Terrific and moving...

Rating: 9/10 (21 March 2004)

A combination of high concept science fiction and faith, this film is groundbreaking in several ways. Without the religious/faith elements, it would have been one of the few pure science fiction films Hollywood has released in the past 50 years. As it is, I like the way the script combines and synthesizes the elements of sci-fi and religion, making each seem more meaningful than it would be by itself -- a fitting tribute to Carl Sagan. It's hard to imagine this film as pure science fiction, but I don't think it would be nearly as entertaining and thought provoking if it were.
** Some spoilers **
The element of wonder and surprise is, for me, what really made this film. The moment when 'Ellie' walks across the bridge to the spacecraft is one of the most awe inspiring moments in film history -- think of it, risking one's life in an unknown device built for unknown reasons and it will do who knows what? It's an incredible moment of suspense and wonder.
The film gets weaker in the last half hour, after 'Ellie' arrives at her destination. In retrospect, one can only think that more could have been done with the story, and that what was done could have been done better. However, it doesn't detract too seriously from the film as a whole. The last few minutes of the film (after the congressional hearing) reveals a 'secret' that vindicates the film, and apparently some other reviewers missed it -- pay careful attention near the film's conclusion, when the presidential advisor is talking by teleconference to the national security guy. What she says (about the recording made on board the spacecraft) is crucial to the plot, and if you miss it then you miss everything.
Overall, this film does an outstanding job at both entertaining and provoking thought -- it's compulsively watchable and rewatchable, and one of the best films of the 1990's. 9/10.