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SciFi

Real World SciFi: 1on1 with Robbie Amell (CODE 8)

December 11, 2019 by Steve Norton Leave a Comment

Code 8 transports the viewer to an alternate reality where superpowers are a reality amongst the people yet are considered potentially dangerous to others and have been outlawed by the government. When Conner (Robbie Amell) discovers that his mother is tragically ill, he turns to a group of criminals, led by Garrett (Stephen Amell) in order to help him get the funding he needs to pay for her medical bills. However, as Connor falls deeper into the underworld, he must decide whether or not his mother’s health is worth losing his soul. Having been involved in the project from the very beginning, star Robbie Amell admits that the film developed out of his interest in working with his close family and friends.

“My cousin [Stephen Amell, Arrow] and I knew we wanted to work together on something,” he begins. “[I was also trying to work with] one of my best friends, Jeff Chan, who directed the movie, and his writing partner, Chris Pare. So, they came up with a concept and we shot the short film just as a proof of concept and hope to make a little bit of money on Indiegogo. It blew up. We front paged on Reddit and then the campaign blew up to way bigger than we [could have] ever imagined. Then, $2.5 million later and 27, 000 backers later, we were able to make a much bigger movie than we had thought possible.” 

While it’s becoming increasingly more common for online campaigns to help projects get off the ground, the sheer amount of support that Code 8 received from fans was nothing short of remarkable. Though they had high hopes, Amell also notes that they were nervous about reaching out the public in order to help their film come to life.

“It was scary,” he recalls. “You put yourself out there and you invest money into a short film and you just hope people will be into it. Luckily, they were. We always planned on just using it as kind of a launch pad to work with Canada, Telefilm and tax credits [but] we were really able to do that on a much larger level because of the success of the Indiegogo campaign.”

Featuring a cast of both newcomers and veterans, Code 8 is filled with engaging performances from its cast. While the increased budget may have allowed for better special effects and sequences, Amell also understands and appreciates the importance of having quality actors that offer great performances in order to bring the film to life. 

“We got really lucky with our cast,” Amell beams. “Greg Bryk was fantastic. Kary Matchett was so good as my mom. Laysla [De Oliviera] is a friend of ours that just came in… We got so lucky. Peter Outerbridge did us a favor because, it was down to him and Greg Bryk for the Sutcliffe roll [but] we leaned more towards the disheveled kind of ‘losing it’ version of the character with Greg. When Peter came in, we asked him if he would still come on in the smaller role in the hopes that if we do a sequel, the next step [would be] that he could be involved. He was gracious enough to be a part of it.“

Of course, one of the key draws to the film for Robbie was the opportunity to work more extensively with his cousin, Stephen Amell. Best known for his role as Oliver Queen in CW’s Arrow series, Stephen has shared a brief amount of screen time with his younger cousin before. However, in the development of Code 8, both Amells finally had the opportunity to truly work together for the first time.

Says Amell, “We had a little team-up fight on The Flash but we didn’t say anything to each other. So, it was great to spend six weeks creating our own movie, being our own boss and kind of molding and finding these scenes. The only reason we were able to do that was because this movie was made by friends and family and the Indiegogo backers and Telefilm. It’s a very unique way to be able to create a project. We had a blast. We got to see how the other one works in their process and feed off each other. It was great.” 

Given his experience in the genre over the course of his career, Amell believes that the science fiction atmosphere continues to draw him in due to its opportunity to both entertain and challenge at the same time.

“I think it gives you an entertaining way to tell interesting stories,” he explains. “For instance, our movie is a crime drama about how far [my character will] go to save his mom. The nice thing is you get the sci-fi package to kind of make it a little more entertaining and hit a broader audience. Sometimes, if you’re making a character drama, it’s tough to really make it marketable. So, for us, we felt that the grounded sci-fi genre was our wheel house. We knew it well and were fans of it. So, we wanted to try and make something with a little more substance but above all else we wanted to entertain.” 

With this in mind, the film’s grounded tone and gritty feel allow for it feel both futuristic and contemporary at the same time. For Amell, maintaining this balance was essential because their goal for the film was to offer something different from more typical science fiction films at the box office.

