Great performance from Amy Adams!!

Rating: 9/10 (30 November 2016)

Arrival is one of the best that I have seen this year! Right from the jump you get an amazing opening sequence that to me really attaches you to the character Louise Banks played by Amy Adams. And this is one of her stand out performances so far in her career. I went in to this movie completely blind without seeing any reviews or any trailers, so honestly going in I was expecting this movie to be just another "SIGNS" type of film that we've seen 1000 times. But the way they did this film was beautiful, like they way they focused on the communication aspect and not just the war that you often see from films of this nature, so it felt very fresh and new and exciting. And most of that was carried by Amy Adams and the way she was able so easily to connect with the aliens, it seemed like she was really talking to them. Sticking to the actors and there performances in this film, in this movie Jeremy Renner plays a scientist, that is kind of like Amy Adams side kick in away, I just wish they would have done more with him and his character, because I feel like Renner has never really gotten an opportunity to shine in a movie like this, it feels like his character is never used to his full potential, and I think Renner is a very talented actor that just hasn't gotten that golden opportunity.
Another thing I really enjoyed is the directing of this film by director, Gavin O'Connor, who has directed things like Warrior in 2011, and more recently The Accountant in 2016. O'Conner just does amazing in this film, like the first scene that you actually see the alien pods, it just blows you away. He really steals the show in this movie, it is honestly some of his absolute best work ever!
Now lets talk about the ending... I don't want to get into any spoilers, but to me although I loved the ending, if feel like it would've been better if they further explained it. It felt so rushed at the end and leaves you asking questions. Most of the ending makes perfect sense but there is just this one aspect that doesn't quite add up.
All in all this movie is one of the best of the year hands down, I would definitely recommend this film! I loved and left the theater asking questions and really excited about the movie, and this is a film I could definitely see stealing the show come Oscar Night!