An emotionally, narratively and visually spectacular sci-fi drama.

Rating: 10/10 (10 November 2016)

Non-action science fiction films are becoming rarer than hen's teeth in mainstream cinema, usually skipping the big screen for a video-on-demand release due to their tight budgets. The one-two punch of this year's Midnight Special and Arrival will hopefully change that. Fresh off the modern masterpiece that is Sicario, director Denis Villeneuve again showcases his incredible talent by crafting a deeply thought-provoking motion picture that credits its audience with the sort of intelligence and maturity so few movies are willing to do. When alien spaceships appear in 12 random locations around the globe, the international community must band together to figure out who controls these vessels and, more importantly, what their purpose on Earth is. Enter Dr. Louise Banks (Amy Adams – amazing), a professor of language who is brought in to communicate with the extra-terrestrials aboard the spacecraft situated in Montana. Banks has her own personal problems though, with memories of her dead daughter permeating throughout her thoughts. These two coinciding plots are handled with immense care and precision, ultimately bringing an intense poignancy to the overall story that culminates in a fantastic final act twist. The unpredictability of the reveal is inarguably clever, but it's the extra layer of emotional depth it adds that really hits home. The imagery is spectacular too: the alien vessels are simple yet beautiful; the squid-like creatures are simultaneously frightening and graceful; and the gravity-defying environment inside the ship is presented with subtle wonder. The icing on the cake is the profound auditory experience that the film offers, with the glorious, otherworldly sound design and an affecting, sonorous score conducted by Jóhann Jóhannsson (whose Sicario score should've won the Oscar earlier this year). A contemplative movie that eschews big budget action for provocative musing, Arrival is a tense, emotional and utterly gripping sci-fi drama.