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Arrival

A nice little day out a couple of weeks back. Belmont's Reading cinemas followed by lunch at Jamie's Italian in the city.

The film was Arrival, helmed by a fella who is fast becoming one of my favourite directors, Denis Villeneuve. This is a film that can be seen through a few different prisms. The socio-political angle of multi-lateralism and rapprochement is summed up nicely by this exchange: "If I only gave you a hammer...." "...Everything's a nail." Contrast this with the personal angle of love, memory and loss, especially relating to motherhood (or even parenthood). Mix with a little non-linear time and squirt a thick layer of language as communication and meaning. That's a tasty cake you've got there.

Though on the face of it, this film is about the need for calm communication to solve worldly problems (a soft kick in the nuts to the Trumpacide about to occur), I think it's actually more about the character of Louise and the importance of her relationship with her daughter, Hannah. Which makes the marble almond spaceships the biggest macguffin in film history. In fact, the title Arrival, refers to Hannah's birth, not the massively ominous ships. But that's just my reading of it.

There's a style to this that is visible in the other Villeneuve films I've seen - Enemy, Prisoners, Sicario - and his work with the screenwriters here, especially in the opening few minutes, sets the film up extremely cleverly. I can't really say much more as it would ruin the 'puzzle' but it's reminiscent of Enemy in that respect. The performances are low-key as befits this type of thoughtful Sci-fi film but Amy Adams does stand out. This may sound a bit odd but she really knows how to act with her face. She may be the American actress with the widest range at present.

The design of the Aliens and their 'language' is impressive and the score by Johann Johannsson is suitably moody and eerie. A bit like Johnny Greenwood's stuff but less piercing.

Where Arrival suffers slightly is in its depiction of most other nations (i.e. not the US) dealing with the spaceships' sudden appearance. Venezuela and the Sudan go 'off the leash' domestically, China and Russia become aggressive and Australia are just useless. OK, that last one, I can go with. Oddly, Pakistan gets a positive mention as coming up with some vital piece of info.

Ultimately, this is a very impressive work but I wanted something more dystopian. As Tottenham supporters around the world know, it's the hope that kills you.

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