Denis Villeneuve has made a name for himself as one of the most talented directors of his generation, and while he has received a lot of attention recently forDune: Part Twoand its predecessor, his 2016 science fiction movie is arguably even better.Denis Villeneuve has many great movies, but his sci-fi films are special standouts. Although Villeneuve’s firstDunemovie was already incredible,Dune: Part Twowas even better.
DespiteDenis Villeneuve’s Oscars snub,Dune: Part Twowas one of the best movies of 2024. It is full of great performances and beautiful cinematography, and it is an impressive adaptation of complex source material. WhileDuneintroduced the character of Paul Atreides and the planets ofDune, Dune: Part Twodelved even deeper to explore the main character’s shift from a hero to a potential villain. WithDune 3on the way, Villeneuve’s career will continue to be associated withDunefor a while. That said, his best sci-fi movie might be 2016’sArrival.
Arrival, Not Dune: Part Two, Is Denis Villeneuve’s Best Sci-Fi Movie
Arrival Has An Incredible Emotional Base That Is Layered With Great Sci-Fi
Dune: Part Twois undeniably a great film, butArrivalis still my favorite Denis Villeneuve movie.Arrivalcenters on the arrival of 12 alien spacecraft at different points of the earth and the race to figure out what it is that the species wants from humanity. In attempting to decipher their messages, the US Army recruits linguist, Louise Banks, and physicist, Ian Donelly, to help understand the circular messages of the aliens. As the film progresses and tensions rise around the globe,Louise develops a connection to the aliens.
Arrivalis a very detailed and complex work of science fiction that is as impressive upon rewatch as it is seeing it for the first time. The plot of Louise and Ian attempting to communicate with the aliens before other countries cut off their connections keeps the film moving, butthe emotional depth of Amy Adam’s performance as Louise is the true heart ofArrival. An incredibly intelligent woman and a mother grieving the loss of her child, Adams' Louise is a woman whose desire and loss lead her to a discovery that changes everything.
From close-up emotional moments for the characters to sweeping scenes,Arrivalis an all-around beautiful movie.
On the whole,Arrivalis incredibly emotional and feels incredibly human. Its characters are imperfect, but still likable and relatable, making audiences want to root for their success. Even beyond the emotional basis of the film,Arrivalis also beautifully shot. From close-up emotional moments for the characters to sweeping scenes,Arrivalis an all-around beautiful movie with an incredibly clever story.
Arrival & Dune 2 Both Highlight A Major Villeneuve Strength
Both Films Are Visually Beautiful
ArrivalandDune: Part Twoboth have very entertaining plots, but it is truly Denis Villeneuve’s talent as a visual storyteller that brings them to life. As a director,Villeneuve is much more focused on using what is on the screen as a visual languageto create emotional impact and move the plot along rather than dialogue. For bothDune: Part TwoandArrival, Villeneuve takes the source material and uses the imagery that those books create to move the story along, creating very strong and visually intriguing films.
Bradford Young was the director of photography forArrival, while Greig Fraser was the director of photography forDune: Part Two.
In fact,Villeneuve himself has expressed his feelings toward dialogue, arguing that “pure image and sound [are] the power of cinema.” While this admission is certainly still clear fromDune: Part Two, Arrivalperfectly encapsulates the director’s sentiment.Because the film is so strongly about communication,Arrivalrequired a very strong visual languageto bring it to completion in a way that was widely comprehensible to audiences. The aliens' language is understood so clearly through its visual presentation that the movie would not truly work without Villeneuve’s skill at bringing it to life.
Denis Villeneuve Is The Current Sci-Fi Movie Master
His Sci-Fi Works Speak For Themselves
While Denis Villeneuve has made some really great thrillers as well, there is no denying that he is one of the best sci-fi directors working today. Both of theDunemovies are incredible, and the third is sure to join those ranks. Still,Arrivalis such a unique science fiction story, and it is strengthened by Villeneuve’s direction and the emotional performances. Beyond these three films, Villeneuve also directedBlade Runner 2049in 2017, marking another very strong addition to the genre and a worthy if imperfect follow-up to the original.
“This Is Why Everybody Loves Working With You”: Amy Adams Recounts The Moment Filming Arrival When She Knew She Could Always Trust Denis Villeneuve
Amy Adams reveals the exact moment she knew she could fully trust Denis Villeneuve when they were working on the 2016 movie Arrival together.
All of Denis Villeneuve’s science fiction movies are visually diverse, yet the style is always undeniably his. Unsurprisingly, Villeneuve’s sci-fi movies have been met with strong praise across the board. While I lovedDune: Part Twoand cannot wait forDune 3, I’m also excited to see what Denis Villeneuve will do after that, regardless if it’s sci-fi or not.
Dune: Part Two
Cast
Dune: Part Two continues the epic saga of Paul Atreides as he allies with Chani and the Fremen. Pursuing retribution for his family’s devastation, Paul grapples with a significant decision impacting his personal desires and the universe’s future, attempting to avert a dire destiny that only he anticipates.
Arrival
Arrival is a science fiction film centered on linguist Louise Banks, who is recruited by the military after alien spacecraft land across the globe. Tasked with determining the extraterrestrials' intentions, she embarks on a critical mission to decipher their complex language, exploring themes of communication and time.
