Rent Contact (1997)

Jodie excels. - Contact review by JD

The plot is interesting if a little stretched. The conflict of religion and science is interestingly explored and the possibility of extraterrestrial life (hardly new) is also thoughtfully approached. Some of the scientist minor roles are well played but generally it is quite ordinary. The dazzling performance of Jodie is slightly out of kilter with this making her look a bit too dramatic. I appreciated it though. McConaughey who I think is so good in Sahara is a bit 2-D in this, I think he played it the same way. The 18 hours of space travel is very good and feels great, wish I'd seen it at the cinema.

Interesting SciFi - Contact review by GI

Contact is an interesting science fiction story enhanced by the involvement of Carl Sagan in the film's production and script and who sadly died before the film's completion. I'm not convinced the film holds up well today, not in the presentation of the story or the special effects which are quite a clever way of portraying the events, but in the script and story. The film's theme is presented as a way of melding religious faith with scientific facts & discovery and the posits the idea that just because a lot of people believe in a God there must be some truth in it. I'm not convinced this works. The main thrust of the plot is the search for extraterrestrial life and Jodie Foster plays a young and brilliant astronomer who is obsessed with the search and works for SETI, a science project dedicated to looking for life in the stars. It's an area that is not supported with funding much to her annoyance until one day a signal is heard that seems to come from a distant planet and has a coded message buried in it that is a blueprint for a machine to enable one person to travel to meet the aliens. Of course Foster's character gets chosen after some troubles along the way and the journey is very different than your standard space travel film. The politics and religious viewpoints are very grounded in American society and jar with a more secular audience. So whilst the film is entertaining and has some interesting highlights it's a bit too narrow minded to lift itself into the great sci-fi film arena. Good support cast including Matthew McConaughey, James Woods, Angela Bassett and Tom Skerritt.

Philosophical Tension - Contact review by griggs

As someone who admittedly struggles with sci-fi, I was surprised by how much I appreciated the film's exploration of the philosophical tensions between science and theology. The central debate, which pits empirical evidence against faith, is thought-provoking and adds depth to a visually impressive spectacle. However, the film is undeniably overlong. They say that if you can cut 10% of a film, you should cut 20%, and Contact would undoubtedly benefit from some serious trimming. The pacing sometimes drags, with scenes that contribute little to the overall narrative.

The timescales depicted in the movie also strain credibility, adding another layer of unbelievability to a story that already requires a significant suspension of disbelief. This detracts from the film's impact, making it harder to fully immerse oneself in the story.

As for Jodie Foster, while she is undoubtedly a great actress, this performance feels weaker than her other roles. Her portrayal of Dr Ellie Arroway lacks the nuance and emotional depth that might have elevated the character beyond the somewhat formulaic role the script offers.

This is a film with interesting ideas and spectacular moments. Still, it ultimately falters due to its bloated runtime, unrealistic timelines, and a performance from Foster that, while competent, doesn't reach her usual standards.