See It! With Some Admonitions (Sorry!)

Rating: 8/10 (18 October 2003)

'Contact' is arguably a fine film, the real star being the superb photography and special effects, with a jaw-dropping opening sequence that runs 3 and ½ minutes long and astonishingly, magnificently sets the tone for the rest of the picture. I was also intrigued by the film's handling of science and faith (read: NOT "religion"), and the interesting juxtaposition of both by film's end. The first climax of the film, in which Jodie Foster as the brilliant Ellie Arroway makes an incredible journey, is eerily, achingly beautiful, followed quickly by the second climax of the film, Ellie's disquieting but deeply-felt epiphany. To say any more would ruin the story for those who have yet to see the movie. That said, Foster's performance was uncharacteristically out of focus  she utilized one too many of her stock-in-trade 'pained and confused' facial expressions that read (at least to me) as if the character was constantly vacillating her position inside of her head, an attribute Ellie would decidedly not possess. Her gaze should have been straight-forward, determined, and unwavering. Matthew McConaughey as Palmer Joss was sincere but a little bit too hunky to be believable. A character bestowed with such a spectacular name would have been much more realistic if he had been played with the plain ambiguity of William H. Macy. Of course that would undermine the obligatory sexual tension and negate the fatuous 'romance,' a plot point that adds absolutely zilch to the story. Since the film indicates from the very start that it is in possession of a serious-minded agenda, I can only guess the producers felt the romance was either necessary to establish the frailty and humanity of Ellie, or, more likely, as a form of selling out, a pandering affect to draw in a larger audience. Stock characters rounding out the film, portrayed by Tom Skerritt, James Woods, David Morse, and William Fichtner (and a teeny-weeny role by Rob Lowe), are solid and well-done. **SMALL SPOILER** The character of S. R. Hadden, played with straight-faced solemnity by John Hurt, might have looked good on paper, but comes off as unintentionally, embarrassingly hilarious. As the obscenely wealthy benefactor who assists Ellie in her quest, he is first seen in his private jet, which he keeps in constant flight, presumably landing only to refuel before soaring off again (okay, I can suspend my disbelief long enough to buy that). But when next Hadden contacts Ellie, it is, unbelievably, ridiculously, from aboard the space station Mir -- the gentleman is now apparently cancer-ridden and prolonging his now-tenuous life in outer space. Nothing else in the entire film stretches credulity more than this; it is shocking in its absurdity. **END SPOILER** After all is said and done, I gave 'Contact' 8 out of 10 points. If for no other reason, the film's beginning and ending are worth alone the price of admission (or rental, as it were).