Arrival (B+ or 3/4 stars)
'Arrival' (directed by Denis Villeneuve, Prisoners, Sicario) is a deliberate-paced, thoughtful sci-fi movie about trying to communicate with aliens ... rather than defeat them. It evokes concepts of life, love, & loss. Marketed as an action flick - a la Gravity or The Martian - some audiences might feel gypped, but 'Arrival' has a sense of awe about it and, though it's not filled with action, the cerebral experience it offers should entice many viewers.
When 12 mysterious oblong spacecrafts hover in random spots around the globe, renowned linguist, Dr. Louise Banks (an excellent Amy Adams) is summoned by Col. Weber (Forest Whitaker) to try to decipher the 'intentions'/purpose of their visit. Still mourning the tragic death of her beloved teen daughter, the sad, taciturn Louise jumps at the chance to help the military {and get her face out of a perpetual glass of wine}. On her way to the nearest landing site up in Montana, she is joined by theoretical physicist, Ian Donnelly (Jeremy Renner), an expert in binary code. While they evaluate the dauntingly dark, 1,500 ft. high, spaceship, panic ensues as foreign governments (China, Russia, Sudan, Venezuela, etc.) attempt their own extra-terrestrial contacts. According to crusty CIA agent Halpern (Michael Stuhlbarg), China & Russia are particularly chagrined/concerned about this situation.
Though the aliens show no hostile inclinations, we humans are naturally suspicious & can't help but thinking of violence as a solution. Aboard the vessel, the team must adjust to minimal gravity & SCARILY ascend to a chamber where Louise attempts to communicate with the otherworldly inhabitants, enormous squid-like, 7-legged beings called Heptapods; which stand behind a transparent, protective barrier. Named Abbott & Costello by Louise & Ian, 2 aliens materialize out of a dense fog. Louise notices that the moaning sounds they emit do not correlate with the Rorschach inkblot-like symbols that their claws squirt across the barrier. After a laborious process {takes months} decrypting these bizarre symbols, Louise eventually is able to sketchily comprehend the aliens & vice-versa. But as our impatient world starts to panic & talks of an intergalactic war begins, Louise & Ian's discovery of an alien secret that could possibly save them all -- may have arrived too late.
Adapted from a short story, this cerebral, thematically profound sci-fi flick ably mixes realism with a sense of real wonder. 'Arrival' keeps its confounding mysteries at bay and, though I'm still not 100% clear on everything that went down near the end {a pretty cool, if also perplexing plot twist}, the film doesn't disappoint when those revelations come. French-Canadian director Denis Villeneuve is fast becoming one of our better cinematic storytellers {I loved his Prisoners}. Bradford Young's cinematography (Selma, A Most Violent Year) is icy cool, yet mesmerizing; creating a kind of transcendental experience (offering many shades of blue & gray). The build-up to the meeting of the aliens in 'Arrival' is slow burn, yet still suspenseful. And the visual effects work of the aliens is also well-done.
This film examines the enigmatic complexities & vast differences btwn. the spoken & written word in a way that is fascinating; forcing you to ponder lofty themes such as the perception of linear time & language. The process of Louise learning to communicate with the aliens is handled with impressive sensitivity. Amy Adams is very good, here. I prefer her in lighter roles, but she acquits herself well; embodying the requisite sadness of the Louise, her burgeoning inner-strength, as well the surprising sense of discovery about herself. Jeremy Renner also provides solid supporting work as scientist, Ian.
Now, while I wholly admire this film (performances, enticing visuals, Johann Johannsson's moody score) and all it's about (its ambitious high concept/premise), I wasn't bowled over by it like others have been. It did not grab me by the heartstrings & yank ‘til I cried. Perhaps that had something to do with the kind of esoteric, distancing feeling that the film imbues & exudes. There's such a strong, palpable sadness & melancholy to the proceedings that even when there is catharsis & emotionality in the script, it failed to move me in the anticipated way. I also feel like this film might disappoint those expecting an actioner, when really, this film is less thrilling & more in the vein of Contact, Close Encounters of the Third Kind or 2001: A Space Odyssey. 'Arrival' champions intelligent women, compassion (for all), & scientific curiosity. It's challenging, but not grim. And despite the chilliness that permeates the film, hope lies at Arrival's core; a warm component, indeed.
