It couldn t be a better time for the escapism provided by a good alien invasion story, which is why the Cinema Society’s screening of Arrival Tuesday night at the Metrograph was a welcome trip to the movies. Hosted by Spike Jonze with star Amy Adams, the event brought out the likes of Sienna Miller, Christina Hendricks, Patti Smith, Trevor Noah, and Vogue’s Sally Singer. If any of them were expecting typical sci-fi fare from the new Denis Villeneuve–directed film, they walked away pleasantly surprised.
“I honestly am left a little speechless,” said Hendricks moments after the screening, as guests sipped on drinks at Metrograph’s ’20s-era lounge upstairs. Was it comparable to other alien movies? “It’s different in every way. It’s so subtle and introspective.” Director and screenwriter Paul Haggis had similar words of praise. “I thought the acting was sensational, and I thought the filmmaking was incredibly brave. That was one of the first times I’ve seen a movie about this subject that left me satisfied yet curious.”
For star Amy Adams—in a Roland Mouret dress and Jimmy Choo shoes—the beauty of Arrival is that it isn’t about aliens at all. “I was compelled by this idea that science fiction creates a universe in which anything can happen,” she said. That kind of narrative flexibility lends itself surprisingly well to character-driven stories. “Like most science-fiction films that I respond to, it’s more about human nature than about the science-fiction part of it.” How did she face the challenge of acting across computer-generated aliens? “In the end, it takes a lot of trust with the director and the visual-effects team. A film about trust and communication takes a lot of trust and communication,” she laughs. With Arrival’s stunning visuals and a remarkable performance from its lead, it’s clear trust was in the right hands.