I think they’re just doing different things. Story of Your Life is more impactful and meditative over time, but Arrival has a more movie-style pacing and although I find the whole ‘international drama!! war!!’ plot irritating, the fact you don’t realise ‘ah she had the kid with him who’s doomed to die and now she has to grapple with fate and understanding that’ until the very end and it just leaves you on that note - I think that’s really well done.