“Part of it was that everyone has seen the big citywide fight scenes,” Amell argues. “It’s not to say I don’t enjoy those. I go see every big Marvel and DC movie but we knew that that wasn’t the story we wanted to tell. We wanted to tell this grounded character-driven crime thriller. (We used Heat as an example.) We wanted it to feel relatable and it wasn’t ever going to take place in a world of right and wrong or black and white. It was always going to be these gray areas that I think exist more in real life. People make decisions and other people don’t always agree with them. So, we wanted to tell this real story and we thought it would be more relatable. At its core, I feel like everyone can relate to doing the wrong things for the right reasons when you’re trying to save a loved one… Above all else, he just wants to make her happy, make her proud and take care of her, even if it means losing her.“

Despite existing in a world where superhuman abilities are a reality, Code 8 grapples with larger real-world problems such as racial profiling and poverty issues. While Amell feels that the film isn’t directly trying to make a particular social commentary, they did allow themselves to ground the story within a world of marginalization and oppression.

“The many outweigh the few,” Amell clarifies. “So, even though there are [people with] powers, they’re only 4% [of the population] and, of those 4%, the powers range from class one to five. Ones and twos aren’t very dangerous but you’ve got a militarized police force [and] a marginalization of people with powers. We weren’t trying to preach anything but we always wanted to draw from inspiration from real life and things that are going on around the world.” 

Having said this, it begs the question of whether the film is purely a standalone venture or if the intent is there to continue the story. Asked if he hopes for a Code 9, Amell remains hopeful but knows that it depends entirely on the audience response to this film.

“We hope so. We’re definitely not done telling our story but we’ll see how it goes.” 

For full audio of our interview with Robbie Amell, click here.

Code 8 rolls into theatres across the US and VOD on December 13th, 2019.

Filed Under: Film, VOD Tagged With: Arrow, Greg Bryk, Indiegogo, Kary Matchett, Robbie Amell, SciFi, Stephen Amell, The Flash, Toronto

6.01 The Outer Reaches of the Inner Soul in AD ASTRA

September 27, 2019 by Steve Norton Leave a Comment

In the Season Premiere (and our 99th episode!) of SF Radio, we venture into the deepest regions of the solar system to talk about AD ASTRA. Starring Brad Pitt, AD ASTRA takes place in the near future and tells the story of Roy McBride, an astronaut who remains fearless when faced with the most impossible of situations, yet terrified to deal with his own issues. When the military enlists Roy to travel to Neptune to discover the source behind dangerous electrical pulses that threaten the universe, he is up for the task. However, when he also discovers that his father—who abandoned their family when he was very young—may be involved, Roy is forced to grapple with his own feelings of anger and hurt in the process. This week on the show, ScreenFish veterans Matthew Cimone and podcaster David Peck join us to talk about dealing with letting go of our anger, losing (and maybe reclaiming wonder) and the power of relationships. 

You can also stream the episode above on podomatic, Alexa (via Stitcher), Spotify or Soundcloud! Or, you can download the ep on Apple Podcasts or Google Play!

Want to continue to conversation at home?  Click the link below to download ‘Fishing for More’ — some small group questions for you to bring to those in your area.

6.01 Ad AstraDownload

Filed Under: Film, Podcast Tagged With: Ad Astra, Anger, Brad Pitt, forgiveness, SciFi, Tommy Lee Jones

Solo: A Star Wars Story – Do We Need This?

May 24, 2018 by Darrel Manson 1 Comment

One of the things I liked about the original Star Wars (now Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope) is that we come into a story in the middle, yet it captivated audiences. That’s one of the reasons I wasn’t fond of the prequel trilogy. I never believed the backstory was necessary or helpful. I did appreciate Rogue One: A Star Wars Story for the way it brought something new into the mix. The newest addition to the Star Wars canon is Solo: A Star Wars Story. The question that needs to be asked is will Han Solo’s backstory improve our understanding of the overarching story, or just feed our hunger for all things Star Wars?

