Rating: 5/5
Synopsis:
I can’t believe Spielberg’s first masterpiece is 50! “Jaws” is a timeless classic, taking place on the fictional Amity Island. After a dead body washes up on their shores, Police Chief Brody begins to suspect the makings of a shark attack. Due to the potential loss in summer revenue that Amity relies on, Mayor Larry Daley brushes off the potential threat. After more deaths ensue, Chief Brody calls in an expert from the oceanographic institute, Matt Hooper. Hooper believes that the only way to rid Amity of their shark problem is by contacting a professional to kill the beast. The two men hire Quint, a brash but skilled fisherman who has experience dealing with sharks. The three men must go out to sea and end this shark’s reign of terror before more victims wash up on the beaches of Amity.
Positives:
What can I say about “Jaws” that hasn’t already been said? This is a very important film to me that has played a big part in shaping my film fandom. “Jaws” was one of my introductions to scary movies. I became fascinated with sharks and soon sought out other killer shark movies…none of which lived up to this film. I always thought Chief Brody was the coolest guy as a little kid, strapping a pistol and belt buckle to my hips ready to take on a killer shark myself. “Jaws” has inspired so many to become film fans and filmmakers alike due to its historic effect on the industry. I am always baffled at how impressive the final product turned out to be due to the horrific filming circumstances. Spielberg (at age 27) had so many hurdles to clear when shooting the film, believing it would kill his career as a filmmaker. Low and behold, “Jaws” is widely regarded as one of the greatest films of all time, proving to be a success on every level.
The movie has been studied for years, where filmmakers have attempted to match Spielberg’s tension building and filmmaking craft. What amazes me is that Spielberg pivoted the direction of the film due to the mechanical shark’s malfunctions. He leaned into the fear of the unseen, where the shark’s looming presence is felt at all times. The shark isn’t even on screen for the first half of the movie. This combined with the haunting score from John Williams created so much tension throughout the story. The camera work magnifies the perspective of the shark as it watches its victims beneath the surface. Spielberg’s quick cutting while the swimmers splash and play amplifies the stress that is building within the audience, knowing the shark’s strike is inevitable. He also places the camera at the level of the ocean, putting viewers in the driver’s seat for the events that are occurring. The film demonstrates a number of iconic sequences that highlight Spielberg’s ability to scare the audience. Whether it be the grisly opening shark attack, Ben Gardner’s iconic jump scare, or Quint’s USS Indianapolis monologue, each scene delivers an intense and engaging viewing experience.
The cast is a large reason for the success as well. It is rare to create a set of characters that have become such cultural icons, each in their own way. Chief Brody, the stoic and thoughtful police chief that has the weight of the world on his shoulders. His facial expressions throughout the film perfectly display the position he is in, where he tries to keep the townspeople safe despite pushback from a shortsighted (albeit well intentioned) mayor. As he rises to become the hero of the story, his final confrontation with the shark is one for the ages. Hooper is also an excellent character, having a spout of arrogance attached to his intellect. Yet, he is still a voice of reason that provides comic relief during his banter with Quint. But Robert Shaw’s portrayal as Quint might be one of the most memorable in this era of film. His brash confidence contrasts nicely with Hooper as the two men constantly holler at each other, disagreeing about the ways to kill the shark. Quint has so many iconic lines and monologues, resonating with modern pop culture in many ways. These three excel in their character dynamics, highlighted by an exchange of battle scars at the dinner table and laughing over a few drinks. The finale is a staple in American film culture too. Hooper’s underwater cage scene where he battles the shark still gives me goosebumps. This matched with Quint’s demise and Brody’s showdown with the shark is a masterclass in building up to a worthwhile finale. Jaws does it all, proving to be a timeless classic in more ways than I can count.
Negatives:
“Jaws” is one of those movies where pining for flaws is difficult. The shortcomings are largely associated with the time it was made and the production issues during filming. Yes, the mechanical shark has certain angles where it appears fake. But it looks quite impressive for most of the film considering the many malfunctions it was having. Since it began to rust in the ocean water and had to perform a number of difficult attacking scenes, I’m impressed Spielberg was able to overcome these obstacles and deliver a quality experience. The sound mixing during some of the dialogue scenes might be the weakest aspect of the film. But each movie from this era of filmmaking suffers the same issues so it’s hard to fault “Jaws” specifically.
Conclusion:
There aren’t many moviegoing experiences I can compare to “Jaws”. It is widely regarded as Steven Spielberg’s magnum opus, establishing the summer blockbuster as a force to be reckoned with. It provides iconic monologues, thrilling scares, and revolutionary filmmaking techniques that have inspired many modern films. Others have tried and tried to replicate the success of “Jaws” but it’s difficult to do with the level of quality here. Brody, Hooper, and Quint are three of the most iconic characters of this era, proving summer blockbusters can have the best of character development. But the filmmaking techniques to develop tension is truly incredible. Spielberg puts the audience in the shark’s perspective, driving up the tension as it awaits to strike. This is a very personal movie to me as it began my fixation on the thriller genre and introduced me to Spielberg’s incredible catalog of films. I highly recommend that audiences go check this out in theaters while it is still playing, whether it is their first time seeing it or if it’s their hundredth time! Here’s to another fifty years of the monumental legacy of “Jaws”!
