Written by: Kevin Berge
They made a pod spaceship! Why didn't we think of that? (Image Courtesy of: apple.com)
Quick Take: Arrival pushes forward a compelling mystery interlaced with quiet and loud moments that also doubles as an examination of the political climate. It is powerful, surprising, and moving without ever overpowering the viewer.
***In order to speak about this film to its full credit, this review will make some hints to moments and ideas in the film that could constitute as spoilers. It will avoid naming any plot point or major twist, but those who have not seen the movie yet are warned that this may give them some idea of what is to come.***
Many of the great directors are stepping down, slowly but surely. It is clear that times are changing, and a new group of directors must take up the mantle that was once lifted high by the likes of Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, and Woody Allen.
One man that has certainly already taken up those reigns even though his name is still not widely known is Denis Villeneuve (Sicario) whose work has spread more widely with each release. A man focused on the cerebral who often stresses the visual, Villeneuve engages the mind like few others.
Arrival is the latest film from the director, following the very first human contact with alien life. Dr. Louise Banks (Amy Adams) is tasked with uncovering a way to communicate with the alien life for the American government alongside scientist Ian Donnelly (Jeremy Renner) and Colonel Weber (Forest Whitaker).
Much like his past works, Arrival is more than meets the eye, telling a story already laced with heavy suspense and mystery and adding an extra layer that blends into the narrative. It is a film that can be experienced in different ways on multiple viewings.
On the surface, this is a story of how many governments must find a way to come together before causing a worldwide catastrophe with a far more advanced species, but this is also about Banks who is a complex woman with heavy grief weighing her down.
While science fiction has often been given the stigma of pure fantasy especially in a time where a new Star Wars and Star Trek are coming out regularly, Arrival is one of the movies that proves how deep the well of storytelling is in sci-fi with one of the most quietly intense and intelligent movies of the year.
Many of the great directors are stepping down, slowly but surely. It is clear that times are changing, and a new group of directors must take up the mantle that was once lifted high by the likes of Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, and Woody Allen.
One man that has certainly already taken up those reigns even though his name is still not widely known is Denis Villeneuve (Sicario) whose work has spread more widely with each release. A man focused on the cerebral who often stresses the visual, Villeneuve engages the mind like few others.
Arrival is the latest film from the director, following the very first human contact with alien life. Dr. Louise Banks (Amy Adams) is tasked with uncovering a way to communicate with the alien life for the American government alongside scientist Ian Donnelly (Jeremy Renner) and Colonel Weber (Forest Whitaker).
Much like his past works, Arrival is more than meets the eye, telling a story already laced with heavy suspense and mystery and adding an extra layer that blends into the narrative. It is a film that can be experienced in different ways on multiple viewings.
On the surface, this is a story of how many governments must find a way to come together before causing a worldwide catastrophe with a far more advanced species, but this is also about Banks who is a complex woman with heavy grief weighing her down.
While science fiction has often been given the stigma of pure fantasy especially in a time where a new Star Wars and Star Trek are coming out regularly, Arrival is one of the movies that proves how deep the well of storytelling is in sci-fi with one of the most quietly intense and intelligent movies of the year.
I've always wanted Learn to Write: The Movie. (Image Courtesy of: arstechnica.net)
Part of what makes this film so great is the powerhouse performance of Amy Adams (American Hustle). Her nuanced performance is driven by layers of understanding. She is compellingly sincere while also selling a character that is tacitly unraveling.
Much of the rest of the cast are solid though they can hardly match to Adams especially with their limited characters. Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker) is endearingly charismatic, but he hardly feels like he is doing more than playing himself on screen.
Villeneuve has always had a mastery of imagery, and it helps make this film beautiful. The movie constantly makes the viewer uneasy with odd shots including flipping the characters in space at odd angles. The cinematography as a whole by Bradford Young (Selma) is just jaw-dropping.
The pacing does intelligently move slowly though I barely noticed as so much was engrossing. This is a dense movie that needs to be seen multiple times in order to appreciate all that is going on in each shot.
Based on Ted Chiang's Nebula award-winning novella "Story of Your Life", Eric Heisserer (The Thing) does an excellent job adapting the work to the full screen, making the character dynamics endearing.
This movie also would not be the same without composer Jóhann Jóhannsson (Sicario) who once again works to give an eerie feel to this film. The original soundtrack is the beating heart of this movie that defines the movie's emotions so well that is jarring when it cuts out.
Nothing impacted this much on first viewing from first shot to last. It does not wholly develop its characters on equal footing nor does it always sell each story point, but it is compelling cinema in the best possible way.
Arrival is the best film that Villeneuve has ever made, and that is a high compliment as every single one of his films to date have been compelling. This is dense complicated science fiction at its finest with only minor flaws at best.
Much of the rest of the cast are solid though they can hardly match to Adams especially with their limited characters. Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker) is endearingly charismatic, but he hardly feels like he is doing more than playing himself on screen.
Villeneuve has always had a mastery of imagery, and it helps make this film beautiful. The movie constantly makes the viewer uneasy with odd shots including flipping the characters in space at odd angles. The cinematography as a whole by Bradford Young (Selma) is just jaw-dropping.
The pacing does intelligently move slowly though I barely noticed as so much was engrossing. This is a dense movie that needs to be seen multiple times in order to appreciate all that is going on in each shot.
Based on Ted Chiang's Nebula award-winning novella "Story of Your Life", Eric Heisserer (The Thing) does an excellent job adapting the work to the full screen, making the character dynamics endearing.
This movie also would not be the same without composer Jóhann Jóhannsson (Sicario) who once again works to give an eerie feel to this film. The original soundtrack is the beating heart of this movie that defines the movie's emotions so well that is jarring when it cuts out.
Nothing impacted this much on first viewing from first shot to last. It does not wholly develop its characters on equal footing nor does it always sell each story point, but it is compelling cinema in the best possible way.
Arrival is the best film that Villeneuve has ever made, and that is a high compliment as every single one of his films to date have been compelling. This is dense complicated science fiction at its finest with only minor flaws at best.