Arrival - Review
Director: Denis Villeneuve
Cast: Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Forrest Whitaker
Hollywood has never shied away from sci-fi, but the focus often lies with the alien race taking over Earth and ensuing a panic amongst the mass population, with weaponised heavies taking the burden to rid the unwelcome visitors from our planet. However, Arrival subverts this well rehearsed trope of the genre and shows the extra-terrestrial's, well, arrival, and poses the questions: what is their purpose?
Arrival tells the story of Dr. Louise Banks (Amy Adams), a linguist professor who is recruited by the government to decode alien language after Heptapods (aliens, basically) settle on Earth without explanation. Banks is partnered with physicist Dr. Ian Donnelly and the pair must combine their two different insights and approaches to conclude why the aliens have come to Earth.
To simply preface: Arrival is the best film of the year so far. Film in 2016 has been a year riddled with blockbusters that proved to be clunkers and independent features that challenge the norms and inject rare originality into an uninspired cinematic landscape. Arrival inhabits the big budget sensibility with its thoroughly explored genre and grand visuals but pertains an indie and deeply emotional and affecting heart. It also continually surprises and surpasses every high preconceived expectations; you walk into Arrival hoping to experience a thought-provoking and evocative science fiction film. What you receive is all of the above, but also so much more.
Emotionally poignant narratives are enhanced dramatically by the breathtaking stunning visuals and cinematography. Director Denis Villeneuve, who continues to cement his status as one of the most exciting and masterful filmmakers working today, and cinematographer Bradford Young poetically piece together beautiful shot after beautiful shot. Every shot feels completely purposeful and calculated, but it never strikes you as cold or sacrificing of soul and spirit - quite the opposite. There's never an inch of the frame that is wasted, with every crevice just wholly immersive. Here's a game to play when you go and watch the film' punch your friend in the arm every time a shot or the visuals floor you. I guarantee your friend will leave the cinema with a severely bruised arm. However, director Villeneuve's films are always aesthetically striking, with Sicario's night vision tunnel raid sequence one of the most memorable sequences in film from 2015, and Arrival is certainly no exception. With Villeneuve's next directing gig the upcoming Blade Runner sequel, fans of the original need not fear as the film and its legacy is safe in Villeneuve's expertise.
The acting talent involved, particularly Adams and Renner, give outstanding performances and are more than worthy of awards recognition. Adams is given a gift go a role with Dr. Louise Banks; female characters in films are often described as smart, but audiences are rarely given the opportunity to witness this intelligence. However, not only is Banks incredibly intellectual, but we're shown so time and time again. As a celebrated linguistics professor, she is understandably adept and also manages to keep her cool when her superiors demand speedy results, not realising the arduous process Louise must enact in order to collate data of any eventual worth. She is also emotionally perspicacious which allows her to make breakthroughs that her colleagues overlook. For example, after several encounters with the Heptapods, Loused removes her hazmat suit to communicate with the squid-like beings, understanding that language is not only functional and rudimentary, but the most intimate and personal form of conveyance.
This notion and the message that prevails in Arrival could not be more timely with the consideration of current events. As these mysterious shells have planted themselves in twelve different locations around the world, the respective countries must work together in order to discover the purpose of their visit. In a time when we've never felt more divided, Arrival holds the perfect message that could inspire us to take a united front, because when we listen and are open with one another, that's when progress is made.
Overall, with groundbreaking visuals, and emotionally arresting story and messages that should resonate deeply amongst us all, Arrival can deservedly take its place high upon the list of science fiction greats. And claim its title as the Best Film of the Year.
EB
Cast: Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Forrest Whitaker
Hollywood has never shied away from sci-fi, but the focus often lies with the alien race taking over Earth and ensuing a panic amongst the mass population, with weaponised heavies taking the burden to rid the unwelcome visitors from our planet. However, Arrival subverts this well rehearsed trope of the genre and shows the extra-terrestrial's, well, arrival, and poses the questions: what is their purpose?Arrival tells the story of Dr. Louise Banks (Amy Adams), a linguist professor who is recruited by the government to decode alien language after Heptapods (aliens, basically) settle on Earth without explanation. Banks is partnered with physicist Dr. Ian Donnelly and the pair must combine their two different insights and approaches to conclude why the aliens have come to Earth.
To simply preface: Arrival is the best film of the year so far. Film in 2016 has been a year riddled with blockbusters that proved to be clunkers and independent features that challenge the norms and inject rare originality into an uninspired cinematic landscape. Arrival inhabits the big budget sensibility with its thoroughly explored genre and grand visuals but pertains an indie and deeply emotional and affecting heart. It also continually surprises and surpasses every high preconceived expectations; you walk into Arrival hoping to experience a thought-provoking and evocative science fiction film. What you receive is all of the above, but also so much more.
Emotionally poignant narratives are enhanced dramatically by the breathtaking stunning visuals and cinematography. Director Denis Villeneuve, who continues to cement his status as one of the most exciting and masterful filmmakers working today, and cinematographer Bradford Young poetically piece together beautiful shot after beautiful shot. Every shot feels completely purposeful and calculated, but it never strikes you as cold or sacrificing of soul and spirit - quite the opposite. There's never an inch of the frame that is wasted, with every crevice just wholly immersive. Here's a game to play when you go and watch the film' punch your friend in the arm every time a shot or the visuals floor you. I guarantee your friend will leave the cinema with a severely bruised arm. However, director Villeneuve's films are always aesthetically striking, with Sicario's night vision tunnel raid sequence one of the most memorable sequences in film from 2015, and Arrival is certainly no exception. With Villeneuve's next directing gig the upcoming Blade Runner sequel, fans of the original need not fear as the film and its legacy is safe in Villeneuve's expertise.
The acting talent involved, particularly Adams and Renner, give outstanding performances and are more than worthy of awards recognition. Adams is given a gift go a role with Dr. Louise Banks; female characters in films are often described as smart, but audiences are rarely given the opportunity to witness this intelligence. However, not only is Banks incredibly intellectual, but we're shown so time and time again. As a celebrated linguistics professor, she is understandably adept and also manages to keep her cool when her superiors demand speedy results, not realising the arduous process Louise must enact in order to collate data of any eventual worth. She is also emotionally perspicacious which allows her to make breakthroughs that her colleagues overlook. For example, after several encounters with the Heptapods, Loused removes her hazmat suit to communicate with the squid-like beings, understanding that language is not only functional and rudimentary, but the most intimate and personal form of conveyance.
This notion and the message that prevails in Arrival could not be more timely with the consideration of current events. As these mysterious shells have planted themselves in twelve different locations around the world, the respective countries must work together in order to discover the purpose of their visit. In a time when we've never felt more divided, Arrival holds the perfect message that could inspire us to take a united front, because when we listen and are open with one another, that's when progress is made.
Overall, with groundbreaking visuals, and emotionally arresting story and messages that should resonate deeply amongst us all, Arrival can deservedly take its place high upon the list of science fiction greats. And claim its title as the Best Film of the Year.
EB
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