Jaws (1975)

Director: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss

Synopsis:
The police chief of a New England resort town has to deal with a string of shark attacks in the days before the Fourth of July weekend.

Impressions:
The movie that scared a generation out of the water and firmly established the summer blockbuster, Jaws is a veritable treasure of cinema. If you want a study in how to steadily build tension and deliver an explosive payoff, this is it. There's a great balance in the main cast and particularly in the third act where you have Brody, Hooper and Quint together is really strong. All due credit goes to Roy Scheider and Richard Dreyfuss, but the real star of the show is Robert Shaw as Quint. He's amazing and his Indianapolis monologue is one of the most powerful in all cinema. The fact that the animatronic shark was plagued with problems actually works to the film's advantage, limiting how much time the shark is actually onscreen does wonders for the suspense. Also, let's not forget the fantastic score by John Williams. Not just the famous shark theme, but the whole thing perfectly complements the highs and lows of the story. This one is a must-see, must-have. If you somehow haven't seen it yet, do so.

Rating:
Treasure It