Review:

film "The Deep End" writer/directors Scott McGehee and David Siegel

Starring:

Tilda Swinton "Margaret Hall",

Goran Visnjic "Alek Spera"

Jonathan Tucker "Beau Hall"

By John Frame 5th December 2001:

It's good to see a gay character as an integral part of the plot - not just as a device to titillate, provide intrigue or to gain sympathy. They say on their website that Jonathan Tucker turned 18 during production - so he really knew what the character would be feeling. He had also studied ballet for 4 years before he started acting - so he could be working from personal experience - who knows?. I love the multitude of facial twitches his character displays as an adjunct to dialogue.

My brother had told me that "Bridget Jones Diary" had a good gay character in it, but when I finally watched it I found that, while it's true that a character is gay, it’s also true that he's so lightweight as to be negligible - certainly a definitive "token gay" (just like in "Four Weddings & A Funeral").

In The Deep End we have a concerned and devoted mother who is quite aware that her son is gay and she is trying to make sure that he is at least physically safe. She is rightly concerned about him being involved with a 30 year old night club operator from a sleazy city who's into fast cars, alcohol, drugs - and teenagers.

Tilda Swinton acts superbly - and I enjoyed all of the performances. The critic from "Sydney Star Observer" reckoned it was a wildly unbelievable series of events, but I was happy to suspend disbelief and enjoy a riveting and rewarding suspense thriller (with a dash of romantic nuance).

The widescreen is all used to good effect with detailed surround sound. I can see why so many critics around the globe have raved about it.

The Deep End opened 22nd November in Brisbane and plays at the Palace Centro on James http://www.biziworks.com.au/biziworks/BiziGen?ownerID=PALACE&docID=356 and other cinemas.