The Deep Blue Sea

I've always thought that one of the qualities of film which sets it apart from other art forms is the power it has to transform the mundane and banal into a visual masterpiece. Every now and again, a film comes along which is so dazzlingly brilliant in terms of its visuals that it puts the iPhone as a piece of design to shame. The Deep Blue Sea is one of those films. Masterfully directed by Terence Davies and adapted from an original play by Terence Rattigan, The Deep Blue Sea not only showcases a wealth of British talent (in the form of Rachel Weisz and Tom Hiddleston) but it does so in a way which lifts the film from being your average period drama. The atmosphere of the film is brilliant and every shot seems to have been meticulously planned and constructed to within an inch of its life. But, you know what? The end result is nothing short of beautiful.

Rachel Weisz plays Hester, the wife of a powerful judge who embarks on a self-destructive affair with an RAF fighter pilot, played by Hiddleston. This type of story has, of course, been tackled before but The Deep Blue Sea brings a totally new quality and dimension to such a plot. The performances, especially by Weisz, were superb and really allowed the audience to engage with the characters and empathise with their situations even though, at times, their actions could be quite vexing. It was unsettling to see a female protagonist who, whilst having a strong will, seemed incapable of controlling the situations around her – something which made the plot all the more believable. Hiddleston's performance, also, was confident and the supporting cast added depth to the film. The narrative was not perfect and at times got a bit confusing due to the use of flashbacks but, on an overall level, it worked. The central relationship of Hester and Freddie (Hiddleston) worked well and offered a dynamic counterpoint to the life she had led with her husband. One of the most powerful scenes, for me, was when her husband gave her a belated birthday present even though she was with her lover Freddie. Such a simple act spoke volumes and demonstrated the skill which Davies has as a director and screenwriter.

One of the most striking elements of The Deep Blue Sea is its cinematography. The most commonplace items were shot in a way which made them a pleasure to watch – even the cigarette smoke seemed to have had to audition to prove its visual brilliance. This was largely helped by the lighting which created an oppressive yet optimistic atmosphere to mirror the characters' emotions. Not since you walked round the lighting department at Ikea have you seen such a glorious display of light. Furthermore, the sound design was interesting as there was very little music throughout the film. Instead, the dialogue of the characters was very harsh it terms of how it sounded and this not only reflected their attitudes towards one another but almost negated the need for a musical accompaniment. Yeah, I know I'm comparing dialogue to music (what an idiot, you must be thinking) but, genuinely, the effect was marked. All of these elements, combined with solid acting and beautiful cinematography creates a film which, although not perfect, is simply a joy to watch. However, The Deep Blue Sea will divide opinion (RottenTomatoes.com gives it an 86% critic rating compared to 46% of the audience). You will either love it or hate it. Me? Take a guess...

Clapperboard Rating: * * * *