In terms of the Star Wars timeline, this film fits between The Revenge of the Sith and Rogue One. We meet Han (Alden Ehrenreich) as a street urchin on a corrupt, crime-ridden planet. He is in love with Qi’ra (Emilia Clarke), and the two are planning an escape from the crime boss who controls their lives. But when they are separated, their lives take different trajectories. The story goes on to show us the various things that lead Han into the life of smuggling. Along the way he meets and makes friends with Chewbacca (Joonas Suotamo), comes under the sway of the leader of a band of crooks, Tobias Beckett (Woody Harrelson), is reunited with Qi’ra who is now the top lieutenant for an upscale crime boss, first crosses paths with Lando Carissian (Donald Glover), who also appears later in the canon, and gains possession of The Millennial Falconer. The story is a mix of heist film, origin story, and space opera.

The Han Solo we see in this film is brash, reckless, self-assured, and charismatic, much like when Harrison Ford plays him. Ehrenreich manages to get much of Ford’s inflection right enough that we can believe this is the same person. But who is Han really? He wants to be an outlaw (and self-identifies as such), but Qi’ra tells him what we all know about him from following the Star Wars saga: that he’s the good guy. Let’s face it, we all already know who Han is. This film won’t give us new insight. And, like my appreciation for A New Hope for its abruptness, I prefer meeting Han for the first time in that Tatooine bar. In A New Hope we learn to like Han. Solo, if one were to watch the canon in the story’s chronological order, would undermine that process.

Now that I’ve said what I don’t like about the film, let’s look at some of the issues it raises that are worth noting.

While much of the Star Wars saga deals with the direct battle of good and evil (and the attempt for the evil to seduce the good), Solo is more about pragmatism as a survival tool. Nearly everyone in this story is just trying to make things work. Each character makes choices that will affect others. Do they take those effects into consideration, or only what is best for themselves? The result of this is that the issue of trust becomes paramount as Han relates with each character. Is he too trusting? Are any trustworthy? Is Han?

The bit in the film that actually does feed into the overall saga narrative deals with questions of freedom and oppression. From the beginning of the story, Han is seeking to find his freedom. For him that is defined as getting his own ship and flying around the galaxy. But as Qi’ra tells him late in the story, “Everyone serves somebody.” We all answer to someone, and that is its own form of control and oppression. On each new world and each new circumstance, we see different kinds of oppression. At this point in the story, the rebellion has not yet begun, although one of the minor characters is seeking to kick start that revolution and fight for freedom. (Maybe that will be the next Star Wars Story.) The most entertaining voice for freedom in the film is L3-37 (Phoebe Waller-Bridge), Calrissian’s droid/co-pilot/companion. She is a vocal advocate in the story of equal rights for droids. And when she gets a chance begins an emancipation of droids and other slaves. While this actually may seem like a minor plot point in Solo, that theme is constantly in the background.

That takes us back to the pragmatism of the characters. As Star Wars plays out, of course, we see that the fight for freedom is never a matter of pragmatism, but of sacrifice and a commitment to justice. There are hints of that in Solo, but for the most part this is one of the most insubstantial and shallowest of the Star Wars canon.

 

Photos courtesy of Wald Disney Studios

Filed Under: Film, Reviews Tagged With: Alden Ehrenreich, Donald Glover, Emilia Clarke, heist, Joonas Sutamo, origin story, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, prequel, SciFi, Star Wars, Woody Harrelson

4.16 Speaking in Silence in A QUIET PLACE

May 6, 2018 by Steve Norton 2 Comments

If they hear you, they hunt you.

https://screenfish.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/4.16-A-Quiet-Place.mp3

After an alien invasion leads to the eradication of most of the human race, the survivors must live in a world of silence in order to stay alive. Directed by John Krasinski, A QUIET PLACE took the box office by storm through it’s intense storytelling and heart-felt emphasis on love for your family. This week, Steve is joined by directors Paul Muzzin and Matthew Cimone (CHASING ATLANTIS) to talk about the power of communication and the importance of listening.

Want to continue to conversation at home?  Click the link below to download ‘Fishing for More’ — some small group questions for you to bring to those in your area.

4.16 A Quiet Place

Thanks Paul and Matt for joining us!

Filed Under: Film, Podcast Tagged With: A Quiet Place, Alien, Emily Blunt, horror, John Krasinski, M. Night Shyamalan, SciFi

The Cloverfield Paradox: When Action Impacts All

February 6, 2018 by Heather Johnson Leave a Comment

I don’t do horror movies.

