Entertainment

Critic comparison for movies playing Sept. 9-15

Michael Fassbender stars as Tom Sherbourne and Alicia Vikander as his wife Isabel in “The Light Between Oceans.”
Michael Fassbender stars as Tom Sherbourne and Alicia Vikander as his wife Isabel in “The Light Between Oceans.”

The Light Between Oceans (PG-13)

Directed by: Derek Cianfrance

Starring: Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander, Rachel Weisz, Jack Thompson

The pitch: A lighthouse keep and his new bride become distraught when their attempts to start a family fail. They believe their prayers have been answered when a baby washes up to their shore in a small boat. But, the facts behind the child’s real life begin to haunt the lighthouse keeper.

The formula: Start with a selection of “Sophie’s Choice.” Add a dash of “Wuthering Heights.” Finish with a bit of “The Danish Girl.”

Go see it: If you love stories of isolation and love.

Don’t go see it: If you tire quickly of long lingering shots of sunsets.

Diverse career: Michael Fassbender bounces from a big-action movies like “X-Men: Apocalypse” to this film and then back to “Assassin’s Creed.”

Critics’ choices

Numbers indicate stars

Fresno

Bee

Ent.

Weekly

N.Y.

Times

L.A.

Times

S.F.

Chron.

Kubo and the

Two Strings

3

3 1/2

3

3

3

The Light Between Oceans

2 1/2

3 1/2

3

2 1/2

2 1/2

Sausage Party

3

3

3

3

3 1/2

Suicide Squad

2

2 1/2

2

2

0

Star Trek Beyond

3 1/2

2 1/2

2 1/2

3

3

This story was originally published September 9, 2016 at 3:04 AM with the headline "Critic comparison for movies playing Sept. 9-15."

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