Amor Alucinante

I really enjoyed the performances in this film. Harvey Keitel again proves his tremendous range. Cameron Diaz is a very talented comedic actress and her makeup is very skillfully applied in this film. Billy Zane is again a third wheel (see Dead Calm and Titanic) but this time it's a comedy. The plot twists and turns are great fun to follow. 8/10.

If you looking a dark comedy - stop your research you found it. Head Above Water is an awesome surprise and very funny movie. One of most strange couples on the screen that I saw(Cameron Diaz and Harvey Keitel) give a special touch to the Wilson's movie. Reccomended to all

Released in 1996, "Head above Water" is a black/romantic dramedy about a couple living on an island off the coast of Maine (Harvey Keitel and Cameron Diaz) and their grounds keeper (Craig Sheffer). A series of serious problems arise when the girl's ex-boyfriend visits while the guys are on a fishing trip (Billy Zane).

This is a generally entertaining farce highlighted by the beauty of both Diaz and the coastal locations. While the plot is simple you have to pay attention or you'll miss various twists where the viewer is led to believe one thing, which is then proved false by further information. I didn't pay attention too well the first time I viewed it and therefore discovered some enlightening elements on my second viewing.

BOTTOM LINE: "Head above Water" isn't bad at all, but it's not great either, although it has an interesting subtext (see below). At any rate, it's a must for Diaz fans (as well as Keitel and Sheffer) and those who love the Maine coast.

The film runs 96 minutes and was shot in Phippsburg, Maine.

GRADE: Borderline B-/C+

***SPOILER ALERT*** (Don't read further if you haven't seen the movie)

The subtext is obvious: Beautiful women equal death (think Metallica's DEATH MAGNETIC). In the movie Natalie is indirectly the cause of death of all the men, which include: the bad boy (Kent), the fatherly husband (George), her best friend from childhood who's always had a crush on her (Lance), and the policeman at the end seeking to save a damsel in distress.

"Head Above Water" certainly isn't a classic film or anything, yet it's probably worth a watch even though the film is short and the humor is dark and the plot is somewhat weak. The performances from Diaz and Keitel make it worth a view. Cameron Diaz as sexy as ever stars as Nathalie a free spirited young lady who's had a rough past with substance abuse, and supposedly now that her spouse is a judge named George(Harvey Keitel)her problems have washed ashore at their summer beach place. Upon a visit from an ex flame of Nathalie's a young man Kent(Billy Zane)takes an unexpected departure and things only become more complex when nearby friend Lance(Craig Sheffer)rounds out the mix in what is found to be a triple love triangle! Overall nothing great it's just some good and sexy work from Diaz in one of her early works as the plot just unravels to show a slick and messy triple love triangle.

The acting is pretty good, and seeing Harvey Keitel playing in a dark comedy was a pleasant surprise. What was not so pleasant was the plot. It starts out looking like another attempt to get rid of a dead body, like "Enid is Sleeping" or Drop Dead Sexy". What it winds up being is an overly complicated, convoluted black comedy, that is only marginally successful. Some of the plot contrivances are so unrealistic that they weaken the entire movie. Things like the postcard, a vodka bottle, and most of all a runaway chainsaw are nothing but ludicrous distractions. To top things off we get a completely unnecessary boat explosion as part of the astoundingly unbelievable conclusion. Very average at best. - MERK