Science Fiction Masterpiece

Rating: 9/10 (15 May 2017)

Arrival, from the look of all the trailers, seems like a typical Sci-Fi film with not much under the surface. This could not be farther from the truth. Arrival blew every single one of my expectations away and became my favorite movie of 2016. While it begins with the cliché aliens-come-to-earth- for-an-unknown-reason gig, Arrival then unfolds into a complex, intellectual film about the purpose and plan of human beings and their interactions on this planet. The story revolves around Dr. Louise Banks, a linguistics professor portrayed masterfully by Amy Adams, who is recruited by the government to help communicate with the twelve alien spaceships that have landed in random locations around the globe. While the concept comes off as simple, the techniques by which the filmmakers execute the communication elevate this movie to brilliant levels. Visually, the movie is breathtaking. Large, beautiful shots are used throughout the run time in addition to great color and sound design. The film addresses motives such as fate, loss and love while still providing an entertaining thrill ride with well-developed characters. I cannot list off the top of my head one thing I would change with this movie; it's execution and emotional payoff worked wonders.