neumu [ cinematronic ]




	The Deep End
	Scott McGehee and David Siegel Tilda Swinton, Goran Visnjic, Jonathan Tucker 2001 Widescreen; closed caption; English, French audio tracks; Spanish, English subtitles; commentary by writers/ producers/ directors David Siegel and Scott McGehee; "The Anatomy of a Scene" Sundance special; featurette; still gallery; theatrical trailer.		Mother love gets a workout in a smart, deliberately-paced thriller that mixes elements of film noir with modern psychological drama and gives Tilda Swinton ("Orlando") her best role to date. As a Lake Tahoe woman whose husband is overseas, Swinton's character is the de facto head of the family and fiercely protective of her children. So when she believes that her son, an honor student, has killed his manipulative gay paramour, she does everything in her power to shield her offspring from suspicion. After she goes out of her way to hide any evidence of wrongdoing, a handsome stranger (Goran Visnjic) shows up with a video tape of the son and the late lover gettin' it on — and demands $50,000, or the cassette will go to the police. If the mother doesn't swiftly raise the money, the son's life may be ruined. At the same time, she's drawn to the would-be blackmailer. It's hard to guess how things will play out, and that uncertainty keeps you on board until the deep, dark end.