A simple enough premise that leads to greatness

Rating: 9/10 (7 April 2020)

The plot of this movie is pretty basic. A killer shark infests a beach, in which the island sheriff is eager to take action, but is hindered by a greedy mayor. Eventually, the sheriff is let to hunt down the shark with a group of colourful characters, one being a hardcased sailor and the other a young scientist.
It may not sound like anything special, but the way it's done makes it completely worthwhile. The shark itself is a big reason for the movie's success. It is rarely ever shown; instead, Spielberg relied on suspense and point-of-view angles to build up the creature's final appearance in the climax - and when it is shown, it looks fantastic. It is practical effects in all its glory, and you can really tell the team put a lot of effort into building it.
The characters are of course fantastic as well. Roy Scheider, Richard DreyFuss and Robert Shaw are amazing as the three leads and all complement each other with their different personalities and back-and-forth banter.
This movie was nominated for the Best Picture Oscar, which was well deserved, as it is truly a masterpiece and a testament to Steven Spielberg's talent!