Arrival: Who’s on First?
It’s the day after and I’m still processing the events of Arrival, the new film by Denis Villeneuve. Atmospheric and chilling, Arrival is one of those films that grabs you from the outset and never lets go. For a film where nothing much “happens,” Arrival feels like a gripping drama, with top-notch performances from all involved.
This review will be spoiler-free. I went into the movie blind and I recommend that you do too. The film opens on Dr. Louise Banks (Amy Adams) and her daughter Hannah. In the first several minutes we learn that Hannah has a rare disease, causing her to die at a young age. Fast forward to present day. Dr. Banks is teaching when news comes in of the aliens’ arrival. Twelve ships have landed at strategic locations all over the world. Enter Colonel Weber (Forest Whitaker). The Colonel enlists Dr. Banks’ help in deciphering the alien language. She’s helped by another civilian recruit: Ian Donnelly (Jeremy Renner). Together, Doctors Banks and Donnelly need to find out the aliens’ purpose, and soon. While they’re working, so are teams around the planet. And some teams might have secret interests.
If you’re looking for the polar opposite to alien-invasion movies such as Independence Day, then Arrival is for you. The aliens’ motives are unknown and undetermined for much of the movie. Are they benevolent? Are they invaders? It’s up to the linguistics team to determine, and they don’ have much time. While they’re civilians, Banks and Donnelly are under the military’s direction. Colonel Weber is under constant pressure to discover the aliens’ intentions. But as Banks argues, language doesn’t work like that. To understand intent, you need to start with the basics.
The theme of communication and miscommunication runs right through Arrival. The last five minutes of Star Trek: First Contact, when Vulcans and humans exchange greetings for the first time, is the main focus of Arrival. There’s no universal translator here. Banks’ translations are slow and deliberate. She won’t bow to military pressure. All credit goes to Amy Adams here. As Dr. Louise Banks, Adams is quiet and intense. The gravity of her job weighs heavily on her and it shows. There’s a lot of small moments throughout the movie where Adams conveys her terror, from blank stares to hand trembles.
Adams’ co-conspirator, Jeremy Renner, is also well cast here. Where Adams shows her fear in silence, Renner’s fear comes out in nervous tics and laughter. Renner’s role is largely supportive, but he uses the screen time well. Kudos also to Forest Whitaker, playing world-weary Colonel Weber. Whitaker has two jobs here: motivate his team to unlock the alien language and protect American interests. He also needs to placate the CIA, represented by Agent Halpern (Michael Sthulbarg).
The cinematography and music also deserve mention. The best parts of Arrival take place in stillness, or with sparse musical arrangements. Quebec is the filming location, standing in for Montana, and the sparse expanse is breathtaking.
There’s so much more to the movie at makes Arrival one of those rare movies that requires repeated viewing. The plot twist at the end is a true twist, at the same time unexpected and revelatory. It throws everything from the first half of the film into question. If you’re a fan of cerebral science fiction and beautifully shot movies, then Arrival should be on your radar.
Arrival tl;drs
Quick summary: When 12 alien vessels appear all over the world, the US military enlists Dr. Louise Banks (Amy Adams) to communicate with the aliens. But she’s up against the clock, as other world governments don’t view the aliens as entirely trustworthy.
Too many writers? Just one: Eric Heisserer, based on Ted Chiang’s short story. Heisserer is no stranger to adaptations. He previously wrote the reboots of both The Thing and A Nightmare on Elm Street.
Recommended if you like: Gravity, Con tact, Primer, or any other science-fiction movie that doesn’t feature a big alien battle.
Better than I expected? Amazing performances from everyone in the main cast.
Worse than I hoped? One or two plot points feel a touch predictable, walking the fine line between foreshadowing and cliche,
Verdict: Intense, breathtaking, and cerebral, Arrival is a welcome addition to the recent series of thinky sci-fi films to have gotten wide release. A must see.
Related Reading: Wiki article
“Story of Your Life” by Ted Chiang, the short story Arrival is based on.
