The Deep End (2001)
Grade: A-
Cast: Tilda Swinton, Goran Visnjic, Jonathan Tucker, and Josh Lucas
Director: Scott McGehee, David Spiegel
Rated R for language, violence, and a strong sex scene


Undoubtedly, the strongest possible bond between two beings is that of a mother and her offspring. The mother is the protector of her brood and will do anything to shield them from harm, wrong-doing, or any possible intrusion in their life. But sometimes their good intentions aren't enough. As they say, "the road to hell is paved with good intentions." When this happens, the matron must resort to any means necessary.

Such is the plight of Margaret Hall (Tilda Swinton). She lives an ideal life in Lake Tahoe, Nevada. She resides in her sizeable beach front home with her young son Dillon, her ballerina daughter, and her musically inclined 17 year old son named Beau (Jonathan Tucker). Her husband is in the Navy, and communication with him is nearly impossible.

But her complacency is shattered when she finds out that her son has been hanging out with a sleaze-ball club owner named Darby Reese (Josh Lucas). After an alcohol-induced car accident, Margaret pays Darby a visit and a warning: to stay away from her son. The next morning, Margaret discovers Darby dead by her boathouse dock after an altercation with Beau the previous night. Using her motherly instinct as her guide, she disposes of the body. The body ends up being discovered, but Beau is not a suspect. But Margaret is soon approached by the brooding Alex Spera (Goran Visnjic) who threatens to send an incriminating tape to the police if she doesn't come up with fifty thousand dollars in the next twenty-four hours.

What the film does best is character interaction. The relationship between Beau and Margaret before she finds out about his, um, extracurricular activities is palpable and realistic. After the transpired events, it becomes even more realistic as the usually trustworthy, responsible, and smart Beau feels guilty and embarrassed by what his mother found out. The two performances are pitch perfect, and the script makes us feel as if this could be a real mother-son relationship.

But more important things happen in the dialogue. Most notably, the cunning Margaret turns the tables into her favor during a very important scene with Spera where she makes him feel sorry for her. Premeditated, she resorts the "any means necessary" that I spoke of earlier. When Spera first arrives, he is hard-pressed for the money (she had missed an appointment for the delivery), but when he tells her that she's not trying hard enough, she launches into a diatribe about motherly obligations and dares him to tell her how to try harder. The final lines of the monologue, when she says that maybe she should blackmail somebody for the money, seals the deal, and he soon minimizes the amount by half.

The dialogue doesn't really create much suspense though. There are plot holes (the film is not perfect, believe me), but the directors cover them up with atmosphere. The beautiful and subtle score carefully evokes a safe but dangerous environment.

Speaking of plot holes, a major one in the story is the fact that Beau is not a suspect in the murder. Margaret says that nobody around them knows of the relationship, but just the previous night before weren't the two of them involved in a car wreck? Thoughtless moments like that keep the film from being great, but it works well enough as it is, due in large part to the performances by the main actors.

Tilda Swinton ("The Beach") brings Margaret a lot of depth. Her cunning is perfectly portrayed, but not at first completely apparent. This masterful performance was ignored by the Academy last year for a nomination even (she should have WON), but she is phenomenal in this film, and it will be a classic, text-book performance for years to come. Jonathan Tucker ("The Virgin Suicides") gives a wonderful, conflicted performance as Beau.

The biggest unsung hero of the film, though is Goran Visnjic who happens to be a blackmailer with a heart of gold. A character commonly found in films is made completely fresh and new by Visnjic superlative contribution. Where were his nominations? The scene I mentioned above when he's talking to Margaret is just as much a showcase for him as it is for her.

"The Deep End" is a technically perfect film: photographed, scored, and directed beautifully and elegantly. The plotting is a little messy, but the amazing performances more than make up for any of the film's missteps. The events portrayed here are unbelievable at times, but once you just give up trying to rationalize and give yourself over to the story, you will be interested from start to finish.


-Brian Jones, July 2002