A fairytale for Troubled Times. A 60’s/Cold War-era research facility brings together two lonely souls, a mute janitor and the amphibious creature being held for study. A relationship and an escape plan inevitably ensues. del Toro said he wrote this because growing up he thought the creature and the lady from Creature From the Black Lagoon should have gotten together (that being my favorite classic Universal Monster movie was cool to hear.) The sets (especially the lab and the apartments), the wardrobe, the whole 60’s ishness of it all 👌🏼, the subtle green coloring/palette - looved it. The opening and ending scenes were beautiful, but there was more nudity (and it was earlier) than i realized there would be, but given the storyline - shouldn’t have been surprised, my bad😆🤦🏼♀️. Interesting to see the “otherness” displayed in the movie: the neighbor trying to get with the diner guy, Elisa not only being mute but getting together with the “hunky fishman” (dad said that introduction always made him laugh when he listened to interviews about the movie), that russian scientist. #AlexandreDesplat’s score and soundtrack was as whimsical and nostalgic as you could ask for. Awesome that the voiceover in the beginning, her being found by the river as a child, and the scars on her neck all sort of tie in together. Nice reference to The Help, and omg that musical scene, and Strickland and those fingers 🤢🤮, and that whole scene with Strickland in the bathroom with the ladies (what does it say about a man when he washes his hands after? that he’s hygenic?) #MichaelShannon can certainly play the subtly menacing guy. A combination of everything I can see why it won #BestPicture and #BestDirector. I wana learn sign language - Elisa signing at Strickland 😮 #ssmovieof2018 #adventure #drama #fantasy #OscarWinner #BestOriginalScore #BestProductionDesign #SallyHawkins (i gotta watch more of her movies) #OctaviaSpencer #DougJones #RichardJenkins #MichaelStuhlberg #DavidHewlett (from Cube!) #NickSearcy #MorganKelly writers: #GuillermodelToro (screenplay & story by) #VanessaTaylor (screenplay by) director: Guillermo del Toro movie of 2018 number 7) #TheShapeofWater
