The Squid and the Whale (2005)

[amoergosum]

Originally Posted by Hunk Golden

Ivan is a philistine.

What's a philistine?

It's a guy who doesn't care about books or interesting films and things.

Then I'm a philistine.

No. You're interested in books and things.

No. I'm a philistine.

Loved this movie! It's such great news that it's getting a proper release.

>>>

The Squid and the Whale (4/8) Movie CLIP - Then I'm a Philistine (2005) HD - YouTube

[Dragun]

Wasn't this shot on Super-16? Would a 4K transfer really yield much more detail over a 2K transfer?

[amoergosum]

Originally Posted by Dragun

Wasn't this shot on Super-16?

Yep >>>

[AnamorphicWidescreen]

A while back, I re-watched The Squid and the Whale. This is one of those films that I was luke-warm about on the first viewing, but this time I felt it was a decent - though definitely flawed film (see below). I never went through a parents' divorce so couldn't relate to that part of the film, but I could empathize with the characters.

I initially didn't like Bernard. He reminded me of some of my idiot college professors who thought that they were smarter than anyone else just because they had advanced degrees. However, IMHO his genuine attempts to

[Show spoiler]try to get back together with his wife & his later heart attack really humanized him, so that by the end I almost felt sorry for him.

And, though I felt that Walt was an arrogant punk throughout much of the film,

[Show spoiler]the ending scene when he admitted to his mother that he regretted breaking up with Greta (too late) somewhat humbled him as well.

Also really enjoyed the ending -

[Show spoiler]i.e., when Walt ran from his father & went to the museum to see the Squid & the Whale - you got the impression he wanted to revisit his past & see something that had calmed him when he was a child.

However, even though I overall enjoyed the film, a couple aspects didn't gel for me:

1) I grew up during the '80's and was roughly Walt's age in '86, the year the film took place. And, during that time Pink Floyd was very popular among high school kids, especially The Wall (the album was released in late 1979, and the late '70's were still relatively recent in the mid '80's) - I was very familiar with Hey You, as I'm sure many other people were - and, it had been around for 7 years in '86. So, I'm surprised that the judges during the talent contest didn't immediately recognize the song, and still awarded him the prize money. Sure, Ivan & Lili recognized it & the school eventually realized his plagiarism, but I'm surprised it took as long as it did - this was complete and utter B.S., and would have never happened this way in actuality. This was especially strange since the film was taking place in NYC, which I'm sure had a lot of PF fans; it wasn't like it took place in a small town....Granted, the older judges may not have all been necessarily familiar with the song, but the much younger audience members would definitely have recognized this immediately. So, this plot-point was patently ludicrous.

2) Also, I was quite grossed out by Frank's behavior, i.e. his putting peanuts in his nose & his other sickening activities in the school - truly vile, and I'm not sure why Baumbach put this in the film - I know the movie was partially autobiographical & these incidents may have been based on something he witnessed, but I'm sure there could have been another way to show Frank's anger at his parents' divorce.

[MTRodaba2468]

Originally Posted by AnamorphicWidescreen

[Show spoiler]1) I grew up during the '80's and was roughly Walt's age in '86, the year the film took place. And, during that time Pink Floyd was very popular among high school kids, especially The Wall (the album was released in late 1979, and the late '70's were still relatively recent in the mid '80's) - I was very familiar with Hey You, as I'm sure many other people were - and, it had been around for 7 years in '86. So, I'm surprised that the judges during the talent contest didn't immediately recognize the song, and still awarded him the prize money. Sure, Ivan & Lili recognized it & the school eventually realized his plagiarism, but I'm surprised it took as long as it did - this was complete and utter B.S., and would have never happened this way in actuality. This was especially strange since the film was taking place in NYC, which I'm sure had a lot of PF fans; it wasn't like it took place in a small town....Granted, the older judges may not have all been necessarily familiar with the song, but the much younger audience members would definitely have recognized this immediately. So, this plot-point was patently ludicrous.

I admittedly thought the same thing, but I also consider Pink Floyd one of my all-time favorite bands, which could've flavored that opinion somewhat.

On the other hand, I know people that like to claim that they're into "underground" media, but really aren't. My ex-girlfriend's former girlfriend, for example, liked to claim she listened to underground rock that didn't get radio airplay. The examples she listed? The Black Keys, Fall Out Boy, Panic At The Disco, etc.

[Show spoiler]I kinda just chalked Walt's thinking up to that. Although that doesn't really explain the slow processing of everybody else...

[AnamorphicWidescreen]

Walt was an arrogant teen, so I can see why he would have tried to claim

[Show spoiler]Hey You was something he wrote - even though he clearly plagiarized the song from Pink Floyd.

However, my disbelief re: this scene doesn't have anything to do with Walt's thinking here. As I mentioned & as you also implied, the real head-scratcher here is why

[Show spoiler]no members in the huge talent show audience in that auditorium didn't immediately say something & call him on his dishonesty. The judges should have been informed that was a PF song right away. Again, in reality he would not have been able to get away with this, even back in '86 (for all of the reasons I already mentioned).

