THE LIGHT BETWEEN OCEANS REVIEWED
“The Light Between Oceans” is a constant reminder never to touch a downed baby bird or human. What could’ve easily been a “By the Sea” for Fassbender and Vikander turns into an Armstrong inspired Ozploitation costume drama. The acting is solid, the locales are pristine, but the film is limp. Most of that weakness comes from the source material, so no faulting that. It’s just why can’t real life couples make a film that feels like it matters?
Bogie and Bacall did it, but I guess that was lightning in a bottle. By the time that Rachel Weisz shows up and says Give Me Back My Baby, the film has already failed to capture the audience. Is the movie a romance, a post WWI character study or just some bizarre Harlequin novel? No one knows or cares. Judging about the legs that the movie has experienced, I’m not alone in this read of the film. Check it out if you must, but it’s going to be on home video soon.
FILM STATS
- 2 hrs and 13 mins
- PG-13
- Touchstone
