Arrival

2016

PG-13

1h 56m

IMDb RATING

7.6/10

19K

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22 Videos

99+ Images

Drama

Science Fiction

Mystery

Taking place after alien crafts land around the world, an expert linguist is recruited by the military to determine whether they come in peace or are a threat.

Directors

Denis Villeneuve

Writers

Eric Heisserer(screenplay by)

Ted Chiang(short story by)

Jessica Coon(script consultant by)

Stars

Amy Adams

Jeremy Renner

Forest Whitaker

See production, box office & company info

Top cast

Louise Banks

Ian Donnelly

Colonel Weber

Agent Halpern

Captain Marks

General Shang

8-Year-Old Hannah

12-Year-Old Hannah

6-Year-Old Hannah

Dr. Kettler

Lucas Chartier-Dessert

Private Lasky

Christian Jadah

Private Combs

Lucy Van Oldenbarneveld

CNAC Anchor

Environmental Tech

Environmental Tech

Dr. J. Bydwell

Richard Riley

Press Secretary

Directors

Denis Villeneuve

Writers

Eric Heisserer(screenplay by)

Ted Chiang(short story by)

Jessica Coon(script consultant by)

All cast & crew

Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

Arrival has created the most profound and seamless symbolism, notably through cinematography/imagery, that may have ever been achieved to date in film. On the surface, this appears to be a story about humans making contact with an alien species. For those with keen critical thinking skills, the seemingly foreign creatures at the beginning are not who we initially believed them to be by the end. This film amazingly weaves an abundance of profound images/clues in plain sight. Just like one of those optical illusions, which can at first appear a random assortment of dots. Yet, once your focus kicks in and you seize upon a detailed shape, you suddenly see an enormously complex picture that has been there the whole time, seemingly invisible just prior. As I watched this film, I was curious about the shape of the aliens. They do not really conform to the aesthetic of an advanced species. While I internally wrestled with the purpose of this particular shape... it finally made sense. Boom!! Mind Blown!!!! I've heard people try to reconcile the linear/non-linear information as it unfolds in real time. This is certainly rich for grasping a fuller meaning and added depth. However, imho, the epicenter of meaning in this visual masterpiece begins with the shape of the aliens. If you can unwrap that, you'll become like heroic linguist Elizabeth Banks, and decipher the deeper meaning behind this profound story.

20thCentury14 Jul, 2020