There is something very remarkable about how Guillermo Del Toro created a very affecting love story between a mute woman and a sea creature/merman.
The Shape of Water is something to behold. There is so much to admire in terms of film making here. First off, Del Toro directs the hell out of this movie and it really shows because this is easily the most beautiful film of 2017. The look of the film with its shades of blue imitating water gives an otherworldly feel to the movie. It makes sure to inform the audience that we are in some sort of fantasy 60s setting while at the same time grounding it in real life issues that are relevant today.
Also I’d like to mention how everyone is so good in this movie. Sally Hawkins, Michael Shannon, Octavia Spencer, Michael Stuhlbarg, Richard Jenkins and even Doug Jones, who plays the creature, are all perfectly cast. It will unfortunately be probably ignored in terms of acting awards but I really could not picture anyone else playing their roles especially Sally Hawkins and Michael Shannon.
What I like about the movie is how Sally Hawkins and the creatures love story is ambiguous in what its supposed to be a metaphor for. It leaves it up to the viewer to decide. However, I took it as just a emotional love story about two people who can’t communicate their love for one another and that is the most heartbreaking love story of all really.
Other Notes:
- Michael Shannon can play the sleazy, slimy, evil character type so well that I don’t even mind if he only took those roles for the rest of his career.
- I think Sally Hawkins performance is underrated. I don’t hear being talked about a much as the others. But she really does a lot with her character without saying a word
- Props to this movie for making a human woman/merman love story not seem weird. At first I was a little creeped out, but then they slowly develop their relationship to the point I stopped questioning it.
Grade: A-
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