Search, Forrest, search!

Rating: Null/10 (28 January 1999)

It is rare, oh so painfully, tragically rare, that a big-budget, big-name star, big-director Hollywood feature film exudes even an ephemera of intellectual stimulation. This movie is, thank God (oooh! There's some irony!), one of the few in its genre that has a head on its CGI shoulders. I say "Thank God" because the subject matter of this film is far too important to corrupt with Hollywoodization. And it escaped intact.
Why is it that we must compartmentalize science and spirituality at opposite ends of the ideology bin? Simply finding out how things work does not implicitly exterminate the existence of God. Science scoffs at religion, religion rejects science... We are so determined to have an adversary that we refuse to see any truth in the other's existence. Why is that?
This film does not try to reject either viewpoint, as neither does Carl Sagan's original novel (recommended reading for those who have only seen the movie). Yes, the extremists in either camp are portrayed as buffoons, as rightfully they should be, but the core remains true. Sure, I would have liked some of the more schmaltzy "Forrest Gump" elements removed (Didn't we, after all, get sick of seeing that stupid compass?), but this is still a stunning, conversation-inducing experience. If your conversation about the film does not go on longer than the film itself did, then you most likely did not watch very closely.
Some have faulted Jodie Foster for her "overly intense" portrayal of Ellie Arroway, but I disagree. I could envision that character as no less. Besides, just watch Jodie as she sits in the chair of the capsule as she prepares to disembark. With one facial expression, she manages to convey a chaotic mix of fear, excitement, apprehension, elation, worry, and pride, and lets us see every facet clearly. Jodie, as far as I'm concerned, there is no finer actress than you.
If you liked this, also check out Darren Aronofsky's "Pi" (1998), another, smaller-budgeted but genius take on the science vs. God question.