The Squid and the Whale

Name: The Squid and the Whale
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Released: October 5, 2005
Duration: 81 min
Rating: 82

2005

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 37 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 352 Ratings

See All

7.4

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

7.4	Your Score
7.4	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 352 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Play Sound

Please enter your birth date to watch this video:

You are not allowed to view this material at this time.

The Squid And The Whale

Now Playing: The Squid And The Whale

Movie Details & Credits

Samuel Goldwyn Films | Release Date: October 5, 2005 | R

Summary: The Squid and the Whale captures with extraordinary immediacy the inner workings of the Berkman family in 1986 Brooklyn.

Director: Noah Baumbach

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy

Rating: R

Runtime: 81 min

See All Details and Credits

Watch Now

Stream On

Buy on

Stream On

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

Premiere Glenn Kenny

It's a rare film that can be convincingly tender, bitterly funny, and ruthlessly cutting over the course of fewer than 90 minutes. The Squid and the Whale not only manages this, it also contains moments that sock you with all three qualities at the same time. Read full review

Lisa Schwarzbaum

In hovering, The Squid and the Whale becomes its own realistic display of family entropy, as cautionary as it is educational. Read full review

Richard Corliss

The Squid and the Whale is domestic tragedy recollected as comedy: a film whose catalog of deceits and embarrassments, and of love pratfalling over itself, makes it as (excruciatingly) painful as it is (exhilaratingly) funny. Read full review

Carrie Rickey

Insightful, funny-sad memoir of divorce, intellectual style and emotional rebirth. Read full review

J. Hoberman

Tender, cruel, and very funny, Baumbach's fourth feature turns family history into a sort of urban myth. Read full review

Desson Thomson

This story doesn't just belong to them anymore. This richly observed, sometimes heartbreaking movie has become ours, too. Read full review

Joe Morgenstern

The absence of any nuance in the father's character bespeaks the filmmaker's unwillingness to trust his audience. Making the movie may have been therapeutic for him, but I can't say the same about watching it.

SEE ALL 37 REVIEWS

Write a Review

User Reviews

Jared

Oct 20, 2005

This is a phenomenal movie. The characters are supposed to be flawed and we are supposed to be disgusted by both the mother and father's behavior, especially the latter's. It is the story of a family breaking apart due to selfishness and self-indulgence and the devastating effect This is a phenomenal movie. The characters are supposed to be flawed and we are supposed to be disgusted by both the mother and father's behavior, especially the latter's. It is the story of a family breaking apart due to selfishness and self-indulgence and the devastating effect that has on the children. At the same time the movie doesn't just leave things in black and white and even inviteds us to sympathize with the father and mother. Those who reviewed this beforehand need to learn that not all characters in movies are supposed to be perfect and it is this very imperfection that is so damaging to the children of such a marriage but which allows us to identify with them. Watch some good movies and you'll see that there are lots of complex characters out there and in the real world as well.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

BobA.

Jan 16, 2006

I'll never understand people who hate a movie because the characters are unlikable (I suppose that would also make Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, and Citizen Kane bad) as if the point of every movie is to make you like the characters. The story (with its, yes, awful characters) has I'll never understand people who hate a movie because the characters are unlikable (I suppose that would also make Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, and Citizen Kane bad) as if the point of every movie is to make you like the characters. The story (with its, yes, awful characters) has something truly honest to say.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

NickTheCritick

Nov 2, 2021

The movie talks about a divorce seen from the children of the divorcing couple so what we see is filtered through the eyes of a teenager and a child. The movie is beautifully shots, full of heart breaking scenes and raw dialogued in full Baumbach's style. This to me remains the best movieThe movie talks about a divorce seen from the children of the divorcing couple so what we see is filtered through the eyes of a teenager and a child. The movie is beautifully shots, full of heart breaking scenes and raw dialogued in full Baumbach's style. This to me remains the best movie that Noah Baumbach has ever made so far and one of the best movies of the last 20 years.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

BillM.

Feb 3, 2006

A small, wonderful movie. Terrific script, beautifully acted. Highly recommended.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

PaulF.

Jan 13, 2006

This movie could have been so much more. The acting was decent but not out of this world either. The cinematography was fine, ok. But the writing and underling theme was something to be desired. The father was reduced to utter simplicity and the youngest was used mostly for gratuitous shock This movie could have been so much more. The acting was decent but not out of this world either. The cinematography was fine, ok. But the writing and underling theme was something to be desired. The father was reduced to utter simplicity and the youngest was used mostly for gratuitous shock value. I am not a prude in the least but there was no warrant for his character to do as he did, plus it was utterly ridiculous, he was obviously not old enough to be into puberty. The more I think about this film the lower I want to give the score so I'll give it a generous five and leave it at that.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Squallie

Oct 25, 2005

Depressing film about a confused family with a horrible father and promiscuous mother. As a result, it is not unexpected that both brothers are totally screwed up. Filmed as if a documentary by a hand held camera with a great deal of meaningless dialogue thrown in. Everything is predictable Depressing film about a confused family with a horrible father and promiscuous mother. As a result, it is not unexpected that both brothers are totally screwed up. Filmed as if a documentary by a hand held camera with a great deal of meaningless dialogue thrown in. Everything is predictable and downright depressing. Not worthy of your time.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

wendy

Oct 19, 2005

Hated this dysfunctional family especially the father and the older son. As for the boring tennis pro, all I can do is repeat his ONLY line throughout this dreadful movie...BROTHER! Yuk!

0 of 0 users found this helpful

SEE ALL 97 REVIEWS

22	#22 Best Movie of 2005
33	#33 Most Discussed Movie of 2005
93	#93 Most Shared Movie of 2005