ARRIVAL

It’s ironic that after watching a film that revolves around language and communication, I’ve struggled to put down thoughts about ARRIVAL. Its an experience. An incredible, powerful, moving experience that delicately guides you through its story. I would actually recommend going in knowing as little as possible, its not that trailers or reviews spoil the enjoyment, but the film works so well that all you need to know is that its well worth your time. If you fancy some more of my non spoilery thoughts, have at it.

So, the films been advertised as an alien contact/invasion style sci-fi thriller, but at its core Denis Villeneuve’s film is a refreshingly intelligent and at times unsettlingly relevant story about humanity. About communication and choices. Its rather intimate, a story about a mother and the love she has for her daughter, and its that core, delivered with a captivating performance by Amy Adams that gives this film so much heart, to go along with its smarts. While there are narrative turns, and it cleverly plays on your assumptions at times, it never feels forced or as if its throwing in a SIGNS style “gotcha!” moment, it treats the viewer with respect, slowly revealing itself to you.

Villeneuve once again absolutely hits it out of the park with the visuals, lingering on moments and never rushing things which adds to the films deliberately slow pace, something that may be a turn off for some people but which I found only added to the films wonder. Nearly every frame is beautifully shot. Amy Adams’ character Louise acts as our eyes into the world and as the story starts to move along, we don’t see the ships fully until she witnesses it herself, and the long take Villeneuve chooses is just jaw dropping. This style is then contrasted with memories Louise has, of her daughter, shot in a warmer colour palette, with a shallow depth of field which gives them this soft and beautifully dreamy feel to it. The combination of the two, expertly crafted along with the powerful score by Jóhann Jóhannsson, hit me at one moment like a ton of bricks. This is, for me, one of the most moving films in recent years.

ARRIVAL handles many complex ideas (adapted from a Ted Chiang short story) with real style. The one that I adored most was Louise talking about how language, specifically the language you learn and use, influences your view of the world, and other languages can alter that perception. Its a central aspect to the film that works so perfectly, and is delivered with care as to not make it inaccessible or overly complicated. People smarter than I could probably talk for hours on this, and several other deep philosophical questions ARRIVAL poses but all I will say is this is a film that wants to make you think, to ask questions about ourselves, to talk.

ARRIVAL is not just one of the best films I’ve seen all year, it’s one of the most poignant and moving cinema experiences I can remember. Beautiful and intelligent in equal measure, Amy Adams gives a stand out performance in a thought provoking film that may be more relevant now than Villeneuve ever intended. Everyone needs to see this masterpiece.