Plot: What’s it about?
Films come and go, but it’s only the crème de la crème that manage to win Best Picture. That’s not to say that every film that wins the coveted Oscar is actually the best film of the year. There have been tons of films that haven’t won but as time goes on, they get better with age. That said, Guillermo Del Toro has been making his own brand of films for quite a while now and it was only a matter of time before one of them won the race. Was it the best film of 2017 – that’s up to you. According to the Academy, it was. Hollywood has always had a fascination with monsters and their “damsels in distress” (for lack of a better term), so if the thought of a amphibian dancing with a mute woman isn’t your cup of tea, well you should probably stop reading right now.
Set in the early 60’s, 1962 to be exact, we meet Elisa (Sally Hawkins), a mute woman who lives with her friend Giles (Richard Jenkins). Giles, a homosexual, obsesses over the server at a local diner and Elisa works as a. housekeeper at a government research facility. It so happens that a strange aquatic creature (Doug Jones) is brought in for “containment” and agent in charge Strickland (Michael Shannon) advises them to keep their distance. Elisa, however, forms a strange bond with the creature and, well, things ensue…
I remember a movie with Denzel Washington, The Bone Collector if memory serves, in which he played a paraplegic who could only speak. He still managed to give a great performance. I mention this since Sally Hawkins plays a mute in the film. You don’t need to make big movements or even speak lines to deliver an the goods. Hawkins is perhaps one of the most underrated actresses working today and if you’ve not caught her in Woody Allen’s Blue Jasmine, go check that out. She’s equally as good there as she is here. As it stands, The Shape of Water will not be for everyone. But it you can accept it for what it is, I think you’ll enjoy it as much as the Academy.
Video: How’s it look?
When I originally reviewed this movie back in 2018, it was the 4K version. And, well, not a lot has changed. That’s not a bad thing. We all know that Criterion is synonymous with amazing-looking transfers, but when they look pretty good the first time around… Truthfully, the only reason to purchase the 4K version is to take advantage of the increased resolution and color depth (and that’s a pretty good reason, actually). The 1.85:1 HEVC 4K image does have a bit of an edge on its Blu-ray counterpart. Detail is increased a bit, but it’s the colors that are really noticeable. Greenish and bluish hues work with one another to create a very etherial and dream-like state. The interior shots retain their more earthy color palette. It’s an interesting-looking film, for sure, but by no means does the Blu-ray look bad.
Audio: How’s it sound?
We get the same DTS HD Master Audio track found on the Blu-ray (and the previously-released 4K disc). That’s not an entirely bad thing, but when you’re ponying up 20% more for a disc, you’d generally want to get the best sound available. Other studios will include a Dolby Atmos or a DTS X track with their 4K releases. Whining aside, this is a good-sounding track with plenty of ambiance. Dialog isn’t at the forefront of this title like with most, and those who have seen it will know why. Still, it provides a good soundstage that viewers won’t have a problem with.
Supplements: What are the extras?
- Guillermo Del Toro and David Lowery – The only new feature on this disc is a pretty decent addition. We get director David Lowry (no, not the lead singer from Camper Van Beethoven and Cracker, the director of A Ghost Story) as he and Del Toro dissect the film, some of its roots and such. It’s a nice piece and a worthwhile addition.
- A Fairy Tale for Troubled Times – This is actually broken down in to four different categories, but they’re all pretty self-explanatory and run the gamut on some of the production, have some interviews with the cast and crew and so forth. All four total nearly 30 minutes.
- Anatomy of a Scene: Prologue – We get a look at how the somewhat etherial look and feel of the film is set up.
- Anatomy of a Scene: The Dance – If you’ve ever wanted to see behind the scenes of the dance sequence, it’s broken down here.
- Shaping the Waves: A Conversation with James Jean – Artist and illustrator James Jean is profiled here as is his work on the film.
- Guillermo del Toro’s Master Class – A Q & A with del Toro and some assorted crew members.
- Theatrical Trailer
- Illustrated Booklet – As is the case with all Criterion titles, we get the obligatory illustrated booklet with an essay by Carlos Aguilar’s who wrote “A Touch of the Unknown.”
The Bottom Line
I still have a hard time seeing this as Best Picture. But it happened and though Guillermo Del Toro has been making some offbeat films for years and with The Shape of Water hit the nail on the head. It’s not for everyone, but I feel it’s one of the more recent Best Picture films that harkens back to the Golden Age of Hollywood. I rarely say this, but if you already own the original 4K disc, I don’t see a reason to upgrade for a new feature and some new cover art. But if you’ve got a good Criterion collection going – they’ll certainly appreciate your contribution.
