Arrival
- Apr 24, 2017
- 3 min read
After two reviews about movies that were much more flashy and action based, it is difficult to switch gears and write about a movie as serious as Arrival. The two aspects that sold me on why this would be a great movie are the focus on linguistics and emotional characters. While Arrival more than delivers on these two promises, the product was not what I had prepared for and has left me somewhat underwhelmed. The buildup to me watching this movie is worth mentioning and I may have simply expected too much. Linguistics and characters are brilliantly handled, but without spoiling the movie, I will try to explain what makes this movie different than what I hoped for.
All in charge of directing, editing, and producing this film made it clear that although they love Independence Day, it was their goal to tell a more grounded and thoughtful story of first contact. In that aim their success is clear. You will not find spaceships fighting the united military's of many countries or buildings being obliterated with the power of a single laser. The story and characters are given pressure by the threat of this, but the actions taken are done so in hopes of preventing a showdown of military might.
A key to much of the film is the importance of communication and linguistics. While the military fears it will reveal our human weaknesses the two scientists played by Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner argue that the very vulnerability causing such fear is a part of the road to peace. Humans language gives some words multiple meanings and a simple misunderstanding can lead to an escalation of aggression or a failure to properly prepare for incoming danger. The balance of such leads to great conversations between characters and explanations of the field of linguistics. This on its own has a lot to teach the audience and builds the tension on the film naturally.
As noted, the second aspect of the movie that I was anticipating was the characters. Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, and the rest of the supporting cast are well deserving in the attention that they received for their work. The character that caused me mixed feelings is Dr. Banks played by Amy Adams. Without spoiling the movie, the emotion that she conveys is one that does not exist under normal circumstances. She is rightly praised for being so expressive and believable in doing so, but at times I felt detached from her because of her success in crafting the emotion. Love and time are explored within her own exploration of the alien language and the revelations that come from her journey are moving. This at times is sadly not clear and left me wanting more.
Arrival addresses an alien problem in a down to earth way. The movie makes you feel that you are there with the scientists as they navigate each breakthrough and setback they encounter. I left the movie feeling unmoved however. After being introduced to an alien, their language, and the human changes that result from it I expected to have been brought to tears in the same way that I was at the end of Interstellar. Although I feel somewhat disappointed, I believe there is an explanation. Movies like Interstellar reintroduce us to a human element through sci fi and CGI mastery. Arrival introduces us to an alien element through skilled story telling and editing mastery.
8.9/10
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