Director: Guillermo Del Toro
By Alex Watson
The most unique and offbeat tale this year can offer, Guillermo Del Toro has created something very special. The Shape of Water is a movie unlike any the Mexican maverick has made before. Known for his stunning visuals in movies such as Pacific Rim, Crimson Peak, and Hellboy, this movie is all about heart and soul. With a clutch of wonderful performances to compliment the touching story, this will be an award's season favourite.
Set in Baltimore during the 1960's, Elisa Esposito (Sally Hawkins) is a mute yet big-hearted cleaner at a government science facility. She helps care for her elderly neighbour Giles (Richard Jenkins) and she also has a strong bond with co-worker Zelda (Octavia Spencer). One day a mysterious creature known as 'The Asset' (Doug Jones) arrives along with hard-nosed and brutal security officer Colonel Richard Strickland (Michael Shannon).
Alongside DP Dan Laustsen's bright colored and vivid cinematography, Del Toro display's a delicate touch with his directing. This picture goes above the level of emotion displayed in his masterpiece Pan's Labyrinth and shows us that love isn't just bound by species. Elisa is a character who views herself as an 'incomplete' human due to her muteness but yet she brings little pockets of joy to those who know her. Giles- a gay and rather scatterbrain artist relies on her heavily to get by. At first, a mousy person who doesn't dare rock the boat, the sheer courage she displays, later on, make us adore her. When she first comes across the creature- she is naturally very curious. Slowly, she bonds with it by feeding it boiled eggs and little by little a deep bond is formed. What makes this so poetic is the fact they have to communicate without words. Connecting through music and simple gestures, Del Toro shows how the smallest actions can be the most effective.
Despite the fact, this creature poses no threat to anyone- Strickland is all about protecting national security. This picture's equivalent to Captain Vidal, Strickland is a harsh man armed with an electric cattle prod who always believes that the end justifies the means. Although a family man, the Colonel lives a very regimented existence both in and outside work. He likes to keep his wife quiet during their passionless sex and seems to have little interest in his two children. Inside work, he bullies and terrorizes the creature for little other reason than he can. What is wonderful about Del Toro's The Shape of Water is that each supporting character has their own story to tell. Scientist Robert Hoffstetler (Michael Stuhlbarg) is a man who desires to protect this creature- but yet is also a Russian spy! Giles is a failed artist who is unwanted by both his old company and the attractive male diner worker he desires. Zelda in any other movie would have been the comic relief aspect, but in Del Toro's universe, she's a key player whose devotion to her friend Elisa is unconditional.
Coming together as an unlikely army of protectors, this band of cast off's are determined to protect the Asset with all their might. The growing love between Elisa and this amphibian being is unique because both are considered not completely human. From the beginning she doesn't see this creature as something to be feared- instead, she notices a being that needs to be nurtured. Unable to express her love- there is a beautiful scene in which she imagines singing 'You'll Never Know' which gradually turns into a full-on black and white musical dance number. Credit also needs to be given to production designer Paul Austerberry whose transforms 60's Baltimore into a sparkly place of wonder. His use of teal, in particular, is stunning and his underwater scenes wouldn't look out of place in a Disney picture. Even Strickland at one stage purchases a teal Cadillac- these subtle nods towards nautical themes is one of many fascinating elements this picture possesses.
Sally Hawkins gives a performance of the highest order. Boasting arguably the finest silence turn since Jean Dujardin in The Artist, Hawkins is simply mesmerizing. Excellently projecting her character's inner torment at being unable to express herself- Hawkins brilliantly uses her sign language to both highly comical and extremely devastating effect. Reliable baddie Michael Shannon is once again memorably nasty as the button-down psycho Strickland. Heavy on 'protocol' but unafraid to bend the rules- Strickland is hulking and violent menace whenever on screen. Richard Jenkins stakes his own supporting claim with a wonderful turn as the rejected Giles. A fun reverse on the old cat person spinster character, Giles like Elisa is unloved by the world. Jenkins gives a gentle yet potent supporting turn. Octavia Spencer will most definitely be among the nominees come award season. Zelda is a character that goes deeper than expected, on the surface, she is the typical chatterbox but underneath she has the heart of a lion.
The Shape of Water is a movie that will undoubtedly grace many top 10 and awards lists this winter. Guillermo Del Toro has shown us another beautiful side of his directing, where he goes from here will be fascinating.
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