Review of Contact (1997) by Marti T — 20 Apr 2010

(from The Watermark, 07/20/97).

Robert Zemeckis' film version of Carl Sagan's novel is truly out of this world. Most Hollywood films don't take half the risks that this film does, and ultimately they all pay off. First off, the film has a main character who is an Atheist. Foster is an astronomer who can only believe those things for which there is concrete proof and scientific evidence. She is in pursuit of making contact with life from other planets and galaxies. Though many people believe her work to be a wild goose chase, she perseveres with her wholehearted belief that Earthlings are not the only form of life in outer space. She finally does discover some signals being transmitted from a galaxy 26,000 light years away, and the transmission is found to be schematic drawings for some kind of transporter. The governments of the world pool their funds and build the thing. Foster is one of the prime candidates for the journey, except that her religious non-beliefs are problematic: how do you send an Atheist as a representative of the human race when 95% of us believe in some form of a God? This same conflict arises in her personal life in a semi-romance with McConaughey, a reporter and theologist, where the two potential lovers find themselves at spiritual odds.

Not many Hollywood films would attempt to tackle the theme of Science vs. Religion, nor could many directors other than Zemeckis make it so entertaining without getting preachy. (The film eventually asserts that the two are not as diametrically opposed as one may think.) He even revisits his Forrest Gump mode by integrating President Clinton into the story via computer graphics. Foster's commanding presence capably walks the line of intensity and affability. She also has the help of a talented supporting cast, including James Woods, Tom Skerritt, and Angela Bassett. But the biggest challenge of the film is when Foster finally makes the journey to another world. (Remember the hideous ending of The Abyss, where a realism-based film missteps into the world of fantasy? Eeeek!) But, fear not: Sagan's story is tight enough, and Zemeckis integrates the outer space journey into the rest of the film just fine. Contact has what other summer films don't - the special effects, the story, and a theme that could conceivably achieve a cinematic impossibility: making the audience think about an important issue to humanity. Polish off the Oscars. QUEER QUOTIENT: Foster and McConaughey - a dream team for gay moviegoers of all genders! Something for the girls, and something for the boys. They only have one scene in bed, but their faces are so beautiful, we can forgive the film for not including a gratuitous nude scene or two.

POST-REVIEW 04/21/10: I know this film has come under fire over the years (I recall references on SNL and South Park about its 'crappy ending'), but over time this film sticks with me and remains one of my all-time favorites, easily on my Top 10 Favorite Movies Of All Time List (which one of these days I should compile, eh?).