A truly masterful film

Rating: 10/10 (6 January 1999)

Contact is one of the best films I have ever seen. I would strongly encourage anyone who sees this movie to also read Carl Sagan's novel. While Sagan remains one of my heroes and one of the greatest popularizers of science, frankly Contact the novel was a disappointment. Although the underlying story was brilliant, Sagan includes just a bit too much technical jargon even for someone with a background in astronomy. However, reading the novel gives some much needed background and fills in a few gaps that the film leaves out.
The best thing about Contact was Jodie Foster's performance. Throughout the film she captures perfectly the essence of Ellie Arroway: a brave, sincere, lonely (but ever-optimistic), STRONG woman. The scenes beginning from the launch of the Machine and ending with Arroway's return to Earth are some of the most well-acted scenes I have ever viewed. Foster's looks, her words and emotions, are more sincere than some people ever get in real life. I weep openly every time I watch. Foster deserved an Oscar for her stellar performance, but to my knowledge she wasn't even nominated. The rest of the characters in the movie aren't nearly as strong, but passable. Interestingly, in the novel Palmer Joss's character was more like the suicidal bomber, though not as extreme. (I was really looking forward to seeing the huge tattoo of the Earth that Palmer Joss had on his chest, but I guess Matthew McConaghey said no!)
Although not completely scientifically accurate, Contact was probably as close as Hollywood will ever come, apart from 2001: A Space Odyssey. This film gives a really good glimpse inside the world of radio astronomy, and what SETI (The Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence) has been doing for years. In fact one of SETI's most prominent figures, Jill Tarter, noted that this movie was "almost my life." If we ever do make contact with another intelligence in the Universe, it will probably happen the way it does in this film (advances in technology aside). And to anyone who complained about the alien, please, just stick with Independence Day and the like from now on. Obviously the point of this film completely passed you by.
Contact is a masterful vision of what we all hope for in life- to find some meaning. Whether it be through religion or science, Contact shows us that the two need not be in conflict. While this may be seen by some as a Hollywood sugar-coating of the issue, it heartens me to see the two sides reconciled. I sincerely hope that this story is one day played out in our world (preferably in my lifetime!)