Taking place after alien crafts land around the world, an expert linguist is recruited by the military to determine whether they come in peace or are a threat.
WHAT I LIKED: I don't think you can truly appreciate how different and innovative 'Arrival' is until you see it, because literally everything here is entirely fresh and unexpected, and delves underneath everything we think we know. For a start, the story itself looks below the very essence of the challenges we'd likely face when literally interacting with aliens, which is something I've never seen or even considered in a movie before. In turn, this allows for the exploration of some very fundamental themes that again, tend to get glossed over in film. All in all, this makes it a genuine eye-opener; shining the light on the systems we take for granted, and suddenly making us acutely aware of the very basis of humanity's function - not just communication and time, but also love and life or death. It's all the more despairing and gripping then, to see the world rip itself apart as it tries to deal with these concepts, as you're equally struggling with the monuments level of careful consideration and reflection this movie demands.
It could have easily felt void of emotional heart though, and with Villenueve on board that was definitely a big risk, but Arrival actually has huge emotional weight thanks to a brilliantly layered lead who's arc is intertwined with the overall story to truly invest you, and translate the overall concepts it tackles. Couple that with a very well-realised set of world building aided by unsurprisingly incredible cinematography and visual effects, as well as a very appropriate score - the result is an experience that makes you invest ten-fold and think an awful lot indeed.
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: The set-up could have been slightly more elegant in its pacing, but at least it cuts to the point quickly.
VERDICT: From the genre, to humanity itself; 'Arrival' is a film that delves underneath everything we know, and the result is Villenueve's best film. That's not just because its themes are so powerful though; this thing's got soul, too.
