Jaws: Who Wants to go Swimming?
Contains spoilers!
Earlier this year, Jaws, Steven Spielberg’s iconic blockbuster, turned 50! Released in 1975 and directed by Spielberg, the film has, naturally, stood the test of time and is widely revered not only as one of the greatest films of all time, but also one of Spielberg’s best-made films; looking at his filmography, that’s saying something. The film follows Martin Brody (Roy Scheider), a small-town police chief who teams up with marine biologist Matt Hopper (Richard Dreyfuss) and weary shark hunter Quint (Robert Shaw) to hunt down and kill a great white shark, which is responsible for several fatal attacks off the coast of the town of Amity.
What hasn’t been said about this film? From John Williams’ score, using only two notes to instill fear, to the impressive animatronic shark, this film holds up remarkably well, serving as the catalyst of many people’s fears of going into the ocean. I’ll throw into the mix that this film reminds me of 2016’s Shin Godzilla, which explored how a government will deal with a recurring predator. It also shows just how stubborn can be during times of crisis; does Covid ring any bells?
Brody is a man trying to do the best with what he’s given. After learning the initial attack was due to a shark attack, he orders the beaches to be closed but is overridden by mayor Larry Vaughn (Murray Hamilton), who fears the economic effects if the summer crowd can’t visit for the summer. One of my favorite scenes is Brody sitting at the dinner table. Just through facial expressions, we can tell how stressed he is about the attacks and the pressure he’s receiving not only from Vaughn but from the rest of the town. Seated next to him is his son, who mimics his father’s hand gestures. Though a quiet moment, it’s one we can relate to, having probably gone through the same motions as Martin’s. The strange thing about Brody, though, is that it’s stated that he suffers from aquaphobia, and that he’s recently moved to Amity. If his aquaphobia is that bad, why move to an island in the first place?
Shaw’s Quint is, by far, the most interesting character in the movie. His growling way of speaking forces the viewer to pay closer attention to fully understand what he’s saying, and we become that much more enthralled by what he’s saying, particularly in his telling of experience aboard the U.S.S Indianapolis. From the moment he scratches his nails on the blackboard, he’s instantly someone we want to know more about.
Richard Dreyfuss as Matt Hooper is a performance and character that shouldn’t be overlooked. His expertise on sharks makes us feel safe, knowing that he’s the right man for the job. His intelligence, coupled with his humor and quick wit (shining example of this is just before Quint’s story about the U.S.S Indianapolis), endures us to him even more.
The most terrifying aspect of the film, aside from the shark attack, is both the size of the ocean and its silence. I rarely think just how big the ocean is and as we have explored a small portion of it, it’s creepy to contemplate what’s out there, lurking just below the surface. What I mean by the ocean’s silence is exemplified in the opening scene. Chrissie Watkins is attacked by the shark and is screaming at the top of her lungs. The next second, she’s pulled underwater, and the resulting silence is deafening. This happens several times throughout the film, each building upon the previous.
I sometimes forget just how good Jaws is until I rewatch it, but it’s one that sticks with me for days after. I know they always say to wait thirty minutes to swim after eating, but I’ll always make an exception if it means I can rewatch Jaws again.
Cast
Roy Scheider as Martin Brody
Robert Shaw as Quint
Richard Dreyfuss as Matt Hooper
Murray Hamilton as Mayor Larry Vaughn
