Film week Arrival is out of this world
Alien invader flick rivals sci-fi greats
GET ready for an epic close encounter in this intelligent sci-fi creature feature.
Arrival is technically dazzling, wonderfully acted and breathtakingly beautiful. It combines the majesty of Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey with the humour and humanity of Steven Spielberg’s Close Encounters of the Third Kind.
A mysterious alien fleet arrives on Earth causing global fear and panic.
Humanity puts its faith in communicating with the squid- like creatures to discover why they are here – a job for linguist Dr Louise Banks, played by the amazing Amy Adams. As her scientist sidekick Ian, Jeremy Renner shows why he’s Hollywood’s finest second fiddle. Forest Whitaker and Michael Stuhlbarg offer strong, understated support as a US colonel and an FBI agent. The lingering first view of the monumental alien craft is gobsmacking. But time is running out as the Chinese and Russians rattle their sabres in the face of the perceived threat. And the US military are ready with radiation suits and rifles, helicopters and high explosives.
Meanwhile exposure to the aliens results in Louise experiencing visions of her young daughter.
Arrival i s superb i n every department, with astonishing design, graceful editing and gorgeous cinematography. Action scenes are underpinned by a sharp script which touches on our understanding of love, language, memory and time.
Blade
The storytelling constantly wrongfoots expectations and provides this year’s most profound emotional kick.
The next film by director Denis Villeneuve is a sequel to Ridley Scott’s classic Blade Runner. It’s good to know it’s in the safest possible pair of hands.
But before you see Blade Runner 2049 you must see this first.