Logan Sork Film Reviews
Arrival
It is very rare to find a science fiction film that makes one think about the society we live in during this modern age. The vast majority of science fiction genre films are mainly reliant on entertaining their viewers with some nice set pieces, visual effects driven action and simple plots as to not make the viewing experience difficult. This is by no means bad, but it is good for a film to make the audience ponder every once in a while, as well. Arrival is a film that almost does the complete opposite of what most science fiction films have set out to accomplish, and I mean that in the best of ways. Rather than entertain the audience, the film asks us to think about ideas that many people don’t really talk about that often. Ideas of the importance of communication, the choices we make in our lifetimes, the relationships we have with other people and the way that time has an impact on us all. This is a film that I loved from start to finish as it asks questions about the problems of contemporary society, and also asks questions about life itself.
Arrival is directed by Denis Villeneuve and stars Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner and Forrest Whitaker. The story takes place in an earth that has been visited by 12 mysterious ships in various parts of the globe. The human race has no idea what these extra-terrestrials want or why they are here. Dr. Louise Banks (Adams) is a renowned language expert who is recruited by Colonel Webber (Whitaker) and taken to one of the ships. The mission given to Banks, as well as other scientists, is to figure out a way to communicate with the beings aboard the space craft and establish a friendly relationship with them to discover their reason for visiting earth. The team must work quickly in order to discover why the beings have arrived, before humanity implodes on the wave of mass hysteria that is sweeping the world.
Before diving into the themes and ideas that make this film so mesmerizing, one must first take a moment to appreciate the technical aspects of the film. One of the most important elements of the film is Denis Villeneuve’s direction and pacing. The film isn’t as fast paced as many modern sci-fi films as it takes its time to tell its story and is very minimal on the action front. By focusing on the story and characters and not on action, Villeneuve is able to further develop the story’s themes and ideas without having to worry about where an action set piece would fit in. Though people will be put off by the film’s pacing, there are so many ideas and concepts that one is thankful for the slower pacing, as it allows one to reflect on the ideas presented in the film. The cinematography is simply beautiful. Cinematographer Bradford Young manages to create images that are bleak but also beautiful to the eye at the same time. The set design for the film is very minimalistic, particularly on the alien ships which resemble floating rocks more than anything. It may not be as striking to the eye as most sci-fi films, but there is something naturally beautiful about the ships’ appearance and inner workings that, while simple, are visually striking.
The characters and the actors portraying them are excellent. From the very opening of the film, you immediately feel invested in Louise’s journey as we learn more about what she has been through. This is all done beautifully through visual story telling and very little dialogue, allowing for an emotional investment for Louise from the very stat of the film. The supporting cast is also excellent, but it is really Amy Adams who stands out. She is able to sell so much emotion simply from one facial expression, and it may not even be a single emotion. Louise’s life is filled with happiness, sadness, pain, loss, love and confusion. All of which make her an emotional and grounded character, and one whose journey that audiences will be invested in from the opening scene.
The ideas in Arrival are compelling and deeply resonant to our modern society. The main idea of the film is communication, but not in the way one would think. The main plot focuses not just on the importance of learning the reason the aliens came to earth, but also understanding the importance of communicating with and understanding one another. The human race in this film is portrayed as divisive, quick to act and not really thinking. They have no respect for one other’s ideas and reasoning. The film was released just a couple of days after one of the most divisive presidential elections in US history. Though it is not a critique on Americans in particular, it is a critique on society and the way we speak and act towards one another. Part of this is due to our technology. Yes, we communicate via social media and texting, but that is not true communication. Communication is sitting down with one another, expressing our ideas through emotion and reasoning, coming to an understanding of the other side. None of this can be achieved through technology and the film portrays this excellently, as it is only when we truly start talking to one another that the panic stops.
This film is perfect from start to finish. While there are some who will be put off by its slow pacing, it is not slow because it is boring, it simply takes its time to tell a story. It is a truly beautiful film not only on a technical level, but also from an emotional and ideological level. The ideas in the film are prevalent to one certain group of individuals, but as a collective of everyone on this earth. This film is a masterpiece and should be seen by every one at least once in their lifetime, because maybe then we can truly understand the importance of speaking to one another.
10/10