The Sea Inside

So, here we go... another one from Alejandro Amenábar.
It’s his fourth feature, and man, I was lucky enough to catch all three of his previous ones.
I remember back in '97, watching his debut, Thesis, on NBC during this special Spanish cinema series... and I just thought, okay, this is a name you need to remember. I knew right then this guy had something special to offer.
Then came Open Your Eyes—which was remade in Hollywood as Vanilla Sky—and The Others. Honestly? They were all incredible. Just top-tier thrillers, every single one of them.
Now, it looks like Amenábar is tackling some really heavy, heavy subject matter... euthanasia, actually. He turned it into a drama, and once again, he absolutely nailed it.
He directed it, wrote the script, even did the score... it's brilliant. It just proves he's easily one of the most talented filmmakers working today.
And Bardem... wow. He is just luminous playing this cynical quadriplegic who’s basically done with life because he feels it’s lost its dignity. Amenábar’s direction just blew me away yet again.
Look, it’s a pretty intense, sometimes claustrophobic drama. It definitely won't be everyone's cup of tea... but I'm certain that anyone who can appreciate that kind of depth is going to find The Sea Inside to be one of the best films of the year.
At least, it was for me.

...I’ve got nothing but praise for Amenábar... you might have to wait a couple of years for the truth to surface, but when it finally hits, it doesn't disappoint...:-)

..Yeah, this change in perspective is definitely interesting... even if the director usually sticks to thrillers, Amenabar never does superficial work, so even though the subject matter is different from his usual stuff, the transition doesn't feel jarring at all... fantastic directing...

Life is a Beach has finally hit theaters. It’s officially out now.

I am genuinely excited for this one...

For those of you who have already caught a screening, please share your thoughts on 😁

Ed Wood said:Brad Pitt is absolutely brilliant

I haven't actually sat down to watch the movie yet, though I suppose I don't really doubt this one bit 😍

Amenabar was great, Brad Pitt was good (though maybe not quite the legend everyone makes him out to be), and the movie itself is solid (even if people are overhyping it). 😁

Wait until you see this one classic scene from an American movie...

Honestly, that movie is a bit of a slog in some parts, but it’s definitely worth your time 👍

It’s just... honestly, incredible. Yeah, it’s slow. It’s heavy. Definitely. But it’s done in the best way possible because it just completely pulls you under...

Hands down the best movie I've seen all year. It’s such a breath of fresh air compared to those cookie-cutter Hollywood blockbusters we're always stuck with.
The soundtrack is gorgeous, too—especially that moody track by Carlos Nunez featuring Black. Definitely worth a watch and a listen 😉

An absolute masterpiece, a perfect five-star rating if I ever gave one. 👍 👍
Honestly, this stands out as one of my favorites from recent years. Amenabar was brilliant in both Abra los ojos and Spy, and while this film is a completely different beast, he hits that same high note here.

The cast is flawless—there isn't a single weak link in the bunch. The direction feels effortless and steady, and the cinematography is just stunning. What impressed me most, though, was the storytelling; the plot could have easily spiraled into cheap melodrama, yet it avoided that trap entirely, which is a massive achievement. Still, the emotional weight is heavy; there were two scenes where I was practically weeping like a baby. 😢

Spanish film - the best film😁

I felt like they botched the balance a bit—that whole "socially conscious yet poetic" vibe was just messy. Honestly, I wanted the movie to just let go and be. You know, like when that Black shadow first starts creeping in. I’m just glad I had a cushion with me, otherwise I would've just sunk straight into my chair and ended up with a sore backside.

For those of you listening to the radio late tonight... 😢

When I think of you,
Black shadow that amazes me,
oh, feet of my wandering soul,
you make a fool of me once again.

When I say it is a journey,
under the very same sun, you reveal yourself,
and you are the star that shines,
and you are the wind that howls.

If there is singing, it is you who sings,
if there is weeping, it is you who weeps,
and you are the murmur of the river
and you are the night and the dawn.

In everything you are, and you are everything,
to me, you live within my very self,
you will never abandon me,
shadow that always amazes me.

Arthur Martinez7 said:An absolute masterpiece, a perfect ten. 👍 👍
Truly one of my favorites in recent memory. Amenabar was brilliant in both Abra los ojos and Spy, and this one holds up just as well, even though all three are completely different vibes.

