The Shape of Water (2017)

Director: Guillermo del Toro
Stars: Sally Hawkins, Octavia Spencer, Michael Shannon
Runtime: 123 minutes

Performances: 8/10
Screenplay: 7/10
Special Effects: N.A. 
Costumes/Makeup: 10/10
Editing: 8/10
Cinematography: 8/10
Score/Soundtrack: 9/10

Verdict: Sally Hawkins is perfectly cast as Elisa, a mute janitor who works at a secret government laboratory which receives a humanlike amphibian creature, played by the always unrecognizable and equally brilliant Doug Jones. Michael Shannon, Octavia Spencer, Richard Jenkins, and Michael Stuhlbarg (who has been on a roll this year) are also in the film, and all of them deliver. "The Shape of Water" moved me like very few other movies did. And this is not only due to a very touching story written by Guillermo del Toro and Vanessa Taylor, but also thanks to Alexandre Desplat's mesmerizing score, which is my favorite of the year without a doubt. Behind the camera, del Toro made sure that the movie's quality doesn't rely solely on its story, but also on its presentation. The only issues that are keeping me from calling the movie perfect are Michael Shannon's character, who felt like a generic villain at times only there because the film needed an antagonist, and the fact that the script is not completely free of cheese and convenience. Nevertheless, "The Shape of Water" is Guillermo del Toro's best work since 2006's "Pan's Labyrinth", and deserves the 13 Oscar nominations it received. Do not miss it. 

Final Grade: 8/10