A True Sci-fi Drama that Delves Into the Depths of Humanity

Rating: 9/10 (11 November 2016)

Arrival
4.5 stars out of 5
By Stephanie Cieplinski
(Warning: May Contain Spoilers)
Paramount Pictures' Arrival is a true genre science fiction film juxtaposing the drama and emotional depth of humanity—what we know—alongside the mystical and extraordinary. This is not merely another horrific humanoid alien attack on Earth, but an exploration of how we as human beings all over the world react to what we perceive and the communication breakdown that can unnecessarily follow. Throughout the duration of the film we are constantly comforted and surprised. There's warmth and humor brought to the screen by Jeremy Renner's Ian Donnelly and Forest Whitaker's blunt Colonel Weber; and the emotional process of grief through the eyes of Amy Adams's Dr. Louise Banks.
Adams's character, Dr. Louise Banks, is intelligent and meek, yet she holds more power than meets the eye. She's been hired by the U.S. Military to aid in communicating with aliens, who have landed their ships all over Earth. Every country has a team working on deciphering the language and the means with which the aliens are attempting to communicate with. The aliens are there for a reason, but it will take Louise to keep interactions with the aliens peaceful. Most of the countries are very quick to think that they will need to go to war with what they perceive to be a hostile situation with these extra terrestrials.
To say that Adams shines in this role is an understatement. We've seen an array of work from her, but the role of Louise Banks takes us back to Adams's Sunshine Cleaning (2008) days by playing a seemingly passive and timid character that comes across with a freshness that moves the audience in a way that they didn't expect. Arrival isn't merely a film about scientific discovery or abnormal circumstances, but the process of mourning and the perseverance of the human spirit. Without a knockout performance from Adams, this wouldn't have been as successful. Jeremy Renner stands out as well as Ian Donnelly, a role that is out of the ordinary for him. Instead of his usual tough guy demeanor, we get to see him soften, obsessed with mathematical theory and cutely debate with Adams as the interaction between their characters progresses. Not to mention, good friends, Adams and Renner, have a quaint and subtle chemistry on screen that pushes the intimate feel of the film further.
Denis Villeneuve as a director has really outdone himself this time. After Sicario (2015) and Prisoners (2013), this film stands out with a similar aesthetic to the previous films. However, this film brings something fresh to the screen along with a gloom that doesn't seem quite as harsh, merely sad. Arrival breathes and moves in that lazy, rainy, after-school kind of day way. It pulses with the beat of something revolutionary and a twist that strikes the meaning of what it's like to love—your life's purpose and those closest to you—and how you'll go about on your path despite whatever obstacles stand in your way.
In addition to story, it can't go without saying that production was extremely thorough in making sure that a majority of what they were doing exhumed the right aesthetic to the academic and linguistic field. Lead Linguist Consultant on the film, Jessica Coon, says that the film is thought- provoking and was spot on with a lot of what being a linguist is like.