The defence The Auteur Devotee
“Form is the argument.”
Every composed frame and deliberate cut is evidence that control can be thrilling in its own right.
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The Deep End of the Ocean
Drama · Mystery · 1999
A three-year-old boy disappears during his mother's high school reunion. Nine years later, by chance, he turns up in the town in which the family has just relocated.
Movie details
The Deep End of the Ocean
“The search for her son was over. The search for her family was just beginning.”
1999 Drama · Mystery 1h 46m
Critical arithmetic
One number, for now.
Scores change. Arguments endure.
TMDB
6.6 / 10
Community rating
A three-year-old boy disappears during his mother's high school reunion. Nine years later, by chance, he turns up in the town in which the family has just relocated.
CriticWise case file
What this film says about your taste.
Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.
The archetype split
Who fights over The Deep End of the Ocean?
For the defence
The Auteur Devotee
“You watch the director, not the movie.”
Read their case For the prosecution
The Popcorn Loyalist
“Big screen, big feelings, no apologies.”
Read their objectionThe split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.
Taste neighbourhood
Nearby on the taste map.
TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.
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Names above the title
The people responsible.
Cast & crew
Directed by
Ulu Grosbard
Written by
Stephen Schiff
Michelle Pfeiffer
Beth Cappadora
Treat Williams
Pat Cappadora
Jonathan Jackson
Vincent Cappadora (age 16)
Ryan Merriman
Sam Karras
Alexa PenaVega
Kerry Cappadora (age 9)
Whoopi Goldberg
Candy Bliss
C
Cory Buck
Vincent (age 7)
Court is in session
Put The Deep End of the Ocean on trial.
Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.
The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist
“Technique in search of a pulse.”
Immaculate construction is still construction. The film may be too busy proving its craft to feel alive.