The Dive from Clausen's Pier

I haven't read the book, but even so, I thought the movie was far from good. It's supposed to be... well, the movie doesn't make that all too clear. We learn that main character Carrie wants to become something else, and that's about it. From reading other comments, though, I've learned that it is supposed to be about a young woman's journey to find herself and face her demons. I'm not sure about WHAT demons...

The movie, in short, is about Carrie's boyfriend Mike breaking his back diving, and Carrie breaking up with him (not because of the injury) and going off to New York to get a life, so to speak. She meets supposedly mysterious 35-year-old Kilroy and they become a couple. Then everybody leads complicated lives for a while, and she finally goes home - although the movie does not reveal for what reasons.

This movie confused me a bit right from the start, mostly because of the very young appearances of the characters; in the opening scenes we see Carrie (Michelle Trachtenberg) and her boyfriend, and him giving her a ring, at the same time as her voice tells the story of their several years long relationship - and the first thought that popped into my head was: "So, you met when you were like 9?" Sadly, in my opinion, she never rises to the challenge of portraying a young woman in this movie, but stays on a teenager-trying-to-act-adult level (it doesn't help that she looks and sounds like 15-16), which makes a lot of her lines and her relationship with Kilroy literally unbelievable. She's too young to play the part.

Meanwhile, Kilroy (Sean Maher) is, I guess, supposed to be this mysterious, secretive handsome stranger, but to me he seems exaggerated and a bit over-acted. Also, there doesn't seem to be the least bit of chemistry between him and Michelle Trachtenberg. I'd guess they were brother and kid sister sooner than lovers.

All in all, the movie felt unnecessary. Nothing that pulled me in and kept me concentrated, but rather something to mindlessly doze to. We never get to see past the surface of any character, and the story is high-paced in a bad way.

It's nice to know that everyone has doubts about decisions they have made in their lives.. This movie was very uplifting from the point of "Mike" finding out that he COULD live without "Carrie", and eventually forgive her unforgivable deed!! Running when the going got tough! And to discover that not everyone in the movies, "Carrie" can be a hero all of the time. She got scared, and she gave up everything, because of her fear. She grew emotionally and finally figured out that there was just no way to have a real future with "Kilroy" or anyone else until she finally did the right thing and face her past. I don't think that running away is the right answer, but sometimes it is easier to face things after the dust has settled a bit. Good movie, would recommend watching it. Would have liked to see a different ending though.

I didn't think the lead actress had enough depth and gravitas to carry off the part of the main character, who while eliciting some empathy is far from sympathetic- She seemed very remote and vacant. Although I can't tell how much of the fault with this character lies with the script. The Kilroy character seemed to be an overgrown, immature, poseur and I could not see how any woman would find this attractive. The character of Mike kept apologizing to Carrie but I'm not sure what for. He seemed to be quite the forgiving guy. And even if he wasn't a quadriplegic, he still came across as the most mature and sympathetic amongst this love triangle. I did not read the book and after viewing this movie I wouldn't want to. I have to disagree with another reviewer's opinion that "the cast, without exception, was one-dimensional and juvenile" and that the movie "seemed like a teenybopper soap opera". I thought with the exception of Carrie and Kilroy, the casting was fairly good. The cast of young twenty-something's did not look like your typical O.C. or One Tree Hill gang and the acting chops were certainly a cut above your typical soap opera characters. The casting was probably the only good thing about the movie. And I didn't see this as a typical teenybopper soap opera, just your typical disappointing Wifetime -movie of the week.

I read the novel "The Dive from Clausen's Pier" and found it to be heart-wrenching and a great look into the mind of a torn young woman. The Lifetime movie just chopped it up, altered it horribly and left me appalled. If you have not read the book and watch the movie, fine. But if you've read the book....I recommend not watching the movie. If you must though, be warned. There was so much richness in the book and important moments and character development that the movie skips over and alters. Originally the character was named Carrie Bell in the book and the movie changes her to Carrie Beal...not a huge deal, but that is the gateway for all the changes in the plot. I understand films adapt books into the given time slots, but this movie wasn't adapted but more of chopped up and shoved into a formulaic display of scenes that do not capture half of the emotional journey Carrie undergoes. The most difficult part of the movie was the rapid progression of time that is never explained or detailed well. Carrie seems to always be wearing the same clothes so distinguishing the passage of time and seasons is difficult. If you must watch this movie...supplement the choppy pace and lack of depth with reading the novel.

Yet another sad attempt at turning a book into a film. I discovered the book by accident and went about encouraging my friends to read it because the characters, story, and compelling ending needed to be discussed. This film lends itself to no discussion beyond asking for what purpose the things that were changed, especially in character, were changed. By significantly changing the characters, especially Kiroy (the character in the book would NEVER have gone chasing after Carrie), the film lost all of the soul of the book. The greatest moment in the book, when Carrie gets the sewing machine in the mail, wasn't even in the film. Further, the film became less about one woman's journey to discover who she is and more about her dealing with her fiancé's accident. Definitely not recommended. Read the book.