The Big Blue (1988)

Plot Summary: The rivalry between two free-divers, Jacques Mayol and Enzo Molinari, becomes a lifelong obsession as they push the physical limits of human endurance in deep-sea diving.

Director: Luc Besson
Producer: Patrice Ledoux
Screenplay: Luc Besson, Robert Garland, Marilyn Goldin, Jacques Mayol, Marc Perrier

Starring:
Jean-Marc Barr as Jacques Mayol
Jean Reno as Enzo Molinari
Rosanna Arquette as Johana Baker
Jean Bouise as Uncle Louis
Paul Shenar as Dr. Laurence

Music: Éric Serra
Cinematography: Carlo Varini
Editing: Olivier Mauffroy

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⚠️ SPOILER ALERT ⚠️

Blown Away by "The Big Blue"

I have to start by saying that I'm completely blown away by this movie and I can't get it out of my head! Our journey begins on a picturesque black-and-white Greek island, introducing us to young Jacques Mayol, played by Jean-Marc Barr, and Enzo Molinari, played by Jean Reno. The opening scenes are stunning and surprising, with young Jacques feeding a moray eel amidst a vibrant array of fish. Initially, I worried that I was watching an English-dubbed version, but thankfully, that wasn't the case. It's intriguing to see Jean Reno, a French actor, playing an Italian who speaks English, but his performance is so captivating that the language mix isn't an issue. Reno's portrayal of the larger-than-life, macho Enzo Maiorca had me smiling throughout the movie. His energetic character contrasts beautifully with Jean-Marc Barr's quiet and introspective Jacques. Rosanna Arquette, with her enchanting eyes, also delivers a heartfelt performance. It was delightful to see her again on screen after so long, prompting a mental "Oh, hi! Nice to see you again!"

A Journey of Depth and Emotion

I watched the Director's Cut, which, at times, felt unnecessarily long. The scenes on the oil platform started to drag for me, but they were saved by Enzo's antics with the Belgian guy in the diving pod, which had me laughing out loud (Watch the clip below). However, I started to feel tired and sleepy during the second strange sex scene, but the film was once again uplifted by Jean Bouise’s character (another of Luc Besson's recurring actors), who plays Jacques' uncle and brings additional humor to the story. Despite some slow parts, the extended character exploration is crucial for the emotional impact of the film’s ending. The ending is one of the most disturbingly beautiful scenes I've ever seen, hitting hard on the emotional feels. The story of the mermaid that Jacques tells mid-movie was also particularly moving, hinting at his way of coping with the pain of losing his father. The film also features adorable dolphin scenes that add to its charm, and you have to be impressed with the training that the actors must have done, especially Jean-Marc Barr, who swims with the dolphins. Carlo Varini’s cinematography is breathtaking, especially the unique underwater shots.

Real-Life Inspirations and Personal Reflections

"The Big Blue" is loosely based on the real-life friendship and rivalry between free divers Jacques Mayol and Enzo Maiorca. The film’s fascinating background includes Maiorca’s objections, which delayed its release in Italy until 2002. He felt the portrayal of Enzo Molinari was detrimental to his image. In real life, Mayol broke the 100-meter barrier in 1976, showcasing his incredible diving abilities. Tests showed that during this dive, his heart rate decreased from 60 to 27 beats per minute, an aspect of the mammalian diving reflex, more evident in whales, seals, and dolphins. Tragically, he committed suicide at the age of 74. Éric Serra’s music, while still not perfect, fits better in this film, reminiscent of Vangelis with a bit more bass. His work earns more credit this time, and I even stayed through the credits to listen to the final song. This movie took me very deep and made me contemplate life and death, the pursuit of dreams and passions, human limits, and the profound beauty of rivalry and camaraderie between friends.

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