Something about this new trailer for Denis Villeneuve's latest magnum opus "Arrival" has us wondering if Villeneuve's film should be taken at face value or if there is something more mysterious lurking beneath the surface. I mean we know the aliens are not your typical Spielbergian crawler, but, at the same time, there is definitely a "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" vibe going on here. I'll give the film the benefit of the doubt for the time being because it got chosen for Telluride, Toronto and Venice. Not many films can claim that this season.
What's he trying to reach here is a little tougher than the "Sicario" and "Prisoners" schools of dread. I don't think the Spielberg influence is a far fetched idea. I am crossing my fingers for some kind of downer ending happening here as well so as to stray away from Spielberg's knack for sentimentality. I've been a fan of Villeneuve's since he mad ethe French canadian downer "Maelstrom" back in 2000, I don't think he has it in him to resort to any happy ending. He doesn't abide by happy endings. Never had, never will.
The cinematography does look tremendous. That helicopter shot with the glowing city looming in the background with clouds slyly still is astounding. Bradford Young is the cinematographer and I couldn't be happier. He's an up and coming talent that will likely turn heads. I'll bet that when this baby screens at TIFF on 9.13 people will be turning heads about Young's visual eye, which I caught a glimpse of in three magnificent indies: "Pariah," "A Most Violent Year" and "Ain't Them Bodies A Saint."