Watch Arrival

Arrival is a science-fiction movie directed by Denis Villeneuve and starring Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, and Forest Whitaker. The movie is based on a short story by Ted Chiang called "Story of Your Life." This film is unlike any alien invasion movie that you may have seen. The film doesn't dwell on the usual explosions and destruction that come with an alien invasion. Instead, the story is more focused on communication and language.

The plot of Arrival revolves around Louise Banks (Amy Adams), a linguistics professor who is approached by US Army Colonel Weber (Forest Whitaker) to help in deciphering a communication system from an alien race that has landed on Earth. Louise is asked to translate the alien language, and her job is to find out why the aliens have come to Earth. She is asked to work alongside Ian Donnelly (Jeremy Renner), a theoretical physicist, in their mission.

As Louise and Ian make progress, the U.S. military begins to lose patience, and countries around the world start positioning their armies. Tensions rise as countries start to see the ships as a threat, and the aliens inside them, as potential invaders. Louise is tasked with not just figuring out the language of these beings but also to learn more about their space-time abilities. To accomplish this, she must gain their trust to communicate effectively.

Throughout the movie, Arrival transitions between Louise's past and present life, which brings us to understand a deeper meaning behind the overall story. Her memories and emotions merge with her understanding of the language, and the time she spends with the aliens helps her empathize with them.

Amy Adams's performance is remarkable, and she undoubtedly leads the story in the film. She creates an immersive and emotional portrayal of Louise, as she transitions from a skeptical character starting her mission to a deeply empathetic and compassionate one. Adams has an incredible ability to convey emotion, and she uses this well throughout the film - this stands out in the final act of the movie.

Jeremy Renner plays Ian, a theoretical physicist who accompanies and helps Louise throughout the film. Forest Whitaker plays the military officer who is in charge of the mission. His character is portrayed as one with a sense of urgency due to the fraught geopolitical situation, and his role is critical in most scenes that take place on the ground.

One of the most striking things about Arrival is its visual style. The movie uses a minimalist approach to design, and the movie's color scheme is mostly blue and gray to depict a bleak, uncertain future. The craft that the aliens arrived in is unique, and the way it sits suspended above the ground is awe-inspiring. The design of the aliens is also arresting - they remind us of real creatures but are equally alien and abstract.

The score, which was composed by Johann Johannsson, is an integral part of the movie's haunting atmosphere. Johannsson's music is sweeping, bold, and ambient, and it creates an immersive experience that complements the film's visuals more than just a regular score. There are some moments where the score falls away, quite literally, and it's those silences that amplify the tension and emotion portrayed in the scene.

In conclusion, Arrival is a mesmerizing and poignant movie that is a refreshing take on the alien invasion genre. With impeccable performances by the three leads, Denis Villeneuve's direction, and a story that is not just intriguing but also thought-provoking, Arrival is an incredible experience that deserves to be seen. Its strengths lie not just in its premise but the director's ability to create empathetic scenes that push our understanding of language, time, and communication. We highly recommend you give this movie your time and attention.

Arrival is a 2016 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 56 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.9 and a MetaScore of 81.