The Shape of Water (2017)
Genre: Fantasy
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Starring: Sally Hawkins, Octavia Spencer, Michael Shannon, Richard Jenkins, Doug Jones, Michael Stuhlbarg
Duration: 123 minutes
Class: 15
KRS Releasing Ltd

After Pan’s Laybrinth (2006) and Crimson Tide (2015), Mexican director Guillermo del Toro returns to the big screen with another award-winning fantasy film.

Nominated for 13 Oscars, including best picture, best director and best actress, the film follows Elisa (Sally Hawkins), a mute, isolated woman who works as a cleaning lady in a hidden, high-security government laboratory in 1962 Baltimore.

Her life changes forever when she discovers the lab’s classified secret – a mysterious, scaled creature from South America (Doug Jones) that lives in a water tank. As Elisa develops a unique bond with her new friend, she soon learns that its fate and very survival lies in the hands of a hostile government agent and a marine biologist.

The film, which won the Golden Lion at the Venice film festival where it premiered last year and a host of other awards, has been praised on many levels: performances, screenplay, direction, production design and musical score.

Some critics claimed that this film is the director’s best since Pan’s Labyrinth, which had won three Oscars. Guy Lodge of Variety described the film as “a ravishing, eccentric auteur’s imagining, spilling artistry, empathy and sensuality from every open pore”.

Molly Freeman of Screen Rant wrote: “Guillermo del Toro’s The Shape of Water elegantly blends whimsical fairy tale with a fresh spin on classic monster movies for a delightful experience.”

And the critics’ consensus on Rotten Tomatoes reads: “The Shape of Water finds Guillermo del Toro at his visually distinctive best – and matched by an emotionally absorbing story brought to life by a stellar Sally Hawkins performance.”

The film grossed $55.3 million worldwide since its release on December 1.

Last week, the picture was  hit with a copyright infringement lawsuit alleging that its plot was lifted, without credit, from a 1969 play by late American playwright Paul Zindel.

Whether this will affect its chances at the Oscars – which are taking place on Sunday – is, however, doubtful.

Ratings
IMDB: 7.7
Rotten Tomatoes: 92%
Empire: 5 stars

Saoirse Ronan (left) has a turbulent relationship with Laurie Metcalf in Lady Bird.

Lady Bird (2017)
Genre: Drama
Director: Greta Gerwig
Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Laurie Metcalf, Tracy Letts, Lucas Hedges, Timothée Chalamet
Duration: 94 minutes
Class: 15
KRS Releasing Ltd

The coming-of-age story Lady Bird is another Oscar contender, having garnered five nominations, including best original screenplay, best director and best picture.

Written and directed by Greta Gerwig, the film revolves around an outspoken teen (Saoirse Ronan), growing up on the wrong side of the tracks in Sacramento, California, attending Catholic school and wrestling with her identity as she figures out life after graduating from high school. Meanwhile, she must navigate a loving but turbulent relationship with her strong-willed mother(Laurie Metcalf).

The film marks the solo directing debut of Gerwig, who has carved a career co-writing and starring in independent films such as 2010’s Greenberg and 2012’s Frances Ha. Were she to win the best director title at the Oscars on Sunday, she would be only the second woman to win this Academy Award.

Lady Bird has already won the best picture – musical or comedy award at the Golden Globes.

The protagonist, Ronan, also won the best actress – musical or comedy title at the same awards ceremony and is also nominated for best actress at the Oscars. Metcalf is also nominated in the best supporting actress category.

Critics loved the movie. Terri White of Empire wrote: “A coming-of-age story like no other, Lady Bird is smart, emotional, funny and completely original. Rarely has a directorial debut been so assured, so singular and so heartwarmingly affecting.”

Joe Morgenstern of The Wall Street Journal wrote: “You want to give thanks for how wonderful it is, how wise and funny and full of grace”, while Peter Debruge of Variety called it “the kind of modest, miraculous low-budget gem that takes on a life of its own”.

The film, in fact, had a considerably ‘small’ production budget of $10 million. It has so far made $52 million in box office sales since its release in the US on November 3.

Ratings
IMDB: 7.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 99%
Empire: 4 stars

Imelda Stauntun and Timothy Spall give love a second chance in Finding Your Feet.

Finding Your Feet (2017)
Genre: Comedy
Director: Richard Loncraine
Starring: Timothy Spall, Imelda Staunton, Joanna Lumley, Celia Imrie, David Hayman
Duration: 111 minutes
Class: 12A
KRS Releasing Ltd

The British comedy with an all-star cast of veteran actors focuses on  ‘Lady’ Sandra Abbott (Imelda Staunton), who discovers that her husband of 40 years (John Sessions) is having an affair with her best friend. So she seeks refuge in London with her estranged, older sister Bif (Celia Imrie). The two could not be more different – Sandra is a fish out of water next to her outspoken, serial dating, free-spirited sibling. However, she reluctantly lets Bif drag her along to a community dance class, where she starts finding her feet and romance as she meets her sister’s friends, including Charlie (Timothy Spall) and Jackie (Joanna Lumley).

The cast was praised by critics but neither the plot nor the dance routines were.

Wendy Ide of The Guardian wrote: “Imelda Staunton, Timothy Spall and co excel in this comedy romance, but can’t quite make up for the film’s cynical heart.”

Helen O’Hara of The Times of London says it is a shame that the veteran cast is “given such creaky material to work with”.

Ratings
IMDB: 6.9/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 72%
Empire: N/A