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Michelle Pfeiffer, Treat Williams, Whoopi Goldberg, Jonathan Jackson, Ryan Merriman ... see more see more... , John Kapelos , Michael McElroy , Cory Buck , Alexa Vega , Michael McGrady , Brenda Strong , Rose Gregorio , Gabe Kaplan , John Roselius , Lucinda Jenney , Tony Musante

Beth Cappadora (Michelle Pfeiffer), a photographer, is married to Pat (Treat Williams), a restaurateur, and they would seem to have a perfect life in Madison, Wisconsin. In 1988, they have three small... read more read more... children that Beth takes along to her high school reunion in Chicago. While checking in at a crowded hotel lobby, her middle child, three-year-old Ben, disappears. Despite a frantic search and much media coverage, the boy is not found, and Beth soon falls apart. Nine years later, the family has only barely recovered when they move to Chicago so Pat can open a restaurant with his father. A few months later, a neighborhood boy named Sam Karras (Ryan Merriman) knocks on the door, asking to mow the lawn. Beth notices the boy's appearance exactly matches a time-elapsed photo of Ben constructed by the police; she takes pictures of the boy and contacts both her husband and police detective Candy Bliss (Whoopi Goldberg). School fingerprints of Ben and Sam match, and the boy is taken to foster care while Candy and Beth confront the father, George (John Kapelos). It seems Ben was abducted by an unbalanced woman who was Beth's high school classmate; the boy was eventually adopted by George when he married "Sam's" new mother, and she later committed suicide, leaving no one to blame. Having grown up happily with George, Sam has no memories of his real parents. Now Beth and Pat must find a way to bond with Sam, and heal older brother Vincent (Jonathan Jackson), who was supposed to be watching Ben at the time he disappeared, and has been suffering from guilt ever since. ~ Ron Wells, Rovi

Flixster Users

62% liked it

19,338 ratings

Critics

44% liked it

34 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 46 min.

Directed by: Ulu Grosbard

Release Date: March 12, 1999

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DVD Release Date: March 6, 2001

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Stats: 608 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (608)

  • thmtsang
    August 11, 2007
    thmtsang
    Moving story about a family who's son disappears but thye find him years later. Brilliant performance by Michelle.
  • nuheart
    January 5, 2007
    nuheart
    TV movie fare. Not bad, but nothing more than average.
  • dreamfaeries
    November 7, 2006
    dreamfaeries
    Michelle did a great job in this.
  • fb1526363679
    February 18, 2012
    fb1526363679
    This is truly a sad film, but it has its problems. Michelle Pfeiffer played an incredible performance however.
  • SunilJawahir
    March 4, 2009
    SunilJawahir
    I liked the book but this is a little too dramatic.
  • leekyle1968
    December 21, 2008
    leekyle1968
    Excellent story, and very intense. Great performances from Michelle Pfeiffer. any parent should see with the notion of dont trust anyone completly when it comes to your children!
  • ileo
    November 9, 2007
    ileo
    A good film.
  • avp60685
    August 12, 2009
    avp60685
    A sweet but sad story of a mother who is determined to find her missing son. She finds him years later and has to how deal with her other son with the return of her missing son.
  • ghettoqueen747
    May 1, 2009
    ghettoqueen747
    I absolutley loved this movie it shows the raw emotion a mother feels for her child and the lengths she would go to get them back. It was so sad but abduction happens so much that many people should watch this film.
  • moviegirl50
    October 25, 2008
    moviegirl50
    Though the filming and scenery almost seemed like a made for TV movie....it was a good story with good acting. Very tragic! I couldn't imagine what it would be liked to have your child kidnapped and never know what happened to him for 9 years!!

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Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy
June 20, 2006
Emanuel Levy, Variety

Well-acted but pedestrian TV-like melodrama what what consitutes a family, or sociology versus biology in the kinship debate. Full Review

Maria Garcia
January 12, 2007
Maria Garcia, Film Journal International

Grosbard...forgets the need for character motivation, point of view, or anything else that might make this compelling subject an interesting film. Full Review

James Sanford
June 23, 2002
James Sanford, Kalamazoo Gazette

a flawed but often effective family drama that turns on the deepest fear of every parent or guardian: that one dumb move, a single moment of neglect that can turn the rest of your life inside out. Full Review

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
February 28, 2002
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice

Sometimes in tragedies healing can only take place when love means letting go. Full Review

Chuck Rudolph
April 20, 2001
Chuck Rudolph, Matinee Magazine

Kudos to Michelle Pfeiffer and Treat Williams. Full Review

Michael Dequina
January 1, 2000
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com

Michelle Pfeiffer turns in an impassioned performance of often gut-wrenching intensity in a film that deserves far less. Full Review

Dustin Putman
January 1, 2000
Dustin Putman, DustinPutman.com

A respectable family drama, but is all the more disappointing since it is obvious that it could have been so much more. Full Review

David Sterritt
January 1, 2000
David Sterritt, Christian Science Monitor

Fans of Jacquelyn Mitchard's novel may find enough echoes of the book to justify the price of admission. But others can see this sort of thinly crafted melodrama in TV movies every week. Full Review

Carlo Cavagna
January 1, 2000
Carlo Cavagna, AboutFilm.com

Seems just to skim over the story... without ever delving into its depths. Full Review

Steve Rhodes
January 1, 2000
Steve Rhodes, Internet Reviews

If Pfeiffer doesn't fill your tear ducts at some point in the film, see your doctor and have them checked. Full Review

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The Deep End of the Ocean Trivia

  • in the movie, deep end of the ocean, how did the mom find her son?  Answer »
  • WHO PLAYED THE MOM IN THE MOVIE"THE DEEP END OF THE OCEAN" WHERE HER YOUNGEST SON WENT MISSING DURING A HIGH SCHOOL REUNION ?  Answer »
  • What was the name of the person who played Beth Cappadora in 'The Deep End Of The Ocean?  Answer »
  • I've played roles in these movies.... Venom - (2005) Riding the Bullet - (2004) Tuck Everlasting - (2002) Insomnia - (2002) Skeletons in the Closet - (2001) On the Edge - (2001) The Deep End of the Ocean - (1999) Double Play - (1997) Camp Nowhere - (1994) Who am I?  Answer »
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