One of those "perfect" films.

Rating: 9/10 (15 March 2007)

"Contact", starring Jodie Foster as the brilliant yet conflicted astronomer Ellie Arroway, is a film that deserves a place in any intelligent movie-goer's DVD collection. You do not have to be a fan of science fiction to value the way it addresses the oldest and the single most fundamental question that, at least from the scientific standpoint, still remains a mystery  "Are we alone in the tremendous void of the universe?" The film's answer is mystifying and charming.
Adapted from the late visionary Carl Sagan's classic novel of the same name, the film addresses the prospect of a contact with a technologically advanced civilization in our galaxy and its impact on humanity, from the eyes of Ellie Arroway, a brilliant Atheist astronomer who against all odds, finds what she has been looking for all her life - a message from an intelligent and advanced extraterrestrial civilization.
The film also takes time to address issue of the existence of God  a cherished belief shared by most of humanity in one way or another  and Arroway's contention with the idea due to lack of empirical evidence in its favor. As the extraordinary events unfold, Arroway finds herself facing irony when she is unable to provide empirical evidence of her own claims in the film's melodramatic argumentative climax.
"Contact" is understandably a departure from the book, but the core of the issue dealt with by Sagan in the book remains the basic theme of this film adaptation. The science used in this film is extremely accurate, which will be a delight if you are scientifically inclined.
The film has great character development, superb acting, wonderful CGI shots, powerful score, and an amazing story with intellectual undertones. If you are looking for a film that is intelligent as well as entertaining and gripping, Contact is for you. It is, arguably, one of the best and the most underrated science fiction films of the 90s.
9/10