I have decided until the Oscars on March 4th, to document the Oscar contender films I have watched. It’s all preparation for the big event. It’s also a joy to watch all these amazing films and to also discuss about it. The first one is called “The Shape of Water”.
This Oscar contender film is one of a kind. It’s to be expected by the visionary director, Guillermo del Toro. Even though I haven’t seen any of his films, “The Shape of Water” is a great first one. Hearing about his other amazing films, my expectation of this film was high and all of them were met because of the wonderful cast and crew making it all happen. The story is set in New York during the Cold War era. A mute woman named Elisa works in a secret government laboratory as a janitor. Most of her life is trapped in silence and isolation until her and her African-American co-worker, Zelda, discover a top-secret classified experiment in the form of a human-like amphibian. Elisa then sets a plan to keep the creature from being killed but along the way, forms an unlikely bond with it.
It was one of the most amazing movie-going experiences I have ever endured. From the opening to the last shot of the film, I was completely transported into the spellbinding world of del Toro's masterful mind. The balance between romance and fantasy played out perfectly, without ever losing the audience's attention. The excitement is mainly because of the story and the incredible actors. Each actor brought their character to life, making the viewers that more engaged. Sally Hawkins has this amazing ability to persuade the audience with her face. As the main character who is mute, the audience has to believe her through emotions and facial expressions and Hawkins pulled it off beautifully. You truly felt her loneliness that then blossomed into romance. Michael Shannon plays the antagonist so well, to the point my heart was pounding faster than ever in a movie theatre. Shannon has eyes of darkness and the demeanor of a monster. Both Octavia Spencer and Richard Jenkins play supporting roles of Elisa's friends. With a decent amount of screen time, both actors used their screen time to its fullest, making the film even more fun to watch. Another main factor is the storyline. It's so intriguing and high-concept. The story is timed out wonderfully. There were so many plot points I considered plot twists that blew my mind. What's even more high-concept would be the art of the amphibious man. It's a human-formed merman, as weird as that sounds. How they created this creature is beyond unbelievable.The whole look the film is something I'm completely in awe of.
I think just the visuals alone is worth the watch. The underwater shots are so vivid and detailed that it's breathtaking to see. Even the visual of a 1960's suburban house is beautiful to look at. From the story to the cast and crew to the art and visuals is all worth the watch. It truly is an amazing rollercoaster of a film. I laughed, cried, and was at the edge of my seat. This movie has it all. I have a feeling this stunning film will continue to thrive in the upcoming generations. Thank you Guillermo del Toro for making a film that almost made me have a panic attack.