[Member-167298]

Very excited about this. Great movie. Easily Baumbach's best overall film, IMO.

In a mildly interesting connection, Blue Velvet was ironically on TV right after I learned about this upcoming release.

I will have to check to see if The Magnificent Ambersons, The Mother and the W**** or Breathless will be on TV today at some point as well. Haha!

[jworden]

I'm a fan of some of Baumbach's other films (Mistress America, France's Ha), so I'm gonna have to check this one out at some point.

[wonkavision]

Originally Posted by MTRodaba2468

I admittedly thought the same thing, but I also consider Pink Floyd one of my all-time favorite bands, which could've flavored that opinion somewhat.

On the other hand, I know people that like to claim that they're into "underground" media, but really aren't. My ex-girlfriend's former girlfriend, for example, liked to claim she listened to underground rock that didn't get radio airplay. The examples she listed? The Black Keys, Fall Out Boy, Panic At The Disco, etc.

[Show spoiler]I kinda just chalked Walt's thinking up to that. Although that doesn't really explain the slow processing of everybody else...

According to some IMDB trivia on the film:
"Although the movie is heavily autobiographical, director and writer Noah Baumbach said he never pretended to have written "Hey You" by Pink Floyd for a school contest. In reality, a friend of his did it with a Who song, and Baumbach borrowed the story because it felt so much like something that could've come from his childhood."

That said, it is possible lots of people may not recognize the Pink Floyd song. Where I grew up, most people had already moved past Pink Floyd/rock music (or were against it) and were either into punk or new wave in 1986, by a huge margin.

[AnamorphicWidescreen]

Originally Posted by wonkavision

That said, it is possible lots of people may not recognize the Pink Floyd song. Where I grew up, most people had already moved past Pink Floyd/rock music (or were against it) and were either into punk or new wave in 1986, by a huge margin.

It depends. If you were in a major metropolitan area in '86, I don't see how high school students there wouldn't have heard of Hey You, by Pink Floyd - the film takes place in NYC, and the talent show is in a huge auditorium - obviously some people (and especially the kids) in the audience would have heard of the group/song. I grew up on the East coast in a large city, and was in high school back in '86 - a lot of kids in my area @ that time (including me) were into Floyd.

Conversely, if the film had taken place in a smaller town, it's possible Walt could have gotten away with this plagiarism - but only maybe.

[SolelyStrange]

Originally Posted by mogwai_macabre

This movie is probably going to hit home as strongly as it did back then. It's a pretty dead on portrayal of a bitter divorce from reasonably responsible parents, with the kids stuck squarely in the middle.

I love this movie for that. Nobody else in Hollywood seems to have the balls to tackle a complicated divorce like this, despite how prevalent they are. Half the time in the movies the parents get back together, or at least get along enough to function in social gatherings. Gimme a break.

so true, that's the reason I like movies that have more of a realistic ending than a cliché happy ending. for example the movie

[Show spoiler] (500) Days of Summer where the guy does not get the girl!

[Night Fever Music]

Review and screen caps are up at DVDBeaver. Unreal. Looks like Criterion used the identical transfer to the Mill Creek Blu. Sure, there are the extras on the Criterion disc but I paid $4 for The Squid and the Whale & Running With Scissors (not a bad movie). No upgrade for me.

[spanky87]

The Criterion transfer is from a new color corrected 4K scan. The Mill Creek was the dvd transfer plopped onto a BD.

Mill Creek


Criterion


Mill Creek


Criterion


Mill Creek


Criterion


http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film5/blu-r...le_blu-ray.htm

[Wernski]

Well, the film is a 16mm blow-up, so I can see why Criterion's new transfer would be underwhelming.

[DaBargainHunta]

The Criterion transfer is much better. The colors really pop. But am I the only one who thinks the Mill Creek transfer (at least from those pictures) is "good enough." Keep in mind the considerable price difference too.

Still, it's an awesome movie and more than worthy of the Criterion treatment and label.

[Hoke Moseley]

Originally Posted by jworden

I'm a fan of some of Baumbach's other films (Mistress America, France's Ha), so I'm gonna have to check this one out at some point.

Yes, you definitely are. Pretty sure the consensus is that this is his best film (though Frances Ha would be my choice).

[50strat54]

I liked the film a lot but it's not Criterion worthy for me so I'm happy with the bluray I got at Fry's [it was a double feature with another title] for I think $3.

[StingingVelvet]

lol @ "Criterion worthy"

[DaBargainHunta]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

lol @ "Criterion worthy"

Since I assume you're directly referencing my post, Mr. Leach, would you care to expand on your thoughts?

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by DaBargainHunta

Since I assume you're directly referencing my post, Mr. Leach, would you care to expand on your thoughts?

Nope, the one right above mine that actually uses that term. I just think it's a funny term.