The cast is flawless; there isn't a single weak link in the bunch. The direction feels effortless and clear, and the cinematography is just stunning. The story itself walks a very thin line where it could have easily spiraled into cheap melodrama, but it avoids that trap entirely—which is a massive achievement. And yet, it’s still absolutely overflowing with emotion. I actually found myself tearing up during two of the scenes... 😢

Spanish film - best film ever😁

I usually love Spanish films, but honestly, this one was pretty mediocre.
cons:
- You can see the ending coming from a mile away. There isn't a soul alive who wouldn't predict that conclusion.
- That whole ridiculous bit with the virtual flight and the kissing...
- Two women suddenly falling for a quadriplegic out of nowhere? After twenty-eight years of nothing? Please, the drama...🙄
- He's on his deathbed and happens to release a book? Oh, how typical.😵
- The movie is just so overloaded with sentimentality that none of us five girls (yes, we were five) actually cried.

pros:
- A few funny moments here and there.
- Solid acting (and don't get me started, since I'm no expert on acting, but whatever...)😁)

rating: I don't even know... it was the kind of movie I could have easily skipped...

Laura Roberts61 said:I mean, you already know how it ends. There isn't a single soul out there who doesn't know the ending.
Just some nonsense about virtual flying and kissing.
Two women fall for a quadriplegic guy out of nowhere? After twenty-eight years of absolutely nothing happening? Man, talk about pure drama.🙄
He’s on his deathbed and suddenly drops a book? Man, how predictable.😵
Man, that movie was just pure, unadulterated melodrama—so much forced pathos that none of us five girls even shed a single tear.
...

Some movies have endings you can see coming from a mile away just because of the subject matter, but I don't think that's necessarily a flaw. Or are you actually suggesting the movie should've ended with some miracle where he jumps out of the wreckage, wipes the floor with both of them, and walks away? 😉 That would be a little too Hollywood, wouldn't it? 😉
That whole idea of virtual flight works as such a beautiful metaphor for his inner world—all those desires and fantasies... honestly, I think it’s a pretty solid counterweight to that pull toward death.
So, two women falling for each other... I mean, come on, it feels a little forced, but I guess you need that kind of tension to keep the plot moving. 😉
Publishing a book was never really on his radar until she saw that spark in him and convinced him he actually had something to say. It’s nothing out of the ordinary, though. Honestly, it won't be long before Walter gets his own book out there anyway—it's not like getting published is an impossible feat these days. 😉

Laura Roberts61 said:I usually enjoy Spanish films, but this one was pretty mediocre.
The downsides:
- You can see the ending coming from a mile away. Is there anyone out there who actually doesn't know how it ends?
- Those ridiculous scenes involving virtual reality flying and making out.
- Two women suddenly falling for a quadriplegic, after twenty-eight years of absolutely nothing happening. Talk about forced drama.🙄
- He’s on his deathbed and decides to publish a book—oh, how typical.😵

The upsides:
- A few witty moments.
- Decent acting (not that you should take my word for it, since I'm hardly an expert on acting, but there it is).😁

My rating: Honestly, I have no idea... just a movie I could have easily skipped...

Good grief, that is quite a harsh take! 😁 Well, alright then, if you didn't enjoy it, fine, but I have just a few observations.

- When you say you knew the ending, that is a bit like saying you knew the ending of Titanic—of course you did, but the ending isn't the point; it's the journey.

- Personally, I thought those virtual flight scenes were beautifully shot and very well conceived—when they started moving, I actually found myself thinking, "Where is this going?" 😁

- Regarding the romance—again, he isn't necessarily the focus here. They didn't fall for him because he's some hero; rather, they found a sense of salvation in him. Julia found a kindred spirit because she is also struggling, and Rose found an escape from her dull life and someone to care for—showing that even someone in his condition can offer so much to others.

And finally, I think I've found the likely reason why the film failed to move you:

Laura Roberts61 said:- The movie is just so overloaded with pathos that none of us five girls actually cried.

🙂 Perhaps you shouldn't go to the movies with a group of women. You probably spent the whole time giggling and gossiping about shopping anyway. 😁

It isn't "overloaded with pathos." It is actually quite humorous for the most part; I only found the scene where he leaves home and the moment his book arrives—only to realize he and Julia won't be passing away together—to be genuinely sad.

