Jodie Foster stars as Ellie Arroway, a scientist who has dedicated her entire life to making ‘contact’ with intelligent life elsewhere in the universe. Ellie’s work finally pays off, when she hears a radio message being broadcast from the distant star, Vega.
Together with her team, she unlocks the broadcast, Hitler’s speech from the opening ceremony of the 1936 Olympics and thousands of pages of alien text, containing the blueprints to build a machine. The machine, will send a single person (Ellie) across the stars to supposedly make contact with alien life.
Conflicts abound from national security issues to religious issues as mankind learns we are not alone in the universe.
Contact mixes a wonderful drama with a little bit of action and science fiction to create a wonderful, near classic, movie experience. Jodie Foster plays the leading character exceptionally well, as does Matthew McConaughey (who plays the very religious Palmer Joss, eventual love interest of Ellie).
Great acting throughout and great storytelling, even if it can be a little tedious at times. At its core is a discussion between science and religion and the faith/belief placed in both, and how both can contribute to the other in positive ways in the quest for truth.
This should definitely be added to your DVD collection.
Contact gets a four out of five: GREAT.
