An Underappreciated, Flawed Gem of a Film

Rating: 9/10 (26 April 2001)

What I like most about this film is that is discusses subjects that are
simply not talked about in popular culture. Does God exist? Is there
life other than our own somewhere in the Universe? Will faith or science
give us the answers to how we got here? These are difficult questions,
and this movie does a great job of addressing them intelligently and
dramatically.
The thrill of discovery is also prominent. The
sequences when Ellie first detects the alien signals, then pieces
together the message, then makes her trip in the Machine Seat are
surprisingly thrilling and emotional. I found myself getting teary-eyed
when Foster makes it through to the other side and see the galaxy from
the other side.
The only complaint I have against the film lies with the minor
characters (such as James Woods' National Security Advisor) who come off
as rather one-dimensional and under-developed. Make no mistake, this is
Jodie Foster's film, and she does a fantastic job with it. This is a
science fiction classic, one of the few that I hope will one day b