"The Shape of Water" will be one of the most
unique Oscar contenders this year. Even though its sci-fi plot revolves
around a sea creature of sorts, it fits all of the criteria for the critically
acclaimed dramas that the Academy loves.
In the same spirit as "Pan's Labyrinth," Guillermo
del Toro realistically transports a monster into a historical setting.
This time, he has chosen Cold War America for the setting and elected to make
the monster a part of the real world instead of sending the characters to a
mystical place where monsters might exist. Del Toro does an amazing job
of incorporating the Cold War and the Space Race into the story while keeping
the plot centralized on the relationship between the lead character and the
monster. I feel like he took some
inspiration from the horror film “Splice” (of which he was an Executive
Producer) but this story focuses more on the historical context of the events than
the science. The ending seems
predictable, almost inevitable, but it manages to surprise us and keep us
wondering after the credits have finished.
It is safe to assume that that this film will receive Oscar
nominations in categories like Original Screenplay, Production Design, and
Director because of the creativity behind this story. The story is matched in creativity by the score
by Alexandre Desplat. Its lush, romantic
themes combine with the whimsy of a glass harp and a whistley instrument with a
fast, oscillating vibrato (possibly a theremin?). The effect is otherworldly and familiar all
at the same time, which is perfect for this
sci-fi-creature-believably-existing-in-Cold-War-Baltimore story. Another criterion for Oscar nominations is
incredible acting and this film has no shortage of impressive moments. Some of the most memorable performances in
cinema history have come when a talented actor plays a character with a
disability (Dustin Hoffman in “Rain Man,” Daniel Day-Lewis in “My Left Foot”)
and this is Sally Hawkins’ turn. This
portrayal of a mute required her to tell every emotion of the story through her
eyes and body language. It is almost as
if we can sense her character speaking aloud through her nonverbal
communication. She will definitely be an
Oscar nominee, as will Octavia Spencer.
The tone of this film is rather odd (is it a romantic drama, is it a political
thriller, is it a sci-fi film?) but Spencer fulfills her typical responsibility
of providing comic relief, along with some excellent acting moments. I would also expect Richard Jenkins to
receive a nomination as his interpretation of Giles adds depth to the character
lineup. I wouldn’t count out Michael
Shannon either, with a much stronger showing than his nominated performance in “Nocturnal
Animals” last year. He is completely
detestable, even though his character is technically the good guy within the
story. There is so much right with this
film but it simply has too much sexual content. Some of it is
relevant but too graphic. Other sequences have nothing to do with the
plot and seem to be there solely to make it "more R-rated." The
art of implication in these matters seems to be dead, which is a shame because
nudity isn't always necessary to tell a particular part of a story. “The Shape of Water” is one of the best films
of 2017 but I can’t help thinking that the story would have been just as good
in a PG-13 form (by eliminating minimal unnecessary content) that could have appealed
to a broader audience.
[Pictured: Guillermo del Toro's vision for the sea monster is out of this world]
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