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The Deep End Of The Ocean [1999]
![The Deep End Of The Ocean [1999]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51CANHP2TML._SL160_.jpg)
RRP: £19.99
Our Price: £3.39 (subject to change)
Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review
Beth Cappadora (Michelle Pfeiffer) is at her high school reunion when her three-year-old son disappears from his brother's care. The little boy never turns up, and the family has to deal with the devastating guilt and grief that goes along with it. Nine years later, the family has relocated to Chicago. By a sheer fluke, the kid turns up, living no more than two blocks away. The authorities swoop down and return the kid to his biological parents, but things are far from being that simple. The boy grew up around what he has called his father, while his new family are strangers to him; the older son, now a teenager, has brushes with the law and behavioural problems. His adjustment to his lost brother is complicated by normal teenage churlishness, and the dad (Treat Williams) seems to expect everything to fall into place as though the family had been intact all along. It's a tightrope routine for actors in a story like this, being careful not to chew the scenery while at the same time not being too flaccid or understated. For the most part, the members of the cast deal well with the emotional complexity of their roles. Though the story stretches credulity, weirder things do happen in the real world. The family's pain for the first half of the film is certainly credible, though the second half almost seems like a different movie. Whoopi Goldberg plays the detective assigned to the case; casting her is a bit of a stretch, but she makes it work. All in all, a decent three-hanky movie in the vein of Ordinary People. --Jerry Renshaw, Amazon.com
Excellent portrayal of the strength of love
Review date: 2002-05-28 Rating: 10 out of 10
A study of how a family of different characters copes when their younger son goes missing, and how they remesh later on. The relationship between the two sons is sensitively explored, and breathtakingly moving and understated. Look out for Ryan Merriman, who plays Sam Karras/Ben Cappadora - he gives a very believable performance. A great character study. Not mushy. Not schmaltz.
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Reviews
A Film of powerful and kaleidoscopic emotions
Review date: 2001-03-17 Rating: 10 out of 10
This powerful film produces a kaleidoscope of emotions in the viewer. It is humorous, thrilling, warm and compassionate. From the beginning of the film, which is wonderfully filmed, you are transported into the lives of the family. You feel their emotions in an almost empathic way. You suffer in their pain and rejoice in their joy. This is one to watch on a cold winters night, snuggled up with someone special or your favourite teddy bear and a big box of tissues and long glass of red wine. It stays with you for a long time and is a film that you can watch over and over.... with the same someone special, or perhaps another someone special. Enjoy you will!.
Heart-breaking tale of loss, love and regret
Review date: 2000-08-09 Rating: 8 out of 10
Michelle Pfeiffer gives a career best performance as Beth, a successful photographer- with a young family. While she is at her high school reunion, her three year old boy, Ben disappears. Every mother's nightmare comes true for Beth. Ben is gone and following a relentless search- with no stone left unturned... Ben is not found. Then years later, with help from a determined detective (played with verve by Whoopi Goldberg)- all kinds of startling facts about Ben are uncovered. The grief and loss that the family have shared for many years is bought to the surface once more as they must deal with the new revelations and face ghosts from the past.
This may sound like a TV movie but thanks to Michelle Pfeiffer's heartbreaking performance and the tightness of the script, the film never transcends to TV movie hell. You will believe Pfeiffer's sense of loss and sheer determination. You feel anxious when the child goes missing as you know that he could be gone forever.
There is humour provided by Whoopi Goldberg in a small but pivotal role as the detective who helps Beth comes to terms with her loss by refusing to let her give up. Treat Williams is also quietly impressive as Beth's husband- he believes that the child's disappearance is her fault and this leads to emotional confrontations- this is when these two actors really excel. You really do feel their pain.
The Deep End Of The Ocean is a rare film that makes you care about the characters and it makes you think about how you would react to the young family's plight if it were your child or sibling that went missing- how would you cope? Who would you blame?
This film has been largely ignored and deserves to be seen. Buy it and then wonder why Michelle Pfeiffer's work, of late is largely ignored. She is one of America's most under-rated actresses' and this is a severely under-rated movie gem.
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Whoopi Goldberg
Michelle Pfeiffer
Cory Buck
Treat Williams
Jonathan Jackson
Director(s):
Recording label: Entertainment in Video
Manufacturer: Entertainment in Video
EAN: 5017239190735
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: Anamorphic, PAL,
Release date: 2000-02-21
Number of discs: 1
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Audience rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 410 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1999-03-12
Language: English (Original Language)