Movie: The Shape of Water

The Shape of Water:  a Guillermo del Toro film.  As with most del Toro films, you will either hate the film or be pleasantly astonished.  As a del Toro fan, this fantastical love story truly impressed me.  My outline fails to provide an adequate description of what occurs during this 123-minute film, but this is due to my limitations and not to what del Toro, the co-author and director, has created.  The story takes place in Baltimore 1962.  The racism, sexism and class imbalance that existed in 1962 is clearly presented.  Elisa Esposito (Sally Hawkins), the protagonist, is a mute janitor working at a high security federal government facility.  Her co-worker, friend and sign language interpreter is Zelda (Octavia Spencer).  The facility is deeply involved in the Space Race.  Colonel Strickland (Michael Shannon), the facility’s head of security, brings to the facility a humanoid amphibious creature (Doug Jones) that he captured in the Amazon River.  The intention is to study the creature in the hopes of expediting man’s ability to travel in space.  The Russians are aware of the creature and have planted a spy at the facility, Dr. Hoffstetler (Michael Stuhlbarg).  The fifth major character in this film, is Giles (Richard Jenkins), Elisa’s neighbor, a recovering alcoholic who loves watching 1930’s dance movies.  Over time, Elisa and the creature form a close bond and a uniquely interesting story develops.  With the help of Zelda and Dr. Hoffstetler, Elisa develops a plan to save the creature from the agency’s exploitive and killing clutches.  The antagonist, Colonel Strickland, is portrayed as a violent misogynist, and the few shots of his home life show stiflingly idyllic scenes reminiscent of Father Knows Best; the film is laced with references to old movies and TV shows.  Despite the fact that some of the characters are one dimensional stereotypes, this movie really works.  You come to sincerely care for the creature, and the love story between the creature and Elisa feels genuine.  Hawkins’ performance is a significant reason why this film succeeds.  There are a small number of directors whose work I always try to see; Guillermo del Toro is definitely on this short list.  Despite the rather odd storyline, experiencing The Shape of Water was a real pleasure.  I highly recommend this movie.

 

Movie: Darkest Hour

Darkest Hour:  a Winston Churchill movie.  2017 was a year for Churchill, both directly (the excellent “Churchill & Orwell: The Fight for Freedom” written by Thomas E. Ricks) and indirectly (Dunkirk).  Darkest Hour opens in May 1940.  The outlook for Great Britain is bleak.  The Germans are overrunning France and the devastating invasion of Belgium and the Netherlands are close at hand.  Neville Chamberlain’s “peace in our time” program has failed, and despite the ruling Conservative Party’s distrust and fear him, Churchill becomes Prime Minister.  This 125-minute film focuses on the myriad crises facing Britain and Churchill, including the Conservative Party’s obstinate inability to comprehend that one cannot make a deal with Hitler.  The story, written by Anthony McCarten and directed by Joe Wright, is limited to the first few weeks of Churchill’s reign as Prime Minister.  The film lays out Churchill’s many foibles - his self-doubts, his drinking and acerbic behavior – as well as his intense intellect and deep compassionate for those whom he loved.  Gary Oldman as Churchill gives an Oscar worthy performance and “Darkest Hour” is worth seeing just to marvel at Oldman’s presentation.  The talent in this film is not limited to Oldman.  Ben Mendelsohn is excellent as King George, who is portrayed very differently from the character we met in The King’s Speech.  Stephen Dillane as Viscount Halifax and Ronald Pickup as Chamberlain are outstanding.  Although her screen time is limited, Kristin Scott Thomas as Clementine Churchill, is superb, as is Lilly James as Elizabeth Layton, Churchill’s secretary.  Of particular note is the subway scene towards the end of the film showing Churchill interacting with average British citizens.  Contrary to the impression that might be given from the trailers, Darkest Hour is much more than just Churchill’s speeches.  I highly recommend this superbly acted film, which offers a stunning contrast to the politics of America 2018.