The Shape of Water (2017)

This is a brilliantly, confidently composed creature/romance movie. It may seem like an odd combination, but Guillermo del Toro knows exactly what he's doing. It works on both levels really well as he waivers on neither front, including an out of place yet appropriate black-and-white dance sequence.  The whole concept derived from an (allegedly real) Islamic poem del Toro remembered coming across is very creative. The beast is a gorgeous, intelligent, godly anthropomorphic sea creature.  He is just a pawn in the context of the Cold War. But to Sally Hawkins's mute janitor, the creature is so much more. They connect on a deeper level beyond the superficial romances Hollywood typically produces. There are a number of amazing underwater shots that I'm assuming must have been computer generated. I don't know how else everything could have been so perfectly suspended in the water. The production design transports the audience to 1960s Baltimore, which contrary to Michael Shannon's villainous words, seems pretty cool. The acting is fantastic all around; shout outs to Hawkins (did she learn sign language?), Jenkins and Spencer.

Five Came Back (2017)

This is a movie for cinephiles and for history buffs and especially for those who love film history like me Films have an important role in history. I took a course on history and film. In war, they played a big role as propaganda, but not everything was propaganda. This three-part documentary tells the stories of five famed Hollywood directors during their service in WWII and their work before and after the war. Legendary directors Frank Capra, George Stevens, John Ford, John Huston and William Wyler all answered the call to service during WWII and they made enormous contributions by documenting the war, not always honestly but always powerfully to effect for the war effort. Modern directors heap praise on their idols, demonstrating their love for the art and their admiration for their cinematic accomplishments. Meryl Streep narrates the documentary.There are some really powerful, emotional moments when the reality of war sets in. They discuss how the war influenced their postwar work, and how their war experiences will always live with them.