A great story about three men and the sea

Rating: 10/10 (17 February 2010)

This is a wonderful film about Martin Brody, a police chief who relocates from the Big Apple to Amity Island, expecting to blend in. He's in unfamiliar surroundings, so he calls in Matt Hooper, a scientist from the Oceanographic Institute. Together they perform autopsies, drink wine, and yell at the mayor. They have one thing in common: they are both madly in love with Ellen, Martin's wife. Martin and Ellen have two boys: Michael, a laid-back teenager who blends in well with his island peers, and Sean, who makes sand castles. One night Martin and Matt go out to sea for some one-on-one time. There is tension over Ellen, and Martin says "It's only an island if you look at it from the water." Matt doesn't understand how Martin and Ellen's marriage has sustained. The mayor is excited about the 4th of July and the inherent tourism, so Martin and Matt yell at him. They meet up with Quint, a salty sea dog who doesn't care for Matt and his sophisticated means of studying sea life. Matt is defensive and senses class envy from Quint. Martin doesn't know if there's a chance for the three to forge a relationship, but he is glad they're not talking about Ellen for once.
The three unlikely comrades set off to sea to relax and learn more about each other. They drink beer, throw chum in the water, play solitaire, and sing songs. At night they drink apricot brandy and compare scars. When Quint tells a war story, Matt sees something in him he hadn't seen before. Judging Quint in a new light, their friendship is forged. They swim home, on account of their boat sinking. These three buddies who went to sea as strangers came back as dear friends with respect for one another, until Quint gets eaten by a shark. Martin admits to Matt he used to hate the water. When you see "Jaws", you will see why when men aren't afraid to be themselves, Martin changes his tune. "Farewell and adieu to you fair Spanish ladies", and hello to a wonderful masterpiece you'll want to see again and again.