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by Guest
Sat Nov 12, 2016 8:25 pm
Forum: Full Reviews
Topic: Arrival (2016)
Replies: 2
Views: 804

Arrival (2016)

In recent years, an awards-hopeful sci-fi film has found its way into multiplexes during the fall season. Alfonso Cuaron's breathtaking thrill-ride Gravity kicked off the trend, accumulating impressive box-office numbers and plenty of Oscar gold. This was followed by Christopher Nolan's Interstellar, the most ambitious of the bunch in terms of storytelling, and then the light-hearted The Martian (which saw the Golden Globes unfairly maligned for categorizing the Ridley Scott feature as a comedy). This year's prestige sci-fi comes courtesy of director Denis Villenuve (Prisoners, Sicario) and represents arguably the most cerebral of the lot. A more challenging effort than the other aforementioned features, Arrival is an impressive and often riveting achievement, timely in its message, and touching at its heart.

Renowned linguist Louise Banks is contacted by the military when twelve enormous spacecrafts land on the earth in various locations. The military is receiving messages from within the machines and need Louise to decipher them and send messages back. Are these visitors friendly? Hostile? And how long before some other country decides to do something rash and begin galactic warfare?

While critics have raved about the film, mainstream audiences have left screenings feeling somewhat miffed. Though the visuals are beautiful (thanks to fantastic special effects and stunning cinematography by Bradford Young), they don't necessarily have the obvious "wow' factor that Gravity had. While far from emotionally cold, some audiences will find Interstellar to be a more poignant and affecting viewing experience. And Arrival's script plays things fairly stone-faced, lacking the jovial nature found in The Martian. There are no action sequences, no ironic pop songs, and little spoon-feeding. The pacing is very patient, content to satisfy on its own time. Arrival doesn't believe in the virtue of instant gratification, which ultimately makes the film a more rewarding viewing, as long as the viewer is willing to invest the interest.

Of particular contention is the film's last act, which will not be spoiled here, though discussion is nonetheless merited. Without giving the game away, there is a convenience to the events of the act three that some audiences have found dissatisfying. Though this is understandable, it can be argued that such audiences haven't really been paying attention to how carefully and thoughtfully the first two acts prepare the audience for these events. The plot device works to great effect, and becomes its brilliance shines more and more as the film draws to a close.

Amy Adams is superb. Truly a national treasure, Adams delivers a nuanced and subtle performance for the complicated Louise. It's a character that carries emotional grief, vulnerability, and excited curiosity, and Adams masterfully balances all of this in a smashing performance. The rest of the cast (including Jeremy Renner, Forest Whitaker, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Tzi Ma) is given less to do with somewhat underdefined characters, but manage to excel just enough to avoid becoming cardboard plot-points.

Jóhann Jóhannsson's visceral score is also worth noting, offering a glowing in-favor argument for "sound-design scoring." Indeed, it is occasionally difficult to discern the score from the sound design, but both elements are so effective and cohesive that their marriage ultimately behooves the film. If anything from Arrival is a shoe-in for awards season, it's Jóhannsson.

One common theme has been shared across the films of this awards-season sci-fi trend: hope. That remains true in Arrival, and it's something that needs to be broadcast now more than ever. Other significant themes of unity and (of course) communication are present, and it makes the film all the more meaningful. Arrival truly could not have opened at a better time. Fans of "brainy" science fiction will undoubtedly deem this as a necessary viewing, but right now, its impact may reach far beyond genre enthusiasts.

Score: 8/10

2/21/17 update: Score increased to a 9/10 upon rewatching.