The Light Between Oceans (2016), PG-13, ★★1/2

The storyis about Vikander's and Fassbender's chemistry. No, really.

Derek Cianfrance has made two movies about relationships in a lower-middle-class world that I was personally affected and moved. Blue Valentine, not a Valentine's Day movie for couples to see, is about the uprise of a relationship and the depressing downfall of a marriage starring Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams. It is a movie that I cannot personally revisit because this is a movie that left me cold despite two great performances which makes the film. And, The Place Beyond The Pines, which is 2/3rds of a great movie with a decent enough last third that explores the father-son dynamic. I have seen it a few more times and I enjoy it a little more with reservations for the last third of the movie. Cianfrance, in his latest movie, explores the isolated relationship between man and woman that is accustomed to unpredictable events. However, even though the movie boasts three sublime performances, I felt that the movie goes from a realistic romantic drama to a over-the-top melodrama that creates anti ethical choices that they do not deal with their issues without knowing there are consequences.

In 1918, Tom Sherbourne (Michael Fassbender) has accepted a temporary lighthouse keeper position on the island of Janus Rock. It is a small island linked to the mainland which is rarely visited by boat four times a year for groceries, supplies and mail. It is hard to be so isolated because the person has to fulfill their duties mostly 24/7. Tom is a WWI veteran who is looking forward to the solitude. Three months into his post, while visiting town for lunch on a break, he sees a young woman named Isabel (Alicia Vikander), with whom exchange silent glances with each other.

They are properly introduced later by her father and get to know each other some more. However, a certain unexpected event comes up as the former lighthouse keeper committed suicide by leaping off some cliffs so Tom has accepted the three-year position of being a lighthouse keeper. So, Isabel and Tom get along asking questions regarding each other's tragic pasts with Tom's stern relationship with his father and Isabel losing both brothers in the war. Because of lighthouse rules, Isabel has to marry Tom but not because she is forced to but because she loves him.

Isabel and Tom have a loved marriage but their marriage has some ups-and-downs and they are giving up of one situation but one day while washing the lighthouse windows, Tom sees a rowboat in the distance as Isabel hears a scream in the horizon at the same time. They both begin running to the water as the rowboat comes ashore when they both see a dead man and a baby crying. Isabel takes the baby to the house and feeds and changes her. When Tom comes in, he advises her to report the baby to town because it is against protocol. So, they agree to raise the child.

Look at that picture. Wow!

I am so torn with this movie because it has sublime acting, great cinematography and a fantastic story, however, the movie derails when the movie dives into melodramatic manipulation as both lead characters sort out the situation initially but the movie dives into argumentative soap-opera scenes that gets a bit repetitive which leads to anti ethical decisions and becomes more dark and then goes a bit into Nicholas Spark territory, which some scenes work a bit emotionally but a few scenes felt hackneyed. I think the movie gets a bit bloated when they had to deal with the situation with Lucy (Grace) as I was rolling my eyes because the movie attempts to get me emotionally but does not because they will ultimately end up with the right decision.

All three performances are great. Michael Fassbender quietly plays a man who has had a stern past but has the chance to have a loving present but ultimately would have an impactful future with all the events going on in his life. Alicia Vikander is prime as a woman who is struggling with dealing with trying to have a child with Fassbender's character and the romance is noticeable as they are dating in real life. They have chemistry but her character veers into predictable territory and becomes a bit uninspired. But, it is Rachel Weisz's character as a mother who is searching for her child that is mesmerizing and wonderful as she and Vikander have solid scenes with each other trying to find what's best for Lucy.

I have to honestly say that the movie should have been trimmed by 10 or 15 minutes by replacing a little bit in the first third of the movie and the last third of the movie because the movie becomes overstuffed with emotional manipulation and it did not earn my emotional acceptance. Director Derek Cianfrance pays so much attention to tone and genuine behavior as they care for the child that the story becomes so loose in the second half that there's should be tight editing with certain scenes by dealing with the child more than the situation regarding Tom's and Isabel's relationship. However, there are beautiful shots and scenery by cinematographer Adam Arkapaw and wistful music by Alexander Desplat that is chilling and sets the mood. I was a bit letdown regarding the soapy melodrama in the second half that it did not retreat to simplistic and tighter storytelling. It's an involving movie to look at and behold but my reservations with the script is in the way. It's not a bad movie because of the great performances but it's a mixed bag. So, I would say, rent the movie.

**1/2