Contact Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A radio astronomer finally gets her wish, rides a cosmic carnival ride built with alien instructions, and comes back with no photos to prove it, leaving everyone awkwardly nodding and pretending to believe her.

🍿 Contact: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Early Life and SETI

Dr. Ellie Arroway, driven by childhood curiosity fostered by her late father, dedicates her life to SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence). She faces skepticism and funding challenges, with her superior, David Drumlin, doubting the project’s scientific merit. Ellie and her team, however, persist in their search for extraterrestrial signals, finding private funding to continue their work.

Decoding the Message

Ellie’s persistence pays off when a signal from the vicinity of the star Vega is detected. The message contains a series of prime numbers, confirming its intelligent origin. As the world grapples with the implications, the signal is further decoded to reveal schematics for a complex machine, sparking intense political and religious debates about humanity’s next step.

Building the Machine

Fueled by public interest and clandestine support, the world unites to construct the machine based on the alien schematics. An international panel is formed to select the individual who will journey through it. Despite her scientific expertise, Ellie’s atheism becomes a point of contention, leading to a devastating turn of events during the machine’s initial test run.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Ellie Arroway (Jodie Foster): An astronomer driven by a lifelong search for extraterrestrial intelligence, seeking answers to humanity’s place in the universe.
• Palmer Joss (Matthew McConaughey): A Christian philosopher who challenges Ellie’s atheism and represents the role of faith in understanding the unknown.
• David Drumlin (Tom Skerritt): The President’s Science Advisor who is initially skeptical of Ellie’s work, later vying for a prominent role in the alien contact endeavor.
• S.R. Hadden (John Hurt): A secretive and wealthy industrialist who anonymously funds Ellie’s research and provides key resources.
• Ted Arroway (David Morse): Ellie’s deceased father, who instilled in her a sense of wonder and fueled her pursuit of the unknown.
• Michael Kitz (James Woods): A National Security Council member who is concerned about the potential threat of alien contact and prioritizes national security.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Ellie Arroway: “If we are the only ones, it seems like an awful waste of space.” – Expressing her belief that there must be other life in the universe, which became a central theme of the movie.
• Alien (in the form of Dr. Arroway’s father): “You’re an interesting species. An interesting mix. You’re capable of such beautiful dreams, and such horrible nightmares.” – Said during Ellie’s encounter with the alien intelligence, reflecting on humanity’s potential for both good and evil.
• Ellie Arroway: “I had an experience I can’t explain. I can’t prove it. I can’t even rationalize it. But I know what I saw. I know what happened.” – Ellie passionately defends her account of the journey to the Congressional Committee even without concrete evidence.
• Palmer Joss: “I believe things exist that can’t be measured.” – Palmer explains his view that science cannot explain everything, leaving room for faith and spirituality.
• S.R. Hadden: “First rule in dealing with people is know what they want.” – Hadden shares his cynical but insightful view on human behavior, highlighting the importance of understanding motivations.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $90,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $100,920,329
• Worldwide Gross: $171,120,329

💥 Contact Reviews

Personal Review

I remember watching Contact for the first time and being completely mesmerized. Ellie’s unwavering determination to find life beyond Earth really resonated with me. The scene where she finally hears the signal from Vega gave me chills, and the journey through the wormhole was just breathtaking. Even though the ending is ambiguous, it really made me think about the bigger questions and the role of faith and science in our lives. Definitely one of my all-time favorite sci-fi movies. The way the film balances the grand scale of the universe with Ellie’s personal journey is what makes it unforgettable. It’s a film I could watch over and over again.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of science fiction films exploring themes of first contact.”
  • “Viewers interested in the intersection of science, philosophy, and religion.”
  • “Those who appreciate thought-provoking narratives with open-ended interpretations.”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Brief depiction of suicide bombing.”
  • “Thematic elements concerning the loss of a parent and existential questioning.”

Professional Reviews

• Roger Ebert: “Zemeckis creates a believable and engaging vision of first contact. Foster delivers a compelling performance, grounding the film’s philosophical questions in human emotion. The film successfully balances the wonder of the cosmos with the complexities of faith and reason.
• The New York Times: “Contact is visually stunning and thought-provoking. While it grapples with complex themes of science, religion, and the unknown, it remains accessible and entertaining. Foster’s performance is captivating, and the film’s ending, though ambiguous, leaves a lasting impression.
• Variety: “While visually impressive, ‘Contact’ struggles to reconcile its ambitious themes with its narrative. Foster shines, but the film’s pacing falters in the latter half. Ultimately, it attempts to deliver a profound message but falls short of its potential.

Audience Reactions

Jodie Foster’s compelling portrayal of Ellie Arroway captivated viewers.: Many viewers loved the film’s exploration of the science vs. religion debate.

The visual effects and depiction of space travel were highly praised.: Most agreed the film successfully created a sense of wonder and awe.

Overall Consensus: Contact is a thought-provoking and visually stunning science fiction film that explores the intersection of science, religion, and the search for extraterrestrial life. While its ambiguous ending divides some, it remains a highly regarded and influential film.

Awards

1. Hugo Award (Best Dramatic Presentation)- 1998

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Carl Sagan, the author of the novel and a producer on the film, died during production. He was deeply involved in ensuring the scientific accuracy of the film.”
• “Jodie Foster prepared extensively for her role, meeting with SETI scientists and visiting the Very Large Array (VLA) in New Mexico.”
• “The opening shot of the film, which zooms out from Earth to the edge of the universe, was one of the most complex and expensive visual effects sequences created at the time.”
• “The sound design team spent months creating the sounds of the universe, using both real recordings and synthesized elements to create a truly immersive experience.”

🖥️ How to Watch Contact?

Contact is widely available to rent or purchase on various platforms such as Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check your local listings or streaming services for availability. You may also find it on cable on-demand services.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Contact, you might like these similar films:

• 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968): Both films explore humanity’s place in the universe and grapple with the potential implications of encountering a higher intelligence.
• Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977): Shares the theme of humanity making contact with extraterrestrial life and the personal journeys of those involved.
• Arrival (2016): Explores communication with aliens and the profound impact of such contact on human perception and understanding.
• Solaris (1972): Focuses on the psychological effects of encountering an alien intelligence and questioning the nature of reality.
• Interstellar (2014): Deals with complex scientific concepts like wormholes and explores the human drive to explore the cosmos.

🛒 Contact Related Products

• Contact (Collector’s Edition) [Blu-ray]: A stunning Blu-ray edition of the movie, featuring bonus content, behind-the-scenes footage, and interviews with the cast and crew. This collector’s edition enhances the viewing experience and provides valuable insights into the making of the film.
• Contact by Carl Sagan: The original novel that inspired the movie, offering a deeper and more detailed exploration of the themes and ideas presented in the film. This digital version allows fans to experience Sagan’s vision in its complete form.
• Contact Movie Poster: A high-quality print of the original movie poster. A vibrant piece that captures the essence of the film’s themes.
• SETI T-Shirt: This cool shirt features a unique SETI design. Made from comfy material, the shirt lets you show off your love for space and science.

🎧 Soundtrack

Contact features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Opening” – performed by Alan Silvestri
• “The Signal” – performed by Alan Silvestri
• “Travel to Vega” – performed by Alan Silvestri
• “Who Needs Wings to Fly” – performed by Dominic Frontiere and Sid Wayne

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Contact (1997) Explained

Discover the hidden depths of ‘Contact’ with this insightful explanation. Delve into its complex themes and uncover the profound messages behind this cinematic masterpiece.

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