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The Squid And The Whale Reviews

2005

70
from 18,983 members

Based on the true childhood experience of director Noah Baumbach and his brother, this quirky, offbeat and hilarious black comedy illustrates the real life struggles of a family splintered by divorce. The Squid and The Whale tells the story of the patriarch of an eccentric Brooklyn family who once had been a great novelist but .. Read more

Starring	Jeff Daniels, Laura Linney, Jesse Eisenberg, Owen Kline
Director	Noah Baumbach
Genres	Comedy, Drama

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Critic's review of The Squid And The Whale
View all critics' reviews (4)
- Both sharply comical and piercingly sad....The film's tableau of domestic absurdity is likely to tickle, and also to lacerate, anyone who has either raised a child or been one
- 40799
- - New York Times
  - 08 Oct 2007 at 15:25
Write your own review »
Most helpful member's review of The Squid And The Whale
View all members' reviews (153)
- - 50
  - 7
  'Very Kafkaesque'
  
  This film might not be for everyone - it deals with a family in Brooklyn in 1985 and the way a divorce impacts upon two sons.
  
  Jeff Daniels ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 369632
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - JimmyConway
  - London
  - 31 Aug 2006 at 16:13
Most recent members' reviews of The Squid And The Whale
View all members' reviews (153)
- - 0
  - 0
  not my cup of tea
  
  hmm, not for me, heavy subject matter too grim and not much lightness, a searing uncomfortable film if you like that sort of thing
  
  Report this review
- 1084842
- - angoose
  - 3 reviews
  - 23 Jan 2012 at 18:09
- - 0
  - 1
  good film
  
  I had been wanting to watch this for years, since it was released, but for many reasons never had..
  
  thankfully when I watched it, it didnt disappoint... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1074060
- - lvwt
  - 22 reviews
  - 17 Dec 2011 at 09:05
- - 2
  - 4
  American Cinema at its very worst
  
  Utter rubbish! Why would anyone waste their time on something so awful. All this did was confirm why I watch mainly British films.
  
  Report this review
- 1059361
- - a customer
  - 06 Nov 2011 at 16:36
- - 0
  - 1
  the squid and the whale
  
  a bout a boys childhood who got mixed up when his mum and dad struggles for divorce and he gos and dos silly things like not lising to his mum and dad and ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1049404
- - a customer
  - 09 Oct 2011 at 15:49
- - 0
  - 0
  Acidic yet engaging
  
  THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS | Show review anywayHide
  
  This film was excellent...showing everyone at their best and at their worst. Like when many families split, it's never clear who is at fault and the viewer ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1025766
- - missjosefina
  - 1 review
  - 05 Aug 2011 at 21:39
- - 0
  - 0
  Sad but true
  
  Really good-well acted and funny. Sounds like a run of the mill thing to say but thats how I felt. Enjoyed the feel of the film and sensed a Wes Anderson ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1016935
- - buffyrules
  - 164 reviews
  - southend on sea
  - 14 Jul 2011 at 01:24
- - 1
  - 2
  Dreary and dismal
  
  This film shows adult behaviour at its worst. A married couple with intense dislike and disdain for each other head for separation, and their selfishness leaves... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1008384
- - wangmo
  - 2 reviews
  - 22 Jun 2011 at 16:51
- - 0
  - 0
  Early Jesse outing
  
  Interesting mainly because it is an early Jesse Eisenberg outing before his career went supersonic.
  
  As a film it is really just another domestic ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1008007
- - MikeLaughton
  - 85 reviews
  - Oakham,England
  - 21 Jun 2011 at 18:10
- - 0
  - 0
  A black comedy, how it should be.
  
  After watching this enjoyable film i noticed that Wes Anderson was one the producers in the credits, and this was to no surprise.
  
  The Squid and the ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 981806
- - Diggy1000
  - 3 reviews
  - London
  - 13 Apr 2011 at 10:37
- - 0
  - 4
  not that great
  
  this film tries very hard to be like the Royal Tenenbaums but not nearly as good and not as funny
  
  Report this review
- 980778
- - a customer
  - 10 Apr 2011 at 19:00
View all members' reviews (153)

- - 50
  - 7
  'Very Kafkaesque'
  
  This film might not be for everyone - it deals with a family in Brooklyn in 1985 and the way a divorce impacts upon two sons.
  
