Jaws

This 1975 film by Steven Spielberg is well known for being the original summer blockbuster. It is based of the wildly popular novel "Jaws" by Peter Benchley, who also co-wrote the script (and has a small cameo in the film as a TV reporter). "Jaws" was nominated for 4 Oscars including Best Picture. It lost Best Picture (to the terrific "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest"), but won in the other three categories, including the 2nd Oscar win for composer John Williams. It stars Roy Scheider as skittish, civic-minded police Chief Martin Brody in one of the great "average guy" performances. Richard Dreyfuss provides much of the film's humor as a wealthy shark expert named Hooper, and Robert Shaw, in one of his last appearances, as the incomparable Quint.

The plot is simple. A giant killer shark shows up out of nowhere to terrorize a New England town during the tourist season. After some scares that might keep you out of the water for a while and some political wrangling with the mayor of the town, the chief of police, a shark expert, and a local fisherman set out to try to kill the shark.

The film is fast-paced, technically challenging and innovative, and knows its purpose is simply to entertain. For the film nerds out there, this movie has tons of film trivia hidden inside (not to mention other movies referencing it). For instance, the technique of using the camera as the shark was a desperate solution to the film crew's inability to get the mechanical shark (or as the crew called it, "Bruce") working. Spielberg was forced to shoot from the shark's point of view, providing some of the more chilling moments of the movie.

The real strength of Jaws however, is the chemistry between the three leads. Brody, Hooper, and Quint evolve and play off of each other, the more isolated they become. Much of the animus between Shaw and Dreyfuss was rumored to be more than acting. While that may be true, it lead to some wonderful moments between the two. A night scene in the cabin of Quint's boat is outstanding as all three actors run through a variety of topics and emotions, playing off each other with ease. Robert Shaw in this scene alone is worth the price of admission.

All in all, an excellent film. There are no deep themes or symbolism, and there are some minor editing flaws, but it is a relentlessly entertaining reminder that movies are first and foremost a way to tell a darn good yarn. One of my favorites.

28/30