Movie Review

The Light Between Oceans comes up short where it counts: the story

Writer/director Derek Cianfrance does not traffic in light, easygoing stories. Each of his three mainstream movies — Blue Valentine, The Place Beyond the Pines, and now The Light Between Oceans — are heavy, relationship-based dramas that focus on questionable choices that affect their characters deeply.

Unlike the first two films, though, The Light Between Oceans is Cianfrance’s first nonoriginal film, as it’s adapted from the 2012 best-selling book by M.L. Stedman. Set in post-World War I Australia, it follows Tom (Michael Fassbender), a war veteran who takes a job minding a lighthouse on a remote island as an antidote to horrors he’s recently experienced.

On his visits back to the mainland, he strikes up a romance with Isabel (Alicia Vikander), who soon becomes his wife. After experiencing a couple of traumatic attempts at having a child, they suddenly find a boat washed up on shore with a dead man and crying infant inside. Their decision to raise the child as their own will have consequences that range far and wide.

The 132-minute film is full of atmospheric shots, period authenticity, and great acting, but it surprisingly comes up short in the one area where it counts: the story. If ever there were a natural-made tearjerker, this is it, especially when the child’s real mother (Rachel Weisz) comes into the picture. But despite a multitude of scenes in which wrenching emotion is displayed by the characters, that tension and sadness rarely makes its way to the other side of the screen.

Cianfrance, who worked as a solo screenwriter for the first time in his career, and editors Jim Helton and Ron Patane seem to be responsible for the faults of the story. Despite the film’s length, the story feels rushed and forced at times, cutting into the raw emotion that should be present. Cianfrance does let the action play out naturally for the most part, but when he tries to insert shortcuts, it’s jarring and disruptive.

Fortunately, none of that takes away from the acting jobs turned in by Fassbender and Vikander. Even though they, not to mention most of the cast, speak in accents that seem more British than Australian, they each make the most of their roles. The stoicism of the character of Tom will leave romantics wanting, but the two actors display great chemistry nonetheless.

The Light Between Oceans has much going for it, and will be a draw for fans of the book and anyone looking for an actual adult drama. But it ultimately can’t fulfill the promise of being a truly transporting story.

Rachel Weisz in The Light Between Oceans.

Rachel Weisz in The Light Between Oceans

Photo courtesy of Dreamworks Pictures

Rachel Weisz in The Light Between Oceans.

Weekend Event Planner

These are the 12 best things to do in Dallas this weekend

MOMIX: Botanica

Photo courtesy of MOMIX

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This weekend in and around Dallas serves as both the introduction to June and the last one before the monthlong extravaganza that will be the World Cup. Choices include five local theater productions, a music festival, two concerts, an opera, a dance production, a big-name comedian, and the final days of a fun charity event.

Below are the best ways to spend your free time this weekend. If you want more options, check out our calendar for an even longer list of the city's best events.

Thursday, June 4

Kitchen Dog Theater presents Venus
Breakups are never fun. It’s easy to romanticize all of the good times: stargazing, waxing poetic about literature, that instant spark the first time your hands brushed. It’s even easier to forget about all of the bad times, like when they ghosted you after the perfect first date, or that one time you woke up in a shallow grave. Venus is a pitch-black comedy in which two women learn that true love isn’t the only thing that bonds two people together … forever. The production runs through June 28 at Kitchen Dog Theater.

Rover Dramawerks presents Laura
When Mark McPherson first falls in love with Laura, he knows he’s in love with a phantom — for Laura is dead, and he’s in charge of her murder investigation. When she appears in the midst of a thunderstorm, very much alive after all, it is revealed that Laura’s best friend (and rival) was the true victim of the crime. But now, all the evidence seems to point to Laura’s guilt. Is Mark going to have to pin the crime on the woman he’s falling in love with? The production runs through June 20 at Cox Playhouse in Plano.

Friday, June 5

KHYI 95.3 The Range Radio presents Texas Music Revolution
The 30th annual Texas Music Revolution will feature over 75 bands on 15 stages throughout downtown McKinney. Performers will include Shane Smith & The Saints, Randall King, Ray Wylie Hubbard, William Beckmann, Shelby Stone, Austin Meade, Matt Hillyer, The O's, Katrina Cain, Jake Ryan, and more. The music festival takes place on Friday and Saturday.

