The Shape of Water

Score:  A-

Directed by Guillermo del Toro
Starring Sally Hawkins, Richard Jenkins, Michael Shannon, Octavia Spencer
Running time:  123 minutes
Rated R

Long Story Short:  The Shape of Water, this year's most Oscar-nominated film, is a live-action fairy tale in the distinct vision and design of filmmaker Guillermo del Toro.  Sally Hawkins gives an outstanding performance in the lead (and mute) role, and the supporting cast around her helps to bring a fairly standard story to life as she befriends a strange, fantastical creature.  The style is mesmerizing, so if you need an escape or diversion, this is a great theater choice.  Recommended.


Every day is much the same for Elisa (Hawkins), a mute custodian: she wakes up, says hello to her neighbor, Giles (Jenkins), and takes the bus to a Cold War-era government facility where she clocks in with an army of co-workers.  One day, however, something secret arrives at the facility, and is put into an area where Elisa and her friend, Zelda (Spencer), work.  Elisa at first knows only that there are massive water tanks, and at times a great commotion, but eventually discovers to her shock that a humanoid sea creature is being held.  Elisa's curiosity gets the better of her and she begins to interact with it, through sign language.  However, she is not the only one interested in the creature - the facility has grand ambitions for it, and word leaks out to other parties as well.  Elisa seems to have little power to protect her strange new friend, but she finds help from unexpected sources that just might be able to keep it from becoming a victim of Cold War paranoia.

The Shape of Water has an interesting mix of characters, familiar yet fresh thanks to some very good performances.  Sally Hawkins is the lead as Elisa; the heart and soul of the film, her great work serves as a solid foundation for the rest.  Unable to speak, Hawkins must communicate strictly through body language, especially her "fluent", appealing facial expressions.  She effectively conveys everything you need to know: Elisa is a content, static woman at the start, but pushes past her initial fear when confronted by the life-altering entrance of the sea creature and develops into a strong, compassionate heroine.  The performance gives the film a distinctly old-fashioned feeling, in a good way: Elisa is vibrant, expressed through images rather than words.  Richard Jenkins is the surprisingly buoyant neighbor-friend of Elisa, a chatty guy who more than makes up for her silence.  His is a character that easily could have spilled over the top, but Jenkins is great, particularly how he plays opposite Elisa's lead.  Michael Shannon is the facility boss, and he makes an effective "villain".  It helps that his appearance and voice lend themselves to the role, but he's also truly menacing while getting in some surprising nuance, too.  Octavia Spencer plays a familiar maternal role here and she does it well, and Michael Stuhlbarg is sneakily good, too, as a timid but concerned scientist.

The Shape of Water is a modern fairy tale, one that draws its strength and simplicity from a previous age while utilizing modern techniques to paint a unique picture, resulting in a pleasant, leisurely experience.  The structure of the film is pretty standard, nothing new to see, but it's also solid and allows other elements to be the main focus.  Primary among these are Elisa and her relationship with the sea creature.  Along with the supporting cast of characters, you could almost imagine the story played out in Disney animation.  To be sure, this is more serious and subtle than Cinderella, but the heart of the film is pure, thanks largely to Hawkins's performance and her undivided loyalty and care for the creature (part of this is what earns the film an R rating and is not family-friendly, but it's tastefully done).  Besides the familiar yet unique journey, the film has great design and style, such as thematic color choices (green is emphasized), dark and foreboding yet not grim sets, and a fun soundtrack with distinct themes and instrumentation.  The whole physical realm of the film has an odd fantastic-realistic feel, like the grimy yet symbolically important waters.  The design is so well conceived and executed that it can override the narrative and even the characters at times; combine this with the familiar story structure, and the film struggles to maintain its tension.  However, the action is well-paced and there is always something interesting on screen - whether in the action or simply the images themselves.

***

The Shape of Water is a very well-made film, and deserving of recognition (it has an impressive thirteen Oscar nominations - not difficult to see it dominating at least the "technical" categories).  I must admit that while I thought the film was pleasant and well done, it also didn't make a very big impact on me.  This kind of fantasy/fairy tale is fine, but neither the story nor the main Elisa-creature relationship stood out to me; I think it much more likely I'll remember the design, and perhaps Sally Hawkins's performance.  Therefore, while I don't begrudge it its Best Picture nomination, there are some significantly better fellow nominees (so far: Dunkirk, Lady Bird; and, though it was snubbed a nomination, Molly's Game).  If you are looking for a fairly simple film with great design and visuals (this is the best argument for a theater viewing), then it's still certainly a fine choice in the middle of a cold winter.




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