The Shape of Water (2017) Review
I'm going to get straight into it; despite how critically-acclaimed The Shape of Water is, the film has mostly been a disappointment to me. This review contains light spoilers.
The Shape of Water is essentially about two individuals who view each other as complete individuals and find solace in each other. Elisa (the main protagonist) is a mute woman who befriends a captured humanoid amphibian man at her workplace, a high-security government laboratory. The humanoid amphibian man, not understanding that Elisa is mute, sees her as any other individual, and not one with a disability. They communicate through sign language, eventually falls in love with each other, and Elisa devises a plan to help him escape.
Let us first start with the things I liked about this film. Clearly, the visuals and Sally Hawkins' performance are highly commendable. The Shape of Water has a peculiar vibe unique to itself due to the incorporation of classical music into somewhat of a fantasy/science fiction film. Despite the unusual combination, the soundtrack and the film did not feel like a mismatch. In fact, I would go as far as to say that the usage of classical music throughout the plot has enriched its visuals.
With those being said, plenty of things about this film did not sit well with me. I had a lot of problems with The Shape of Water, but most of the problems can be summarized into one big one: The Shape of Water tried to do too many things at once, and as a result, it touched the surface of everything, but never really went into depth for most of it.
Firstly, The Setting. Elisa works as a janitor in a supposedly high-security government laboratory. I say supposedly, because this laboratory has terrible security. There were three things I could not buy:
1. The captured humanoid amphibian man, a top-secret, highly-prized asset of the country, was brought into the laboratory during broad daylight when plenty of people were walking around.
2. The janitors were allowed to enter the laboratory holding this top-secret highly-prized asset of the country (TSHPAOTC) without having first signed a confidentiality agreement.
3. The janitors have an access to the laboratory holding this TSHPAOTC at all times.
Which brings me back to my main problem: The Shape of Water tried to set itself in a high-security government laboratory in the midst of the Cold War, housing a potential factor which might give them a lead in the Space Race, only to poorly execute such a setting.
This next part contains spoilers, which I suggest against reading unless you've watched the film.
I have a problem with the whole Soviet spy situation. I personally feel that there is insufficient tension and mistrust towards the spy. The lack of doubt and threat aimed towards the Soviet spy downplayed the effects of the race against time.
The Shape of Water is essentially about two individuals who view each other as complete individuals and find solace in each other. Elisa (the main protagonist) is a mute woman who befriends a captured humanoid amphibian man at her workplace, a high-security government laboratory. The humanoid amphibian man, not understanding that Elisa is mute, sees her as any other individual, and not one with a disability. They communicate through sign language, eventually falls in love with each other, and Elisa devises a plan to help him escape.
***
***
Firstly, The Setting. Elisa works as a janitor in a supposedly high-security government laboratory. I say supposedly, because this laboratory has terrible security. There were three things I could not buy:
1. The captured humanoid amphibian man, a top-secret, highly-prized asset of the country, was brought into the laboratory during broad daylight when plenty of people were walking around.
2. The janitors were allowed to enter the laboratory holding this top-secret highly-prized asset of the country (TSHPAOTC) without having first signed a confidentiality agreement.
3. The janitors have an access to the laboratory holding this TSHPAOTC at all times.
Which brings me back to my main problem: The Shape of Water tried to set itself in a high-security government laboratory in the midst of the Cold War, housing a potential factor which might give them a lead in the Space Race, only to poorly execute such a setting.
***
I have a problem with the whole Soviet spy situation. I personally feel that there is insufficient tension and mistrust towards the spy. The lack of doubt and threat aimed towards the Soviet spy downplayed the effects of the race against time.
***
However, one scene in particular stood out to me although it played little importance to the plot. Elisa's gay neighbour, who is also one of her closest friends, took a liking to a younger man working in a pie store. He later found out the hard way that this man was both a racist and a homophobic. Considering that The Shape of Water is set in the 1960's, this scene portrayed just how real and predominant racism and homophobia were in the society during that time period.
***
Overall Rating: 5/10
The Shape of Water was not a bad film, but it was lacking for me because I was looking for elements of science fiction and action in a film meant to be a fantasy drama. This film did not resonate with me, but I do recommend it for anyone looking for something which gives off a feeling of whimsicality and romanticism. Alexandre Desplat is a brilliant composer, and he brought this film to life with his music.
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