To begin, kudos to Casting Directors Nikki Barrett and Francine Maisler for gathering together a superb cast. The movie stars two-time Oscar nominee Michael Fassbender, Oscar winner Alicia Vikander (The Danish Girl), and Oscar winner Rachel Weisz (The Constant Gardner), all of whom lived up to their reputations. Iāll begin with a quote from Michael Fassbender: āfrom the moment I read the first few pages of the script the material really emotionally affected me.ā
I can understand, as the film really does touch deep into oneās emotions. Adapted from author M.L. Steadmanās best-selling novel, this is a deeply moving story, but I take some umbrage with director Derek Clanfranceās approach.
Tom Sherbourne, played by Fassbender, is a returning veteran from World War One, who accepts a job as a lighthouse keeper on a remote island off the coast of Western Australia. On the island alone, he makes infrequent trips to the mainland, and during those visits he meets and eventually marries Isabel, played by Vikander. Their love blossoms and life takes a positive turn for Tom, whose war memories and loneliness were taking a toll.
The Light Between Oceans
Entertainment Rating: ★★1/2
Rating: PG-13: one profanity, adult theme
Possible Oscar Nominations: None
Frustrated by their efforts to start a family, their lives are forever changed when, lo and behold, a small boat washes up on the shore of their island, and inside is an infant child. They decide to keep the child and tell everyone it is theirs. Thus begins a tide of happiness as they raise the child, but they have begun a slow descent down a slippery slope as their secret eventually becomes a nightmare. Remember, there are always consequences to be paid when deception becomes a way of life.
From this point forward, the story takes a number of twists and turns, and the gamut of emotions run high, both with the players and the audience.
The film is slow moving and the storyline before, during, and after the aforementioned events, takes forever to develop. The directorās approach was to milk the story unendingly, creating as much anxiety for the audience as possible. On top of that, they used what I refer to as āmuted Technicolor,ā otherwise dulling some splendid scenery. Filmed entirely in Australia and New Zealand, there are many spectacular views of the landscape and the ocean, spoiled a little by the color technique used.
I did not read the book, but I suspect some of you did. My feeling is that those who read the book should stay home; I doubt you will find the movie as fulfilling, although the acting was superb.