I don’t do loud clangs, shrieks, or shadows that jump across the screen. I especially don’t do creepy sci-fi films. Movies that mess with time, reality, or my basic understanding of physics (which is very, very basic) rarely make it to my queue. In all seriousness, George of the Jungle is one of my all-time favorite movies if that says anything about my standards.

So it probably isn’t a shock I’ve not seen the previous Cloverfield films or a single episode of Lost. And yet here I am, contributing today regarding The Cloverfield Paradox, the Netflix release of J.J. Abrams’s newest Cloverfield installment.

Yeah, I don’t know how I got here either. But since I did, let’s roll with it. I’ll keep it spoiler free too…if anything because I’m not exactly sure what I witnessed.

Despite my nonchalant “sure I’ll give it a go” attitude, I was hooked 6 minutes in. With the world on the verge of self-destruction, tensions high across nations due to dwindling energy resources, Ava Hamilton (Gugu Mbatha-Raw is a-mazing) accepts a position on an international mission to do something I can only describe as “mine” energy from space. And it’s a truly international crew, so props to Abrams for bringing together the cast of David Oyelowo (Kiel), Daniel Brühl (Schmidt), Ziyi Zhang (Tam), John Ortiz (Monk), Chris O’Dowd (Mundy), Aksel Hennie (Volkov), Elizabeth Debicki (Jensen), and Roger Davies as Michael. The cast makes this movie.

Of course, things go horribly wrong once they finally harness the needed energy after two years of unsuccessful attempts. Cue lots of banging, fires, and the beginning of creepy things. I admit there might have been a scene or two where I had to close my eyes – the sounds were enough and one scene in particular involved worms. Just… ew. No.

Once the initial “avert my eyes,” scenes cycled, I was sucked right back in. How does Jensen know Hamilton? What is Mundy’s arm up to? Where did the Earth go? Like I mentioned in the beginning, I tend to steer clear of movies that propose alternate realties and concepts such as there is a second Earth, with a second crew, trying to solve for the same problem but within a very different reality. But I was so wrapped up in Hamilton and the crew, I found myself actually engaged.

Now I have seen enough non-jittery science fiction to confidently say that there are plenty of “standard sci-fi movie moments,” like fires, crashes, doors getting stuck, people dying, and “are we losing our minds or is this really happening” conversations. And if you’re an Abrams fan, you’ll also notice his trademark homages to earlier science fiction films, (such as the original Alien movies), his continued exploration of inter-dimensional interactions, and the overall “is this real or not” feeling. So if that combination works for you, I don’t think you’ll be wasting your time if you check it out and move on.

But personally, I kind of sat in an awed state at the conclusion. Not so much because the movie itself was anything spectacular (again, I think the most compelling aspect of it all was the cast), but because I began to consider how my individual actions can affect others.

I’m not versed enough in science to propose any thoughts on the possibility of alternate realities or if my every-day decisions change the fate of another me somewhere across the cosmos. I’m not going that deep here. But I do believe that humanity is designed to crave interaction and relationship, which gives me pause and forces me to think beyond my personal interests and instead about how what I do, what I say, how I act, etc., can impact someone else.

More than likely my actions will never alter the fate of the entire human race. Yet every day I am presented with opportunities to influence the course of any one person’s journey. Not because I have control or am powerful or that persuasive, but because I am a representative of Jesus Christ. How I respond in times of crisis, how I rejoice in times of excitement…even how I greet each person who travels across my path…at any moment what I say or do can be used for help or for harm.

In the book of Matthew, chapter 22, verses 36-40, Jesus is answering the question of “what is the greatest commandment?” To paraphrase, Jesus responds with “love God with everything you have and everything you are, and love others as you love yourself.” For me this means each action I take and each word I speak needs to ladder back up as either loving God or loving others. Even if I don’t “love” the person on the other end of my action, or even know them, I still love God. And my behavior toward that other person is reflective of that love of God.

I’m not saying I have to sit and analyze every detail of my actions and how they might one day a long time from now have a negative impact on some stranger’s life. That’d be practically impossible.  But I am saying that as a Christian, it’s important that I choose my words and actions carefully.

