THE SHAPE OF WATER  4.0***

   Ever since Guillermo Del Toro won an Oscar for his 2006 dark fantasy piece "Pan's Labyrinth," I -- and, I suspect, many others -- have been waiting for him to deliver something similarly brilliant, similarly visionary.  Well, the wait is finally over with the arrival of Del Toro's latest film, "The Shape of Water." A wonderfully strange love story that plays like an adult fairy tale, it's a fantastical delight -- and the kind of movie that deserves all the accolades it is already receiving this award season ( It’s already won some prestigious Awards and has been nominated for a slew of other awards… 7 nominations for Golden Globes; 14 for Critics Choice and 2 by Screen Actors guild).

This is an artistically rich visual movie, one of those rare start-to-finish treats that succeeds on every level, including its set design, its costumes, its cinematography, its immensely talented cast, and a dreamy score from Oscar-winning composer Alexandre Desplat. Most of all, though, there's the soaring imagination of Del Toro, who wrote the story on which it's based in addition to directing it.

Set around spring 1961, the film stars Sally Hawkins as Elisa, a mute (but not deaf) cleaner who works at a secret government laboratory. When she discovers a strange aquatic creature (Doug Jones, resembling the Creature from the Black Lagoon) being kept in the lab. She gradually forms a romantic attraction to it, bringing it hard-boiled eggs, playing it jazz records and learning to communicate with it. Elisa learns that sinister research head Strickland (Michael Shannon) plans to kill and dissect the creature, so she hatches a bold plan to rescue it, enlisting the help of her gay artist neighbor Giles (Richard Jenkins) and her black chatty co-worker Zelda (Octavia Spencer).

Del Toro and co-writer Vanessa Taylor (Game of Thrones)  do an expert job at fleshing out each and every character here.  But it’s Hawkins who makes this film truly soar, turning in a magnificent performance ( voiceless nonetheless)   It is in her shimmering eyes and broad smile that we see a woman who finally feels heard; who is basking in the glow of acceptance found in the unlikeliest of places. Even as things get, well, physical between woman and sea creature, Elisa’s love—and her journey—remain true. But she's also surrounded by a tremendous ensemble that includes Jenkin , Spence and Shannon. Together with Del Toro, they craft a film that stands as wonderful love letter to the lonely and those who are different.

This is one of the best pictures of the year. It is an absolute visual delight with a fascinating love story, and as well acted and directed as any film in last couple of years.

R for nudity and graphic violence and some language; and has a run time of 2 hours and 3 minutes.