Director: Robert Zemeckis
Starring: Jodie Foster, Matthew McConaughey and James Woods
‘A Captivating Classic’
Few actresses in Hollywood have made films audiences treasure like Jodie Foster. Following his rise to recognition during the 1970’s, Foster has become one of the greatest actresses in the film industry. Whether it’s determined FBI officers, panic-stricken mothers or swimmers, Foster has suggested she can portray various strong characters. Arguably, Foster’s strength as an actress has always been her abilities to portray powerful feminist characters. She is one of those rare actresses that has never been afraid of taking risks by taking on controversial subject matter in movies. Through her abilities to portray feminist women, Foster has become an icon. Despite reaching an age of retirement, Foster has suggested she hasn’t lost her passion for making entertainment. An icon in Hollywood, Foster has transformed in a timeless actress whose commemorated films audiences have always understood. Throughout her groundbreaking career, Foster has created many unforgettable movies which are definitely without any doubt worth watching.
I’m a huge fan of Jodie Foster and adore all the films she has made throughout her career. However, “Contact” is definitely my favourite. Ever since its release in 1997, Jodie Foster’s movie has stood the test of time as a science fiction classic. Robert Zemeckis constructed a spectacular science fiction movie about aliens which has stood the test of time as a classic. Packed with powerful production, engrossing storytelling and phenomenal acting, it’s one of the greatest sci-fi movies ever made. At the centre of it all is an excellent performance by Jodie Foster, who embodies an astronaut on a fierce mission. Ultimately, the movie delivers a meaningful message about the importance of communication that would definitely resonate with everyone. An awe-inspiring masterpiece about extra-terrestrial communication, there are several strong reasons why “Contact” is a movie worth seeing.
“Contact” tells the story of a woman which seeks to make extra-terrestrial alien contact. Jodie Foster embodies Ellie Arroway, a fierce radio astronomer. Ever since she was a child, Ellie has always had passion for investigating signs of extra-terrestrial life. Ellie’s life forever changes when she discovers clear signals of extra-terrestrial life as an adult. Accompanied by the bold astronomer Palmer Ross (Matthew McConaughey), Ellie embarks on a journey to discover extra-terrestrial aliens. At first, Ellie is excited by the prospect of investigating signs of aliens life. However, her perception changes when she discovers grim secrets about alien life. Unable to face the fact that aliens have become a threat to civilization, Ellie begins to question whether she will ever attain her goal of making contact.
Robert Zemeckis is a newcomer towards the stories of extra-terrestrial aliens. Before he directed “Contact”, Zemeckis hadn’t made a movie about aliens before. An old-fashioned filmmaker, Zemeckis was known for making movies about historical war heroes. It marked Zemeckis’ first attempt to capture the lives of women seeking to discover extra-terrestrial aliens which cause danger but he succeeded. Through stunning cinematography, Zemeckis captures a fierce woman embarking upon a journey to investigate aliens that have caused catastrophe. Visually, the movie is a stunning feast for the eyes as breathtaking as aliens in the skies. Zemeckis effectively uses montages to capture a woman embarking on a journey to investigate aliens in galaxies. For instance, the montages enhance the opening scene. During this unforgettable scene, Ellie investigates the signs of alien life as a child. Through montage, Zemeckis captures the tension of astronomers seeking to make dreams come true. Montages are complicated techniques to use in movies. As Christopher Nolan’s “Interstellar” claimed, montages enhance movies about interstellar space travel. Nevertheless, it works immensely in this movie. Through using breathtaking visuals, Zemeckis captures commemorated astronomers which seek to investigate signs of extra-terrestrial aliens that are terrifying.
