That Lovely, Lovely Shark Movie

by Dennis Santaniello

This is a book about Jaws written by someone who would marry it if it were human.

Scene by scene, moment by moment, That Lovely, Lovely Shark Movie takes apart one of the most influential films ever made — not to explain why it works (you already know it works) but to find the quiet moments that make it last. The glance between Brody and his son at the dinner table. The way Quint peels the label off a beer bottle. The two-note theme that turned an entire generation against swimming.

A mechanical shark that barely functioned created cinematic magic. Three mismatched men on a boat captured something true about courage, fear, and stubbornness. And fifty years later, people are still checking underneath things for fins.
Part film study, part memoir, part love letter — this book goes beneath the surface of Spielberg's masterpiece to find the raw simplicity that changed movies forever.

For anyone who watches it once a year. And for anyone who watches it more than that but won't admit it.

212 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 3, 2025

About the author

Dennis Santaniello is the author of more than thirty books, including Sergei and Hans, The Conquistadors Trilogy, Present Time, and Moon Over Marisol.

He writes historical fiction, fantasy, humor, film books, and personal nonfiction.

Reviews

[Jessie (Zombie_likes_cake) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was so excited for this book. July this year is shark month for me (and for a lot of other people, I assume). Every Wednesday me and some friends get together, I make some summery food and we watch through the "Jaws" franchise. This book seemed exactly what I needed alongside to expand my love for the film into my reading.

And to be fair, Santaniello warns you in his introduction about what exactly this book is. He says pretty clearly that this is not a book for background info or even a making-of of "Jaws", it's not an academic film analysis at all. It's as if you sit down with a friend and gush about your favorite movie, and that is exactly what it is. Still, I was hoping he was underselling it a bit. I was aching to find something similar to Ander Monson's "Predator: A Memoir, a Movie, an Obsession" which is an amazing book. Both books actually go scene by scene through the movie but Monson's book goes so much deeper and I highly recommend that to anyone who loves to read about film and would love to get a fantastic analysis of masculinity, society and violence on the side of the film gushing. "That Lovely, Lovely Shark Movie" sadly does no such feat, it truly is only a scene by scene description with inserts as to why Santaniello thinks those moments are as great as they are. He warned me but I guess I couldn't believe that there truly wouldn't be more to this yet there truly isn't more.

In my defense, since he obviously, definitely warned me: at first I thought the idea of loving this wonderful film together would be totally enough in itself. Because reading this truly felt how I act while watching. I definitely let people in my watch party know which scenes I love and why, and that's what this book does.! (If you're someone who has to watch their movies in quiet and hates when others talk, don't do movie nights with friends. I don't invite people to than pretend I sit alone in front of the TV, I do enough of that. A movie night with friends means talking during the movie!). Maybe Santaniello ran out of people to talk to about "Jaws" so he was like why not write about it? Because the more I read the less I could see a valid point for all this. Sharing love for a film is totally fine and welcome but maybe an IG post is the better outlet for that? I'm the biggest fan girl and I got bored with simply rehashing the movie and occasionally inserting why a moment works so well or how great a certain acting performance is...

I learnt that I definitely need more in a book about one of my favorite films. Doing this in person with someone, you get the interactive component. But as a read this idea fell undeniably flat for me. I truly wish I could say this was a fun book but mostly it was a useless book to me. Maybe if the memoir aspect had been dialed up? Maybe if he focused more on subtext and his personal interpretations? Maybe if there was something, anything novel about this? But it's none of that, it's more like a retelling of the movie with a handful of facts and a lot of love declaration thrown in. To each their own.

[Jill James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every page, every line of this book reminded me of why Jaws is my favorite movie of all time. I saw it the summer I would turn 12 years old and it has scared me, haunted me, and thrilled me ever since. I've seen it dozens of times since and I see or hear something new every time. With Santaniello's book, I now have an even deeper appreciation for the cinematic and acting perfection it is.

[Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for any Jaws fan. Quick and fun. It takes you through the whole move, nose to tail, with observations even casual Jaws fans likely missed.

[Kathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reading this was like watching the movie scene by scene. Just a retelling of the movie.

[ᥫ᭡ P A T T Y · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is like a bio-memoir read on the authors likings of Jaws.