CONTACT

Reviewed 10/24/2016

DVD cover

CONTACT
DIRECTED BY: Robert Zemekis
Genre: SCIENCE FICTION
Major Cast
Jena Maloneas Young Ellie
David Morseas Ted Arroway
Jodie Fosteras Eleanor Arroway
Geoffrey Blakeas Fisher
William Fichtneras Kent Clark
Sami Chesteras Vernon
Timothy McNeilas Davio
Laura Elena Surilloas Cantina woman
Matthew McConaugheyas Palmer Joss
Tom Skerrittas David Drumlin
Henry Strozieras Minister
Michael Chabanas Hadden Suit
Max Martinias Willie
Larry Kingas Larry King
Thomas Garneras Ian Broderick
Conroy Chinoas KOB-TV Reporter
Dan Giffordas Jeremy Roth
James Woodsas Michael Kitz
Vance Valenciaas Senator Valencia
Angela Bassettas Rachel Constantine
Donna Kelleyas Donna Kelley
Leon Harrisas Leon Harris
Claire Shipmanas Claire Shipman
Behrooz Afrakhanas Middle-Eastern Anchor
Saemi Nakamuraas Japanese Anchor
Maria Celeste Arrarasas Latina Anchor
Tabitha Sorenas Tabitha Soren
Geraldo Riveraas Geraldo Rivera
Ian Whitcombas British Anchor
Jay Lenoas Jay Leno
Natalie Allenas Natalie Allen
Robert D. Novakas Robert D. Novak
Geraldine A. Ferraroas Geraldine A. Ferraro
Ann Druyanas Ann Druyan
Rob Loweas Richard Rank
Jake Buseyas Joseph
Kathleen Kennedyas Kathleen Kennedy
Michael Albalaas Decryption Hacker
Ned Nettervilleas Decryption Expert
Leo Leeas Major Domo
John Hurtas S.R. Hadden
William Jordanas Chairman of Joint Chiefs
David St. Jamesas Joint Chief
Jill Doughertyas Jill Dougherty
Haynes Brookeas Drumlin Aide
John Hollimanas John Holliman
Bobbie Battistaas Bobbie Battista
Dee Dee Myersas Dee Dee Myers
Bryant Gumbelas Bryant Gumbel
Linden Solesas Linden Soles
Steven Fordas Major Russell
Alexander Zemeckisas Major Russell's Son
Janie Petersonas Major Russell's Daughter
Philippe Bergeronas French Committee Member
Jennifer Balgobinas Dr. Patel
Anthony Hamiltonas British Committee Member
Rebecca T. Beucleras NASA Public Relations
Marc Macaulayas NASA Technician
Pamela Wilseyas Voice of NASA
Tucker Smallwoodas Mission Director
Jeffery Thomas Johnsonas Mechanical
Yuji Okumotoas Electrical
Gerry Griffinas Dynamics
Brian Alstonas Communications
Rob Elkas Pad Leader
Mark Thomasonas Security
José Reyas Controller #8
Todd Patrick Breaughas New VLA Technician
Alex Veadovas Russian Cosmonaut
Alice Kushidaas Scientist
Robin Gammellas Project Official
Richardson Morseas Mission Doctor
Seiji Okamuraas Japanese Ensign
Bernard Shawas Bernard Shaw
Mak Takanoas Japanese Tech #1
Hiroshi Tom Tanakaas Japanese Tech #2
Catherine Daoas Life Support
Kristoffer Ryan Wintersas Dynamics #2
Valorie Armstrongas Woman Senator
Jim Hildas Reporter #5
William L. Thomasas Reporter #6
Diego Montoyaas Schoolboy
MPAA Rating:PG
Production Co.:South Side Amusement Company;
Warner Brothers
Distributor:Warner Brothers
Release Date (US):?
Domestic Box Office:$100,853,835 (USA) (10/31/1997)
Opening weekend:$20,584,908 (USA) (7/11/1997)
Production Budget:$90,000,000 (Est.)
Crew
PRODUCED BY
Joan Bradshaw
Lynda Obst
Executive Producers
Ann Druyan
Carl Sagan
Co-Producers
Steve Starkey
Robert Zemeckis
Producers
Steven J. Boyd
Rick Porras
Associate Producers
Music:Alan Silvestri
Cinematography:Don Burgess
Film Editing:Arthur Schmidt
Casting:Victoria Burrows
Production Design:Ed Verreaux
SArt Direction:Bruce Crone
Lawrence A. Hubbs
Set Direction:Michael J. Taylor
Costume Design:Joanna Johnston
Supv'g Sound Editor:Phil Benson
Dialogue Editor:Barbara McBane
Ewa Sztompke-Oatfield
Sound Effects Editor:Douglas Murray
Re-recording Mixer:Tom Johnson
Production Mgmt.:Joan Bradshaw; Cherylanne Martin;
Nannette Rosa-Collazo (unit manager: Puerto Rico)
Stunt Coordinator:Bud Davis
Location Mgr.:Paul Pav
Consultants:Jennifer Boardman (CNN anchor); Bryan Butler (VLA); Tom Kuiper (radio astronomy); Don Davis & Jon Lomberg (astronomical visuals); Gerry Griffin (NASA); Tim Monich (dialects); Dee Dee Myers (news media); Robert R. Snow (White House); Brian Summers (German television); Linda Wald (mathematics); Cliff Shirpser (aviation); Chris Miller (technical)

