, Bernard and Joan). At the most, it is a coming of age tale from the perspective of the film's oldest son.
Bernard (Jeff Daniels) is a novelist who considers Kafka to be his predecessor. He represents a certain type of intellectual whose pretensions shade his perspectives on everything. At the dinner table, Bernard tells his son, Walt, that "A Tale of Two Cities" is one of Dickens' minor works — not nearly as rich as "Great Expectations." Walt (Jesse Eisenberg) decides not to read "A Tale of Two Cities" because it would be a waste of his time. Later, in school, Walt spouts his father's rhetoric in reference to the minor works of Fitzgerald even though it's suggested that he doesn't read any of the books he discusses. When talking to a girl about Kafka's "Metamorphosis," he uneasily identifies the ending as ambiguous and the writing as Kafkaesque. Obviously he doesn't know what he's talking about. But Walt idolizes his father and takes his opinions to be true. The most notable development in the story concerns Walt's maturation as he slowly frees himself from his father's iron grip.
Throughout the film, it becomes clear that Bernard is really just a pathetic middle-aged man who aggressively tries to portray himself as a victim of his ex-wife, Joan (Laura Linney). Bernard's pretentiousness may be a guard against his own feelings of inferiority. The divorce corresponds with the publishing of Joan's novel, which receives great press. Bernard claims that Joan stopped loving him because he hasn't published anything for quite some time. In fact, his newest novel is being universally turned down. Therefore, he seeks the affection of a 20-year-old student in his writing seminar that idolizes his past work. Bernard becomes less sympathetic and more monstrous throughout the movie.
Joan is slightly more sympathetic because of her gentleness and the fact that we see her as a victim of Bernard's pretentious scrutiny. However, her newfound liberation compromises her responsibilities as a mother. She seems very absent from her children — even when she is physically present. Her youngest son, Frank (Owen Klein) drinks around the house in subtle despondency while she remains seemingly unaware.
The emotional impact of the divorce is most apparent in Frank's character. He acts out in strange sexual ways. His relationship with Walt morphs into a reflection of the parents' power struggle, as he aligns himself with Joan and Walt aligns himself with Bernard.
The director, Noah Baumbach, has experienced a comparable situation with his family. Although he claims "The Squid and the Whale" is a work of fiction, his emotional attachment to the material shades the movie with a mature sincerity, which is further rooted in the movie's amateur aesthetic and deadpan humor. Despite the overtone of seriousness, "The Squid and the Whale" does have its moments of caustic humor. However, even during laugh-out-loud moments, the humor remains relevant to the emotional tone and reflects the nature of the characters. For example, in the opening scene when the family plays a friendly game of tennis, Bernard instructs Walt to hit the ball towards Joan's weak backhand. This moment is funny and is poignantly indicative of the state of the family.
"The Squid and the Whale" is by no means a comedy. Instead, it is a substantial portrait of divorce and how such a circumstance affects everyone involved. It has the feel of a traditional Wes Anderson movie — rightly so because of his position as a producer of the film. Although the movie is steeped in sadness, it consistently entertains through the acerbic humor of complex character interactions. Ultimately, it's something the whole family can enjoy.
Grade: A/B
