Denis Villeneuve is on fire. I loved his first three English language films: the dark thriller Prisoners, the cerebral Enemy, and the suspenseful, gritty Sicario. I’ve been excited all year for Arrival, his venture into science fiction, especially as he’s set to direct the 2017 sequel to Blade Runner.
Arrival is a modern-day story of alien ships suddenly appearing in twelve random locations on Earth. But instead of making for the nearest historical landmark with lasers and heat rays blazing, they simply sit and wait. That’s when linguist Dr. Louise Banks (Amy Adams) is contacted to find a way to communicate with our visitors, and ultimately find out why they’re here.
I found the premise alone intriguing, but what surprised me was how this central mystery is sufficient to drive most of the plot. The world is divided over how to deal with the situation and our characters go about their jobs, all while massive ominous ships hover in the countryside. But just why are they here? You’ll be guessing and questioning everything that happens right up until the finale.
What I love most about the plot of Arrival is just how grounded in reality it is. Where do you even start in trying to communicate with a race of off-world origin? The necessary logical leaps in the plotting are never too far off what might actually happen, not to mention the reaction of the mass public and media being pretty on-point. The UN currently has no formal policy or protocol for addressing alien contact – Arrival will make you wonder whether we need one.
The perfect pacing also generates oodles of suspense with barely any violence or direct threat. The driving-question of the film kept me on my toes right the way through. Even as time goes by and our characters work slowly towards their goal, I still felt a constant sense of urgency. This is spectacular filmmaking and typifies Villeneuve’s talent for creating tension from almost nothing.
That’s not his only talent, either. Arrival looks incredible. Every shot of the ships gave me chills. It never forgets to be awe-inspiring, but as these foreign objects hang motionless in thin air, there’s also an inescapable sense of dread. It’s all emphasised by a score that’s haunting but never too intense, and stunning sound design that, like the visuals, find the beautiful balance between terror and amazement.
Technical aspects out of the way, this is also a film with plenty of heart. Amy Adams is once again superb as the gifted, troubled linguist wrestling with her own fears while providing a voice of empathy whenever the military want to step in. Her emotionally gripping story is almost as strong as the sci-fi themes. That’s not to say there’s a disconnect between them, either – in the finale is a payoff that’s as emotionally resonant as it is fascinating.
I don’t have a bad thing to say about it. My sole scepticism going into Arrival was the casting of Jeremy Renner. I don’t like him. But even he was fine. I wouldn’t have minded Edward Norton or someone but I certainly can’t take anything away from the film for that!
Arrival is a powerful sci-fi film with a satisfying emphasis on character and ideas instead of being reliant on action. There’s suspense without violence and engaging storytelling that’ll leave a lasting impression. I have no doubt that Arrival will stand alongside the likes of District 9 and Children of Men as one of the great science fiction films of this century. After its thrilling and emotional conclusion, you’ll think about it for days afterwards. You’ve never seen a film like this one, so get out there and watch it..
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