Rating: 8.3
Deep Water (2006)
Film4

Description

Deep Water is the stunning true story of the fateful voyage of Donald Crowhurst, an amateur yachtsman who entered the most daring nautical challenge ever: the very first solo, nonstop, round-the-world boat race.

Tags

Sailing, Boat race


Collected reviews and ratings

9.8 DVD Verdict | Franck Tabouring

It's a truly moving film, with great editing, passionate direction, and sincere interviews. It's also a film you will never forget, and one of only a few documentaries you will want to watch over and over again.
Read full review (DVD)

9.2 The Onion A.V. Club | Tasha Robinson

Even for those who know how the story ends, Deep Water is a compelling, well-researched, beautifully assembled document. For those who haven't, it's a startling look into a corner of history, and into one man's deeply troubled mind.
Read full review (Cinema)

9.0 Variety | Deborah Young

As it explores the limits of human endurance, the pic should suck even landlubbers into a whirlpool of gripping adventure, overblown ambitions and sheer human folly.
Read full review (Cinema)

9.0 Washington Post | Desson Thomson

As directed by Louise Osmond and Jerry Rothwell, the movie breezes along at a highly watchable clip, thanks to fluid, affecting intercutting of archival, black-and-white footage and present-day interviews.
Read full review (Cinema)

9.0 Amazon user reviews

Have you ever found yourself watching a film or documentary and having to hold yourself back from screaming things like "No! Don't do it!"? No? Well it's time you do.
Read full review (DVD)

8.0 BBC | Jamie Russell

Stories celebrating heroic journeys are commonplace, but this is a sobering, anti-heroic tale of an ordinary man who set out to attempt the extraordinary.
Read full review (Cinema)

8.0 New York Times | Rachel Saltz

Again and again you want to shout at the screen: “Turn back. All will be forgiven.” This tale of risk, though, ends not with man conquering nature but in calamitous failure.
Read full review (Cinema)

7.0 filmcritic.com | Blake French

Directors Louise Osmond and Jerry Rothwell offer a well-researched documentary. Deep Water takes the audience right there with the sailors with tape recordings and 16mm videos created by those at sea.
Read full review (Cinema)

6.0 Empire | Anna Smith

A sad story, but well told, with respect for its subject and an eye for the Shakespearian tragedy in the tale.
Read full review (Cinema)

More History

Francesco's Venice

Around the world in 80 treasures