First Take: The Shape of Water- del Toro, you absolute genius

SYNOPSIS:

At a top secret research facility in the 1960s, a lonely janitor forms a unique relationship with an amphibious creature that is being held in captivity.

Sometimes, going in not knowing much about a film is the best thing, and with the latest work from Guillermo del Toro, this is ideal- as the less you know, the more you enjoy it. The Shape of Water is an outstanding piece of cinema from the man who brought us Pan’s Labyrinth.

del Toro’s style is evident throughout the whole film, taking the fantasy worlds he’s known for and blending them with the ideals of classic Hollywood pretty much seamlessly, and that’s thanks to his direction (with a good pace throughout to build the tension to a big emotional gut punch of an ending) and some incredible production design, and with the addition of his and Vanessa Taylor’s script, this really feels unique and distinctly different enough to garner the attention of awards voters. Alexandre Desplat’s score is also fantastic, and the cinematography from Dan Laustsen is just designed for the big screen and dare I say an IMAX version too.

Performance wise, this is Sally Hawkins’ big moment in the spotlight. Playing a mute character is a tough task, but the way she is able to convey emotion in this role is nothing short of extraordinary, and I will not be surprised if Hollywood offer her more roles following the conclusion of this film’s awards run, and paired with the work of Doug Jones as the creature that the film focuses on, the two create absolute magic on-screen. The supporting cast are just as good, and with talents like Michael Shannon, Octavia Spencer and Michael Stuhlbarg, everyone in this film arguably puts in work that will be remembered for years to come.

THE VERDICT

This really is one to look out for when it comes out in February- del Toro has just nailed it. Accessible to a wide audience, and at a super tight 2 hours 3 minutes, The Shape of Water is arguably the benchmark for this year’s awards contenders, and one that may go on many screens as an unseen film- it may not be mainstream, but my word this is a piece of art.

RATING: 5/5