The Shape of Water

[amberdreams]

Finally got to see Shape of Water yesterday - what an interesting and thoughtful film!

So many layers and things to think about, and the filming was beautifully done. The colours, the sets, the feeling of being in another era...And the characters were wonderful. I can't believe Sally Hawkins didn't win Best Actress? I'm sure if that had been a male part and someone like Tom Hanks had played a mute person as well as she did that critics would have been shouting from the rooftops about his performance. I haven't seen Three Billboards but I find it hard to believe anyone else could have been better than Sally.

But maybe I'm biased because I also loved her as Mrs Brown in Paddington LOL!

SPOILERS below
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So yes, I loved Sally's Elisa. She was superbly and understatedly passionate. The scene where she signs her artist neighbour (almost) into submission was brilliant. To convey so much emotion without words was so powerful.

All the supporting cast were superb. I loved how each of the main supporting characters was given just enough background to flesh them out - Michael Shannon as Strickland was scary and horrible, and I was kind of glad they didn't turn his character around in the end, because I didn't want to feel sympathy for him. Zelda (Octavia Spencer) turns out to be the best friend you could want, even though at the start she appears to be solely obsessed with her layabout husband and endless inane chatter. The neighbour and struggling artist Giles was so full of nuance and pending tragedy - his gayness and his struggle to make a living as an artist in a world moving towards photography made his willingness to put it all aside to help Elisa all the more admirable. He and Zelda had such warmth and fundamental goodness of heart, I totally fell in love with both of them.

This movie is really a fairy story, complete with grotesquery and goryness, and a fairytale ending that is very satisfying.

Finally, a best film Oscar has been awarded to a film that really deserves it, AND has some magic in it. It's a fraction of an inch away from being a superhero/fantasy genre movie which makes me extra happy that it won!

And Rodney from Stargate Atlantis is in it!! Eveytime David Hewlett came on screen I was screaming internally.

Unable to perceive the shape of You, I find You all around me. Your presence fills my eyes with Your love. It humbles my heart, for You are everywhere.


I see Mark Kermode (an outspoken and fun UK film reviewer) is convinced that Black Panther has a good chance at next year's Oscars. Let's hope so, hey? It's about time that genre got some recognition.

Comments

[harrigan.livejournal.com]

I haven't see Shape of Water yet, but I plan to. (I skipped your spoilers - thanks for the cut - but I'm always glad to hear actual friends rec a movie instead of relying solely on professional reviewers.) My granddaughters (9 and 7) want to see it, but I told them they'd have to be older. Right?

Have you seen Get Out? I'm not a fan of the horror genre (and the violence and bloodshed at the end was beyond my comfort zone), but as a 'social thriller' I thought it was innovative and provocative and remarkable.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

I'd say definitely over 12 to see it - apart from the violence there's nudity (female only) and some sex. The main character's routine includes masturbating in the bath (which at their age you probably wouldn't know she was doing, to be honest) but there's an unpleasant sex scene between the bad guy and his wife. It's not rape, just unpleasant to watch and I wouldn't want young girls to see that - I'd hate them to think sex was anything like that!

[tsuki-no-bara.livejournal.com]

i was not expecting david hewlett! he was like surprise!hewlett. everyone in the movie was so good, tho, even the fish. :D even michael shannon, who did a great job playing a thoroughly awful human being. and it really was a fairy tale and a love story, not just horror or scifi or fantasy or whatever genre it was sold as. a weird movie, but so well done.

[milly-gal.livejournal.com]

Not reading as still have not managed to see this (along with a long list of shizz I wanted to visit the cinema to see) but I think I'm gathering it was an excellent film.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

It's really hard to categorise - fantasy, fairy tale, period drama? I dunno. But I hope you get to see it soon!

[milly-gal.livejournal.com]

Me too, I've heard some excellent things about it.

[fannishliss.livejournal.com]

I loved the Shape of Water so much. Agree with everything you say.

Michael Shannon's character is so awful. It was interesting to watch Creature from the Black Lagoon and kind of see where that character comes from.

Loved the Russian. I hope he lived. But I'm not sure how that would work.

I was really happy for Del Toro that he took home the two Oscars. I was sorry for Baby Driver not getting any nominations... they should have gotten at least a nom for editing. But I was glad Get Out got the Oscar for best screenplay, because that movie was fantastic and a serious contender for Best Picture.