Review of Arrival (2016) by Andy D — 21 Mar 2017

Easily one of the best Sci-Fi films of recent years, this cerebral piece of film-making is beautiful, delicate and intelligent, and will certainly get you thinking.

The premise - 12 mysterious alien craft touch down at various locations around the globe, and tensions and paranoia mount between nations as humanity struggles to work out what the visitors intentions are.

Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner play the two leads assigned to work with the military to investigate, both give excellent performances, Amy Adams in particular.

The film is devoid of any 'action', and instead focuses on communication; the importance of it, the lack of it, and painfully highlights where we as humans are failing in that respect, with regards to our relationships between nations. It shows that if we act from a mindset of fear and paranoia - as we often do - that bad things generally follow. Powerful, and very poignant subjects.

I would recommend this film to anyone. I found myself still thinking about it hours after watching it. It's not going to be for everyone - I get that - its pacing requires you be patient with it, and I can see some folks getting bored that it doesn't build up to some big-budget hollywood climax, but that suits me down to the ground. The cinematography is gorgeous, the mood and music perfect.

I'm fast becoming a big fan of director Denis Villeneuve's work, and this has got me very excited to see what he can do with the upcoming BladeRunner sequel, later this year.