17 reviews
Michelle Trachtenberg elevates this standard production
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.
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.
Great for a TV movie, but that isn't saying much.
'The Dive From Clausen's Pier' is the story of Carrie, a young woman who takes off to New York after her fiancé, Mike Mayor, is paralyzed in a diving accident. Although, the accident isn't the real reason she leaves. Even before the accident, her feelings for Mike were slipping. She does what she feels she has to, to find happiness. The story itself is less than appealing to me, so this obviously isn't my type of movie. But in spite of that, I still managed to enjoy it.
Trachtenberg (Carrie) puts on a surprisingly good performance. Coming into the movie I was honestly expecting her to be the weakest link. On top of her less than stellar performance in EuroTrip, she was also the worst character ever conceived on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. But she managed to pull off a wonderful performance, particularly at the beginning of the movie. Will Estes (Mike Mayor) also put on a great performance; they played off of each other really well. In my opinion, Will and Michelle had a lot more chemistry than Michelle and Sean (who plays Killroy). That's where the movie starts slipping a bit, Carrie's relationship with Killroy is a bit unrealistic, not to mention lame. The entire "Killroy hiding something from Carrie" arc was pretty annoying. It's just, after the first 30 minutes, the rest of the movie falls flat for me. I enjoy stories where people are forced to deal with things, not run away from them. Which is why I enjoyed the ending too, but it didn't seem as poignant as it should be. The monologue at the end, which was supposed to be a beautiful sentiment, was actually lame to no end.
Even so, the movie wasn't nearly as horrible as I thought it was going to be. It's above average in terms of TV movies, but that really isn't saying much.
4.5
Trachtenberg (Carrie) puts on a surprisingly good performance. Coming into the movie I was honestly expecting her to be the weakest link. On top of her less than stellar performance in EuroTrip, she was also the worst character ever conceived on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. But she managed to pull off a wonderful performance, particularly at the beginning of the movie. Will Estes (Mike Mayor) also put on a great performance; they played off of each other really well. In my opinion, Will and Michelle had a lot more chemistry than Michelle and Sean (who plays Killroy). That's where the movie starts slipping a bit, Carrie's relationship with Killroy is a bit unrealistic, not to mention lame. The entire "Killroy hiding something from Carrie" arc was pretty annoying. It's just, after the first 30 minutes, the rest of the movie falls flat for me. I enjoy stories where people are forced to deal with things, not run away from them. Which is why I enjoyed the ending too, but it didn't seem as poignant as it should be. The monologue at the end, which was supposed to be a beautiful sentiment, was actually lame to no end.
Even so, the movie wasn't nearly as horrible as I thought it was going to be. It's above average in terms of TV movies, but that really isn't saying much.
4.5
- DrStinkfist
- Jul 24, 2005
- Permalink
Very Uplifting
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.
Not a train wreck, but a very poor adaption of an interesting first novel
- LilyDaleLady
- Jul 30, 2005
- Permalink
I thought this was OK
I thought this movie was an OK movie. I never read the book but I really want to. I'm sure I'll like the book more when I read it than the movie but that's besides the point. I thought the story was OK and the thing I really liked was Michelle Tractenberg in this movie. I'm so tired of her playing a teenager or an immature character in some really stupid kiddie movie. In this movie however; I really liked her acting because she got to play a grown up. In real life, she is like 20 and I'm so sick and tired of her playing a kid so this was great. I think if she was given more roles to play as a grown up,her talent would really show. The one thing I didn't like was the ending. It kind of left you hanging on what happened and didn't really explain. I'm hoping the book is better. That's all I liked about this movie.
- xxstaindrosesxx
- Jul 28, 2005
- Permalink
loses the heart and soul of 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.
- shelly36095-1
- Jul 24, 2005
- Permalink
If you've read the book...don't bother with the movie!
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.
- JanetDenise
- Jul 27, 2005
- Permalink
Bordering ridiculous
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.
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.
- Nyx_Selene
- Jan 9, 2008
- Permalink
I liked this movie
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.
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.
- vanillacoke420
- May 19, 2007
- Permalink
Typical Wifetime movie
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.