  Jeff Daniels ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 369632
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - JimmyConway
  - London
  - 31 Aug 2006 at 16:13
- - 36
  - 20
  Impressive
  
  I was impressed by the films constant hold over me, I couldn't turn it off to go to the toilet, to get a drink and if someone had come in to the room and ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 453801
- - NiallM
  - 28 reviews
  - Lanark
  - 27 Jun 2007 at 19:11
- - 21
  - 5
  Just because it's depressing, doesn't make it good!
  
  This is a worthy and witty little film (72 minutes or so) that reveals some of the harsher and more painful aspects of parental divorce. The dialogue is bright... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 421277
- - Clerico
  - 84 reviews
  - Dunbar
  - 18 Mar 2007 at 14:04
- - 15
  - 4
  A family sized slice of life in 1980's Manhattan
  
  If you were raised in the 1980's you will either cringe or rejoice with this movie. It is filled with some very honest moments, as we get to look behind ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 232976
- - a customer
  - London
  - 14 Apr 2006 at 18:03
- - 11
  - 1
  Er!!!
  
  The first mistake I made was reading the overly positive reviews on Metacritic just before watching this film. ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 406249
- - hamphlet
  - 9 reviews
  - Prenton
  - 26 Jan 2007 at 09:50
- - 7
  - 1
  The Darkest of Comedies
  
  Excruciating and utterly dark comedy exploring the end of a marriage, and the consequences for all concerned.
  
  Set in mid-80s New York, this low ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 384655
- - robertconnor
  - 177 reviews
  - Gloucestershire
  - 14 Nov 2006 at 11:48
- - 7
  - 3
  Brilliantly Dull
  
  Cleverly observed, brilliantly acted...........and extremely dull. Yawn. Very over-rated.
  
  Report this review
- 400321
- - AdyBassMan
  - 21 reviews
  - Exeter
  - 09 Jan 2007 at 09:56
- - 4
  - 0
  Disappointed
  
  another film okay for a rainy afternoon.
  
  Report this review
- 600428
- - Rosiebud
  - 36 reviews
  - Falkirk
  - 19 Jul 2008 at 14:45
- - 4
  - 0
  Enjoyable
  
  If you liked Little Miss Sunshine, you'll like this. Same degree of quirky off-the-wallness.
  
  Report this review
- 606484
- - countrygirlinthebigcity
  - 8 reviews
  - London
  - 31 Jul 2008 at 22:37
- - 3
  - 0
  The Squid And The Whale (2005)
  
  This film reveals some of the harsher and more painful aspects of parental divorce. A bit too depressing for me!
  
  Report this review
- 533006
- - a customer
  - London, England
  - 29 Feb 2008 at 18:23

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Critics' reviews
- Both sharply comical and piercingly sad....The film's tableau of domestic absurdity is likely to tickle, and also to lacerate, anyone who has either raised a child or been one
- 40799
- - New York Times
  - 08 Oct 2007 at 15:25
- Baumbach has crafted this tale out of real love....[He] tells the story with great fluidity....It's a breakthrough work and one of the year's most powerful pictures
- 40800
- - Premiere
  - 08 Oct 2007 at 15:25
- Noah Baumbachâs autobiographical film takes its name from a ceiling-mounted diorama in New Yorkâs Museum of Natural... read more on Time Out
- 49471
- - Jessica Winter
  - Time Out
  - 04 Nov 2008 at 00:19
- It is poignant and focused on familial struggle....The young actors' performances are particularly haunting
- 40801
- - USA Today
  - 08 Oct 2007 at 15:25

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Buy from Amazon.co.uk

- - Buy
- The Squid And The Whale
  
  Based on the true childhood experience of director Noah Baumbach and his brother, this quirky, offbeat and hilarious black comedy illustrates the real life struggles of a family splintered by divorce. The Squid and The Whale tells the story of the patriarch of an eccentric Brooklyn family who once ...