Arrival

Arrival is the best since fiction film since 2014’s Interstellar. It is a smart and simple story told through a fantastic event to ask a simple question and answer it. Amy Adams plays Dr. Louise Banks, the world’s leading linguist who is called upon to help communicate with alien spaceships that have appeared around the world. Coupled with a leading astrophysicist (Jeremy Renner) Dr. Banks begins to translate the alien’s language in order to understand why they have appeared on earth and avoid potential hostile actions.

Both Adams and Renner deliver stellar performances you would expect from Oscar nominated actors. There are few characters in this film and these two carry the film. Additionally, this is the kind of film you want to see in the theater. Not because of big action sequences or special effects, but rather because of this film’s sound design. In a film where communication and language is important, the shuttle sound design becomes a character of its own. It helps elevate this film to the higher tier of science fiction films.

I realize I haven’t given too much description in this review to entice someone who doesn’t like science fiction films, but that is because this film is a simple movie that does not warrant much explanation. Still, I want to stress that like any good science fiction, this film is as much of a drama and mystery as it is science fiction. Which makes it worth a watch to anyone who enjoys a good story that has strong actors.

4.5 out of 5 stars