Arrival - review: Complex & Moody

Rating: 9/10 (14 November 2016)

Arrival is complex. Denis Villeneuve is an interesting director. Every single one of his movies comes with great atmosphere. The only problem I have with Villeneuve's movies are that they lack proper story execution. His movies are engaging enough, but I just always feel that there's something ultimately missing from his stories. I can follow and understand his movies perfectly, but there's just something about his endings that never quite grasp me, and I'm of the belief that his movies never really pack a full punch.
Complexity - the story isn't hard to follow; it's just that there are many layers to this seemingly complicated plot.
Direction - This movie is to be taken seriously; there aren't any action set-pieces, motherships, or gimmicky clichés, however, there is a gimmick present here, but that gimmick is thought-provoking originality within a sci-fi movie. The ultimate question is, does the gimmick work, and my answer is yes to a point.
Atmosphere - Somber, moody, dreadful, and bleak is how I would describe this movie. The cinematography in here is astonishing, and the visuals are breathtaking. The musical score sets the mood for each scene (especially the wide shots of the landscapes with the ships... those are my favorite scenes).
Overall, Arrival is a good movie, but something happens by the end that makes me question its intentions; I didn't understand what the purpose was, but I accepted its merit. Is this movie questioning us as humans in humanity, or is there a philosophical message to be had here? Even though I didn't like the ending all that much, I have to admit that it does make me think.
A-