The Dive from Clausen's Pier

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.

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.

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.

I haven't read the book, so I can't comment on whether the adaption was good or bad. The Dive from Clausen's Pier was in my opinion a good movie on the whole. It's not normally my kind of movie, I watched it mostly because of Michelle Trachtenberg. The story is about how an accident changes the lives of a group of people, and especially Mike Mayor (Will Estes) and his girlfriend Carrie Beal (Michelle Trachtenberg). It was in my opinion a bit too short, and I wish some characters could have been explored and developed more. Other than that, it was good.

I was pleased to see Trachtenberg in this movie, and from all her film and TV works, I consider this to be one of her best performances, possibly to share the first spot with Mysterious Skin. She's not just a beautiful face, she's a talented actress and I believe that with time she will grow and develop even more.

This is the first time I have seen Michelle Trachtenberg in an adult role. She still looks like a cute kid but her acting talent puts her into the character as a twenty-something. Probably not an Emmy role but notable just the same. The gal is good!

The DP got the angles and lighting right, but a note to the costume designer and/or director: She looks good in colors other than black.

The story did have a few interesting turns. I can see why it was a best selling book...and why it was made into to a Lifetime movie. If you like them (I do), you will like this one, too. The ending (and Michelle) left me begging for a sequel or maybe a short series.