In reading this review, I am most struck by the lack of attention to what I found to be the most interesting characters and relationships in the film. Elizabeth, with her curiosity about nature and our place in it, which leads her to empathy and love for this doomed creature. And the old man, who recognizes the creature's humanity, and whose demise sets off his journey of destruction. I haven't yet read the source material, but I found the movie to be profoundly moving on many levels.
On point as always, Sonny. We very much enjoyed the Frankenstein adaptation but, yes, it was not as faithful as it could have been to the source material.
Are you going to write about Plur1bus at some point?
Sonny, I was also wonderingif you guys take recommendations for the Bulwark movie club. It's fine of course if you don't - I know the choices are driven as much by what you, JVL, Sarah and whomever else like. But if you're open to suggestions, I for one would love to see your takes on the oiriginal "Knives Out" movie. It's relevant these days and a good fall movie, but also just really funny and fun.
I need to read more of your columns, Sonny. Somehow I always convince myself I need to see whatever show or movie you're talking about, which I never do until at least several weeks after you write it up. I'm really slow about watching the latest thing, and though I get there eventually, it's rarely on anyone else's timeline.
Clearly I've been misssing out. This was interesting just as a fan of gothic lit. Frankenstein-as-incel: that's a thought I need to mull over! Thanks so much for doing what you can to get us to thoughtfully think about the arts.
I haven’t sat down and watched a movie in at least 5 years. I know it was pre-pandemic. No, I’m not talking about going to a theatre but anywhere and any length. I do enjoy reading movie reviews and I especially enjoy Sonny’s written work. Keep it up and I can continue to pretend IRL that I have some sort of cultural touchstone.
I saw it last night before reading this article. I appreciate your insights but as far as entertainment value, after watching it my only thought was that it was 2½ hours of my life I'll never get back. The final 20 minutes were okay but it was a long slog to get there.
Del Toro loves to make a point of how the worst monsters are always otherwise average people. Compare The Shape of Water to The Creature From the Black Lagoon. Or how the ghosts are all only helpful in Devil's Backbone.
Loved the perspective here. I always find myself empathizing with wrongdoers, wondering what led them to their misdeeds. I don’t excuse their wrongs, but my focus is usually on how it’s come to this? I think this of all the Trumps. As Tim says, Fred didn’t hug Donnie. But also Don, Jr. and watching Barron grow up with the two most mortally vacant parents I can think of. It’s all just sad to me. And in line with that, when I have read Frankenstein, I am inclined to look past the fictional misdeeds because of the circumstances that brought him there. This piece made me think twice. And also think back to Of Mice and Men and how I was so gutted by the ending when I read it back in high school. (No spoilers, so no further elaboration.) Thanks for giving my brain something to chew on this weekend, Sonny.
So here’s the thing: I think good art will almost always leave you empathizing with the villain in SOME way. Otherwise it’s one-dimensional or for children. (This is one reason why Shape of Water is probably my least favorite del Toro—the cartoonishness of the villains—-and why Pan’s Labyrinth is maybe my favorite: it is, fundamentally, a fairy tale, a child’s view of horror in the real world.)
I certainly appreciate your writings/reviews. Politics is the issue of the moment, but the arts and culture are life. Please keep on doing what you do, we need life!
Listen, I don't even watch movies, and I still read this newsletter and enjoy the pods when they pop up in my podcatcher feed, because it's usually just really interesting and a nice break from the doom. Ty. 🫡
Doesn’t the Monster differ from an Incel in two important manners? First, the Monster is essentially a newborn and we don’t expect newborns to have a developed sense of right and wrong. Second, the Monster is an outcast from society; to the extent Incels are outcasts, they choose to be outcasts. Where is the expectation that someone deliberately outcast from human society should obey society’s moral code?
I'm a little more mixed on it than some of my critical colleagues; I tend to think EDDINGTON and BUGONIA capture our moment a little better. But OBAA has its charms, for sure.
Just so you know, I really appreciate your culture input and am loving the movie club!! Thank you!
In reading this review, I am most struck by the lack of attention to what I found to be the most interesting characters and relationships in the film. Elizabeth, with her curiosity about nature and our place in it, which leads her to empathy and love for this doomed creature. And the old man, who recognizes the creature's humanity, and whose demise sets off his journey of destruction. I haven't yet read the source material, but I found the movie to be profoundly moving on many levels.
On point as always, Sonny. We very much enjoyed the Frankenstein adaptation but, yes, it was not as faithful as it could have been to the source material.
Are you going to write about Plur1bus at some point?
Sonny, I was also wonderingif you guys take recommendations for the Bulwark movie club. It's fine of course if you don't - I know the choices are driven as much by what you, JVL, Sarah and whomever else like. But if you're open to suggestions, I for one would love to see your takes on the oiriginal "Knives Out" movie. It's relevant these days and a good fall movie, but also just really funny and fun.