Really bad adaptation
The director and producer took a good (not great) adult novel with an interesting plot and turned it into a teenybopper soap opera. The cast, without exception, was one-dimensional and juvenile, obviously chosen to appeal to viewers around junior high school age. Don't they think adults watch television? This film was the first movie my husband and I have watched on cable TV since we got our satellite dish over a year ago. Now we see what we have not been missing. I was interested in the previewing comments from several people who deplored the casting of Carrie. It's clear to me that this casting set the tone for the entire production, negatively in my view.
* OK..i guess*
I expected the Dive from Claussens pier to be at least 3 stars since the book was completely amazing, but i was quite disappointed..This movie just didn't excite me, and i don't think Michelle whatever her last name is should of been the lead..she seemed far to young, and bored me to death..The rest of the cast seemed to be OK..you most likely would not know any of there names, because they've only been in a few movies..So i guess this move was OK, but i really don't recommend watching it..but i do recommend reading the book!! It was interesting, had an excellent plot, and was not at all boring
Megan
Megan
- dancingqt39
- Sep 3, 2005
- Permalink
Will Estes
I didn't read the book, didn't even know there was 1 till I got on here, sorry. Just got the movie for Will, he did a good job in fact I just fast forward through the whole movie just to see his scenes. Other than that the film isn't worth it. Michelle is just to fake and she kisses weird in this movie. They said that Will actually tried to study how to be paralyzed for the movie. Thanks to the other views I actually found out if they get back together or not cause the movie ends terribly, and you don't know for sure if they do or not just watching the movie. I didn't even realize it was a Lifetime movie, I don't care for Lifetime or Hallmark, they're all basically the same movie different characters/settings.
- lefty72486
- Oct 15, 2023
- Permalink
The ending ruined it for me
- basebliman
- Jun 26, 2023
- Permalink
Loved it!
I loved this movie. I was so impressed with Trachtenburg in an adult role!
- sheldahlmelissa
- Oct 3, 2018
- Permalink
The Dive from Claussen's Pier on Lifetime.
I only give the movie a 10 because I am a fan of Michelle. I think you guys are forgetting 1 important aspect. It's a lot Cheaper to write a book than it is to make a movie. If they put Every detail of that book into the move it probably be like 6 to 12 hrs long.
What audience has a attention span that long. It would have cost Lifetime the network 3 times more money to make it exactly like the novel.
I hope you people who read the book will cut the TV movie some slack. It was a very romantic movie.
Michelle did a good performance of Carrie.
She has grown up in this movie.
She is not young Dawn anymore in Buffey.
Lifetime has lots of good movies like switched at birth and facing the enemy.
I hope that you guys will take the time and watch these quality programs.
They are geared for couples and more mature families.
I have not read the book so I don't know what they left out and don't care.
I have a hard time reading anyways so it doesn't bother me.
Ladies and guys please watch the movie again and remember what I said and then you will have more appreciation for the Movie.
I know when your use to the book it would be nice to have every part. It's not fair to expect any network to spend milllions of dollars to make a movie to everyones liking.
Lifetime good job on the movie and keep making more great movies.
"Lifetime Television for Women" wink wink.
I should ask them to pay me for giving their network a plug lol
What audience has a attention span that long. It would have cost Lifetime the network 3 times more money to make it exactly like the novel.
I hope you people who read the book will cut the TV movie some slack. It was a very romantic movie.
Michelle did a good performance of Carrie.
She has grown up in this movie.
She is not young Dawn anymore in Buffey.
Lifetime has lots of good movies like switched at birth and facing the enemy.
I hope that you guys will take the time and watch these quality programs.
They are geared for couples and more mature families.
I have not read the book so I don't know what they left out and don't care.
I have a hard time reading anyways so it doesn't bother me.
Ladies and guys please watch the movie again and remember what I said and then you will have more appreciation for the Movie.
I know when your use to the book it would be nice to have every part. It's not fair to expect any network to spend milllions of dollars to make a movie to everyones liking.
Lifetime good job on the movie and keep making more great movies.
"Lifetime Television for Women" wink wink.
I should ask them to pay me for giving their network a plug lol
- sweet_kevin777
- Apr 1, 2006
- Permalink
An approachable Ann packer story, version 1.20