«They won't fear it until they understand it. And they won't understand it until they've used it. Theory will take you only so far».

At one moment, after an explosion, the brightness flooded the audience, the sound silenced, and i looking at the people around me, I realized that everyone was engrossed in what was happening. It's in these moments when I realize that the movie has gripped all of us, and we are witnessing a masterpiece of character study - what a wonderful experience to live in the cinema.

Cillian gives us the performance of his life - my favorite for the Oscar already. Robert Downey Jr. also delivers a visceral interpretation that deserves recognition as a sublime supporting role. And although her scenes are much shorter and fewer, Emily Blunt stands her ground firmly. The cast is impeccable. The emotion and fear of creating such a destructive bomb create palpable tension in the first half, but the detonation, the subsequent moral dilemmas, the political pursuit, and betrayal bombard us with scenes laden with deep and emotive intensity.

The scenes in the "trials" have a rhythm and exchange of lines between characters that leave you emotionally drained on the edge of your seat - even more so than the explosion itself. However, the latter element, the explosion has, for me, the best visual effects sequence of this year, and it's quite possible that nothing will surpass it in 2023.

Despite all the previous praise, what stands out the most and blew my mind was the sound. Until this movie, Arrival was the best sound experience I had ever had in a cinema. But goodness, the sound mixing and editing here are a delight to the ears - the explosions, Ludwig Göransson's score, and the use of the Geiger counter as a rhythm compass and an element that haunts your consciousness (similar to the ticking clock in 'Dunkirk') - it's such a beautiful experience.

I won't give it a perfect rating because I feel I need to watch it again; at times, some cuts felt too hurried and lacking harmony. Nevertheless, I consider myself fortunate to witness Nolan making a biopic of this level - a top-tier cinematic experience.