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    Arrival

    Reviewed by
    adamwatchesmovies@

    I love a hard science fiction film. I mean the kind of stuff that has aliens, robots, artificial intelligence and/or time travel but is actually talking about the present day and real-life situations by jazzing it up with metaphors and similes. "Arrival" is such a film. On top of being tightly written and intelligent, it’s a gripping thriller. As soon as this film was over, I wanted to re-watch it. That’s when you know you’ve got something special on your hands.

    Twelve mysterious alien spacecraft have suddenly appeared haphazardly across the globe. Linguist Louise Banks (Amy Adams) is selected by the U.S. government to help communicate with the extra-terrestrials. She begins deciphering the way these visitors communicate, progress is slow. While Louise and theoretical physicist Ian Donnelly (Jeremy Renner) desperately try to communicate critical human ideas and concepts, the rest of the world becomes increasingly wary of the aliens.

    This picture isn’t really about aliens. It’s about communication. You don’t think that’s nearly as exciting? You’re wrong. It’s ripe land to be mined if you’re looking for suspense and thrills, the kind of stuff that drenches you in a cold sweat. Let’s say you meet someone from a different culture. How do you talk to them if they don’t speak the same language than you do? Is the right choice for you to learn their language, or for them to adopt yours? We as human beings already have enough trouble speaking to each other because different cultures have different customs, moral and ideas. Ever hear of “schadenfreude” or “Saudade”? You might’ve, but unless you speak German or Brazilian Portuguese, you’re at loss for words. You’re forced to use alien terms to explain an abstract concept. Talk about tricky. Now imagine that the person you’re talking to is stressed out, might not even understand that the sounds coming out of your mouth are used for communication, has never seen a person before and has some unidentifiable device in their hand. What if you say the wrong thing and they shoot you? What if that thing they’re holding is completely harmless, but by thinking that it a weapon, you phrase your sentences in a way that makes you seem untrustworthy? Misunderstanding something harmless could lead to war! If that wasn’t stressful enough, journalists are scrutinizing every action and ready to misinterpret them. If something goes wrong, you could be blamed for it. I have a hard enough time explaining to my cat that climbing on the table is “bad”. Can you imagine trying to explain to some alien the complexities of human culture?

    The film is not necessarily gloomy or depressing, but it’s tense. The people involved are under so much pressure, there’s so much that could go wrong that it drives you crazy. Whenever anyone does anything, your mind scurries in all directions, exploring every possible reaction not only from the aliens but also from Louise and Ian’s superiors, from foreign powers and from the general populace. You’re praying that things will be ok, that we’ll be able to clear up any miscommunication before they escalate too far, but knowing how we’ve dealt with each other in the past, it doesn’t look good. And yet, there’s hope. These creatures are NOT human. Perhaps that’s the key! This uncertainty is what makes “Arrival” so effective at making you sweat. I took it one step further myself, shaking in my seat the whole time, praying that these characters, whom you genuinely care for because of their humanity, will manage to save the day… or rather prevent it from needing saving.

    “Arrival” is a laser. Every aspect of it is oriented perfectly to help conveys its core ideas and help intensify the suspense and cut deep. The music gives you chills. The cinematography blends everyday humanity and the overwhelming awe inherent in realizing that we are not alone. The performances ring true, allowing you to immerse yourself fully in the plot. Amy Adams, in particular, is extremely good. The atmosphere guides you through the characters’ actions and the story wraps it all together. I almost wished that it had introduced some xenophobic, one-dimensional villains, just so I could have an idea of what needed to be done in order to have a happy ending. The scary thing is that it’s not required. Even if everyone on Earth did get along, you know that our nature is enough of a threat.

    “Arrival” fits comfortably on the shelf next to the most cerebral science fiction films. The beauty of it is that within it are elements of many other pictures, but it doesn’t feel derivative. It’s a smart, tight movie for people who like to think. It probably won’t go the way you expect it to, but that only serves to make it memorable. I can’t wait to see it again. (Theatrical version on the big screen, November 13, 2016)

    10
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    adamwatchesmovies@  17.11.2016 age: 26-35 2,867 reviews

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