Film Snail

7.6

Arrival

PG-13·2016·116m

Drama

Science Fiction

Mystery

Drama

Science Fiction

Mystery

Summary

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.

Cast

Amy Adams

Louise Banks

Jeremy Renner

Ian Donnelly

Forest Whitaker

Colonel Weber

Michael Stuhlbarg

Agent Halpern

Mark O'Brien

Captain Marks

Tzi Ma

General Shang

Abigail Pniowsky

8-Year-Old Hannah

Julia Scarlett Dan

12-Year-Old Hannah

Jadyn Malone

6-Year-Old Hannah

Frank Schorpion

Dr. Kettler

Lucas Chartier-Dessert

Private Lasky

Christian Jadah

Private Combs

Lucy Van Oldenbarneveld

CNAC Anchor

Andrew Shaver

Environmental Tech

Pat Kiely

Environmental Tech

Sonia Vigneault

Dr. J. Bydwell

Mark Camacho

Richard Riley

Sabrina Reeves

Press Secretary

Julian Casey

Australian Scientist

Tony Robinow

British Scientist

Larry Day

CIA Officer Dan Ryder

Matthew Willson

Preacher

Ruth Chiang

Chinese Scientist

Russell Yuen

Chinese Scientist

Sergiy Marchenko

Russian Officer

Anana Rydvald

Swedish Scientist

Bineyam Girma

Sudan Representative

Abdelghafour Elaaziz

African Representative

Abdul Ayoola

Sierra Leone Representative

Alex M. Yeuh

Japanese Minister

Daniel Esteban

Venezuelan Representative

Albert Kwan

Chinese Man

Brittany Teo

Student with Smartphone

Joe Cobden

Cryptographer

Lorne Brass

Cryptographer

Genevieve Sirois

Cryptographer

Victor Andres Trelles Turgeon

Science Team Member

Michael Nangreaves

Science Team Member

Reda Guerinik

Communications Operator

Adrien Benn

Communications Operator

Sasha Samar

Communications Operator

Kathleen Stavert

Communications Operator

Kattia Thony

Nurse

Leisa Reid

Nurse

Brent Skagford

Lieutenant

Gurdeep Ahluwalia

Soldier

Shawn Campbell

TV Anchor

Brian Dunstan

TV Anchor

Dan Duran

TV Anchor

Lori Graham

TV Anchor

Orla Johannes

TV Anchor

John Sanford Moore

TV Anchor

Sangita Patel

TV Anchor

Hal Roberts

TV Anchor

Camille Ross

TV Anchor

Ola Sturik

TV Anchor

Tammie Sutherland

TV Anchor

Max Walker

TV Anchor

Marc-André Goulet

Motion Capture Heptapod

Paul-Antoine Taillefer

Motion Capture Heptapod

Martin Jr Pelletier

Motion Capture Heptapod

Carmela Nozza Guizzo

4-Year-Old Hannah (uncredited)

Robert D. Morais

Master Sergeant Douglas (uncredited)

Mustafa Haidari

Foreign Correspondent (uncredited)

Philippe Hartmann

Halpern's Deputy Director (uncredited)

Laurean Adrian Parau

US Army Major (uncredited)

Nathaly Thibault

Gala Guest (uncredited)

Leslie Baker

Middle Aged Woman (uncredited)

Dave Campbell

Soldier (uncredited)

Alexander Da Mota

Venezuelan Military (uncredited)

Akul Dang

Pakistani Scientist (uncredited)

Frank Fiola

Soldier (uncredited)

Crew

Director

Denis Villeneuve

Screenplay

Eric Heisserer

Script Consultant

Jessica Coon

Short Story

Ted Chiang

Reviews

SmashingUKProductions

December 3, 2016

Prior to approaching this film, a word of warning that it is what many like to call a "thinking person's sci-fi". If you're going to watch this, I beg that you dedicate your utmost attention to it, as it is truly one rewarding experiences, one of the smartest, most well-constructed science fiction marvels of recent years. 'Arrival' is Villeneuve's magnum opus.

Firstly, to put your mind at ease, I won't be analysing the plot, thus avoiding the use of spoilers. This decade, Villeneuve has crafted some fantastic works of art in the form of 'Prisoners', 'Sicario' and now this science fiction gem, and here's hoping his career further develops with more movie masterpieces coming our way. In a world where mysteries remain and the possibility of extraterrestrial life still stands unanswered, 'Arrival' approaches this with it's cliche-free take on the genre.

The relatively unknown Bradford Young provides the film with some of the most stunning cinematography ever conceived, taking advantage of the twilight hour to give the film its somewhat unique look, supported magnificently by Icelandic composer Jóhann Jóhannsson whose score is both haunting and beautiful. If you're someone looking for a science-fiction tale that keeps you guessing and thinking throughout, with fantastic performances, cinematography, music and near-flawless direction, then 'Arrival' is the film for you. The masterpiece of 2016!