The Light Between Oceans (2016)

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  TheMovieDiorama

  7 / 10

  The Light Between Oceans is epic, both in its romanticism and the overabundance of melodrama. There are many moments of sweetness that will make you smile as you wipe away a tear or two (not me...I'm dead inside). But for the most part it's depressing, which is good for me as you all know I do like a melancholic drama. In this tale, a couple reside on a remote island where, after failing to give birth twice, they decide to keep a baby from a boat that has been washed ashore. Riddled with guilt, the husband can't help but contact the real mother who is still mourning her presumed deceased baby. Just that premise alone makes me feel sad. The story as a whole really worked, I was emotionally invested and found the pacing to be consistent...for the first two acts. It starts to lose steam during the final thirty minutes but was pleasantly surprised how quick the time went. It's a tale filled with ultimatums and will evoke the precedent question of "what would I do in that situation?". The film explores this well, and Derek Cianfrance's direction was beautiful. I mean he is already an accomplished director, but my word the visual imagery and the landscape shots were breathtaking. Powerhouse performances all round. Fassbender, Vikander and Weisz all fight to own every scene. There's so much acting here that it's difficult to determine if the narrative was overacted or not. I wanted more from Weisz and the screenplay didn't give her the opportunity. Fassbender and Vikander were perfect though, on screen chemistry was electric (regardless of their off screen relationship). Loved the environment of Western Australia and thought the costumes were authentic and captured the post-WWI years very well. Slightly too melodramatic for my taste, clearly giving cues for the audiences when to cry. And it felt like at least fifty letters were being narrated during its runtime. So. Many. Handwritten. Letters. However, I found this to be heart achingly beautiful but just tried too hard at going for awards. Love the title of the film though!

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