Zane Zaminski (Charlie Sheen), an obsessive astronomer who doesn’t pay enough attention to his girlfriend, detects a transmission that he’s sure comes from an alien intelligence. He’s quickly fired, but he won’t give up searching and is soon on to a secret that could mean his life.
Quick Review: Directed by David Twohy (Pitch Black, The Chronicles of Riddick), The Arrival is a nicely made little alien invasion flick. Charlie Sheen defies expectations and pulls off being a scientist. The rest of the cast is as good or better. The effects are excellent, if not spectacular, but then it’s not a film going for spectacle. Twohy’s direction is flawless, making the most of his modest budget with impressive shots.
The problem, if it is one, is that this is a well made film about not much. Once I’ve said that aliens are invading, I’ve covered the story. In the 1950s or ’60s, this would have been an extraordinary picture, but by the mid ’90s, this story has been covered in myriad variations, and The Arrival doesn’t go for anything novel. If you’ve watched a few episodes of The X-Files, then this is well traveled territory.