The Deep (2013)

Truly Dreadful Film

Let's be realistic.

Fresh and Exciting

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

Catching up on the great Canadian Nordic Noir-inspired series Cardinal,I took a look to see what BBC 4 were replacing it with. Recently seeing the better than expected (partly) based on a true story lost at sea flick In the Heart of the Sea,I was intrigued to find BBC 4 airing a lost at sea Nordic "ripped from the headlines" movie,which led to me going back into the sea.The plot-The Westman Islands 1984:Waving goodbye to his family, Guðlaugur Friðþórsson goes and joins the rest of the crew so they can set off to sea. Going out deep into the oceans,the crew put the fishing nets out. Unexpectedly,causing the ship to sink. Getting his head above water, Friðþórsson witnesses the death of each fellow crew member. Looking across the waves.the only land Friðþórsson can see is a five hour swim away.View on the film:Lost at sea with Friðþórsson,co-writer/(with Jón Atli Jónasson) director Baltasar Kormákur makes pushes the viewer into the depths of the oceans,via thunderous waves lashing the camera and an icy score sharply being used to crack the shivering temperature against the rocks and the high winds. Looking at Kormákur's life on shore, Kormákur contrasts the clarity at sea with raw shot on VHS "flashbacks" which gives them a fading memory atmosphere.Spending most of the film with Friðþórsson on his own,the screenplay by Jónasson & Kormákur impressively surfs a wave of tension from the memory of each fallen member bring the isolation home to Friðþórsson. Along with the failed sea adventure,the writers diving into Friðþórsson's family life heightens the emotion of each stroke Friðþórsson makes to survive. Before going to the US and becoming an Icelandic sex icon (!) Ólafur Darri Ólafsson gives an excellent performance as Friðþórsson,thanks to Ólafsson unleashing his roar for survival with a firm grip on the humble roots at home,as Friðþórsson finds himself lost at sea.

Even as a viewer and even though you might feel at times like it, I'm pretty sure you won't be able to quit. And while that is not nearly as impressive as what you'll see in the movie (and after the movie is over, even in the special features of your disc hopefully), the movie shows you what endurance is about.While there are no clear answers to some questions, the movie has a strong will just as one main character also does. You might feel indifferent in the middle of it (like another reviewer wrote), but I'm pretty sure you won't be by the end of the movie. It's just impossible not to be impressed by what actually did happen. Very well played and very well shot indeed

