The Squid and the Whale (2005)
The Squid and the Whale, directed by Noah Baumbach, is about how two brothers,
Walt (Jesse Eisenburg) and Frank (Owen Kline), attempt to deal with their parents, Bernard
(Jeff Daniels) and Joan (Laura Linney), divorce in the 1980s in Brooklyn.
Walt (Jesse Eisenburg) and Frank (Owen Kline), attempt to deal with their parents, Bernard
(Jeff Daniels) and Joan (Laura Linney), divorce in the 1980s in Brooklyn.
Initially, Daniels was acting out Bernard in a way to please Baumbach. While talking to Erica Abeel, Baumbach recalls this while they were shooting the film. He states how Daniels would do "an intimidation of what he thought I wanted... I could tell he wasn't comfortable- it felt a little pushed or acted" When they had a weekend break, it was then that Daniels had a whole new perspective to how he was going to portray Bernard. He realized that he had to bring and show his own self through Bernard. Baumbach was thrilled to see that Daniels was able to see the character Bernard so thoroughly. R. Colin Trait states that realism and "artistic truth are all important to the way the actor perceived his role on screen" and Daniels was able to do that with being able to be true to Bernard persona and having a gravity about him that allows him to show so much emotion, such as the pain in Bernard's eyes that the audience can clearly see, whether it be from not being able to get his new material/manuscript published or his divorce.
Baumbach is able to elevate the film a lot just from the camera shots and angles he uses. For starters, a lot of close up's are evident in the film when showing the characters. One of the reasons that this type of shot is used quite frequently was also to help make the film look like it was in the 80s, since they were not able to prevent or clear Park Slope's streets of contemporary/modern cars (somewhat blurred out background with the limited amount of car models produced in the 80s to be shown behind person speaking). Also, these close-up's make it that "We're (audience) trapped in an intimate relationship with these people" as Mark Asch puts it. Anything that happens and is shot in the film is through such a close proximity that it gives off the idea that the audience is right there face to face towards Walt, Frank, Bernard, Joan, or any other character or location. Another thing that was an interesting choice for Baumbach to make was that he opted to use a Super 16 than a digital video. He made this choice because he "wanted to give the film an authentic 1980's feel" and using a Super 16 made the film look like an older film (like it's supposed to be).
good example of using a close-up shot when in conversation
Overall, I found this film interesting in the way that I found out how the concept of the film was made from. The audience, and myself, learns of Baumbach's personal experience of his parents divorcing, and how it affected him. At the same time, it leaves the us wondering what are full-on truths in his depiction of his family experience, and what is fiction, once aware that he states himself that some parts are fiction and some aren't, like how he handled his first relationship. An interesting film to end on, for sure.
thanks for reading my last FILM talk!
Robert De Niro’s Raging Bull: The History of a Performance and a Performance of History – R. Colin Tait
Noah Baumbach Interview
Mark Asch on The Squid and The Whale
as this is our last movie blog, if you want to, leave a movie
recommendation (such as your favorite movie) for me to watch this summer!
Robert De Niro’s Raging Bull: The History of a Performance and a Performance of History – R. Colin Tait
Noah Baumbach Interview
Mark Asch on The Squid and The Whale
as this is our last movie blog, if you want to, leave a movie
recommendation (such as your favorite movie) for me to watch this summer!