When 12 mysterious oblong spacecrafts hover in random spots around the globe, renowned linguist, Dr. Louise Banks (an excellent Amy Adams) is summoned by Col. Weber (Forest Whitaker) to try to decipher the 'intentions'/purpose of their visit. Still mourning the tragic death of her beloved teen daughter, the sad, taciturn Louise jumps at the chance to help the military {and get her face out of a perpetual glass of wine}. On her way to the nearest landing site up in Montana, she is joined by theoretical physicist, Ian Donnelly (Jeremy Renner), an expert in binary code. While they evaluate the dauntingly dark, 1,500 ft. high, spaceship, panic ensues as foreign governments (China, Russia, Sudan, Venezuela, etc.) attempt their own extra-terrestrial contacts. According to crusty CIA agent Halpern (Michael Stuhlbarg), China & Russia are particularly chagrined/concerned about this situation.
Though the aliens show no hostile inclinations, we humans are naturally suspicious & can't help but thinking of violence as a solution. Aboard the vessel, the team must adjust to minimal gravity & SCARILY ascend to a chamber where Louise attempts to communicate with the otherworldly inhabitants, enormous squid-like, 7-legged beings called Heptapods; which stand behind a transparent, protective barrier. Named Abbott & Costello by Louise & Ian, 2 aliens materialize out of a dense fog. Louise notices that the moaning sounds they emit do not correlate with the Rorschach inkblot-like symbols that their claws squirt across the barrier. After a laborious process {takes months} decrypting these bizarre symbols, Louise eventually is able to sketchily comprehend the aliens & vice-versa. But as our impatient world starts to panic & talks of an intergalactic war begins, Louise & Ian's discovery of an alien secret that could possibly save them all -- may have arrived too late.
Adapted from a short story, this cerebral, thematically profound sci-fi flick ably mixes realism with a sense of real wonder. 'Arrival' keeps its confounding mysteries at bay and, though I'm still not 100% clear on everything that went down near the end {a pretty cool, if also perplexing plot twist}, the film doesn't disappoint when those revelations come. French-Canadian director Denis Villeneuve is fast becoming one of our better cinematic storytellers {I loved his Prisoners}. Bradford Young's cinematography (Selma, A Most Violent Year) is icy cool, yet mesmerizing; creating a kind of transcendental experience (offering many shades of blue & gray). The build-up to the meeting of the aliens in 'Arrival' is slow burn, yet still suspenseful. And the visual effects work of the aliens is also well-done.
This film examines the enigmatic complexities & vast differences btwn. the spoken & written word in a way that is fascinating; forcing you to ponder lofty themes such as the perception of linear time & language. The process of Louise learning to communicate with the aliens is handled with impressive sensitivity. Amy Adams is very good, here. I prefer her in lighter roles, but she acquits herself well; embodying the requisite sadness of the Louise, her burgeoning inner-strength, as well the surprising sense of discovery about herself. Jeremy Renner also provides solid supporting work as scientist, Ian.
Now, while I wholly admire this film (performances, enticing visuals, Johann Johannsson's moody score) and all it's about (its ambitious high concept/premise), I wasn't bowled over by it like others have been. It did not grab me by the heartstrings & yank ‘til I cried. Perhaps that had something to do with the kind of esoteric, distancing feeling that the film imbues & exudes. There's such a strong, palpable sadness & melancholy to the proceedings that even when there is catharsis & emotionality in the script, it failed to move me in the anticipated way. I also feel like this film might disappoint those expecting an actioner, when really, this film is less thrilling & more in the vein of Contact, Close Encounters of the Third Kind or 2001: A Space Odyssey. 'Arrival' champions intelligent women, compassion (for all), & scientific curiosity. It's challenging, but not grim. And despite the chilliness that permeates the film, hope lies at Arrival's core; a warm component, indeed.