From IMDB:

When twelve mysterious spacecraft appear around the world, linguistics professor Louise Banks is tasked with interpreting the language of the apparent alien visitors.

Netflix sent me the DVD for this film.

Despite the introductory rating which cautions children under 13,  probably there are very few children that young that could maintain their interest in this somewhat cerebral sci-fi adventure. However, yours truly was fascinated by the non-sensational approach to the events.

Of course, news reports abound describing hysterical looting, school closings, and military posturing.  But for the most part the investigators brought in by the government engage in calm conversations centering around linguistics. Just how, in fact, would you communicate with aliens who are just so inconsiderate as  to not speak English?

Aliens, at least these large octopus-like septapods (7 legs), seem to have a non-linear concept of time quite different from our own notions. Matching this non-linear theme are all the out-of-sync portions of this film. From this point on you will have to suspend a whopping portion of disbelief.  Linguistics professors Louise Banks, played beautifully  by Amy Adams, and Ian Donnelly, played by Jeremy Renner, quickly unravel the language puzzle. To which I say “HUMBUG!” Moreover Louise can conveniently see into the future and has “suffered” from that ability for most of her life, possibly without fully appreciating her giftedness. This fact accounts for the puzzling and challenging film sequencing. But it also adds charm and the essential elements needed to draw the story to a satisfying conclusion (to which I refuse to even hint) which offers clever twists and turns.

Sensible and satisfying sci-fi.