Amy Adams provides a stand out performance in this enthralling, grounded sci-fi thriller

Rating: 10/10 (15 February 2017)

A beautifully balanced story and a compelling cast, 'Arrival' is a modern sci-fi triumph. It is particularly refreshing in the stance that it is not heavily dependent on special effects or futuristic, bombastic violence, nor too complicated in its thematic approach. Moreover, one may say it is "down to Earth", and consistently thrilling, packed with twists and shocks that are not only exhilarating, but also plausible.
Amy Adams' character, Dr Louise Banks, is central to the plot, following her inner struggle with an unfamiliar life which she keeps seeing in her mind, and her linguistic talents enlisted by the military after 12 extra-terrestrial spacecraft arrive unexpectedly in different locations across the planet, with her job being to decipher the alien language. The events unfold delightfully, weaving the sci-fi aspect in with the realism seamlessly using flashbacks and visions to deepen the impact of the burden that Banks is undertaking. The distinction between the present and the visions is presented terrifically, subtly hinting at the eventual reveal that ties the whole narrative together, which in itself is magnificent and sincerely awe-inspiring.
Director Denis Villeneuve could not have picked a better leading female than Amy Adams, who appropriates the clash between her duties and personal issues with assured naturalism. The audience is very much endorsed in Bank's story, to the point where the aliens themselves are never shown in their full profile until she herself sees them. Most importantly, the film focuses much more on her than it does on the extra-terrestrials, and Adams embraces this wonderfully with her remarkable acting, demonstrating an exterior calmness juxtaposed by a tormented and scarred interior. But as a result of this personal connection, Villeneuve has exceeded expectations in terms of dramatic effect, producing a film that is strangely more relatable than most sci-fi films previously.
In addition, the science behind the story is intelligently constructed, leaving few questions out in the open that cannot feasibly be resolved by the explanations given. 'Arrival' is continuously complex yet coherent, primarily due to the strong storytelling provoked by Villeneuve's expressive and mysterious style, seen as well in his former works 'Sicario' and 'Prisoners', which in combination with Eric Heisserer's fluent screenplay (adapted from Ted Chiang's short story 'Story of Your Life') successfully forms an atmospheric and efficacious cinematic experience, making the film believable over anything else, an aspect that the likes of 'Interstellar' ultimately couldn't master.
However, most vitally, 'Arrival' doesn't just deal with the influence of aliens on the world, but rather the impact of humanity. It's this precise balance that makes 'Arrival' an absolutely exceptional display; another fascinating film by Villeneuve and one of the greatest sci-fi films of the modern era.