Shape_of_Water

The Shape of Water, the latest work from Guillermo del Toro, proclaims to be a tale of love and loss and the monster who tried to destroy it all. If you are familiar with del Toro’s previous works, then you will know that the real monsters are not always the ones with the scary exteriors. Such is the case in this classic love story involving a woman who finds love in the most unexpected place.

Working as a cleaner in a government laboratory, Elisa (Sally Hawkins) lives a rather isolated life. Mute since she was a child, she only interacts with her co-worker Zelda (Octavia Spencer) and her neighbor Giles (Richard Jenkins). One night she stumbles upon a strange amphibious creature (Doug Jones) who has been brought into the facility from South America by a ruthless federal agent named Strickland (Michael Shannon). Determined not to let the Russians get a of beast, Strickland’s brutal treatment of the creature does not sit well with Hoffstetler (Michael Stuhlbarg), the head scientist for the project. As the men attempt to unlock the mysteries of the being, little do they know that Elisa has not only figured out how to communicate with “the asset”, but has secretly formed a friendship with the creature.

A richly layered love story wrapped in the glow of classic cinema, The Shape of Water is a truly magical experience. Filled with rich visuals, a superb creature design and references to films of the past, it is easy to geek out on what del Toro achieves here. This is especially true for a fantasy sequence that is so undeniably charming and touching, that it will warm even the coldest hearts.

The true splendor of this beauty and beast style fairy tale resides in Sally Hawkins’s brilliantly subtle performance. She is not only the heart and soul of the film, but makes the audience believe in the undeniable power of love. Few actors could pull of the difficult task of selling an unconventional romance such as this, and adding a sensual element to it no less, but Hawkins does so in spades.

Guillermo del Toro does add some social subtext to The Shape of Water related to the racism and homophobia in 1962, but the film never dives too deep in that regards. This is a love story first and foremost, and it is a magnificent one at that.

Screens:
Sunday, September 17, 6:30 PM, Elgin Theatre

Tickets can be purchased at the TIFF website.

Published by Courtney Small

The founder of Cinema Axis, Courtney is a Rotten Tomatoes approved critic who can frequently be heard discussing film as co-host of Frameline on Radio Regent. Courtney has contributed to several publications including Leonard Maltin, That Shelf, POV Magazine, In the Seats, Black Girl Nerds, and Comix Asylum. He has appeared on ET Canada and Hollywood Suite's Cinema A to Z. Courtney celebrates diversity in cinema as host of the Changing Reels podcast and is a member of the Toronto Film Critics Association, the Online Film Critics Society, and the African American Film Critics Association. He is also a Golden Globes International Voter.

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4 Comments

  1. I’ve been hearing so much about this film. I was happy that Guillermo won the Golden Lion as I was chanting “Guillermito!!!!!” I hope to do the same if he wins the Oscar.

  2. I have to brag here. Doug Jones is my youngest brother. A search for his family photos on line and a comparison to the somewhat nondescript profile photo on my author page should verify that I’m telling the truth. Thank you so much for writing a positive review about his film, and please check him out on the new Star Trek series this fall.

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