Returning to the string of indie flicks I've been immersed in these last few weeks, Netflix sent me The Squid and the Whale this week. As much as I love film, and even indies, I know so little about these films because they tend to fly under the radar (unless your radar is honed in on them, and mine typically is not). Apparently, this film had some buzz surrounding it at the time of its release, but I didn't hear any of it. I was simply interested in the story, and, thusly, I rented it. And I enjoyed it. It wasn't a perfect film, but it was a very good film in many of my estimations.
In Brooklyn, in 1986, Bernard (Jeff Daniels) and Joan (Laura Linney) are two writers in a rapidly failing marriage. Bernard's career as a novelist has taken a turn south, while Joan's career is blossoming. In addition, there have been some indiscretions on both parts, including a string of affairs undertaken by Joan. Caught in the crossfire are their two sons, Walt (Jesse Eisenberg) and Frank (Owen Kline), who deal with the divorce in different ways. Walt, who is 16 years old and idolizes his father, sides unflinchingly with Bernard, regardless of any skewed perspective he might be fed, and to the detriment of his relationship with his mother. Frank, who is 12 years old, sides with his mom but acts out his disturbed reaction to the news of the divorce with public self-gratification and underage drinking. Complicating matters are Joan's budding relationship with Frank's nouveau hippie tennis instructor Ivan (William Baldwin) and Bernard's dalliance with one of his writing students, Lili (Anna Paquin). The film centers on the boys' experience dealing with the normal woes of adolescence while simultaneously attempting to navigate the emotional minefield of their parents' divorce.
The film was directed by Noel Baumbach and is a semi-autobiographical account of his own experience dealing with the divorce of his parents. I have never seen a Baumbach picture before, to my knowledge, so I have nothing to compare this film to or to consider other than what I saw. For me, 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 I noticed was Burger King glasses such as the kind that would have been sold separately with a Whopper and a Coke, which I thought 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.
My only 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. I would have felt entirely more satisfied if I saw that 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 I simply felt incomplete when the final credits rolled, as if I missed the point. 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. I felt that 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. I don't know. All I know is, I was into the film and then said aloud, "That's it?" The Squid and the Whale was on the right track but seemed to stop short of becoming something truly profound. In any case, I still enjoyed it because 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. For that reason, I feel this film warrants an 8 for being very good but with minor flaws - or, perhaps, one major flaw in terms of the abrupt ending that, at least, left me unsatisfied. As good as the film is, I don't think it passes the test of purchase. Truthfully, and happily, I don't actually relate to the subject matter all that much - my parents are still married, and though I know these writer types, and the caricatures here made me chuckle, it wasn't enough to want to watch the film repeatedly. 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.