The Shape of Water
Mar. 7th, 2018 10:18 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
amberdreamsFinally 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
.
.
.
.
.
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
.
.
.
.
.
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.
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.