Arrival
2016, FilmNation Entertainment et al
Right behind Contact on my list of all-time greats, Arrival stands as a shining example of intelligent, literate science fiction filmmaking, not to mention a tour de force for Amy Adams (just as it was for Jodie Foster in Contact). For me, its biggest flaw is the awkward documentary segment in the middle: jarring in its tonal difference, it comes out of nowhere without warning. While it's technically fine, things perhaps could have been improved with brief transitions of some sort into and out of the sequence. Still, this is a minor quibble in the grand scheme of things, easily ignored given the inspiring script, powerful performances, flawless effects, and great score.
DKS 12/17/17
GRUMPY OLD FART-O-METER® Rating:
