YOUR FAVOURITE MTV SHOWS ARE NOW AVAILABLE ON PARAMOUNT+

‘Arrival’ Is The Beautiful Movie This Terrible Year Has Been Crying Out For

Why is Arrival so special? Look at its final twenty minutes and you’ll see why.

Following police shootings, terror attacks, Syria, Brexit (and the leap in hate crimes that followed), Trump, Zika and the loss of several internationally loved figures, 2016 seems to have been particularly disastrous. 'Arrival', a nuanced film all about communication, kindness and human relationships, couldn’t have been released at a better time.

Why is 'Arrival' so special? Look at its final twenty minutes and you’ll see why.

Full spoilers for'Arrival'follow.

The majority of 'Arrival' is about the need for communication. When twelve extra-terrestrial vessels – that look like smooth black pebbles the size of skyscrapers – land on various locations around the Earth (unfortunately none of them land in Bognor Regis), the world panics.

'Arrival' tells us that if people don't communicate and respect one another, there will be chaos. It’s a grand story, and considering how 2016 has turned out, a timely one.

But 'Arrival' is a layered film, and the core of it is actually – aliens aside - about the relationship between Louise Banks and her daughter, Hannah.

As the film’s revelations unfolded, my jaw dropped. The finale made me well up with tears.

For its first 135 minutes, 'Arrival' feeds your head. In its final 20, it feeds your heart.

'Arrival’s' final twenty minutes are sad, beautiful and perfectly scored by Max Richter’s gorgeous ‘On The Nature Of Daylight’ (you can relive it in the video above.) Louise sees her destiny, but doesn’t choose to change a thing about her life. Louise still chooses to start a relationship with Ian Donnelly (Jeremy Renner), with the pair coming together from a friendship, which makes their relationship feel all the more realistic and believable.

Louise knows at this point that her life will be filled with successes, joy, pain, sadness and loneliness. Just like a lot of our lives will be. Even when she knows this for certain, she chooses to go along for the ride nevertheless. At this point, 'Arrival' makes you appreciate that that’s what life 'is'. It makes you feel grateful that you get to experience anything at all.

It’s true: The planet’s hopes and prayers have been answered. Hollywood has finally – 'finally' – released an alien invasion movie about linguists. Yes, 'linguists'! It’s what we’ve all been dreaming of.

I’m being silly, of course. 'Arrival' is an intelligent, intimate sci-fi set in a fascinating universe that can thrill you, too. 'Arrival' isn’t just visually stunning (credit to cinematographer Bradford Young); it’s emotionally striking too. It boasts killer performances, with Jeremy Renner and Forest Whitaker proving ample support to the magnificent Amy Adams, who continues to show why she’s one of the best actors in the world. With the slightest of facial expressions, she made those final twenty minutes 'work'. But above all of that, Arrival is a film all about bringing people together and being thankful for being able to have any experiences in the first place.

It’s a beautiful film, and it’s still in cinemas. Go see it. It’ll make you feel better.

You can find Lucas Fothergill on Twitter.

Latest News