Thought-provoking

Rating: 9/10 (12 November 2016)

Arrival is a study of the human condition. It's an exploration of wonder and perception. A thought-provoking release of mental shackles. What if you could explore time in the same manner you do an uncharted forest? If your entire life was laid out before you, and you were free to tour all the untold moments, would you embrace each and every one of them? Arrival stems from a simple premise, a set of unidentified objects appearing to contain intelligent life have landed on Earth. As we see humanity's reaction to this event unfold we are slowly drawn in and forced to reevaluated everything we have learned.
Louise (Amy Adams) is a fiercely intelligent linguistics professor. She maintains the facade of a solitary lifestyle and leaves us pondering her past. This all comes to a crashing halt the day they arrive. Louise is pulled into a world of mystery and wonder. She's forced to draw upon everything she's learned, which takes a tole on her mentally and emotionally. If language is the pillar with which we've built our civilization, then Louise is a masterful architect. Her interactions with this foreign species are broken down with mathematical precision. Despite this we're also shown a calm, caring side. She slowly builds rapport as communication between the two species begins to take form.
Ian (Jeremy Renner) is a charming theoretical physicist. He and Louise are tasked with forming a means of communication with the unknown visitors. He's often the yin to Louise's yang. Her emotional intelligence and deep thought combined with his rigor and attention to detail flourish in investigating the task at hand. The two are also inexplicably drawn to one another. It's as if they've both been traveling their whole lives to meet at this moment in time.
Arrival leaves us with more questions than answers. We're left in awe as the story methodically unfolds before us. It's a slow build, but not one that leaves us with time to wander. The pacing and structure of the film are done to perfection. We can't help but feel as though these events are happening right before our very eyes. Denis Villeneuve masterfully controls our attention. The cinematography and score are awe-inspiring, which we've almost come to expect from his films. Amy Adams truly shines in this breakout role. We've seen glimpses of her excellence in the past, but this is something entirely different. From beginning to end she is a powerful force on the screen. Arrival is the kind of movie that will make you step outside and stare at the stars with childhood wonder. It will inspire conversation and provoke thought. Arrival is a film and an experience, but above all else it is a question – what if?