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: Aksel Hennie, Alien, Chris O'Dowd, Cloverfield, Daniel Bruhl, David Oyelowo, Elizabeth Debicki, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, John Ortiz, Roger Davies, SciFi, The Cloverfield Paradox, Ziyi Zhang

4.04 On the Run with BLADE RUNNER 2049

October 30, 2017 by Steve Norton Leave a Comment

https://screenfish.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/4.04-Blade-Runner-2049.mp3

In the year 2017, director Denis Villeneuve attempted the impossible: to direct a sequel to the incomparable sci-fi classic, BLADE RUNNER. With the release of BLADE RUNNER 2049, Villeneuve’s risk became our reward by creating one of the year’s most compelling films yet it still struggles to find an audience. This week, Steve welcomes Face2Face‘s David Peck and Michael LeFleur to discuss the film’s slow open at the box office, the nature of reality and the relationship between the Creator and his creation.

4.03 Blade Runner 2049

Want to continue to conversation at home?  Click the link below to download ‘Fishing for More’ — some small group questions for you to bring to those in your area.

A very special thanks to David and Michael for coming on the show!

Filed Under: Film, Podcast Tagged With: Blade Runner, Blade Runner 2049, Denis Villeneuve, Edward James Olmos, Harrison Ford, Ryan Gosling, SciFi

3.26 Waging WAR FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES

August 6, 2017 by Steve Norton Leave a Comment

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This week on the show. Steve welcomes back Shelley McVea to battle Caesar and the WAR FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES! While a part of the original franchise, these latest Apes films have gone in an entirely new direction with an intense energy and focus on what it means to be ‘human’. But does Matt Reeves’ claim that this particular entry is meant to portray Ape-leader Caesar as ‘their Moses’ add anything more? Shelley and Steve answer this question and more, only on ScreenFish.

Want to continue to conversation at home?  Click the link below to download ‘Fishing for More’ — some small group questions for you to bring to those in your area.

3.26 War for the Planet of the Apes

Thanks Shelley for coming back on the show!

Filed Under: Film, Podcast Tagged With: Action, Andy Serkis, Caesar!, James Franco, Planet of the Apes, sci-fi, SciFi, War for the Planet of the Apes, Woody Harrelson

3.21 Attacking ALIEN: COVENANT

May 28, 2017 by Steve Norton 4 Comments

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This week, Steve assembles his  Mikey Fissel (Reel World Theology) and Paul Muzzin (director, CHASING ATLANTIS) as they dig into ALIEN: COVENANT, Ridley Scott’s controversial sequel to PROMETHEUS. The film has proven itself divisive amongst fans and critics but has a lot more to say than people think (or does it?).

Want to continue to conversation at home?  Click the link below to download ‘Fishing for More’ — some small group questions for you to bring to those in your area.

3.21 Alien Covenant

A special thanks to Mikey (Reel World Theology) and Paul (Chasing Atlantis)

Filed Under: Film, Podcast Tagged With: Alien, Alien Covenant, aliens, Billy Crudup, Danny McBride, David Fincher, Demian Bichir, horror, James Cameron, Katherine Waterston, Michael Fassbender, Ridley Scott, SciFi, xenomorph

ARRIVAL: Guess Who’s Coming to Earth?

February 14, 2017 by Steve Norton Leave a Comment

amyadamsarrival

America needs Arrival.

Directed by Denis Villeneuve, Arrival begins on the day that (the latest) aliens appear over major cities around the world. Resting silently and still above the earth, these objects send the population into a moment of fear as everyone awaits what will happen next. When the military begins the process of communicating with their visitors, they assemble a team led by linguist Louise Banks (Amy Adams), theoretical physicist Ian Donnelly (Jeremy Renner), and US Army Colonel Weber (Forest Whitaker). As humankind teeters on the verge of global war, Banks, Donnelly and Weber take a chance that could threaten their lives, and quite possibly, humanity.

Despite the familiar premise, Arrival is far from your traditional ‘alien invasion’ film. While films of this genre generally play out with intergalactic space battles or wanton destruction (yes, I’m looking at you Independence Day: Resurgence), Arrival carves out it’s own unique and compelling place amongst the very best of science fiction by focusing on the pratfalls of language.

arrival

Caution: Potential spoilers ahead…

Playing out like a sci-fi vision of the Cold War, humans and aliens wait anxiously to see who will make the next move. Will it be an act of aggression? An offer of peace? Unlike other sci-fi entries, the real tension within this film exists in the realities of learning how to communicate with another who you neither understand nor trust. Of course, the obvious implications of this are between human and alien… however, the film reveals that similar issues lie amongst the people of Earth themselves.