Another admirable aspect of “Contact” which is worth praising is production-design. From a technical perspective, the movie is extremely well made. Zemeckis has always excelled at using diegetic sounds to build tensions in his films, and “Contact” is no exception. Zemeckis effectively uses diegetic sounds to capture the signs of extra-terrestrial life causing tensions. For instance, the diegetic sounds enhance the alien discovery scene. During this memorable scene, Ellie discovers signs of extraterrestrial life by a loud radio signal. One appreciates the loud diegetic sounds signalling the arrivals of aliens in style reminiscent of Denis Villeneuve’s “Arrival”. Diegetic sounds are tricky techniques to use in commemorated science fiction movies. Nevertheless, it works immensely in this movie. Furthermore, the musical score is powerful. Alan Silvestri’s music is integral towards the success of the movie. It gives the movie a tense atmosphere capturing the heavy burden that astronomers investigating sad alien invasions bear. Through strong production-design, Zemeckis captures frightening alien invasions causing the world to endure a decline.
Storytelling is one of the primary reasons why “Contact” is a science fiction classic which is compelling. The film is beautifully written, and effectively uses flashbacks to capture lives of astronomers which investigate alien invasion. Zemeckis’ screenwriting strength is capturing the lives of women that make extra-terrestrial contact through flashbacks. The film expertly switches back and forth among two timelines: Ellie’s present-day investigation of aliens and her painful flashbacks of her tragic childhood. Through this exceptional flashback structure, Zemeckis captures sad hardships astronomers seeking alien invasions go through. For instance, flashbacks elevate the alien investigation scene. During this unforgettable scene, Ellie recounts memories of her childhood investigating radio signals of extra-terrestrial life. It’s a great scene that captures the strong themes of communication in the movie. Flashbacks are complicated techniques to use in movies. As Nick Cassavetes’ “The Notebook” claimed, flashbacks enhance classic commemorated romantic dramas. Nevertheless, it works immensely in this movie. Through a spectacular screenplay, Zemeckis captures the hardships faced by commemorated astronomers today.
One appreciates astonishing performances
Jodie Foster delivers one of her best career performances as Ellie. Foster first achieved appreciation for playing prostitutes in iconic crime dramas. With “Contact”, however, she took on her most complex role. It isn’t easy to embody the personality of a woman seeking to investigate aliens but Foster succeeded really well. It’s a role that gave Foster the chance to showcase strong emotions she hadn’t shown in her career before. This is the actress unlike you’ve ever seen her before: intense, charming and thoughtful in her most iconic role. With mesmerizing expressions, she captures the angst, frustrations and strong drive of a radio astronomer investigating alien invasions. It’s an extraordinary performance from one of the best actresses currently working in Hollywood today.
The supporting cast is superb and worthy of recognition. Matthew McConaughey is magnificent, capturing a dedicated nature of an astronomer whose romantic relationships amidst alien invasions come with a painful price to pay. William Fichtner is wonderful, bringing gravitas to a scientist seeking to investigate alien invasion disasters which place the fate of the world in catastrophic danger. Lastly, Angela Bassett merits appreciation. As a political figure, she displays heartbreaking emotions towards the movie.
Finally, “Contact” is a film with which everyone will make contact for capturing alien invasions. Unlike most science fiction films, it discusses universal themes everyone would relate to. It discusses strong themes including identities, curiosity and extra-terrestrial aliens which will resonate with everyone. Viewers don’t need to be fans of the sci-fi genre to appreciate it. It delivers a universal message about value of communication that would definitely resonate with everyone. Therefore, “Contact” is one of those rare science fiction movies everyone will adore.
Fans of Jodie Foster will definitely appreciate “Contact” and so will movie-goers seeking exhilarating entertainment. A captivating science-fiction classic, it celebrates an actress that has built a legendary legacy which is iconic.
Nearly 30 years following the release of a groundbreaking science-fiction film about intelligent radio astronomers pursuing their passions making contact with aliens that are frightening, it’s a riveting reminder about a legendary actress that has gained a huge fan following through her abilities to portray strong feminist characters with larger-than-life personalities that are compelling whose commemorated movies that haven’t lost their abilities to captivate audiences are definitely without a doubt worth celebrating.
5/5 stars
The Film Buff 