The Deep End of the Ocean (1999)

The Deep End of The Ocean is a film about a family's reaction when Ben, the youngest son is kidnapped and then found nine years later, living in the same town, where his family had just moved.

Director:

Ulu Grosbard

Writers:

Jacquelyn Mitchard (book), Stephen Schiff (screenplay)

Stars:

Michelle Pfeiffer, Treat Williams, Whoopi Goldberg

3 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michelle Pfeiffer	...	Beth Cappadora
Treat Williams	...	Pat Cappadora
Whoopi Goldberg	...	Candy Bliss
Jonathan Jackson	...	Vincent Cappadora - Age 16
Cory Buck	...	Vincent Cappadora - Age 7
Ryan Merriman	...	Sam Karras / Ben Cappadora - Age 12
Alexa Vega	...	Kerry Cappadora
Michael McGrady	...	Jimmy Daugherty
Brenda Strong	...	Ellen
Michael McElroy	...	Ben Cappadora - Age 3
Tony Musante	...	Grandpa Angelo
Rose Gregorio	...	Grandma Rosie
John Kapelos	...	George Karras
Lucinda Jenney	...	Laurie
John Roselius	...	Chief Bastokovich

Storyline

The Deep End of The Ocean is a film about a family's reaction when Ben, the youngest son is kidnapped and then found ten years later, living in the same town.

---

Plot Keywords:

boy | reunion | childhood trauma | mother son relationship | chicago illinois | 

---

Taglines:

The search for her son was over. The search for her family was just beginning.

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for language and thematic elements

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 March 1999 (USA)

Also Known As:

Aussi profond que l'océan

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$40,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$5,558,400 (USA) (12 March 1999)

Gross:

$13,376,506 (USA) (7 May 1999)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation, Mandalay Entertainment, Via Rosa Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Extensive rewrites and re-shoots caused the film to be delayed from its planned fall 1998 release to spring of 1999.

---

Goofs

When Beth pulls into the garage, a boom mic is reflected in the driver's side window.

---

Quotes

Beth Cappadora: You self-righteous son of a bitch!
Pat Cappadora: I'm not self-righteous, I'm RIGHT! Kids don't just vanish up in smoke, kids don't just get lost, PEOPLE LOSE THEM!

---

Connections

Referenced in The Holiday (2006)

---

Soundtracks

"Zorba's Dance"
Written by Mikis Theodorakis

User Reviews

See this, Great movie!

Beth Cappadora (Michelle Pfeiffer) is at her high school reunion when her 3-year-old son disappears from his brother's care. The little boy never turns up, and the family has to deal with the devastating guilt and grief that goes along with it. Nine years later, the family has relocated to Chicago. By a sheer fluke, the kid turns up, living no more than two blocks away. The authorities swoop down and return the kid to his biological parents, but things are far from being that simple. The boy grew up around what he has called his father, while his new family are strangers to him; the older son, now a teenager, has brushes with the law and behavioral problems. His adjustment to his lost brother is complicated by normal teenage churlishness, and the dad (Treat Williams) seems to expect everything to fall into place as though the family had been intact all along. It's a tightrope routine for actors in a story like this, being careful not to chew the scenery while at the same time not being too flaccid or understated. For the most part, the members of the cast deal well with the emotional complexity of their roles. Though the story stretches credulity, weirder things do happen in the real world. The family's pain for the first half of the film is certainly credible, though the second half almost seems like a different movie. Whoopi Goldberg plays the detective assigned to the case; casting her is a bit of a stretch, but she makes it work. All in all, a decent three-honky movie in the vein of Ordinary People.