Denis Villeneuve is fast becoming one of the most interesting directors working in Hollywood. Sicario was my film of last year and with his follow-up, Arrival, he has provided another thought provoking and expertly crafted movie. He, along with screenwriter Eric Heisserer, manages to tread a fine-line by presenting an intelligent sci-fi movie without veering into pretentiousness and a moving human drama about a character’s loss of a child without becoming mawkish.
When 12 alien spaceships land on Earth across various locations in the world, the human race is unsure of how to react. Russia and China seem intent on seeing them as a foe and law and order starts to breakdown. Language expert Louise Banks (Amy Adams) and top scientist Ian Donnelly (Jeremy Renner) are tasked with trying to communicate with the creatures in the craft that has arrived in Montana.
As Louise and Ian slowly begin to understand the alien language, they start to communicate with the visitors and I was utterly enthralled. This may not be a film for everyone. There are no big battle scenes, laser fights, or any of the usual guff associated with this genre. Instead we get an art house film posing as a big blockbuster, with questions such as can time be non-linear and if you can see into the future, what is the role of free will, being examined. It is brilliant stuff.
Adams follows her recent great turn in Nocturnal Animals with another outstanding and very different performance. Warm and empathetic, she is totally convincing. Renner, a rare leading man who can pull off action hero roles and also be believable as a boffin (as he is here) is good too. Of the supporting cast, Michael Stuhlbarg stands out as a CIA operative.
As well as heaping praise on Villeneuve and Heisserer, I must also credit Jóhann Jóhannsson for his score – full of ominous noise and discordant sounds when in the spaceship, but also featuring some beautiful violins when we see Louise’s home life.
It’s hard to think of a better, more satisfying science fiction film since Close Encounters.
Rating: 9 out of 10