Denis Villeneuve's "Arrival" unfolds on the screen at The Beverly Theater, bringing its quiet, cerebral take on first contact to this intimate downtown space. The film follows linguist Louise Banks as she attempts to decode the language of visitors who've arrived in massive, otherworldly vessels scattered across the globe, unraveling questions about time, communication, and what it means to truly understand another mind. Amy Adams anchors the story with a performance that trades bombast for something more internal and haunting.

The Beverly's 150-seat theater, with its sharp acoustics and close quarters, suits a film like this one well—much of its power lies in hushed tones, ambient sound design, and the slow build of Jóhann Jóhannsson's score. Watching it here, rather than in a sprawling multiplex, gives the material room to breathe in a way that feels suited to its themes of listening and patience. Afterward, the theater's terrace and cocktail lounge offer a spot to sit with the film's ideas a little longer, which this one tends to leave you wanting to do.