Head Above Water

PG-13

1996

1 hr. 32 min.

Comedy

Mystery & Thriller

List

40%

15 Reviews

Tomatometer

44%

2,500+ Ratings

Audience Score

Judge George (Harvey Keitel) brings his young wife, Nathalie (Cameron Diaz), to a remote island for a vacation. But while George accompanies their only neighbor -- Nathalie's childhood friend Lance (Craig Sheffer) -- on a fishing trip, Nathalie spends time with her ex, Kent (Billy Zane). When Kent ends up dead the next morning, Nathalie tries to hide the evidence before her husband gets home. After the body is found, the events of the previous night unravel, with unexpected revelations.

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Michael T

This is the blackest of black comedies, with the emphasis on black, not so much on the comedy. An excellent cast was wasted on a weak script. Cameron Diaz was engaging throughout. This was when she was still a fresh face. The plot did not hang together that well. When all was said and done, all the plot twists confused the characters' motives. It was good for a few chuckles along the way. I was on the point of turning it off a couple of times. The one good belly laugh was right at the end.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

05/05/23

Full Review

bill t

This was cute.. not going to change the world in any way, but still had it's moments. In a world where Harvey Keitel is married to Cameron Diaz, you should be ready to expect anything. And by anything, is Harry Keitel doing broad physical comedy anything.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Not sure why it has such a low rating. It started off slow then had me on the edge of my seat. Was full of suspense, keeps you interested, and a very creative story line.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/18/23

Full Review

John K

Really silly. I didn't even have the interest level to stay until the end, I just turned off the TV. Not much sense of comic timing here and it's hard to understand why the big-name stars even made this unless it was that they were well paid. Harvey Keitel is grossly miscast and the script is pretty darn lame, just throwing in twists for the sole purpose of keeping the audience guessing.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

12/21/16

Full Review

Audience Member

Some dark humour in this comedy played superbly by Diaz and co. Just when you think you know what's going to happen, it surprises you with sharp twists.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

You made a mess and I cleaned it up. An old judge marries a woman he is soft on that comes into his court room. They head to the woman's family home on the water where an old friend with the hots for her and an ex-boyfriend resides. The ex-boyfriend dies, the judge and wife need to decide what to do with the body, and people keep popping in on them. Can they work together to get out of this sticky situation? "Who's laughing now, Tweety?" Jim Wilson, director of 50 to 1, Whirlygirl, Smart Alec, and Stacy's Knights, delivers Head Above Water. The storyline for this picture is miserable and simple and fairly frustrating. The acting was just okay but the premise and script were not worthwhile. The cast delivers average performances and includes Harvey Keitel, Cameron Diaz, Craig Sheffer, Billy Zane, and Shay Duffin. "Let's just do it and we'll all be satisfied." I came across this on HBOGO and decided to give it a viewing since it starred Harvey Keitel. The film was very disappointing, clumsy, and a bit all over the place. Diaz was a very frustrating character and the movie doesn't seem clever or well done at all. I recommend skipping this. "This is crazy." Grade: C-

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/19/23

Full Review

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Jim Wilson

Director

Harvey Keitel

George

Cameron Diaz

Nathalie

Craig Sheffer

Lance

Billy Zane

Kent

Shay Duffin

Policeman

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Derek Elley

Variety

Diaz is largely performing in a vacuum: Keitel, unbelievable for starters as a middle-aged judge, seems unsure at which pitch to play the largely physical comedy, and Sheffer, as the best friend, is fairly vanilla.

May 20, 2008

Full Review

Nigel Floyd

Time Out

Diaz, clad mostly in a one-piece yellow swimsuit, is left floundering in the shallows of a script which relies on ludicrous human behaviour and mechanical plot twists, the latter signposted by an over-emphatic score.

Jun 24, 2006

Full Review

Stephen Holden

New York Times

One moment, ''Head Above Water'' plays like a clanking melodrama, the next like a gallows comedy of corrupt yuppie manners.

May 20, 2003

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 2/5

Oct 10, 2005

Full Review

Greg Maki

Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)

Rated: 1/5

Oct 17, 2004

Full Review

Mike McGranaghan

Aisle Seat

Rated: 3/5

Apr 27, 2004

Full Review

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Synopsis

Judge George (Harvey Keitel) brings his young wife, Nathalie (Cameron Diaz), to a remote island for a vacation. But while George accompanies their only neighbor -- Nathalie's childhood friend Lance (Craig Sheffer) -- on a fishing trip, Nathalie spends time with her ex, Kent (Billy Zane). When Kent ends up dead the next morning, Nathalie tries to hide the evidence before her husband gets home. After the body is found, the events of the previous night unravel, with unexpected revelations.

Director: Jim Wilson
Executive Producer: Guy East, Tristan Whalley
Screenwriter: Terrie Godfrey
Production Co: Majestic Films, Tig Productions
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Comedy, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 1, 2012
Sound Mix: Surround

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