Science of the Human Condition Makes an ‘Arrival’

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CHICAGO – The film genre of aliens from other planets is as old as the movies. But it hasn’t been told as boldly and humanely as the new film “Arrival.” Its theme is communication, and how this interaction relates to the concept of the life cycle. Yes, it’s lofty, but it is also edge-of-the-seat engaging.

The film celebrates science, and the subtlety of the human mind, but it is also empathetic and relatable. Our thoughts and our memories are all based on the language that we learn, or what we accept from the language of others. The human beings are trying to find out why a series of a dozen alien crafts have come to earth, but in that that panic they may be missing the point. Sometimes different questions have to be asked, and different roads need to be taken. That is part of thought process, and our eventual memories that result from the process. The film takes this all on in an emotional and moral way, and is a great tonic for a difficult week in history.

Dr. Louise Banks (Amy Adams) is the world’s top linguist (an interpreter of languages and the symbols of communication). When a dozen “ships” from outer space invade different locations around the world, Dr. Banks is recruited by army specialist Colonel Weber (Forest Whitaker) to find out why they came here. She is joined at one landing space in Montana by Ian Donnelly (Jeremy Renner), a physicist and mathematician.

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Dr. Louise Banks (Amy Adams) Ponders a Destiny in ‘Arrival’
Photo credit: Paramount Studios

The creatures in the ship are fascinated by Dr. Brooks approach, and soon a quasi-language is developed. The other eleven locations around the world at first share this intelligence, but a panic develops due to different interpretations, and the U.S. has implanted CIA Agent Halpern (Michael Stuhlbarg) to monitor the situation. Panic evolves to attack mode when the China location, led by General Shang (Tzi Ma), chooses to go offline, and a war upon the aliens seems imminent.


This film is both intelligent and suspenseful, and rewards the interaction of the audience with a thrilling and emotionally symbolic journey. The film begins deliberately, with a step-by-step path through the process of the language development, and the intrigue of the “whys” of the alien’s presence. This is paired with the background noise of the mistrust of a eleven other nations, a random set of landing sites that is more fascinating with the cacophony of different languages that come through the video link-up in the command center.

The performances are blessedly earnest, the type of role playing that heightens the atmosphere. Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner are perfectly matched as scientists, as their inherent curiosity about solving the dilemma creates a teamwork that has a rooting interest. The underrated Forest Whitaker is an MVP as well, taking his military character to heights of morality-in-the-mission that is nearly perfect, even as the wheels start to come off the world’s cooperation. Michael Stuhlbarg proves once again why he is one of the best character actors working today – his CIA agent is captured in a machine-like personality.

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Close Encounters of the Language Kind in ‘Arrival’
Photo credit: Paramount Studios

The deliberate build up culminates in a roller coaster ride by the end, and director Denis Villeneuve weaves a humanity into the conclusions that is fast becoming a trademark, like previous films “Sicario,” “Prisoners” and “Incendies.” He reminds us in this story of how everything we do can contribute to somewhere, and that outside forces are influential to our inner processes and travels.

This is a rich and creative tale – based on a novel appropriately entitled “Story of Your Life” by Ted Chiang – and it may simply be saying that throughout the happenstances of life, our sense of it all is part of whatever destination we choose to generate, and we’ll all eventually get to that arrival.

”Arrival” opens everywhere November 11th. Featuring Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Michael Stuhlberg, Forest Whitaker and Tzi Ma. Screenplay by Eric Heisserer, from the novel by Tim Chiang. Directed by Denis Villeneuve. Rated “PG-13”

HollywoodChicago.com senior staff writer Patrick McDonald

By PATRICK McDONALD
Writer, Editorial Coordinator
HollywoodChicago.com
pat@hollywoodchicago.com

© 2016 Patrick McDonald, HollywoodChicago.com

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