Could have been great

Rating: 4/10 (5 December 2011)

Disappointing 'search for alien life' type film that starts off well – the first hour or so is focused, factual and has some fine actors contributing some decent character work – before it falls apart, becoming mired in now-dated special effects work and an overwhelming veneer of awe/sentimentality that's spoilt many a Hollywood blockbuster (and, indeed, a great number of the films made by director Robert Zemeckis).
Jodie Foster is fine to begin with as the dedicated pioneer, desperate to discover the truth about extraterrestrial life; when she's dealing with officious bigwigs, radio equipment and wide open vistas of land, you thoroughly believe in both her and her cause. Later, when she's undergoing a spaced-out journey to the beyond and acting in front of a green screen, she's way out of her comfort zone and her acting suffers accordingly. Along the way, she's supported by a great number of strong performances – to name but a few David Morse, Tom Skerritt, James Woods, John Hurt, William Fichtner and Jake Busey – but by the time the long-winded tale reaches its ultimate conclusion, I was long past caring.