Villeneuve is masterful, but hints on mainstream while missing some opportunities

Rating: 9/10 (17 November 2016)

Aliens, first contact, language and non-linear or circular time are all the elements of great science-fiction films like Contact (1997) and Interstellar (2014) which prevail in Arrival (2016) which just arrived in theatres last week.
Three of Steven Spielberg's sci-fi movies deal with first contact: Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977), E.T. the Extra- Terrestrial (1982) and War of the Worlds (2005). They all approach it very differently. Here Denis Villeneuve who's last five films I have enjoyed immensely does a superb job with the material and keeps it edgy and unconventional. He focuses on the unorthodox methods and wonder of linguist Dr. Louise Banks, played by Amy Adams, while she tries to decipher the intentions of aliens arriving on Earth.
The movie is getting rave reviews by critics and moviegoers alike and I am proud as a Quebec native myself and a fan of the humble and fantastic filmmaker. However, I must admit a few things prevented me from connecting completely with the characters and the narrative here. The science and language part are well dealt with and with occasional humour, but I am very critical about the constant military framework and the claustrophobic feel that does not insight fear or more importantly enough wonder.
Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) and even more so Zemeckis'Contact (1997) had at their core wonder and danger. Jodie Foster's portrayal of Ellie has a deep passion, reverence and awe about her opportunity to be the primary first contact human that I didn't quite find in Louise's matter-of-fact character
Forest Whitaker is underused and almost one-dimensional, while Jeremy Renner delivers as Ian, but is no Matthew McConaughey. It is possible that no science-fiction movie will equal the elevation of Contact, but if a director could have done it, I had my bets or hopes on Villeneuve. He seemed happy with the script by Eric Heisserer, but I think it could have been better adapted from Ted Chiang's short story I have admittedly not read yet.
I did not connect with any character. Did we need more screen time to get to know General Shang (Tzi Ma)'s perspective and related to the fear? Could the daughter scenes capture more moving and relevant elements? The movie remained intellectual, but I did not get the emotional and visceral part.
I was hoping brilliant composer and Villenuve's partner in crime, Jóhann Jóhannsson, could help simultaneously alienate and intrigue us. Perhaps help make us fear and feel, but he lacks his usual swagger here and Max Richter in facts provides the best sonic complement with its song "On the Nature of Daylight" also used by Scorcese in Shutter Island (2010) which Villeneuve integrates to the compelling opening, but that somehow lost some of its appeal by the end reprise when some elements and emotions do not quite fit.
Again the militaristic feel worked well in Sicario (2015), but I found it had less it's place here or should have been better balanced not to end up as a caricature if showing pacific and scientific aims may have higher values was a goal.
The major plot twist and the climax worked well. The scene when Louise actively confronts the chain of command is riveting, but contrasted to lackluster other scenes where Louise drifts off and does her thing almost as an afterthought. Her character often shows ambivalence, but does best when it turns into conviction.
So there is a lot of good film material in here, but just not the masterpiece it could have been for me for these reasons. Perhaps the editing by best of class Joe Walker did not present the story in the right way for me either. I will even try another viewing eventually, but I can only hope Blade Runner 2049 who should be about done filming now in Fall (with Roger Deakins who was missing in this project!! - no offence to young and gifted Bradford Young) delivers more punch next year.
In the meantime, Zemeckis' Allied (2016) comes out next week which could be riveting drama and Star Wars: Rogue One (2016) hits theatres next month for more sci-fi. Happy November!