Feb 18, 2012

The Deep Blue Sea [2011]


The Deep Blue Sea is a character-driven movie, more or less. It doesn't focus on story development or action, it just takes us through the life of a couple and its complicated relationship, told mostly from the perspective of the woman, Hester Miller, the wife of a British judge, who starts an affair with Freddie Paige, a Royal Air Force pilot.

It begins with a 10 minute, orchestra music-fulled sequence, back and forth between the present day, where Hester, wonderfully played by Rachel Weisz, tries to comitt suicide, and the old days, when her relationship with Freddie was still fresh and lustful. From the beginning, the viewers can easily observe the beauty and darkness of the cinematography of Florian Hoffmeister, and the intricate, yet dreamy and classic direction of Terence Davies. I still remember a stunning scene which shows the lovers sharing a sweet moment in bed- the music, the way their arms and legs were intertwined, the movement of the camera-it all felt a little sureal and dramatic, and I loved it. I also liked the fact that the movie wasn't very predictable: I thought it was going somewhere, and then it completely changes, moving towards a different direction, and I am instantly intrigued (a good example is the subway scene).

She fails her attempt of taking her life, but still goes back from time to time to her past, her new, exciting, full of love past, that she now longs for. It all started with the need of a better life, one in which she wasn't bored or treated so insensitively, and Freddie just happened to be there to sweep her off her feet; it didn't hurt the fact that he was closer to her age than William, her husband, more than 20 years her senior.

But in the end, nothing in life comes easy and that is what the movie is about. She knew what she was getting into, she knew he couldn't offer what she really wanted, but Hester can't stay away, and chooses to be miserable for some time, in order to have at least a few moments of pure happiness and excitement with Freddie. She does have a chance at tranquility and love, not with Freddie, but with someone who will care for her, but she refuses, all just to hang on for a little while longer of the inexplicable connection and love to Freddie.There are clear differences between them and they both know their relationship is messed up and it probably won't last, but they still come back to each other. Case in point, after he finds her suicide letter, he leaves, but still agrees to come back to pick up his things, after she pleads to him numerous times.

The last morning spent together is awkward, but civilised; you can see and feel there is so much more to be said, but neither one takes the initiative- there is so much meaning behind their words.

The performances were good and higly comandable, but not extraordinary. Rachel Weisz and Tom Hiddleston are great individually, but I didn't buy their connection 100%- but still, the effort is there and the acting is good, especially for what the script requires. That, plus the music, editing, directing, cinematography, costumes, sets- everything fit the genre and the topic very well. It's clean!

I will be honest with you and say most will probably not like this- they will find it boring and useless. But for the few who like character-driven movies, romance, complicated relationships- this is a movie for you to see! I thought it was beautiful!

13 comments:

  1. Thank you for sharing, this sounds absolutely wonderful. You had me at "it all felt a little sureal and dramatic, and I loved it" - the few movies I could have described this way, are favorites.

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  2. Thank you Mette, glad you liked it! Nice to have you around, hope you come back soon! :)

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  3. Lovely review! I will definetly see this movie, I adore Rachel Weisz.

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  4. Thanks Sati, and yes, Rachel was amazing in it, you should see the movie when you get the chance!

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  5. I really would like to see this - it sounds like my type of film. I love Tom Hiddleston and Rachel Weisz. Plus, it is a remake of a movie with my idol Vivien Leigh in it, so it'll be interesting to see!

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  6. I must admit, I saw this last year at a festival and I found it all to stiff-upper-lip and arms length, I found it hard to connect with it at all.

    But I think I may enjoy it more now as it was very similar to Brief Encounter, which I loved.

    Thanks Diana

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  7. @Stevee: Yeah, I think you will like it! I didn't knew it was a remake, silly me!It was based on a play!
    @Scott: Thanks Scott, I do have Brief Encounter to see, too, maybe I will try to watch it in the next few days!

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  8. Nice review. I think this must be one that hasn't made it to this side of the pond yet. I keep hearing good things about it from folks who like the kind of movies we do, so I'll keep an eye out for it when it opens over here.

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  9. I'm so jealous that you've seen this one, Diana. It's not playing anywhere near me or I'd have gone straight away because of Tom. I will surely rent it even though it sounds like a gloomy type of film. I'm surprised to hear the lack of connection between the two, that's too bad. It reminds me a bit of The English Patient somehow, which I really like.

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  10. @NevertooearlyMP: The Deep Blue Sea didn't have a large release, I think it premiered in Toronto and then it came to London, so I think it's probably better to wait for the DVD, or maybe, who knows, it will come to your cinema soon. It's a good one!
    @Ruth: I think you will like it, plus Tom Hiddleston is gorgeous in this movie; I don't know why I didn't feel the connection- in some parts there was definitely something going on, a chemistry, in some not. You will have to see it for yourself! :) Oh, and I liked The English Patient, too!

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  11. Glad to know you liked this one. I was a little curious about it and it is good to see that the characters are given a lot of development.

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  12. Yea this sounds dull even though Rachel Weisz and Tom Hiddleston are usually interesting actors. Glad you liked it though!

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  13. @FocusedFilmographer: Yes, I would say the characters are the main attraction of the movie, as it doesn't have too much action!
    @Castor: Thanks! It was slow in some parts, but beautiful! Both of them (Rachel and Tom) play their part very good, they are great actors!

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