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Movies / On DVD / The Squid and the Whale
The Squid and the Whale

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The Squid and the Whale (2005)

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85 %
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Reviews Counted: 427

Fresh: 364

Rotten:63

Average Rating: 7.3/10

Consensus: This is a piercingly honest, acidly witty look at divorce and its impact on a family.

Runtime: 88 mins

Genre: Dramas

Theatrical Release: Oct 5, 2005 Limited

Box Office: $7,073,391

Synopsis: Noah Baumbach's THE SQUID AND THE WHALE is an excruciatingly humane, often hilarious portrait of a disintegrating family in mid-1980s Brooklyn. Set in the stately yet off-kilter neighborhood of Park Slope, the film tells the story of the... Noah Baumbach's THE SQUID AND THE WHALE is an excruciatingly humane, often hilarious portrait of a disintegrating family in mid-1980s Brooklyn. Set in the stately yet off-kilter neighborhood of Park Slope, the film tells the story of the Berkmans, a quintessentially New York family struggling to keep things together. Family patriarch Bernard (Jeff Daniels) is a published author and writing teacher whose insecurity over his own lack of recognition continues to plague him. Meanwhile, his wife, Joan (Laura Linney), is grappling with her own sense of unsettlement. Their sons, who are caught in the crossfire, express their confusion in different ways: 16-year-old Walt (Jesse Eisenberg) tries to pass off Pink Floyd's "Hey You" as his own hit in the school talent show, while his 12-year-old brother Frank (Owen Kline) begins to explore his burgeoning sexuality and alcoholism. When Bernard and Joan finally decide to separate, the family must confront their unraveling situation head on. Rarely has family dysfunction been captured so frankly and honestly as in THE SQUID AND THE WHALE. Baumbach claims his film is only semi-autobiographical, but, from the pitch-perfect writing and nostalgic tone, it feels as if we're watching home videos of the writer-director's past. Featuring an outstanding pop-music soundtrack (Bert Jansch, the Feelies, Lou Reed), the film also boasts performances that seem certain to earn end-of-the-year accolades. [More]

Starring: Jeff Daniels, Laura Linney, Jesse Eisenberg, Owen Kline

Starring: Jeff Daniels, Laura Linney, Jesse Eisenberg, Owen Kline, William Baldwin, Anna Paquin, Ken Leung

Director: Noah Baumbach

Director: Noah Baumbach
Screenwriter: Noah Baumbach
Producer: Wes Anderson, Peter Newman
Studio: Samuel Goldwyn Films

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Release:

Mar 21, 2006

[DVD Details]
 
 
  • DVD Features
  • Region 1
  • Keep Case
  • Audio:

    • Dolby Digital 5.1 - English
    • Dolby Digital Surround - French
    • Subtitles - English - Close Captioned
    • Subtitles - French - Optional
    • Anamorphic Widescreen - 1.85

    Additional Release Material:

    • Audio Commentary - Noah Baumbach - Director
    • Behind the Scenes - Featurette
    • Interviews - Noah Baumbach - Director

    Reviews

    • T-Meter Critics
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    • RT Community
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    1 - 20
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    aplomb 10/05/08
    60%

    Quote by aplomb
    lowend922 09/29/08
    70%

    Quote by lowend922
    sirdarkhorse 09/26/08
    90%

    Quote by sirdarkhorse
    postglock 09/26/08
    70%
    Solid movie. Has traces of that Baumbach/Anderson-style cinema, although slightly more understated. Interesting... More
    Quote by postglock
    Kzena 09/18/08
    80%

    Quote by Kzena
    Quiny 09/17/08
    70%

    Quote by Quiny
    Ramseys77 09/12/08
    100%

    Quote by Ramseys77
    chelseaschnaggerfield 09/06/08
    90%

    Quote by chelseaschnaggerfield
    badvibrations 08/24/08
    50%

    Quote by badvibrations
    notverycool2 08/21/08
    80%

    Quote by notverycool2
    kurisukun 08/21/08
    100%

    Quote by kurisukun
    Littlebuddha13 08/19/08
    100%

    Quote by Littlebuddha13
    jodiodie 08/16/08
    70%

    Quote by jodiodie
    E.F. Shut-In 08/14/08
    80%
    The Squid and the Whale, directed in 2005 by Noah Baumbach, tells the story of a family, steeped in academia, whose keen... More
    Quote by E.F. Shut-In
    blastedwpg 08/12/08
    80%

    Quote by blastedwpg
    seraphay 08/11/08
    90%
    Why the hell doesn't blockbuster have anything by David Mamet or David Cronenberg? More
    Quote by seraphay
    Mr. Sorkini 08/10/08
    50%
    I’m not surprised the critics jumped all over this movie with its countless obscenities and vulgar dialogue. the plot... More
    Quote by Mr. Sorkini
    Humbaba_O'Reilly 08/08/08
    70%

    Quote by Humbaba_O'Reilly
    nagemmm 07/31/08
    80%

    Quote by nagemmm
    duows165 07/29/08
    100%

    Quote by duows165
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