The Deep End of the Ocean (1999)
Starring Michelle Pfeiffer, Treat Williams, Ryan Merriman, Whoopi Goldberg.
Directed by Ulu Grosbard.
Rated PG-13.
Grade: B+
The Deep End of the Ocean is a deeply felt, emotional film that does not condescend, suck up or tug at the heartstrings. It triumphs because of sincere performances from its cast and because it maintains its dignity throughout the many opportunities it had to sacrifice it. It is based on a novel by Jacquelyn Mitchard and apparently many crucial plot details are left out of the movie. I have never read the best-selling book, which allowed me to approach this movie as a movie rather than a screen adaptation, without prejudice of any sort.
Who remembers Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman in Batman Returns? In that trashy, alluring leather suit she was clearly having lots of fun taking a break from being the thespian that she really is. Well, more than in any movie we've seen from her since '92, she's back to full-fledged thespianism in The Deep End of the Ocean, playing Beth Cappadora, an ordinary mom with an ordinary husband and 3 ordinary kids, living in the town of Madison, Wisconsin. Beth's high-school reunion happens to be coming up in Chicago, so she figures that she'll take her husband and kids with her for some fun in the big city.
They arrive at the hotel, in a very crowded lobby, and Beth has to check in. She tells her oldest boy, Vincent (no more than 7 or 8 years of age) to keep an eye on her middle boy, Ben (age 3). She turns away for a second, comes back and finds Ben missing. Gone. Vanished. Unlike most idiot parents that we see in movies like this, she does not panic. She calls her friend over, and asks her to look around for him. Then she tells her detective friend to help. Before she knows it the police has arrived, along with a snappy-looking, gay (why?) detective (Whoopi Goldberg). A full-force search is conducted. No Ben.
Cut to nine years later. Although Vincent seems to have grown up a juvenile delinquent, the Cappadora's are happy once again. But then a boy comes to their door, asking if they need their lawn mowed. And, like any good mother would, she knows that she has at last found her long-lost son, or at least he's found her.
Michelle Pfeiffer shines in this movie, as was to be expected from a lady with much experience in the genre. Just as impressive are the performances from Treat Williams as the husband and father (also the most complex character in the film) and young Ryan Merriman as the older Ben/Sam. In his first high-profile picture, Merriman is rather impressive; likable and sad at the same time.
Ulu Grosbard's The Deep End of the Ocean does not attempt to be heart-wrenching. All of the characters' emotions, reactions and feelings are real and deceptively palpable. This drama spoonfeeds the audience nothing. It lets us form our own opinions of the characters (especially the father, who could be perceived as either well-intentioned or very, very selfish) and their actions.
The Deep End of the Ocean is not the hanky-fest that the marketing campaign made it out to be. It is a mature, stellar story of a family confronted with an important and difficult decision that could change their lives and those of the people around them. The movie is not perfect; the script loses focus and falters at times and the pacing is a bit uneven. But those are minor complaints, far overshadowed by the many virtues that The Deep End of the Ocean has up its sleeve. For once, I went on a journey with characters that were people, and for once I felt like what I experienced was genuine.