The Light Between Oceans (2016)

Truly Dreadful Film

The Worst Film Ever

Don't listen to the negative reviews

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

Dull and more dull. I expected so much more from this team. About as interesting as watching other people's home movies of that self-catering weekend they spent on that deserted island.

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!

While I'm a fan of Michael Fassbender, I was too caught up in the fact the two leads were dating and now married, so I couldn't get emotional, even though the story was pretty sad. I understand he loved her so much to take the fall after they were found out, but after reading the girl from her arms, it just made it worse for her, AND being without her husband. The movie was beautifully shot, I love the sights and sounds of the ocean's crashing waves. It would've made more sense if the Rachel Weisz character knew that Isabel miscarried twice, although she was very sympathetic to not sending them both to jail for a long time.

Not that I expected much of this movie, but it has given me little. It is too long and as cold as your picture. In addition photography, when illuminated through the windows, sheds so much light that leaves the actors who look like ghosts.The actors are great, but I do not know why he does not get into the movie.It's one of the worst pictures I've ever seen in American cinema, it does not count, it does not transmit anything, it's ugly and it puts too much light on the windows.The direction is so bad, that often does not know or frame. The planes are ugly and often do not make sense.Of course, I did not expect the end that has, I was surprised in that aspect.