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The Deep End of the Ocean

Play trailer Poster for The Deep End of the Ocean PG-13,  1999,  1h 45m,  Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Stream Now Watchlist 42% 36 Reviews Tomatometer 58% 10,000+ Ratings Popcornmeter
42% Tomatometer 36 Reviews 58% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
After Beth Cappadora's the youngest son, Ben, vanishes in Chicago, she slowly descends into a deep depression, affecting her husband, Pat, and her other children. Relocating to Chicago several years later, they are shocked to discover a local boy named Sam who looks strikingly similar to Ben. Along with detective Candy Bliss, the family must relive their trauma and find out the truth about Sam.
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Critics Reviews

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Emanuel Levy Variety Jun 20, 2006
3/5
Well-acted but pedestrian TV-like melodrama what what consitutes a family, or sociology versus biology in the kinship debate. Go to Full Review
Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times Jan 1, 2000
1.5/4
The Deep End of the Ocean is unconvincing from start to finish. Go to Full Review
Barbara Shulgasser Common Sense Media May 23, 2023
The script is as oblivious as the biological parents, almost completely ignoring the trauma of the father who raised the boy in good faith from 3 to 12. Go to Full Review
CSM Staff Christian Science Monitor Mar 21, 2019
2/4
The subject is poignant and suspenseful, but the treatment is drab and uninvolving despite competent acting and a few well-crafted scenes. Go to Full Review
Jim Lane Sacramento News & Review Aug 7, 2008
3/5
Maria Garcia Film Journal International Jan 12, 2007
Grosbard...forgets the need for character motivation, point of view, or anything else that might make this compelling subject an interesting film. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Luke R Apr 3, 2019 Michelle Pfeiffer stars at Beth Cappadora, a grieving mother of three who struggles with spiraling depression following the disappearance of her three-year old son. Nine years after the incident the family moves to Chicago and encounters a neighborhood boy who bears a striking resemblance to her long lost son. The movie is a bit campy at times and never really feels authentic. The actors do well to inhabit their roles, but the music rarely matches the scene and the plot simply unfolds rather than the characters actually driving it. Whoopi Goldbergâ(TM)s character could have been cut completely, and more time should have been devoted to fleshing out the relationship between John Kapelos and the Cappadoras. With a runtime of only 108 minutes, it could have easily been extended by half an hour to add a few more scenes with some real drama. Stephen Schiffâ(TM)s dialogue also needed some serious work. Deep End works, but only barely. Itâ(TM)s worth catching on television, but wonâ(TM)t make anyoneâ(TM)s list of favorites. See more
Leia G Feb 16, 2018 Adapted from a book written by Jacquelyn Mitchard starring Michelle Pfeiffer as Beth Cappadora as a professional photographer who has just lost one of her three children, with her husband, Pat Cappadora (Treat Williams) at her side helping her get over this grievance while attempting to open up his own restaurant. See more
Luke M Jun 10, 2017 Heartbreaking. I couldn't imagine what this would be like. Great movie.
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The Deep End of the Ocean

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Movie Info

Synopsis After Beth Cappadora's the youngest son, Ben, vanishes in Chicago, she slowly descends into a deep depression, affecting her husband, Pat, and her other children. Relocating to Chicago several years later, they are shocked to discover a local boy named Sam who looks strikingly similar to Ben. Along with detective Candy Bliss, the family must relive their trauma and find out the truth about Sam.
Director
Ulu Grosbard
Producer
Kate Guinzberg, Kate Guinzburg
Screenwriter
Jacquelyn Mitchard, Stephen Schiff
Distributor
Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment
Production Co
Columbia Pictures Corporation
Rating
PG-13
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 12, 1999, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA)
$13.4M
Runtime
1h 45m
Sound Mix
Surround, SDDS, Dolby Digital
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