The Squid and The Whale

mehnkle

mehnkle

Well-known member
Has anyone else here seen this movie? I just watched it tonight and I thought it was a great movie. The acting was excellent and I thought the handheld shots were very well placed all through the beginning. It's defidently worth seeing.
 
I liked this movie. It took me awhile to get into its "world" but after I did I was hooked. All the performances rocked, especially the little kid. And whichever Baldwin that was (how many of those guys are there?), he was hilarious. And with just one line? "What's up my brothuh?"

It's funny you mention the handheld stuff. Cause I think the director basically admitted doing that because of cost. But you're right, it worked for the movie.
 
Although I'm not much fan of this kind of shaky handheld shots, I liked this movie. The acting was pretty good. Jeff Daniels was excellent. IMO, his best film.

It was shot on Super 16mm by the way.
 
I was very excited about this movie.

Until I saw it.

I was severly let down. I think the filmmaker achieved what he set out to capture but I just don't understand why he wanted to show it to the world.

From interviews I read it appeared that this was autobiographical down to the actual clothes and books in the movie.

I'm just not into watching a two hour movie about character's that I don't even like.

The actual cinematography was cool. Gritty, earthy tones. handheld rigs. But it wasn't enough to make me not hate this film.

-rook
 
I loved this movie. The little kid...omg he was great. Definitely jeff daniels best performance...aside Dumb and Dumber of course:)
 
rook said:
I was very excited about this movie.

Until I saw it.

I was severly let down. I think the filmmaker achieved what he set out to capture but I just don't understand why he wanted to show it to the world.

From interviews I read it appeared that this was autobiographical down to the actual clothes and books in the movie.

I'm just not into watching a two hour movie about character's that I don't even like.

The actual cinematography was cool. Gritty, earthy tones. handheld rigs. But it wasn't enough to make me not hate this film.

-rook
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Rook -- its funny that you say that because one of my friends says the same thing.
I think he wanted to show the world this movie because so many of us can relate to these characters. I saw so much of my family and friends in this movie, and I feel like the acting in combination with the script was a near flawless relationship.
I've had some of those conversations before, and that movie just hit me really hard.

But the more I hear the more I think it was hit or miss. I loved it.


---
As for the handheld, I find it interesting that this way of shooting is becoming such a popular style. I have no problem with it, I just think we are going to be seeing a lot more movies looking like this in the next few years -- and if it is because of budget, all the better! I personally would try not to shoot this way, but in this film, I feel like it was pretty relaxing...yeah, I guess that is the word Im looking for.
 
It didn't remind me of my family at all, but I still really liked this movie. I thought it was funny and honest, which don't always go together in cinema.
 
abraham,

Yeah I can see what you are saying. My problem wasn't with the craft it was with the context of the film itself.

If you can relate to it, I can see this being a good one.

You actually gave me a better perspective on this film. Thank you.

-rook
 
i must say im not sure what i felt once i saw this movie.

good enough acting all around. i wouldnt say jeff daniels best. not nec. because he wasnt good, but just because i think hes been just as good in alot of other movies. i think what everyone is responding to is the character, which is the best one in the movie.

the story bothered the hell out of me. i think it was just the sprawling kind of storytelling usually associated with someone putting their own experiences on the screen. may have been true to form, but i think it could have been told better structurally. (sp?) i would have liked to have seen a little more on daniels character, because like i said i just think he made the movie. the older brother annoyed the ever loving hell out of me, but i think thats just a response to being the oldest in my family, and absolutely feeling appaled by his character.

but yea, like i said... good enough. the kid running to the squid and the whale at the end seemed a little contrived, but i get what he was going for. i dont think enough emphasis was placed on his reconnection with his mother.
 
people are bringing up a very interesting point. How can you like a movie where you don't like the characters? I though this was the number one rule you had to follow to make your script/movie work. Yet people still liked this movie. So what's the deal? I guess its' what some people are saying. They can relate to the characters. Or the characters feel familiar. Got it. So next time I'm in a script meeting where the producers are telling me "We don't like the main character", I get to say "Ha! You don't have to!"

Okay, but honestly. I would argue that you do kind of like Jeff Daniels character. Because even though he's smug (Smug - great South Park) and kind of an asshole, you realize it was brought about by his wife never loving him. And that made you draw sympathy for him.

I think.
 
c.g._eads said:
I would argue that you do kind of like Jeff Daniels character. Because even though he's smug (Smug - great South Park) and kind of an asshole, you realize it was brought about by his wife never loving him. And that made you draw sympathy for him.
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Exactly my thoughts
 
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