I need to read more of your columns, Sonny. Somehow I always convince myself I need to see whatever show or movie you're talking about, which I never do until at least several weeks after you write it up. I'm really slow about watching the latest thing, and though I get there eventually, it's rarely on anyone else's timeline.
Clearly I've been misssing out. This was interesting just as a fan of gothic lit. Frankenstein-as-incel: that's a thought I need to mull over! Thanks so much for doing what you can to get us to thoughtfully think about the arts.
I haven’t sat down and watched a movie in at least 5 years. I know it was pre-pandemic. No, I’m not talking about going to a theatre but anywhere and any length. I do enjoy reading movie reviews and I especially enjoy Sonny’s written work. Keep it up and I can continue to pretend IRL that I have some sort of cultural touchstone.
I saw it last night before reading this article. I appreciate your insights but as far as entertainment value, after watching it my only thought was that it was 2½ hours of my life I'll never get back. The final 20 minutes were okay but it was a long slog to get there.
Del Toro loves to make a point of how the worst monsters are always otherwise average people. Compare The Shape of Water to The Creature From the Black Lagoon. Or how the ghosts are all only helpful in Devil's Backbone.
Loved the perspective here. I always find myself empathizing with wrongdoers, wondering what led them to their misdeeds. I don’t excuse their wrongs, but my focus is usually on how it’s come to this? I think this of all the Trumps. As Tim says, Fred didn’t hug Donnie. But also Don, Jr. and watching Barron grow up with the two most mortally vacant parents I can think of. It’s all just sad to me. And in line with that, when I have read Frankenstein, I am inclined to look past the fictional misdeeds because of the circumstances that brought him there. This piece made me think twice. And also think back to Of Mice and Men and how I was so gutted by the ending when I read it back in high school. (No spoilers, so no further elaboration.) Thanks for giving my brain something to chew on this weekend, Sonny.
So here’s the thing: I think good art will almost always leave you empathizing with the villain in SOME way. Otherwise it’s one-dimensional or for children. (This is one reason why Shape of Water is probably my least favorite del Toro—the cartoonishness of the villains—-and why Pan’s Labyrinth is maybe my favorite: it is, fundamentally, a fairy tale, a child’s view of horror in the real world.)
“I am a child of the charnel house - a wreckage…”
I certainly appreciate your writings/reviews. Politics is the issue of the moment, but the arts and culture are life. Please keep on doing what you do, we need life!
WAY off topic for this particular movie (but really appreciated. I will watch this weekend).
Love the movie club, intrigued to not only watch Rounders now, but follow up on the Sarah review 😂
Recently, Tim was interviewing Jane Fonda and she suggested he watch “Klute”.
I never have, don’t know what it’s about but perhaps you would consider it?
I’d love analysis even if you don’t select.
Thank you Sonny! I love taking a break from politics and this is how I love to do it, even if it’s winkingly adjacent ;)
Yeah Klute is very much in the paranoid thriller mode that is back in vogue now.
Thanks, Sonny. I get it.
I asked an in-person film friend about it after posting to you.
He said “It's at the early end of a MILLION paranoid thrillers in the 70s.Dated, but good. She is great in that. She is.”
He also said “What he says about some of the cgi work IS something I'd seen w del Toro before. 2 seconds of cheap throws me out of a 500 grand shot”.
I love having you movie guys in my life. It’s a treat.
I love people that can explain amazing books, incredible art and dig into the movies. I love it.
Listen, I don't even watch movies, and I still read this newsletter and enjoy the pods when they pop up in my podcatcher feed, because it's usually just really interesting and a nice break from the doom. Ty. 🫡
Ha, you "got me" with your intro (how could I not take a peek). But I stayed for the insight in the review. And, of course the comments!
Not sure I'll become a regular reader but I fully support the need for Bulwark to support the arts/culture beat. Not for charity - for necessity.
Thanks for prodding me to read this.
Doesn’t the Monster differ from an Incel in two important manners? First, the Monster is essentially a newborn and we don’t expect newborns to have a developed sense of right and wrong. Second, the Monster is an outcast from society; to the extent Incels are outcasts, they choose to be outcasts. Where is the expectation that someone deliberately outcast from human society should obey society’s moral code?
Look without getting too deep into incel ideology, I would imagine few of them argue they chose to be outcasts.
LOL, of course they wouldn't. That is the entirety of the problem with them.
By “chose,” I merely mean that they are not literal outcasts.
Nice review, gives due regard to the predecessors, while finding del Toro's magic.
Looking forward to "One Battle...." where current film and politics mix inseparably--or did I miss your review already?
Review here: https://www.thebulwark.com/p/one-battle-after-another-review
I'm a little more mixed on it than some of my critical colleagues; I tend to think EDDINGTON and BUGONIA capture our moment a little better. But OBAA has its charms, for sure.
Thanks for your reply, and what you say is true. OBAA is more muddled in its sense of time, which is definitely not exactly now. Strategic!