What Is Your Purpose On Earth? Very meta sci-fi; Adams excels

Rating: 9/10 (13 January 2017)

ARRIVAL (2016) ***1/2 Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Forest Whitaker, Michael Stuhlbarg. Intriguing alien invasion sci-fi drama with bereaved linguist Adams enlisted to decipher the indistinguishable language of the ambiguous creatures who have come to Earth with unknown reasons and instead discovering even more than she has bargained for. Based on Ted Chiang's story "Story of Your Life" the script by Eric Heisserer explores some very meta ideas ("What is your purpose on Earth?" to begin with) while director Denis Villeneuve balances the near documentary-like aesthetic employed thru out. A chill-inducing production design by Patrice Vermette also underscores the prickling sensations of the unknown. Kudos to the nicknames of Abbott & Costello given to the alien duo.