The Deep Blue Sea (2012)
Starring Rachel Weisz, Tom Hiddleston, and Simon Russell Beale
Directed by Terence Davies
***This film is currently streaming on Netflix***
Melodrama Alert! While The Deep Blue Sea was released this year, with the exception of a bit of nudity and language, it could easily have been a contemporary to British romances of yore like Noel Coward's Brief Encounter. With a classical music soundtrack filled with melancholic violin cues keyed to tell us exactly how we're supposed to feel, director Terence Davies' film about a woman having an affair in 1950 is lovely to look at, well-crafted, and decently acted, but I found myself removed from the proceedings, not caring a whole lot about the main characters.
Rachel Weisz is Hester, the troubled younger bride of Sir William Collyer (Simon Russell Beale), an older gentleman whom she seems to care for, but doesn't love. Sometime into their marriage, Hester strays into the arms of the handsome and dashing Freddie (Tom Hiddleston) who sweeps her off her feet. After ten months of fun, during which time she has left her husband to live with Freddie, Hester finds that her new paramour may not be the dream catch she always hoped to snag. So, on a typically overcast English afternoon, Hester turns on the gas fireplace in her and Freddie's apartment and attempts to end her life.
Don't worry -- there's no spoiler alert needed with that revelation as that is The Deep Blue Sea's opening scene. The entire film -- which actually takes place over the course of a single day -- plays out as flashbacks to Hester's loveless past countered with the aftermath of her suicidal actions. And yes, it's as disheartening and morose as it sounds. This overarching sense of depression and lack of any joviality makes the whole film feel rather heavy-handed and the story difficult to connect with. The film is certainly beautiful to look at with its brown hues and foggy London nights and Rachel Weisz certainly has the appropriate amount of British angst for her character, but The Deep Blue Sea is just a tiny bit too depressing to recommend.
Rachel Weisz is Hester, the troubled younger bride of Sir William Collyer (Simon Russell Beale), an older gentleman whom she seems to care for, but doesn't love. Sometime into their marriage, Hester strays into the arms of the handsome and dashing Freddie (Tom Hiddleston) who sweeps her off her feet. After ten months of fun, during which time she has left her husband to live with Freddie, Hester finds that her new paramour may not be the dream catch she always hoped to snag. So, on a typically overcast English afternoon, Hester turns on the gas fireplace in her and Freddie's apartment and attempts to end her life.
Don't worry -- there's no spoiler alert needed with that revelation as that is The Deep Blue Sea's opening scene. The entire film -- which actually takes place over the course of a single day -- plays out as flashbacks to Hester's loveless past countered with the aftermath of her suicidal actions. And yes, it's as disheartening and morose as it sounds. This overarching sense of depression and lack of any joviality makes the whole film feel rather heavy-handed and the story difficult to connect with. The film is certainly beautiful to look at with its brown hues and foggy London nights and Rachel Weisz certainly has the appropriate amount of British angst for her character, but The Deep Blue Sea is just a tiny bit too depressing to recommend.
The RyMickey Rating: C
deepest
ReplyDeletebluest
My hat is like a shark fin...
ReplyDeleteGood Lord, that song is heinous...
For a good laugh, read through all the lyrics:
http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/deepbluesea/deepestbluest.htm