Film

What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases


The Deep End of the Ocean (1999)

Director: Ulu Grosbard

Average user rating
No reviews

Movie review

From Time Out Film Guide

Jacquelyn Mitchard's novel hangs on so implausible a twist, that it's easy to mistake it for real life. Beth Cappadora (Pfeiffer) is a professional photographer and mother of three. Attending a high school reunion with kids in tow (baby Kerry, three-year-old Ben, older brother Vincent), Beth turns her back for just a minute or two, and Ben disappears from her life. Then, out of the blue, after nine years of bereavement, she recognises her missing son in the face of some kid down the road who wants to mow her lawn. This Pfeiffer vehicle made no impact at the US box office, but despite the TV movie subject matter, it's surprisingly absorbing. Director Grosbard's restraint holds sentimentality off screen, recognising that grief is most poignantly an intimate, internalised affair, even within the closest families. The film gains its interest from that troubling question about what constitutes a family: if this is Ben, oblivious to his real identity, should his blood parents uproot him once again? For his sake - or theirs? Pfeiffer has never been afraid to relinquish glamour on screen; now she's also confident enough to relinquish centre stage in the last act to Vincent (Jackson, excellent) and Ben (Merriman, irritating). Worth a detour.

Author: TCh

Time Out Film Guide


What do you think?
Post your review now

clear rating
Min 1 star. Zero stars will be treated as unrated.

*mandatory fields





Top Stories

Ben Drew aka Plan B interview

Ben Drew aka Plan B interview

The singer, rapper and now film director discusses his debut film 'Ill Manors'

Cannes Film Festival 2012: final round-up

Cannes Film Festival 2012: final round-up

Dave Calhoun draws the curtain on the world's greatest film festival

Béla Tarr interview

Béla Tarr interview

The Hungarian auteur tells Time Out why he's quitting

The Palme d'Or effect

The Palme d'Or effect

We explore the fortunes of the past decade’s Palme d'Or winners

Ridley Scott interview

Ridley Scott interview

Director Ridley Scott tells Cath Clarke why he's making a science fiction comeback

Open-air movies in London

Open-air movies in London

Cath Clarke rounds up this summer's crop of outdoor film screenings

Ken Loach interview

Ken Loach interview

Ken Loach talks to us about his Cannes Film Festival entry 'The Angels' Share'