PLOT SUMMARY

A brilliant student of science, Eleanor Arroway has become a radio astronomer after making a major contribution to the field. SETI is her passion, and she pursues it relentlessly, even when her superior David Drumlin cuts off her funding. Deeming SETI to be pointless, he thinks he is doing her a favor. She raises private money enough to buy some time on the VLA — but Drumlin pulls the plug on this too. Undaunted, she makes the rounds again, and just when the last foundation turns her down, a phone call from a mysterious benefactor countermands their decision. But it only buys her three more months of observing time.

But luck is with her. The VLA detects a signal, it is genuinely ET, and shortly it is verified at other observatories. The VLA is soon swarming with interested parties: presidential advisors, military and CIA types concerned about threats. Right in the thick of things is David Drumlin. (Also present around the site is a crowd of what Willy Ley called "original thinkers." Among them are members of a religious sect utterly opposed to scientific projects.)

Amid all the hubbub, which draws Ellie to Washington, DC, her team continues to analyze the signal. They find it to contain reams of digital data, which they decode into a set of what appears to be blueprints or schematics for some sort of device. But nobody can make any sense of them — until the mysterious benefactor steps in. He contacts Ellie to set up a private meeting. There, he is revealed to be S. R. Hadden, eccentric billionaire. He gives her the key to understanding the blueprints.

No one is quite sure what the device will do, but there is enough understanding to know that it is no doomsday weapon designed to eliminate competition. It appears to be some sort of transport system; pictures show a spherical capsule with a human inside dropping into the core of it. This machine is built at Kennedy Space Center, and Drumlin is chosen to be the human who enters it. Alas, a religious nut case manages to get inside with a bomb and destroys it, along with Drumlin, during a power-up test.

Once again S. R. Hadden steps in, revealing to Ellie that he's had a duplicate constructed in Hokkaido, Japan. He asks her, "Wanna take a ride?" Of course he already knows the answer. The ride takes place, according to Ellie, and her testimony afterward makes it a wild one in every sense — but rather than resolving an ancient question, it raises vexing new ones.

Eleanor Arroway is an exceptional child: highly intelligent, with a gift for science. She is exceptional in another way as well: exceptionally lonely. Along with the loneliness often felt by children more intelligent than the norm, she misses her mother who died birthing her and her father, who suffered a heart attack when she was 10. We see her plaintively calling "CQ" on her amateur radio set, and finally getting a response from a faraway fellow "ham." In her loneliness, Ellie stands in for the whole human race, eager to discover that we are not alone in this unimaginably vast cosmos.

Both the scientific aspects of the search — the use of radio astronomy tools — and the cultural aspects of any scientific establishment — the fighting for grants, the office politics — are portrayed with high verisimilitude. Of course the inherent conflict between realism and drama results in some shortcuts being taken. I don't object; in this case, the shortcuts taken are justified. I don't recall any that would cause a well-informed viewer to slap his head in disgust.2 The number of consultants the producers called on is a measure of how much they cared about getting details right.

The film also butts the scientific outlook of the mature Dr. Arroway against faith in the person of Pastor Palmer Joss, confidant of President Bill Clinton (who appears in the film.) This points up the most vexing questions raised by Ellie's experience, which are: "If any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic, how can we trust our observations of that technology? Should we not rather treat what we perceive as equivalent to the faith that convinces many to believe in a supreme being?"

These are questions we are not yet capable of resolving.

My Rating:
9 out of 10

Capsule review: Contact succeeds on almost every level. It is well plotted, well acted, and well produced. Although dramatized, the situations it portrays might well happen in the real world, given a verified ET signal.

It also poses some profound questions.

IMDB Rating: 7.4 Raters: 199,440
1 Like any technical field, radio astronomy is rife with acronyms. SETI: the search for extraterrestrial Intelligence; VLA: the Very Large Array, a set of 27 radiotelescopes near Socorro, NM.
2 I think it would be possible to question the timing and strength of the radio & TV signals from Earth in relation to the vast distances portrayed in the film's introductory sequence. But this was done for dramatic effect, and IMO was necessary since there would be few visible changes in the stellar landscape out to the 100-light-year distance those signals have so far traversed.
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