The Shape of Water (2017) Review

There is nothing in The Shape of Water that you haven’t seen a hundred times before. Disney have made Beauty and the Beast twice and as you watch this film, you soon realise that director Guillermo Del Toro has done so as well. This wouldn’t necessarily have to be a negative thing if it wasn’t so familiar, predictable and ultimately pedestrian. Not that The Shape of Water doesn’t have any redeeming features. It is very well made and as with all Del Toro productions, the design of the environments that his characters occupy are full of dark, dim and (as a … Continue reading The Shape of Water (2017) Review

Phantom Thread (2017) Review

You are either on-board with Daniel Day-Lewis or you aren’t. He doesn’t make “popcorn” movies and has never touched a Hollywood blockbuster. His films rarely end within 120 minutes and they aren’t always that accessible. He stars in the kind of movies which gets critical plaudits but can baffle audiences with bum-numbing runtimes and bizarre character performances. That is why the prospect of a distant, almost tyrannical fashion designer who falls in love with his muse and creates a destructive relationship may not fill many with excitement while others will be rushing to get their tickets at the box office. As … Continue reading Phantom Thread (2017) Review