Sensational

Rating: 9/10 (20 November 2010)

'Jaws' was and still is highly successful as a film and critically. It continues to be the first and ultimate Summer blockbuster.
More recent but similar films are much more violent and gory. But still, 'Jaws' was quite a shocker at the time and even now it still is shocking. With this film, Steven Spielberg broke new ground in 1975 just like Alfred Hitchcock did with 'The Birds' in 1963.
Unlike more recent sharks's films, this one is solid in its story and as a film. Also, the shark isn't that much seen, being more of an unseen assassin that is slowly introduced. This may be blamed to the reliability problems that plagued the mechanical sharks, which limited the role and made this a challenge to make. But it was worth it because that makes the shark more mysterious and also contributes to make this film the long-lasting legacy it is. Another reason is because the shark looks a little rubbery although it doesn't look too phony and still looks intimidating and petrifying.
The director did the right choices for the cast. Roy Scheider is very convincing as the police chief Martin Brody. Richard Dreyfuss is a comic relief as Matt Hooper. Robert Shaw was one of those "old school" actors who, more than portraying the characters, seem to become them. All of this thanks to his performance as Quint, a character who is cocky, arrogant, crazy, rude, cynical, more stubborn than a mule and pirate-like yet hilarious at the same time. Murray Hamilton plays well the Mayor Larry Vaughn, a character who, in the name of the town's interest, ends up doing the opposite: a series of poor decisions. Even the actors who have minor roles were finger-selected.
Cinematography is great. Amity Island looks very appealing and inviting and it has that wonderful golden sand beach. Reminds me Porto Santo island.
This fascinating film is rich in suspense and horror element and can even count with a creepy soundtrack (the power and the magic that comes from the maestro John Williams). This soundtrack has that quality of mystery and horror. Sends chills down the spine and this sensation gets bigger just imagining that the shark is coming through.
All of the deaths are shocking. Each death is as shocking as the other one/s. They are brilliantly made and directed. The death of Chrissie Watkins is terrifying and so are her screams. Alex Kintner's death is one of those that affect me most and you can hear him screaming either. It hurts more to see a child dying so horribly than an adult. The scene when deceased Ben Gardner shows up is sudden and scary. The guy who loses his leg... another shocking one. And Quint's death is the goriest and the one you see closer. Plus, to see the shark tearing him apart and the pain he cries out can make most people freeze. There are also two implied deaths (of two dogs) which are unseen, therefore uncertain.
Where this film leaves a little to be desired is in details such as the fact that the 2nd half focus a little too much on the attempt to hunt the shark and a particular use of a long take (the bit when Quint tells his USS Indianapolis story - but fortunately that is nothing compared to the excessive long takes of 'Before Sunset'!) Nevertheless, they could have done, for example, scenes with Brody's wife and kids (and show Michael recovering from the shock he had and returning home) and show Brody returning home to announce that he killed the shark and his wife and kids congratulating him and hugging him at the ending.
Now, these are just flaws, but this film is great. A cinematic benchmark. I believe it caused people the fear of going in the water at the time but I am also pretty sure that doesn't happen nowadays and ever since many years ago.
Title in Portugal: 'O Tubarão'.