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The Shape of Water (2017),
Director: Guillermo del Toro, rated R for language, zombie
gory violence
A Fairy Tale for
Troubled Times
  Starring: Sally
Hawkins, Octavia Spencer, Michael Shannon, Richard Jenkins, Doug Jones, Michael
Stuhlbarg, Nick Searcy, Nigel Bennett
DML Rating:
★★★★★★★★★☆
- near perfect
"When he looks at me, the
way he looks at me... He does not know, what I lack... Or - how
- I am incomplete. He sees me, for what I - am, as I am. He's
happy - to see me. Every time. Every day. Now, I can either save
him... or let him die" - Giles, interpreting Elisa
Why watch this? It's
strange, haunting and a work of extraordinary beauty.
Plot Summary:
In 1962 Baltimore, Elisa, a mute cleaning lady working at a
high-security government laboratory, leads a lonely, isolated
life. Her existence changes forever when she discovers a
mysterious, captured humanoid amphibian creature and forms a
deep, unique bond with him. To save him from a sadistic colonel,
Elisa teams up with her friends to plan a daring escape and set
him free.
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Dad's Preview:
As Guillermo del Toro's career has matured, the director has
shown true mastery of the human condition. As in
Hellboy
(2004), he often uses creatures as conduits of humanity
(defined as the capacity for compassion, empathy and kindness).
The point being that many humans are in fact monsters because of
their lack said humanistic traits. This tender love story occurs
in spite of the cruelty inflicted by many damaged men. It takes
a woman, a true empath, to see the soul and beauty within a
being that may be frightening at first glance. I most enjoyed
that this film conveys an honesty. Nakedness is exposed. True
feelings come forth regardless of the scoffs of prudish,
structured society. As a whole, this amazing film with its
whimsical feel, harkens to older films, yet within a modern
context. It feels old and new. And it is really unforgettable.
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Double Dare You
Prod.; Fox Searchlight Pics |
