The Deep Blue Sea

Rachel Weisz shines in this elegant and introspective drama from writer-director Terence Davies but the film suffers from stagey treatment and a wooden leading man.

Set largely across one eventful day in the life of Hester (Weisz), is the story of a woman grimly clinging to a dream life that is fast disintegrating. We start with her suicide note and over the course of the day, through a series of brief but neatly structured flashbacks, learn what prompted her to take this drastic action. Married to a stuffy old judge (Simon Russell-Beale), she began an affair with a dashing RAF pilot (Tom Hiddleston). Stuck in an existence where even the manner in which she pours her tea is a matter of concern for those around her, she takes the drastic step of leaving her husband for the pilot. When he turns out to be all style over substance, things begin to look bleak.

Davies has adapted The Deep Blue Sea from a play and it shows. Although at its heart is a beautifully grounded performance from Weisz, the film finds it very hard to shake off its source material. As a result, there are parts which are far too theatrical and the film ends up feeling very unnatural. There’s one particular scene outside a pub that has more business being played out on the stage at the Everyman than performing a pivotal role in the development of a film.

There is another problem, however, and that is Hiddleston. It’s hard to empathise with Hester’s plight when she’s pinned all her hopes on a man who is, quite clearly, a selfish cad. This is worsened, however, by Hiddleston’s failure to bring any semblance of charm to the role. He is also guilty of emphasising the theatricality of the piece by barking most of his lines in a style not too far off the Joey Tribiani school of spit-acting.

It’s a real shame because Weisz is really wonderful here. It’s a real shame that she won that Oscar because she’s an actress of great skill and it’s rare that she gets a chance to get her teeth into a meaty role like Hester. She has you transfixed almost immediately and the film ultimately succeeds on the back of her performance. Her work opposite Russell-Beale – also excellent as the timid cuckold - is lovely to watch and gives the film the emotional core so absent from the relationship with Freddie.

Their performances are worth the ticket price but it is maddening to think that a better actor than Hiddleston and a few tweaks to the script could have elevated this into something much more substantial.

Stars: ***