What a wonderful journey...

Rating: 10/10 (1 May 2003)

Could you imagine to write a story on how to contact "little green men", to put it in Ellie Arroway's words, and then imagine a conclusion WITHOUT Independence-Day-like little green men? Well, "Contact"'s author Carl Sagan did...and this film doesn't betray at all his book's "soul". And how could it be different, when Robert Zemeckis is the director and the main role is in Jodie Foster's hands?
Everything starts with a little girl (she has no longer her mother and is very fond of her father, a radio amateur), who really wants to communicate with someone farther away than the other coast of America. Guided by her father, according to whom "if we were alone, it would be an awful waste of space", Ellie dreams... It will take her a lifetime and her colleagues'despise to realize her dream and perceive a rhythmic sound coming from deep space... from that moment on her life will never be the same again. Her project will bluntly come on the scene and will be put, more and more, on a political and military plan; her discovery will also bring new troubles in her relationship with a theologian, "reverend" Palmer Joss (Matthew McConaughey), which always has to bring to account the conflict between religion and science, faith and empirical evidence.
While the film was proceeding, I couldn't help thinking that I was having a lot of fun. Jodie Foster is in her best shape since the "Silence Of The Lambs" days; Matthew McConaughey (even if, for the role, someone older would have been more suitable) shows that he isn't just the handsome guy coming from Texas with a nice smile; great performances from the supporting actors, James Woods, Angela Bassett, Tom Skerritt. Zemeckis'direction is respectful of the novel, intelligent and refined. And my advice for you is to listen Alan Silvestri's soundtrack... it's able to take you to the frontiers of the universe just by closing your eyes!
My conclusions are: one of the best films of a great director and a wonderful actress. Please give it a place in your hearts and your VHS's shelf, I grant it won't be... an awful waste of space!