Review of Arrival (2016) by Dana F — 10 Jul 2017

I struggled with picking this one as my favorite film of 2016 because "Manchester By The Sea" affected me on a more primal level... but you cannot ignore the near flawless execution of this film, from the original story to the fantastic acting to the meticulously crafted atmosphere and tone.

Every last beat is damn near perfect. I have heard people criticize this movie for being slow and not making sense, but I was riveted throughout the entire thing, and I can't really argue about the making sense bit without spoiling the whole movie.

Suffice it to say that the story gradually reveals itself precisely and intentionally, and is impeccably done. I'll admit it's a slow burn, but oooh, that burn is so good! Director Denis Villeneuve is a master of building tension, and he gets better at it with every film.

The concept of this film is entirely original and complex, it's pretty heady stuff that really makes you think. Though the movie is technically about aliens, it is not your traditional sci-fi film.

I would categorize it more as a suspense film with a dramatic core. It's about people, not aliens... both individually and as a group. This movie is what "Interstellar" should have been, and more.

It's haunting and profound, and it sat with me more than any other movie this year.