The Shape of Water

Lonely Elisa, a mute janitor, works in a high-security government lab whose purposes are some what sketchy.  Sally Hawkins is so expressive as  Elisa that I almost forgot that she never speaks, her acting is that good.  Elisa discovers that  an unusual creature has been captured and is being secretly housed, and cruelly experimented on.  Because she is mute, and the creature can not  speak, they communicate on a different level, and they form a bond that eventually turns into love.  This heartwarming story is sort of a cross between Beauty and the Beast and X-Files.  There are powerful supporting roles wonderfully accomplished by Octavia Spencer and Michael Shannon.   And a final flourish – Richard Jenkins is unforgettable as Elisa’s gay neighbor who overcomes a feeling of inferiority to take up the challenge of helping Elisa rescue her “Monster.”  I admit, I had  a few tears at the end, but director Guillermo del Toro’s wonderful directing never makes the movie seem sentimental or fake.  I highly recommend this very grown-up and compelling movie to all lovers of unusual fantasy.