Contact
1997
****½
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Cast: Jodie Foster, Matthew McConaughey, Tom Skerritt, William Fichtner, John Hurt, Angela Bassett, David Morse, Jake Busey, Rob Lowe, James Woods
Dr. Ellie Arroway, a scientist dedicated to the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, receives a cryptic message from an alien civilization. As she attempts to decipher the message, her discovery leads to a global sense of uncertainty about humanity's place in the universe. This fascinating, thought-provoking, and beautifully crafted science fiction drama deals with science, faith, and the quest for knowledge. Jodie Foster is terrific in the lead. Robert Zemeckis stages some memorable set pieces, but he struggles to end the film gracefully. Adapted from Carl Sagan's 1985 novel.
