Based on the one and only novel by famed scientist Carl Sagan, Contact stars
Jodie Foster as Elle Arroway, an astronomer working on the SETI (Search for
Extraterrestrial Intelligence) project at the Arecibo radio telescope in Puerto
Rico. Her research, basically listening for radio signals from intelligent life
forms, is considered by many in the scientific community to be out on the fringe,
and no sooner does Elle settle into her job than she has the rug pulled out from
underneath her by her short-sighted boss David Drumlin (Tom Skerritt), who cancels her funding.
Undaunted by an unshakable belief that life is out there just waiting to be
heard from, Elle never gives up. She begins begging for donations from big
corporations, and eventually receives funding from the enigmatic billionaire
S.R. Hadden (John Hurt). Setting up shop at the Very Large Array (which is a
massive collection of huge radio telescopes) in New Mexico, Elle and her
partners keep searching the skies once more--until their research is once again
threatened; this time by the VLA, which no longer wishes to lease their dish
time to a group of fruit loops. But just when thing begin to look bleak for
Elle, she finally picks up definitive proof of life beyond earth when she gets a
powerful signal from the Vega system, which is only 26 light years away from
earth.
The pulse signal sends prime numbers, meaning whomever--or whatever--is sending
them is using mathematics to communicate with earth. But once they examine the
signal, Elle and her comrades realize there’s information embedded within the
signal itself. Once this is partially deciphered, Elle realizes that the aliens
had sent back a message that they received from earth some years ago: the very
first television broadcast…of Adolph Hitler giving the commencement address at
the 1936 Olympics. As the debate rages all over earth as to what the aliens’
true motives may be, Ellie and her comrades struggle to uncover the rest of the
signal, which is volumes of information, but for what purpose?
Superbly directed by Robert Zemeckis, Contact is a marvelous science fiction
film, filled with great, thoughtful ideas and downright touching, soulful
moments that reflect the many shades of humanity. The cast, led by the excellent
Foster, is fantastic, and the special effects--while brilliantly done--compliment
the storyline without overpowering it. The DVD comes equipped with three
separate audio commentaries from star Foster and the filmmakers, along with
special features dealing with the special effects. But the major reason to get
this DVD is the magnificent film itself. If you’re expecting attacking aliens
with ray-guns, then you’ll be disappointed. But if you’re looking for a sober,
imaginative look at what first contact between humanity and an alien race might
really be like, then give Contact a try.
--SF
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