Sep 2 2016

The Light Between Oceans

Broken by war and several miscarriages, a lighthouse keeper (Michael Fassbender) and his wife (Alicia Vikander) stationed on a distant island between two oceans off the West coast of Australia are faced with the decision of raising a baby rescued from an adrift rowboat that washes ashore, or, turning the child over to the authorities and perhaps back to it’s original family. Struggling between wants and loves, will the couple have the power to endure each other’s faults? lightbetween Adapted from M.L. Stedman’s novel writer/director Derek Cianfrance (Blue Valentine, The Place Beyond the Pines) takes on relationship drama once again, bringing his unique aesthetic for cinematography and unrelenting looks at couples in pain and bliss, this go round perhaps in his most accessible film to large audiences. Paired with solid performances by Fassbender and Vikander as well as the supporting Rachel Weisz, this potentially sappy romance carefully keeps itself in check and still touches the heart all the while. Additionally, Alexandre Desplat’s patterned score further punctuates success. Remember this film as we get closer to awards season. The Light Between Oceans is rated PG-13.


Sep 2 2016

Morgan

A clandestine corporate scientific research facility and the fabricated humanoid, Morgan (Anya Taylor-Joy), become the point of interrogation and investigation by risk management consultant Lee Weathers (Kate Mara). But, the tight knit group of researchers and scientists at the facility may have a trick or two up their sleeves to prevent further intervention. Just who or what will walk away from the encounter? Morgan Peppered with a wildly talented cast of supporting actors including Toby Jones, Michelle Yeoh, Paul Giamatti, and Jennifer Jason Leigh this maiden voyage for Director Luke Scott, son of Ridley Scott, certainly has the hallmarks of a compelling Sci-Fi horror, but seems to come in just shy of really achieving greatness despite several sequences of strong force; the end result is a screenplay that doesn’t remain consistently smart or compelling despite its efforts. Telegraphed and predictable twists along the way also deflate the balloon of wonder further. Still, solid efforts are made and it’s worthy of your attention in a rental form. Morgan is rated R.