Arrival

Certain ideas and pictures immediately spring to mind when we think of the term ‘science fiction’: technologically advanced societies, spaceships and aliens, cyborgs, mutants, etc. Over the years and steps of genre evolution, the defining features of sci-fi have morphed. One would definitely not think of a movie that features a linguistics professor working with the army as a sci-fi flick. Yet here we are with Arrival, a magnificent film that I believe everyone should see. 

When twelve alien crafts park themselves at different locations around the world, a panic ensues and linguistics professor Louise Banks (Amy Adams) is called on by the army to lead a team to try and establish communication with the aliens and find out what their purpose on Earth is. However, time is of the essence and as other teams start to interpret messages of war and hostility, every second spent talking to the aliens is a second that Louise and her team bring humanity closer to safety or destruction. 

This is a very powerful film on so many levels. Like many sci-fi movies it explores the fragility of human society, though in a way that is more akin to a zombie flick. The presence of the aliens sends humanity into a panic and we see rational communication, cooperation, and regard for authority and rules completely break down. 

More than that, there’s this absolutely gorgeous element of dramatic irony that comes from these teams trying so hard to establish communication with the aliens whilst on the outside the entire world is going to shit as communication breaks down. It’s a depiction of people living on different planes and it’s incredible to watch because the fantastic and the unknown is depicted as being calmer and safer than the familiar, which becomes panicked and uncanny. 

And then there is the trajectory of the story itself, which begins as a more or less typical sci-fi movie only to take a turn that I was definitely not expecting. As I’m aiming for no spoilers I’m not going to rave too much about it, but I will say that through a surprisingly clever use of flashbacks, a secondary story blooms that has more relevance than initially perceived and it’s amazing! 

Equally as intense and incredible as the story and its themes is the breathtaking score by Johann Johannsson. So many accompanying scores get lost amidst the action and special effects of movies these days so to have a haunting and highly intense soundtrack that really hits the senses is a real treat. Johannsson’s score is what gives Arrival its thriller edge, putting me in mind of films such as Dead Calm or Gone Girl where every second of sound underneath the scene sent my heart into palpitations and made my hair stand on end. 

But perhaps most impressive and refreshing of all is having a cast that just seems so natural against this unnatural story. Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner are both just so perfect and genuine against this fantastical setting, their clashes with authority perfectly recognisable and relatable, and their ‘romance’ story which is so subtle it’s practically non-existent is just great. Forest Whitaker proves fascinating to watch too as he at one point traverses the recognisable path of aggressive army authority a la Avatar (though nowhere near as extreme), but then settles back to being a normal guy just doing his job. I pinpoint the simplicity and the genuineness of the performances as a central source for my enjoyment of this film. 

Arrival is a must-see on so many levels and for so many reasons. It’s a magnificent piece of cinema that, I think, has moved the genre of science fiction forward and for that reason alone, I absolutely adore it. Its fusion of different genre tropes and structural building blocks make it a gripping film from beginning to end and the intense soundtrack, breathtaking shot composition and cinematography, as well as real and relatable characters keep you wholly invested for the entire duration. Everyone needs to see Arrival.

Starring: Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Forest Whitaker, Michael Stuhlbarg, Mark O'Brien, Tzi Ma, Frank Schorpion, Lucas Chartier-Dessert, Christian Jadah, Jaydn Malone, Abigail Pniowsky, and Julia Scarlett Dan

Rating: M