The Deep End (2001)

Directors:

Scott McGehee
David Siegel

Writers:

Elisabeth Sanxay Holding (novel)
Scott McGehee (written by) ...

Release Date:

17 October 2001 (Belgium)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Plot:

A woman spirals out of control while trying to keep her son from being found culpable in a murder investigation.

Plot Keywords:

Investigation | Water | Dead Body | Gay | Murder Investigation

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 4 wins & 15 nominations

Cast

Tilda Swinton	...	Margaret Hall
Goran Visnjic	...	Alek 'Al' Spera
Jonathan Tucker	...	Beau Hall
Peter Donat	...	Jack Hall
Josh Lucas	...	Darby Reese
Raymond J. Barry	...	Carlie Nagel (as Raymond Barry)
Tamara Hope	...	Paige Hall
Jordon Dorrance	...	Dylan Hall
Heather Mathieson	...	Sue Lloyd
Holmes Osborne	...	Loan Officer
Richard Gross	...	Deputy Sheriff
Kip Martin	...	BYD
Franco Delgado	...	Barrish Brother
Kip Ellwood	...	Male Nurse
Margot Krindel	...	Amber Lloyd

MPAA:

Rated R for some violence and language, and for a strong sex scene.

Runtime:

101 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:R (original rating) | Australia:M (TV rating) | Iceland:14 | Iceland:16 (video rating) | Singapore:M18 (cut) | Portugal:M/12 | New Zealand:M (TV rating) | New Zealand:R13 | USA:TV-MA (cable rating) | Argentina:13 | Australia:MA | Brazil:16 | Finland:K-15 | France:U | Germany:12 | Netherlands:12 | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Spain:13 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R (certificate #38386) | South Korea:18 | Philippines:R-18

Filming Locations:

Lake Tahoe, California, USA

Company:

i5 Films

Trivia:

The man arrested for Darby's death in this film is named Martin Donnelly, which was the name of the character that blackmails Lucia Harper in film The Reckless Moment (1949) on which this film is based.

Goofs:

Continuity: In one scene Beau can be heard off camera practicing his trumpet then immediately ceases to appear on camera to speak with his mother. A bottle of valve oil is in his hand and one valve of his trumpet has been removed, presumably to oil. However, the time that elapses between his playing and appearance on camera is way too short for him to remove a valve from his trumpet.

Quotes:

Darby Reese: Beau-Beau, she's a mother, not a moron.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Anatomy of a Scene: The Deep End" (2001)

Soundtrack:

En Forme de Habanera

Give this film another chance . . .

I saw this film last summer in the theaters and while it didn't do much for me at the time, something in it stayed with me. I rented it again and watched it twice more and am now convinced it is a terrific film.

A lot has been said about Swinton's portrayal of a frustrated housewife and she is brilliant, she carries the film with a head-on intensity.

But the screenplay should also be lauded. Yes, this is straight out of 1940's noir, but it all works.

A lot has been said about the sex and sexuality switch of Swinton's son, but it works perfectly. One might ask . . . why doesn't she ask her son about the body before she dumps it? But that would involve TALKING to her son about his sexuality. She'd rather bury the evidence, than ever admit to herself that her son is gay.

Over the course of the film, Swinton begins to understand her son better, she realizes that everyone has their secrets and desires. Her son also realizes the worry he has put his mother through. The last shot, of mother and son huddled together on the bed is of two strong-willed people finally understanding each other as equals. It's a wonderfully telling moment.

Be sure to watch this film more than once . . . it can be taken on many levels.

james