Astronomer and research specialist Dr Eleanor Arroway (Jodie Foster) firmly believes in extraterrestrial life. So when she receives a message from extraterrestrials explaining how humble humans can build a spacecraft and go to meet them, she wants to be the first to make “contact”.
Matthew McConaughey plays the religious adviser battling for her soul, while Tom Skerritt and James Woods portray sceptical presidential aides.
The digital effects are stunning and director Robert Zemeckis is at home with the action sequences and the climactic scene of Foster’s pod journey features one of the most transcendent performances in all of cinema.
A rather over-zealous take on new age spirituality mars this otherwise impressive adaptation of Carl Sagan’s bestselling novel.
Dr Eleanor ‘Ellie’ Arroway
Jodie Foster Palmer Joss
Matthew McConaughey Dr David Drumlin
Tom Skerritt Rachel Constantine
Angela Bassett SR Hadden
John Hurt Theodore ‘Ted’ Arroway
David Morse Richard Rank
Rob Lowe Kent
William Fichtner Michael Kitz
James Woods Larry King
Himself Jay Leno
Himself Joseph
Jake Busey
Director
Robert Zemeckis
Video
Related Posts
Silence of the Lambs, The (1991) Thomas Harris's best-seller paralysed readers with emotions more profound than terror, and so does Jonathan Demme's faithful film adaptation, with…
Cinema Paradiso (1988) Guiseppe Tornatore’s Cinema Paradiso isn’t just a dedicated tribute to the wonder of cinema but it’s also a positive testament…
Carry On Cleo (1964) The film opens with a title card reading; "Whilst the characters and events in this story are based on actual…
Air Force One (1997) US President James Marshall (Harrison Ford), is returning home from Russia with his wife and daughter on the presidential jumbo…
Candleshoe (1977) Filmed at Pinewood Studios in England and on location in Warwickshire, Buckinghamshire and Shropshire, this live-action Disney film opens in…
Dead Man Walking (1995) Sean Penn gives a chilling and mesmerising portrayal of sociopathy, as Matthew Poncelet, a trailer trash multiple killer on death…
Commitments, The (1991) Alan Parker‘s film follows the rise and fall of a young Irish soul band, based on the first part of…
Little Man Tate (1991) Fred Tate (Adam Hann-Byrd) could read when he was one year old. He was writing poetry at the age of…