This is an outstanding film. If you enjoyed "into the wild".. you're gonna like this one. It's not a long film yet clearly packs a punch. Powerful, succinct, insightful. I enjoyed how it makes a mockery of science and religion - not so subtle there. For me, the cog or center of this film happens when gulli is visited by a priest and they have a little chat.. but it isn't until later on we realize (I realized rather) that gulli is everything the priest is not and should be - a human being. That is, a human in the state of being, complete with flaws and all. As Gulli allows himself to "be" this puts him in a position to allow others to be. Put otherwise, we don't see gulli proselytizing or spewing out external beliefs and philosophies on others the way that, say, all priests of all cults and religions must do, if they know what's good for them.So its the juxtaposition (gotta love them big words) of these two characters (gulli and the priest)that really drives home two very clear messages. 1) that there are people out there who are still awake.. still alive.. and that's a good thing. 2) We live in a society where according to its own definition of what constitutes mental sanity (namely the DMV-IV) society itself is utterly insane. Truly. When you considering the wildly disproportionate distribution of wealth in society.. what other conclusion is possible? Let me give you a hint.. there is no other conclusion. Considering any billionaire (we wont mention narcs or athletes) will make more money in the time it takes to use the commode than the rest of us clucks will make in several lifetimes.. in my book cause for alarm. And as if that were not enough to blow your freakin' brains out with a hand grenade... men and women are "STILL" to this day going to nightclubs as a way to meet each other.. truly astonishing! Getting back to gulli, from a transactional analysis (psychological) standpoint, I guess you could say gulli somehow managed to shut down his inner parent and is humming or cruising thru life as an adult child. Where the child has taken over the adult and which in my book may be the only way to remain sane in an insane society. Assuming gulli were a real person how could you not be preoccupied about his future. Reasoning: in an insane society the sane cannot but be considered insane. In a society ruled by lunatics and indentured slaves.. those who are autonomous or who even attempt autonomy must be considered dangerous and feared. As gulli's inner parent might put it.. "its a fine mess you gotten us into this time gulli"And so, my response to this movie is "read you loud and clear" or "got it! thanks for the reminder". Finally, though this film does make fun of science.. it is important to remember that the scientific method (if applied properly) contains mankind's only hope to achieve anything resembling sanity or even a future.. but that's just me I guess. And while I can appreciate that others might get a radically different take on this film.. I wonder what the fat wallet boys would make of it and while you're at it.. how bout lending me a mil or two. Here's my proposal for a sequel to 'the deep': Gulli finds oil off the coast of Iceland and becomes a billionaire. He knocks up a prostitute and has a son. Gulli sues the prostitute for custody and wins - just like in real life. One day Gulli's son goes to Gulli (who by now is saturated with greed and corruption)and says...Son: hey dad.. I wanna be just like you.. filthy stinking rich. I want to exploit my slaves (I mean employees) and pay them minimum wage and watch them swelter. I like watching them squirm dad.. is that wrong? it sure does feel wrong. Heck.. the other day I asked one of my bodyguards to take off his clothes and he did.. I wonder what else he'll do for money? Gulli: they'll do anything son.. you know that. Son: "hey dad.. do you think I can have my own congressman for Christmas? I'll settle for a district court judge.. you got truck loads of those. Henry at school's got one and I got to have one too.. Gulli: you're only 5 years old son.. think you can handle it? Son: If Henry I can Gulli: OK son, sure.. ill talk to the lawyers Son: gee thanks dad.. when I turn 18 can I have my own US president. I promise I won't tell anyone Gulli: Its OK son.. no one will believe you anyway... and besides we make the law and feed the media and you know what that means. Son: yes Dad Gulli: That's right.. you're learning. Are you sure you want a US president son? they're kind've cheap these days.. and we do have a reputation. How about your own pharmaceutical company? Son: Nah.. that's boring Gulli: You sure about that? Hey Son.. how about we make a movie about race cars? we'll call it fast and furious. It'll keep the latinos happy Son: oh really .. can we dad? I like Lincoln kills zombies? I tried and couldn't think of anything more ridiculous.. I know the minion will love it Gulli: you're a genius son.. even I couldn't have thought that one up. Son: thanks dad Gulli: now go play with your anti-matter gun Son: Can I try it out on my bodyguards? Gulli: sure son.. they wont mind. Son: Hey bodyguards.. come and get it (laughter) Gulli: whats our motto son? Son: keep 'em nice and stupid. (laughter) son runs off down the hall chasing the bodyguards.coming soon to a theater near you -

Icelandic screenwriter, actor, producer and director Baltasar Kormákur's eight feature film which he co-wrote with Icelandic screenwriter Jón Atli Jónasson and co-produced, is inspired by real events in the life of an Icelandic man named Guðlaugur Friðþórsson and four other men which took place in 1984 on one of the Westman Islands called Heimaey. It premiered in Iceland, was screened in the Special Presentations section at the 37th Toronto International Film Festival in 2012, was shot on locations in the North Atlantic Ocean and is an Iceland-Norway co-production which was produced by producer Agnes Johansen. It tells the story about a fisherman named Gulli who lives in a coastal town and who is few days away from heading out to the sea on a fishing boat called Breki-VE with his crew members.Finely and engagingly directed by Nordic filmmaker Baltasar Kormákur, this finely paced and somewhat fictional reconstruction which is narrated mostly from the main character's point of view, draws a gripping portrayal of an Icelandic man and the crucial decision he has to make after a boat accident in the North Atlantic Ocean. While notable for its naturalistic and atmospheric milieu depictions and reverent cinematography by Icelandic cinematographer Bergsteinn Björgúlfsson, this character-driven story depicts a commendable study of character and contains a great score by composers Daniel Bjarnason and Ben Frost.This dramatic, humorous and modestly existentialistic drama which is set in the Vestmannaeyar in Iceland during a spring in 1984 and where a man ends up in a situation where the deep is below him, the sky above him and his only option is to swim or die, is impelled and reinforced by its cogent narrative structure, substantial character development and the involving and efficiently understated acting performance by Icelandic actor Ólafur Darri Ólafsson. A heartrending, inspirational, mythical and invigorating true story which is dedicated to Icelandic fishermen.