Arrival (2016)


Director: Denis Villeneuve
Stars: Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Forest Whitaker
Runtime: 116 minutes

Synopsis: A linguist works with the military to communicate with alien lifeforms after twelve mysterious spacecraft appear around the world.

Performances: 5/5
Screenplay: 4/5
Special Effects: 5/5
Editing: 5/5
Cinematography: 4/5
Score/Soundtrack: 5/5

Verdict:
(+) One of the best, smartest, and most realistic alien invasion movie ever made.
(+) Still manages to be a very human story that is both depressing and emotional.
(+) The score by the late Jóhann Jóhannsson is incredibly moving and beautifully sets the mood.
(+) The marriage between science and language is one of the best love stories I have ever seen on screen.
(+) Also acts as a great political thriller and commentary on tense diplomatic relations.
(+) Amy Adams' performance is god-like. Jeremy Renner is good too.
(+) Casting Michael Stuhlbarg in anything is always a win.
(+) The color palette is a little pale at times but the film's aesthetic is breathtaking nonetheless.
(-) It's a spoiler, so I won't get much into it, and maybe it's just the movie that's smarter than me, but some stuff didn't entirely make sense to me.
(-) Some conveniences here and there, but nothing that really took me out of the film. 

FINAL GRADE: 9/10

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