bastille-852-731547 — 9 years ago(November 11, 2016 12:32 PM)

I think Villeneuve is a great director and had been looking forward to this for a long time, but I did not expect this to be quite as phenomenal as it was. The acting was great and the story kept me engaged throughout, but what was really special about it was how thoughtful it was. Profoundly intellectual for a mainstream movie, this film encourages questions about global solidarity, the nature of language, and the need for compromise among communities. Not to mention, the film was also incredibly emotionally powerful. Villeneuve's seemingly low-profile, succinct cinematography and score really draws the viewer into the film, as the film can feel mildly eerie at one moment and warm and compassionate next. These tones do not conflict, and thus the film becomes an intelligent and reflective emotional powerhouse.
It's by far my favorite film of the year. Very highly recommended. 10/10