Review of Arrival (2016) by Shayan S — 27 Dec 2018

Quick Review: Denis Villenueve for those who've known me decently enough know is someone that I consider maybe one of my all time favourite up and coming filmmakers right up to par with Christopher Nolan; In that they're people who put as much time into whether storytelling, emotions, and heart to their craft more so than the stunning filmmaking that goes with it. Since Incendies i've seen Villenueve really create his craft vert meticulously and so effortlessly that, it really makes me wonder how a film like this with a relative medium budget and earns 100 MILLION overall doesn't wake up more filmmakers to branch their films on this scope than keeping to the same IP's. Whatever the case may be, Arrival was certainly one of the films back in 2016 I mean to watch on the biggest screen I can, but due to its overbooking I decided to wait on watching it. Now that I have, WOW was that certainly a wait well worth spent, because Arrival certainly delivers on a solid adaptation to Ted Chiangs short story and has a lot that really makes it well defined on its own.

Minus perhaps some plot points (specifically with the introduction to how Louise is asked to join when Colonel Weber goes to her office and with some issue with the end of how oddly convenient its set up and kind of ends a bit with a weak payoff) being tweaked somewhat and with the occasion wish they'd add just a little more of seeing Louie's story go on, I must say the film really just shines thanks to its amazing directing by Denis Villenueve who before the cusp of Blade Runner 2049 this made the journey to that SO MUCH more satisfying to see work his craft so flawlessly, beautiful and really atmospheric cinematography from Bradford Young that can really get him some work done after, must be noted really creative and welt built iconography and sets for both locations and especially the alien ship that really help give it this feel and look that gives its honour to the source material, super solid writing from Eric Heisserer who really knows how to pace and balance his story and dialogue and arcs and themes for someone being the only one doing the adaptation, terrific performances from just about everyone and obviously the bigger highlight of Amy Adams who as always manages to give herself character with each performance, and holy shit the score by Johan Johansson being JAW droppingly limited but so freaking well done and subtle that it makes me wish and wonder what prevented him from doing Blade Runner 2049's score (and oh shit as of writing this I forgot he passed away, rest in peace his soul he was a fine composer). So overall I think its safe to say this was a pretty great watch first time around, and definitely looking back before the wow factor of BR2049 this was definitely the right stepping stone to direct a film like that, and im glad it could be Denis; proud of him.

Score: 8.5 / 10.