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The Squid and the Whale (R)
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Jeff Daniels (Because of Winn-Dixie) portrays the father in an eccentric and elitist Brooklyn family, who once had great success with one novel in his younger days, and is now quasi-comfortable in his university teaching job, which seems to have hit a plateau. When his wife (Laura Linney) blossoms in her writing talent with major publicity and a contract that he feels only he should have, it’s splitsville.
In the wake of the extramarital affairs of both Daniels and Linney their two loved but somewhat neglected teenage sons, played by Jesse Eisenberg and Owen Kline, need support and direction. Linney's character begins dating her younger son's tennis coach (William Baldwin). Meanwhile, Daniels' character has an affair with the student his older son is pursuing (Anna Paquin).
"The Squid and the Whale" is an intelligent, well-made film that proves that well meaning parents who try to make joint custody work, will likely be far less successful than they desire. The kids generally suffer as adult-size egos edge out what may really be best for the youngster.
There are terrific performances all around. Daniels’ ego-driven arrogance is irritatingly believable. Laura Linney presents a clear-eyed, (nearly) make-up free sensuality in her take- no-stuff relationship with husband Daniels, and her free-to-be-me liaison with the laid back Baldwin. Young actors Eisenberg and Kline (son of Kevin & actress Phoebe Cates) deliver daring and convincing portrayals.Knowing that there is always plenty of footage left on the editing floor, we don’t think we are being too nit picky when we get irritated with films that have a major event occur during the day and in the next scene it’s late at night, which occurred here. It’s particularly noticeable when a 911 call is made for an ambulance that arrives in the day and it takes until night to get the person into the vehicle. There was also such a scene just like that in "Hostage."
A thought provoking, honest, contemporary family film.
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George O. Singleton © 2005 |
| george@reelmoviecritic.com pam@reelmoviecritic.com |