Lady In The Water.
123 Mins. Starring: Sally Hawkins, Doug Jones, Michael Shannon, Michael Stuhlbarg, Richard Jenkins & Octavia Spencer. Director: Guillermo del Toro.
They've always said there's plenty more fish in the sea but this is ridiculous! 'The Shape Of Water' made a heart shaped splash this valentines. Proving that real love is as undeniable as cinematic movie magic. Even when an amphibian loves a woman. Now don't judge, you've swiped right to worse. No wonder women are falling for slimy lizards right now who pass more as real men than the guys they have to put up with these days. 'Blue Jasmine' star Sally Hawkins too. What more do you expect from this great British actress whose already taken in talking bears that like marmalade she finds at 'Paddington' station and messed with monsters as giant as 'Godzilla' too? But the real monsters here aren't the creatures that lagoon lurk under what lies beneath. But the ones that hide in plain sight above the surface. And it's these kind of cult science fiction versus reality notions that makes this years leading multiple Oscar nominated picture of forbidden fruit love to the Adam and Eve core and Romeo and Juliet heart a lucky 13. And after gracing us with gothic classics like 'Pans Labyrinth', 'Hellboy' and 'Crimson Peak'. Acclaimed director Guillermo del Toro gives us another piece of iconic cinema shot right back to the Cold War era of the sixties that saw the United States of America and the Soviets go to war over just about everything and who got there first. Down to the cramped corridors of old apartments and the timeless, vintage multiplex of multiple, countless seats and red letters hung on white light billboards outside. This movie is rich with texture and tone all the way to a ravishingly romantic score set straight off the French Riviera. Even the bus our leading lady takes home as she plays with the drops of rain on its window pane is as iconically beautiful as those moments. And with shapes of both monster and misunderstood movies like 'King Kong' and 'Edward Scissorhands' respectively, 'Water' streams through our consciousness and every lamented love lost at sea. As Hawkins is heartwarming, accenting a mute woman who falls for a creature who is a lot more human than most that meet your eye. This story is everything about real cinema and love you won't be able to avert your gaze.
So Sally may not have to wait this year. Even though Frances McDormand has put up more 'Billboards' this side of Ebbing, Missouri for her campaign as 'Best Actress', if anyone is taking her down its Hawkins. No matter how good the rest of the class acts are. From Margot Robbie's Winter Olympic gold of 'I, Tonya' and Saoirse Ronan's flying free 'Lady Bird'. Not to mention the actress with more nomination nods than any other in history, man or woman, Meryl Streep ('The Post'). And lets not forget those who where robbed by the Academy this year, like 'The Ghost Story' of Rooney Mara all alone as amazingly deserving as leading lady and next best actress Jessica Chastain, three times over for 'The Zookeepers Wife', 'Miss Sloane' and 'Molly's Game'. But just like when Guillermo turned the phoenix flames of Chastain raven for 'Crimson', Toro lets another sweet and sincere side of Sally shine. As she says more with no words than most do an entire screenplay. Showing that 93% of communication really is non verbal and the other 7% can't translate the language she emotes that is more than a simple sign. It's all there in black and white for you, despite the grey areas of love and life as this film also has its own 'Artist' moment making it the closest thing to a masterpiece in this city of star outside of Missouri. It's a womans world now, but it would be nothing without a real man too. And that's exactly what Doug Jones is, even though he's playing a fish out of water and we've never really seen his face unlike 'Black Panther' villain Andy Serkis. And Mr. Jones circus act is prosthetically as deserving of its own Oscar category, let alone award like the mo-cap of Ceasar's Gollum. This man has sat in make-up chairs for a longer time than all the Kardashian's and the results have seen him assist Guillermo in all his major movies. You remember the dude in 'Pans' holding his eyeballs in his palms right? Doug is even going as deep as Netflix's latest streaming show success as an alien crew member, scene stealer of 'Star Trek's' newest 'Discovery', but it's here his career takes real shape. If 'Water' sees Hawkins work wonder without words, then you should see what Jones does with just clucks given. Not even showing us his real face, yet still evoking every emotion.
Smutty waters may awash this landscape of love, but it takes more than just two in this pools labyrinth from del Toro. Because everytime a Romeo loves a Juliet there's always some poison that wants to get in the way of star crossed lovers in the prime of their lives. And after showing 'Loving' support like he did in the Oscar nominated, 'Nocturnal Animals', 'Iceman' Michael Shannon deserves another one this year for going back to his villainous roots. Reeking of evil even more than his rotting black fingers he's willing to pull right off just to prove a point, hammer and nail and bullying, billy-club cattle-prod. This man may dress like a well and good cop, but this government offical is as crooked as his tie if it wasn't for the pin. He doesn't just have the eyes and voice of a classic bad guy, he has the unsettling feel of one too, all the way down to his bones. This guy doesn't even wash his hands after using the urinal...so you know he's all kinds of dirty. And the ever shimmering Shannon with his 'Man Of Steel' demeanour gives us his best work amongst his 'Midnight Special' illuminating year last one and the time he proved he could play the King and the president, entering the White House for 'Elvis & Nixon' thank you very much. But Michael Shannon isn't just here, Michael Stuhlbarg is too. And the actor who looks like he could be Joaquin Phoenix's brother, let alone the next one is as ever underrated as he is in every other film right now. He's even in three Oscar nominated pictures as we speak (this, 'The Post' and 'Call Me By Your Name'). Want to count some more over the years ('Arrival', 'Blue Jasmine', 'Steve Jobs', 'Lincoln')? And that's just the tip of the iceberg for the always amazing actor ('Hugo', 'Doctor Strange', 'Miss Sloane'). He'll rightfully so be a legend one day, just like Richard Jenkins. Here playing a fond fatherly figure as convincing as his toupee (no, really, it's a really wonderful wig). So kindly in heart as he is soulfully artistic as his feet step in perfect time with Hawkins, as they link arms on the couch together watching dancing tap on the tube. And what Academy acclaimed picture would be fit for Oscar without the heart and helping hand of 'Gifted' actress Octavia Spencer? 'The Help' and 'Hidden Figures' standout star really is one of the best, and the beating support here that turns her from a best friend character to so much more in her own right. When she's not buying out whole cinemas so everyone can see the movement that is her 'Fruitvale Station' co-star Michael B. Jordan and director Ryan Coogler's 'Black Panther', one of the best of our generation is chasing Streep of late with just how many iconic films she can make her mark in right now and with whats to come. Shaping up to be one of the best of the year despite some plagiarizing controvery, 'The Shape Of Water' has it's own originality in honouring Hollywood's hallmark past. Becoming a cinematic creature worthy of loving like no other. This movie is a monster with the power to knock down those 'Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri for 'Best Picture'. 'The Shape Of Water' is how you'll fall in love with classic cinema again. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Further Filming: 'Crimson Peak', 'Edward Scissorhands', 'King Kong'.
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