Most people have a mental image of what an alien might look like. But have you ever considered what one might sound like?
Language, and its nuances, dominates “Arrival,” the latest film from director Denis Villeneuve, slated for wide release Friday, Nov. 11. It’s been hailed by critics as a sort of “Independence Day” with glasses—a smart alien contact film that warrants our time, money and brain cells, despite the worn-out theme.
Note the muted connotation of the title: “Arrival” strikes a more ambiguous note than, say, “War of the Worlds.” Twelve extraterrestrial ships have landed around the globe. What do they want? Hugs or harm? And, more pressingly, how can we find out, given they speak a language unpronounceable by humans?
Amy Adams plays a celebrated linguist tapped by the military to translate the aliens’ speech and determine their intentions—before violence erupts. “We need to make sure that they understand the difference between a weapon and a tool,” her character Dr. Louise Banks said. “Language is messy and sometimes one can be both.”
Ian Donnelly (Jeremy Renner) lends a hand as a theoretical physicist, and Colonel Weber (Palisadian Forest Whitaker) oversees the military aspect of the operation.
Light on CGI and big explosions; Michael Bay devotees may want to sit this one out.
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