Yellowcard in concert
Rock band Yellowcard is sneaking up on its 30th anniversary, having formed in Jacksonville, Florida in 1997. Their breakthrough didn't come until 2003 with their fourth album, Ocean Avenue, setting up a run of four straight top 20 albums on the Billboard 200. They'll play at The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory in support of their 2025 album, Better Days, their first new release in nine years.

Opera Arlington presents Carmen
Inspired by the upcoming World Cup, Opera Arlington’s production of Carmen will reimagine Bizet’s classic in the vibrant atmosphere of 1920s Spain during the euphoric aftermath of the Spanish national soccer team’s historic Olympic medal victory. Escamillo, a dashing star footballer, has charisma and bravado as formidable on the stage as on the pitch. Carmen, an itinerant Romani worker as spirited as she is free, entrances the rigid and tradition-bound soldier Don José, and their connection ignites like a match struck in the dark. There will be performances on Friday and Saturday at Trinity United Methodist Church in Arlington.

Theatre Arlington presents The Wiz
A beloved Broadway gem, The Wiz infuses L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz with a dazzling mix of rock, gospel, and soul music. The timeless tale of Dorothy’s adventures through the Land of Oz is a fun, family-friendly, modern musical. The production runs through June 21 at Theatre Arlington.

Richardson Theatre Centre presents Kong's Night Out
Kong's Night Out is the story of what happened in the hotel room next to the hotel room where Ann (played in the 1933 movie by Fay Wray) was whisked out of the bed and into the Manhattan night by King Kong. There's always a backstory. Myron Siegel is a low-end Broadway producer who desperately wants to be high end. Trouble is, he has, for his entire career, been sabotaged by his arch-rival, who is ultra-famous for making movies about scary jungle creatures. The production runs through June 28 at Richardson Theatre Centre.

Saturday, June 6

Junior Players presents PUP Fest
The 2026 edition of PUP Fest will highlight six plays written and performed by teenagers from across North Texas. A component of the Dallas Playwriting Arts Collective, a partnership between Junior Players, Kitchen Dog Theater, and the Dallas Independent School District, provides innovative programs and opportunities for high school playwrights. There will be two performances on Saturday at Dallas College Richland Campus.

TITAS/Dance Unbound presents MOMIX: Botanica
MOMIX is always a wild ride — trippy, magical, and downright unforgettable. Botanica is a stunning journey through the rhythms of the seasons, the ever-changing shapes of life on Earth in the magic of a single day unfolding. The show features jaw-dropping costumes, breathtaking projections, and larger-than-life puppets designed by the legendary Michael Curry. There will be two performances on Saturday at Winspear Opera House.

Martin Lawrence: Y’all Know What It Is! Tour
Comedy legend Martin Lawrence comes to Grand Prairie as part of The Y’all Know What It Is! tour, featuring an all-new stand-up show and fresh one hour set where Lawrence brings the real talk and finds the funny in everything from family to culture as only he can. Lawrence's career dates back to 1989, with his heyday coming in the 1990s with the TV show Martin and the start of the Bad Boys franchise. He'll perform at Texas Trust CU Theatre.

Sunday, June 7

Dallas CASA presents Parade of Playhouses closing day
Sunday will be the final day to view the Parade of Playhouses at NorthPark Center. The annual fundraiser for Dallas CASA features a colorful display of imaginative, one-of-a-kind children’s playhouses designed and built by architects, builders, local companies, and talented community members. Visitors can purchase raffle tickets for a chance to win one; tickets are sold both onsite at NorthPark Center and online.

Liverpool Legends: The Complete Beatles Experience
The Liverpool Legends are four musicians and actors handpicked by Louise Harrison, sister of George Harrison, to honor her brother’s legacy and re-create the band that changed the world forever. The audience will experience the complete history of the Beatles, from the early mop-top hits, to the Magical Mystery Tour, through the psychedelic era, and other classics. The concert takes place at Eisemann Center for Performing Arts in Richardson.

MOMIX: Botanica

Photo courtesy of MOMIX

TITAS/Dance Unbound presents MOMIX: Botanica at Winspear Opera House on June 6.

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