Having first seen the film at the Toronto International Film Festival in September, I found myself struck by the boldness of this film. However, to be honest, I could never have predicted how timely it would become. Living in the shadow of the Presidential election, it has become frighteningly clear of the breadth of the divide amongst the American people. As thousands of people protest the election results in rallies across the country, philosophical differences have never been more apparent and anger and fear appear rampant amongst the people. The ability to humble ourselves and have conversation has given way to bitterness and resentment.

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As a pastor, I wonder where ideas like either ‘Judge not, lest ye be judged’ or ‘love your neighbor as yourself’ have gone in a moment like this.

But Arrival hasn’t forgotten.

Here, as military officers increase the pressure to attack their visitors, linguist Banks cries out for patience, even when the communication seems as though it’s gone awry. As the challenges of communication increase, Banks and her team recognize the value in the other and fight for the reality that words matter. They understand that one narrative doesn’t tell the whole story—and that that builds bridges.

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In a time where American culture seems primed to rip itself in two, the notion of seeing beyond our own views and truly listening to one another couldn’t seem more poignant.

In the end, Arrival is a film about risking our lives not for a cause, but for the benefit of others. It’s a film about leaning into suffering for the sake of receiving blessings along the way.

It’s a film that shows that every life matters and that communication requires humility on our behalf to connect us.

America needs Arrival.

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Special features include a look at language (“Xenolinguistics: Understanding Arrival”), sound and score (“Acoustic Signatures: Sound Design”, “Eternal Recurrence”), the editing (“Nonlinear Thinking”), and time (“Principles of Time, Memory & Language”), all the main elements (in addition to Adams) that make the film great. 

Filed Under: Film, Reviews, TIFF Tagged With: aliens, Amy Adams, Arrival, Denis Villeneuve, Forest Whitaker, Independence Day, invasion, Jeremy Renner, science fiction, SciFi, TIFF, TIFF16, Toronto, Toronto International Film Festival

tiff16: ARRIVAL

September 18, 2016 by Steve Norton Leave a Comment

arrive

When mysterious spacecraft touch down across the globe, an elite team, led by expert linguist Louise Banks (Amy Adams), is brought together to investigate. As mankind teeters on the verge of global war, Banks and the team race against time for answers — and to find them, she will take a chance that could threaten her life, and, quite possibly, humanity.

With ARRIVAL, Denis Villeneuve takes his first steps into the science fiction genre (he is currently filming the highly-anticipated sequel to BLADE RUNNER) and manages to surprise us in the best of ways.  Rather than succumbing to the temptation to develop the more traditional ‘alien invasion’ piece, Villeneuve opts for a more poignant approach by focusing the story on character development and relationships.  In doing so, Villeneuve creates an atmosphere of tension and intrigue as communication between the alien species and human race unfolds like an intense game of chess with the future of the earth hanging in the balance.

amyadamsarrival

What’s more, the film is anchored by an incredible performance by Adams as she seamlessly moves between hearts of both courage and emotional trauma.  With strong outings in both ARRIVAL and Tom Ford’s NOCTURNAL ANIMALS, she could very well finally be poised for recognition come Oscar time.  Although it also features solid performances from its supporting cast (Jeremy Renner, Forest Whitaker), there’s little question that this is Adams’ film and she seizes the opportunity.

Without giving away any spoilers, Villeneuve also has much to say within the film about the nature of language and communication.  Is communication what brings us together or a roadblock?  Or is it possible that truth can get lost in translation?  These questions, in addition to the theme of ‘leaning into fear’ provide more than enough content to  lift ARRIVAL beyond your run-of-the-mill sci-fi piece.

Without question, this was one of my favourite films of the fest this year and could receive significant notoriety come awards season.

Trust me.  The film is not what you expect.

And that is a very good thing.

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Filed Under: Film, Reviews, TIFF Tagged With: aliens, Amy Adams, Arrival, Denis Villeneuve, drama, Future, Jeremy Renner, language, SciFi

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