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Director: Denis Villeneuve
Cast: Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Forest Whitaker, Michael Stuhlbarg, Tzi Ma, Mark O’Brien 
Rating: 12A
Running Time: 116 mins 
Release Date: November 11th 2016

‘When a mysterious spacecraft touch down across the globe, an elite team – lead by expert linguist Louise Banks (Amy Adams) – are brought together to investigate. As mankind teeters on the verge of global war, Banks and the team race against time for answers – and to find them, she will take a chance that could threaten her life, and quite possibly humanity.’

I’ve been an avid lover of science fiction for most of my life, ever since my father insisted I watch Ridley Scott‘s ALIEN at the tender age of seven. So I can’t truly convey the excitement and anticipation I experienced for a sci-fi that promised to focus more on first contact and communication. And while the film is definitely best experienced with very little prior knowledge, I must admit, ARRIVAL is unlike any other sci-fi I’ve ever seen.

Arrival

The film wastes no time introducing the audience to the main character Louise Banks (Amy Adams) and placing us slap bang in the middle of a global extraterrestrial situation. We understand Louise is a linguistics professor whom has lost as much as she’s gained in life, and the government needs her help to interpret what the uninvited guests have to say.

What’s so engaging about ARRIVAL, is the film unfolds in front of our eyes just as it does in front of the character’s eyes. It absorbs you so effortlessly, that I could be standing next to them in my own hazmat suit and it would feel no more real than it does watching from the comfort of my seat. This believability is mainly down to Amy Adams, in a role in which I believe is her best to date, who embodies wholeheartedly every emotion her character is possibly experiencing, Despite being somewhat of a slow burner, the audience never once loses interest in the enigma that is slowly revealed. It was like watching a complex mathematics equation being broken down piece by piece until we finally know how to solve it.  

The cinematography and design of ARRIVAL is superbly carried out. The ‘spaceships’  were magnificently crafted, not an eyesore as they’re usually envisioned to be and I found myself comparing it to the likeness of Stonehenge. With the list of science fiction films ever growing, it’s becoming increasingly hard to show an audience something remotely unseen, and while the creatures themselves are in no way startlingly redesigned, their presence is enough to strike fear and spark intrigue.

Arrival

The science fiction genre is so important as it is one of the only genres that illustrates how society can potentially operate differently. This is entirely progressive as it allows us to foresee a future we want, as well as prepare us for a future we’d prefer to evade, and therefore we take necessary steps in order to work towards or prevent these outcomes. While effectively portraying communication between humans and aliens, ARRIVAL relevantly highlights and elicits discussion over our current global scale miscommunication. It tests not only the idea of extraterrestrial beings, but of humanity itself, an exponentially large topic that is vastly applicable in our ever changing political landscape. 

Jóhann Jóhannsson‘s score had as strong effect on me as Hans Zimmer‘s INTERSTELLAR. The score is as vital as the screenplay and cinematography, it’s the lungs in the body, and manages to leave you in a constant state of discovery.  

Refreshingly, ARRIVAL displays none of Hollywood’s usual antics of all gun’s blazing action and overbearing special effects, nor does it need it. It feeds of people’s curiosity and rewards those who listen attentively. The entire film is as subtle as it is intelligent. 

While it’s not my absolute favourite sci-fi of all time, it’s respectfully and rightfully earned it’s spot in the top 10, and has to be seen to be believed. It will move you and grip you, and if neither of those apply, then it will at the very least leave you feeling reflective.

Verdict

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Film and TV Journalist Follow: @HollyCC Follow: @filmandtvnow