Contact | Jena Malone, David Morse | Right Down My Alley!

Contact | Jena Malone, David Morse | A tragically overlooked and underrated classic

vhs video:

Contact

	Contact Jena Malone, David Morse Warner Studios, 1997 average customer review:based on 423 reviews view larger image
	for more information click here

highly recommended

Right Down My Alley!

The type of movie I love. It is scifi, rich in mystery! The beginning is very slow. When I watch it now I skip right to the beginning of the action. From there the movie flys. You are truly kept looking for the next clue, the next answer. You want to find out what this is all about. They could have done something different with the conclusion, but I liked the change in the main characters outlook.

A tragically overlooked and underrated classic

Occasionally in sci-fi movie magazines, you'll see articles like "Top 10 Women In Science Fiction," and it's always the predictable fan-fave list of hot babes kicking the butts of vampires, zombies, robots, etc. You never see Jodie Foster in "Contact" on such lists, and that's a shame. Why? Because that would involve an actual WOMAN (an intelligent, mature woman of integrity and subtance, as opposed to a kung-fu sex object on steroids) in an actual SCIENCE FICTION movie (an intelligent, thought-provoking premise, as opposed to yet another action movie in space).

Robert Zemeckis made "Contact" as a follow-up to his record-breaking, critically acclaimed "Forrest Gump," and the two make an oddly matched pair. Both are epic stories centered around a single point-of-view character, one the simple man who takes us on a tour of our past, the other a complex woman who leads us into the future. Foster's performance is easily the equal of Tom Hanks' Oscar-winning turn, but sadly this gem of a film didn't get quite the attention it should. (Possibly because, like "The Abyss," another classic, it was swallowed up in the midst of too many summer blockbusters.)

"Contact" follows in the footsteps (and the high quality) of both "2001: A Space Odyssey" and "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," treating its subject of alien intelligence with serious thought: the most plausible aliens ever put on film are the ones we can't quite see. This leaves us free to use our imaginations -- which far exceed Hollywood's abilities in any event -- but also keeps the focus on the story's most truly important aspect, ourselves and our reactions to the prospect that we are not alone in the universe.

Although the story may sound dry on paper -- there are no ray guns, bug-eyed monsters or flesh-eating mutants in this movie -- the pace is never dull, and there's plenty to keep audiences engrossed, including a large amount of sideshow silliness from the world media, some devious government politicking, a chillingly plausible subplot about religious extremists (with Jake Busey, a dead ringer for his dad Gary), and an exasperatingly funny convention of every UFO-loving nutjob in the western hemisphere.

The cast is uniformly impressive, with charismatic actors like Angela Bassett, David Morse, Tom Skerritt, and the always enjoyable James Woods. Stealing the show (and giving us the pleasure of having 2 "Alien" veterans in the cast) is John Hurt as a manipulative Howard-Hughes-ish recluse whose scenes are few but played with "Silence of the Lambs" intensity and power. Personally, I'm not a big Matthew McConaughey fan, but he serves well as the pseudo-love-interest who quietly challenges the beliefs of Foster's character and makes her (and us) reexamine her deepest motives.

Jodie Foster, however, carries the film's emotional center with aplomb, making herself both admirably resourceful and empathetically flawed in equal amounts. Her emotionally wounded character is driven to delve into the heart of the universe through strictly scientific methods, yet resists any suggestion of religious faith, realizing only at the end that both are flipsides of the same coin. Foster allows this conflict within herself to drive the story as much as the global events occurring around her. (Note, incidentally, the recurring characteristic trait of curling into a protective fetal position while perched on the very edge of something -- a chair, a bed, a porch, a canyon -- and gazing upward and outward even while retreating inward. Nice touch, Ms. Foster!)

The plot is well-developed, with a particularly wicked double-twist ending, and there is some insightful social and philosophical commentary in this movie. But, for sheer thrills, it also boasts the most exciting climactic sequence I saw that entire year, as Foster's character makes the last walk to embark on the journey to end all journeys. And frankly, for the summer of '97, that's saying something!

(P.S.: Can't let this review go by without a nod to author of the book, Carl Sagan. Rest In Peace, Carl, and thanks for the great story!)

for more information click here

Science and reason over myth

In the movie Contact, the brave radio astronomer with SETI, struggles
with her scientifically driven personality, while wondering if there
is anyone else in our cosmos. I identified with Sparks, in that she did
not really believe in god. I came to that same conclusion, while view-
ing this movie. Sometimes people want so badly for something of faith
to be true, that we "mentally invent" such things from within us, while,
in truth, have no "objective reality". For thousands of years, men, and
civilization have been held back by religion and superstition ( magick),
and now we must be courageous enough to break free of the chains of gross
ignorance and step forth into a New Age. If it may be true that man came
from the stars, perhaps, it will one day be our collective destiny to
return to them. Enjoy the movie! May it liberate you as much as it did me.

for more information click here

A Very Well Made Film

This is a very well made film. It is one of my favorites of all time!

Good Flick W Flaws

but doesn't track the novel well. It tries to be less intellectual than Sagan's masterpiece but ironically still falls short in the visceral realm. Jodie Foster's performance is believable yet annoying, 'I did go ...I really did go' she exclaims in the next to final scene and I'm embarrassed for her cause she sounds like an 8 year old. On her last ditch desperate plea for funding to Hadden Industries she has a 'Tom Cruise' moment when she ends her pitch with 'In the history ...of history !' The novel holds more answers and far less gratuitous drama. The movie raises mostly questions. The little power plays reveled in by James Woods(Kits) and Tom Skerritt(Drumland) who in the novel is a definite 'good guy' are written over the top to appeal to a young audience but adults may find them unbelievable to comical. Having pointed out some flaws, I loved the special effects,(as scarce as they were). The huge alien machine was believable and Jodie's little wormhole trip was impressive. The movie also makes you feel something which is a positive. The surreal Pensicola scene with Elie's beloved dad is the best scene in the movie; although it probably won't make you cry unless you can 'crawl inside' Dr. Arroway(Jodie Foster) which I couldn't do.

for more information click here