The Oscars

[Chiefspants]

Originally Posted by Baby Lee

Anyone know if there is a succinct but non-spoilery way to explain this apparent divide on Arrival?

Been trying to stay unspoiled until I have a chance to watch it, went along just assuming it was a decent enough flick.

Then in the past couple weeks, the hagiography and the denunciation have both ratcheted up significantly.

Don't give away crucial detail, but is this something beyond the normal hyperbolic praise followed by hyperbolic criticism backlash, or is there something specific about the film, it's execution, it's message, etc. that is spurring this?

If you're looking for an explosive, shoot em out sci fi ending with grandiose flourishes, Arrival isn't for you.

If you're looking for a ponderous twist on the "sci-fi" genre that spurs reflection on thoughts on issues such as "world peace" and "free will", Arrival may be for you.

It was a bold twist on the traditional sci fi tropes that I felt mostly worked. I thought it was great, but I didn't leave feeling it was Oscar worthy.