Denis Villeneuve’s Best (And Highest-Rated) Sci-Fi Is Not Dune, but This 8-Year-Old Gem
Your perfect watch was out there all along.
Science fiction is one of the most favorite genres and it doesn’t matter if we are talking about cinema, TV or what started it all – books. And it’s no wonder why: the worlds explored in stories of the genre are so different but equally unique and that mere fact keeps attracting more and more viewers.
Not every director has the guts to work in the genre, but Denis Villeneuve is one of those who doesn’t shy away from the big picture. Everybody has at least heard about his Dune released in 2021 and recently premiered Dune: Part Two.
Both movies were highly appreciated by both critics and viewers and are considered one of the best sci-fi films ever created. However, those movies are not the highest rated world of Villeneuve.
The movie Arrival, released in 2016, has a 94% score on Rotten Tomatoes and it’s not a coincidence. Featuring Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, and Forest Whitaker, the movie is actually considered to be the director’s best flick in the genre. Arrival even brought him his first Best Director nomination at the Oscars!
The film follows Amy Adams' character Louise Banks, a linguistics expert, as she is hired by the U.S. government to establish a base of communication with the aliens from twelve alien ships that have landed on Earth.
As the story develops, we get to understand that a global war is not far from happening, and with that in mind, Banks’ task becomes even more dangerous and important as well. She and her group of investigators will have to use all the human power they have to stop the war from happening.
The fans of the movie mention Amy Adams being absolutely stunning in her role and giving the most emotional and heartfelt performance. The movie is really a complex watch, it can seem sad, but still gives hope for a better future.
“There wasn’t a moment during the film I wasn’t fully invested and interested. Amy Adams, as usual, is so enchanting on the screen. She’s so authentic and fully embodies her character. The build up to the climax was intense and exciting and the sort of “reveal” at the end of the movie is done so well. It’s not predictable until the end and ties such a perfect knot onto the film,” Redditor Successful_Map4660 said.
If you want to check it out, Arrival is available to stream on Prime and Netflix.