MovieChat Forums > The Deep Blue Sea (2011) Discussion > So...what?

So...what?

posted 10 years ago by asiadreams
8 replies | jump to latest

Perhaps I'm a bit too cynical, but this movie left me asking 'so what?' What was the point to it all? I know there was a story here, but all I could see was Hester moping for 90 minutes. I couldn't understand Freddy's appeal. Her husband clearly loved her despite everything. To me, the affair just didn't make sense.

To be fair, there were a few things I liked about the movie. I loved the singing in the tube station during the London bombing. That was the most poignant scene in the entire movie. I also liked all of the 1950s sets. Unfortunately, even those few rays of light aren't enough to make Deep Blue Sea memorable.

Just tossing in my 2-cents.

[–] shred-com 10 years ago

She just didn't love her husband *shrug*. You can't be forced to love someone just because they're nice or rich etc. However I agree that this film wasn't memorable at all, and it had a very, very thin plot (it reminded me of something that would've been made in the 30's or 40's). Thankfully Weisz and Hiddleston were good enough to make me care about the little that was here.

[–] Ace_Spade 9 years ago

It didn't remind me of anything from the 30s or 40s. If I'm thinking of the great films from that era of movies, I'm thinking of The Maltese Falcon, Casablanca, The Adventures of Robin Hood, Gone with the Wind and other movies with active plots, sparkling dialogue and so on.

I felt The Deep Blue Sea hung onto one note, it didn't set up a good love triangle (why she wouldn't love William was made clear, why she loved Freddie at all is beyond me), and it was just generally plodding and at times it was dull.

There was much to enjoy (Weizs' performance, her scenes with William, the aesthetic and camerawork) but overall I wasn't swept away by it.

[–] cookiela2001 9 years ago

it didn't set up a good love triangle (why she wouldn't love William was made clear, why she loved Freddie at all is beyond me)

This did occur to me about halfway through the film, when I thought, "So, what is the appeal in this particular lover?" But Hester did eventually make it clear to me (with the help of the superb Rachel Weisz's acting) that regardless of what WE may (or may not) see in her boyfriend, he is some sort of lifeforce for her. Clearly she is sexually fulfilled by him, and she says he touches something deeper in her as well, which she cannot even articulate.

1.) This is a romantic theme of unrequited love. This subject may remain something of a mystery to those who have never experienced it on a keen level (which is, of course, fine. Almost laudable!)

2.) The heroine Hester is deeply (almost archetypically) "feminine," in that she falls into the category of women who have acute, sweeping feelings surrounding love and emotional belonging, etc. Perhaps it is difficult for some males to connect with this specific plight of hers. And that's completely natural...though also a bit unfortunate.

On a different topic raised in this thread, as to Hester's discontent with her stodgy though only semi-caring husband (he COULD come more to her defense in his bitchy mother's house!), this heroine apparently wants more out of life than a nice tea set. And, why shouldn't she?

She's rolling the dice.

.

[–] Ace_Spade 9 years ago

I guess I just feel like the movie didn't show me that they were so passionate for each other. I agree with you on the reasons and themes that the film tries to set up, but I didn't buy it.

This is recognising, of course, that these things are subjective and other people might be convinced, but I just didn't believe the passion that they showed me (though Weisz is a fine actress).

She might want more out of life, but I wasn't convinced that she believed William was the "out" she was looking for.

[–] lamont-hard 8 years ago

She seemed to want/need some things but didn't know what. She would have left Hester after a while because just as her husband gave her a stable life Hester gave the opposite, neither one will fulfill her. She is empty forever looking for something to satisfy her when she cannot figure out what it is. Listen closely to both men.

[–] lamont-hard 8 years ago

What's love got to do with it. The film never said much on how she felt about her husband, romantically, sexually or passion. So besides you saying there was no love what was her real issue with him. I believe she thought the lover could give her a youthful more passionate love which he couldn't because it was not what she really needed. She seemed confused.

[–] jackieandtodd 8 years ago

Maybe it was a marriage of convenience?

[–] lamont-hard 8 years ago

It was said she loved him but they lacked sexual passion. Remember he kicked her to the curb. The lover could not give her the love her husband provided and the husband didn't provide the passion the lover provided. Did she try suicide because the lover wouldn't love her then dumps her or was it because she was ashamed of after leaving her husband she ends up much worse.