Review of Contact (1997) by Kris H — 05 Jan 2012

Contact is a thought provoking sci-fi film drama that honestly surprised me with its themes and ideas. It takes in ideas that maybe man kind is not ready for a greater truth. The film is not perfect by any means, it actually is very stupid at some moments but that did not change the good things abot the movie.

The story follows Ellie (Jodie Foster) who has had a life long dream to discover the secrets of the universe. When she discovers signs of possible alien life she begins a worldwide scandal that might change everything we think we know about the universe.

The plot is where the film succeeds and fails at the same time. It not only shows us what we a possibility of an experience of first contact, it also takes in spiritual beliefs such as God, as I am a Christain I really understood the beliefs of Mathew McCaughnahey's character and how the rest of the world is in despair because 95% of the world believs in a higher power, so could we really handle a truth like this. But at the same time the film has some very good plot holes to fill, and an example of one is how they somehow built another secret billion dollar machine in Japan, and that is just one of the few huge questions left unanswered. But I really respected the ideas and thoughts I was given during the film so if you like to think big then you need to see Contact.

The cast was good, I did not see a performance I can complain about espically Jodie Foster who played a great role. Jodie Foster could have fooled me because its like she plays a scientist so well and I really enjoyed her. Mathew McCaughnahey played a great role as well and I always just find him very likable. The rest of the cast all did good performances but nothing Oscar worthy.

The special effects were also pretty amazing. The begining of the movie is just beautiful and the end of the film with Jodie Fosters journey is truly remarkable. It was Oscar worthy effects if you want my honest opinion.

Contact is like no movie you will ever see. Only film willing to ask questions like this are Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey and Steven Spielbergs Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Those two films are much better than Contact with story but they all equal with the massive questions they ask which makes them all great. I really enjoyed this film even with its problems, and I am surprised so many people are so critical of it.