If you’re unfamiliar with the movie The Light Between Oceans, it’s probably because it only managed to show on 1,500 screens during its wide release. You probably have a better chance of knowing the name from the best-selling novel the movie was based on. Regardless, the final DreamWorks Pictures film to be distributed by Disney is now available to bring home on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital HD.
The Light Between Oceans, starring Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander, and Rachel Weisz, is billed as a classic romance, but plays out as a heartbreaking drama telling a story filled with fate, love, and moral dilemmas. It is by no means a lighthearted film to share with the family and not the ideal choice for a fun date night, but The Light Between Oceans is a deeply moving film worth giving a shot. Let’s look at some reasons why you should give this one a watch:
The Light Between Oceans
The film tells the story of Tom Sherbourne (Fassbender), a veteran of World War I and a lighthouse keeper on a remote island off the coast of Western Australia who weds Isabel Graysmark (Vikander), a beautiful young woman who lives in the town across from his harbor. The two fall in love, like any good romance, marry and attempt to build a life and family together with very little luck. Isabel loses two children before the couple discovers a rowboat one night with an infant girl and a dead man as passengers, forcing them to make a decision that will alter their lives forever.
As you can tell, the story has a lot of weight to it, which leads to some stellar acting by all of the leads. Alicia Vikander has had a fantastic career to date with an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for The Danish Girl, and she steals the show as Isabel. Michael Fassbender continues to showcase his diverse set of talents, proving that he can shift easily from the most dramatic of roles right back to playing a superhero with little effort.
Even better than the acting is the perfect filming locations chosen for The Light Between Oceans. Director Derek Cianfrance scouted out a disconnected, yet breathtaking patch of land in New Zealand to make the movie and it paid off. The beautiful, sweeping landscapes make you envious of the isolation the characters face. There is sweet irony between the beauty of the land and the decisions the characters make. Cinematography fans are going to want to indulge in this eye candy.
Bonus Features
Usually, I’m disappointed when I receive a disc and there is little or no special features, and The Light Between Oceans had me worried. This release touts three features, including an audio commentary track and two short behind-the-scenes videos. However, two of the three features make up for the lack of extra content some might wish for.
- Bringing The Light to Life – This mini-documentary may not be incredibly long, but it does an extraordinary job at helping you understand the process behind making the film. From the choice of finding the isolated land in New Zealand to film on, to having the cast and crew live on location throughout filming, this was truly a unique production and understanding how the film was made only enhances it.
- Audio Commentary – Commentary tracks are typically hit or miss, but this one ends up being a hit due to the voices behind the scenes. Direct Derek Cianfrance lends his input, because no one else knows this movie like he does, but rather than packing the track with actors or producers, Cianfrance is joined by his film studies professor Phil Solomon for a thoughtful conversation on the production. This one may be for only the biggest film geeks out there, but it is better than your average commentary and adds a repeat watching value to the film.
The Light Between Oceans isn’t for everyone and it is hard to be too positive after watching a film so emotionally draining. It isn’t a well-rounded drama, but I can totally understand how the novel it is based on became a best-selling book – one that I intend to pick up after seeing this movie. If you’re the type of person that lives for a romantic movie that will make you cry the entire time, then The Light Between Oceans is meant for you and totally worth buying. If you’re more or less interested in the plot and looking for a movie that didn’t receive a ton of buzz in theaters despite solid reviews, then I’d definitely recommend renting it.
