Beautiful, stylish film with big plot flaws

Rating: 8/10 (5 April 2018)

As with Pan's Labyrinth, Del Toro's film just misses in key areas. He does what he wants, what looks good or causes a sudden shock to the viewer despite a lack of logic and against human nature. The production design is first rate, the sets are characters in their own right, nearly eclipsing the humans in some scenes. The musical score is delightful, but not quite as retiring into the background as the Making of... short suggested.
I gave this film 8 stars for gorgeous visuals with flawed writing. I wanted to go to 9, then read what I wrote and couldn't do it.
Examples of what made no sense:
Why didn't the artist mourn his just-devoured cat? He just shrugged it off moments later, maybe because there's plenty more cats to go around?? Weird.
How was the fish man not seen as he went into the theater, empty but running the film anyway. Who was in the projection booth? Very weird.
Why wasn't the building owner more upset about the huge, destructive flood? Super weird.
Yet, the film was engrossing because of Michael Shannon's single-minded yet self-destructive ambition, he really carried the film. Richard Jenkins's character was charming, but weak, Olivia Butler was excellent, and Doug Jones was fabulous. Sally Hawkins was brave and daring as an actress, and completely vulnerable yet determined as a character. We felt the pacing wasn't quite intense enough, but not enough to quibble about.
I wish I knew why Del Toro just misses each time. I suspect it's a European vs American sensibility situation. His visuals, though, are so wonderful I'll keep watching his films for that pleasure alone.