FFWD Weekly
Copyright © 1997. All Rights Reserved.
The right choice
Contact a jaw-dropping class act
by Robert TarryContact
starring Jodie Foster, Matthew McConaughey
directed by Robert ZemeckisContact is a classy, intelligent movie that makes one smart decision after another.
The first was to cast Jodie Foster. The next was to limit Matthew McConaughey's duties to just standing there and looking hunky. The third was their vision of life beyond Earth.
See, part of the trouble with these realistic "science fact" journeying-to-other-galaxy films is that, eventually, you have to go there and film it.
With the usual escapist sci-fi, where any nimrod with a Powerbook can save the universe, you can show whatever rubber-foreheaded Ferengi you want.
Stuck in reality, the truth would either be: a) an incredibly advanced civilization ready to share the Secrets Of The Universe (seen it, every weekday at 5 and 7 p.m. - the other side of the galaxy is getting pretty crowded); or b) a swirling ball of argon gas.
So with the ghost of Carl Sagan looking over your shoulder, what's an Oscar-winning director to do? Spielberg wussed out and just showed us Richard Dreyfuss getting buckled in and flying away. Kubrick had the right idea - on the other side of the universe mankind will find heavy drug use!
That's why, when Contact (eventually) gets there, it makes that smart move. I won't spoil it for you, but even if you disagree (some will groan), the spectacular effects and fine performances make one hell of a build-up anyway.
You might get struck with awe, but you won't get perfection. It's melodramatic at times, the God vs. Science argument will remind you of the time you got drunk in Grade 8 and got all "deep," and a Forrest Gump-style digitized Bill Clinton and what looks like every CNN employee make frequent and unwelcome appearances - but it does something very few blockbuster movies have done lately. It makes you care what happens next.
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