The major motion picture “Arrival,” written by Eric Heisserer and based on the 1998 science fiction novella “Story of Your Life” by Ted Chiang, hit U.S. theaters Nov. 11. The movie received a 93 percent critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes and earned third place in the box office during its opening weekend, according to Box Office Mojo.

The film is centered around Louise Banks, portrayed by Amy Adams of “Man of Steel.” Banks is an ingenious linguist and college professor who is recruited by the American military when the Earth is spontaneously flanked by a dozen extraterrestrial vessels. As the film progresses, Adams’ character spends an increasing amount of time inside the ominous alien ship located in rustic Montana. Here, she attempts to decipher the visitors’ language and answer the questions assigned by her employers.

Forest Whitaker, star of Lee Daniels’ “The Butler,” plays United States Army Colonel Weber, who is sent to collect Banks. During their helicopter ride towards the spacecraft, he lays out her objective: “Priority one: what do they want? Where are they from?”

According to IMDb, Adams is coming off two consecutive Golden Globe wins in 2014 and 2015 for “American Hustle”and “Big Eyes,” respectively. Her powerhouse performance in “Arrival” could lead to her first Oscar after five previous Academy nods and subsequent losses.

The combination of Adams’ poignant performance and the contemplative mood set by “Sicario” director Denis Villeneuve provides a scintillating look into a unique relationship between humans and extraterrestrials in this psychological drama.

Don’t buy tickets to this film if you’re looking for an action-packed alien invasion epic to get your heart racing. This movie strays from stereotypical science fiction glory and violence, proving to be a purely emotional and intellectual story about a woman who discovers herself through extraordinary circumstances.