My dear Laura Roberts61, I think you completely missed the mark here. 😁 But no matter, to each their own. I won't get vulgar about it this time. 😁

Arthur Martinez7 said:- personally, I thought those virtual flight sequences were shot brilliantly and very well conceived—once they started moving, I just thought, "where on earth are we going?" 😁

the whole sense of realism the movie builds up just gets broken by that "flight" moment...🙄
it feels completely unnecessary... suddenly we're soaring over meadows and mountains... it would have been much more effective if they had just kept him confined in his room, so you could actually feel his genuine desire to die...

Arthur Martinez7 said:- regarding the romance—again, he isn't really the point here. They didn't fall madly in love with him specifically; rather, they found a sort of salvation in him. Julia found a kindred spirit because she's struggling herself, and Rose found an escape from her tedious life and someone to care for... essentially saying even someone like him can offer a lot to others.

I might sound terrible, but I fear that in reality, things don't quite work that way...
and I'm just not a fan of sci-fi films...😁

Arthur Martinez7 said:And finally, we arrive at the likely reason you didn't enjoy the film: 🙂 Don't go see movies with old ladies. I'm sure you all spent the time giggling and chatting about shopping trips. 😁

yes, I was literally talking about shopping. you know me better than that...😉

the movie felt somewhat hollow to us. nothing new under the sun. absolutely nothing.

but then again, there is no accounting for taste...😁

you're such a crybaby...🙂

Laura Roberts61, you seem to think Million Dollar Baby is actually great.
Honestly, I would be genuinely concerned about my own judgment if I found this movie appealing.

It isn't just loaded with sentimentality—if you want to see true pathos, look at what they did with Million Dollar Baby.

I found myself rolling my eyes through most of MDB, yet I was moved to tears by In Deep.

But fine... I suppose I understand that there are certain mediocre films that exist simply to, as Cyn puts it, punch people in the face with heavy-handed melodrama just to make them realize that something FATEFULLY IMPORTANT is happening!

What truly caught me off guard, however, was the sheer number of people who feel this way—on the thread for MDB, I was sitting there deeply, profoundly disappointed by the film, fully expecting a wave of criticism, only to find everyone showering it with uncritical praise...

Ah well, I suppose everyone deserves exactly as much subtlety as they are capable of grasping!

goldberry said:Laura Roberts61, you actually think Million Dollar Baby is good.
If I find out you enjoyed this movie, I might actually start worrying about my own sanity...

Oh boy, now I'm genuinely concerned.🙄

I clearly have zero taste...🙂🙂

I just want to be as sophisticated as goldberry...🙂

Go ahead and call my mother a mediocrity while you're at it.😛

I had a feeling you were going to misinterpret my sentence entirely!

When I say, 'I would worry about myself...', it means that I—goldberry—would be the one feeling concerned for my own well-being, rather than suggesting that you need to go worrying about yourself...

Maria Peterson said:I knew you were going to take my words the wrong way...

'I would worry about myself...' means that I—goldberry—would be the one worrying about myself, not that you need to go worrying about yourself...

But honestly, as long as the love is mutual, it doesn't really matter much...👍 😁

goldberry said:NoWa, you think Million Dollar Baby is a masterpiece.
If I found out you actually liked this movie, I’d honestly start worrying about my own mental state.

And no, it isn't just "overly sentimental"—if you want to see true sentimentality, go watch Million Dollar Baby.

I was rolling my eyes through Million Dollar Baby, but I was actually weeping during Into the Deep.

But fine... I suppose I understand that some mediocre people need, as Cindy puts it, to be punched in the face by heavy-handed melodrama just to grasp that something FATEFUL is happening!

It just caught me off guard how many there are—on the Million Dollar Baby thread, I was deeply, profoundly disappointed by the film and expected a total roasting, yet everyone is just full of uncritical praise...

Well, I guess everyone is only entitled to as much subtlety as they are capable of processing.

I haven't seen Million Dollar Baby. But I am watching your stupidity right now, and it is just as boring as Into the Deep. Fateful? What could possibly be fateful about a man waiting twenty-eight years for death? He doesn't have a destiny; his destiny is just dying.
I’m talking about the actual plot here. Poetry from hell or whatever that book is called? A poem to a son? Give me a break, for God's sake; I'm dying and I want someone to kill me, so that's why I write good poetry. It’s cheap and it's overwrought. The film is overwritten, and that is its fatal flaw. The only decent part of that movie is when those two dogs move around, but that lasts for maybe two seconds. 😢