MovieChat Forums > Contact (1997) Discussion > Almost a Masterpiece

Almost a Masterpiece

posted 8 years ago by seagrave54
11 replies | jump to latest

I rewatched this film after years and was surprised by how much I liked it versus my previous viewing. But I think there's one thing that could have elevated this film from great to a masterpiece. Omit the entire wormhole sequence. Imagine the climax of the film, that brilliant buildup of tension and Ellie drops straight through the machine with a split-second glitch before she lands on the other side. I think this would make the hearing so much more interesting since the audience would want to believe Ellie as she tells us about the wormholes and meeting the aliens, but not have proof and the film would ask the audience if we believe her based on faith. Then reward us with the info from the confidential briefing just as they did in the film.
Just a thought, enjoyed the film as is.

[–] haynese_98 8 years ago

I agree Contact is almost a Masterpiece..but for different reasons. I think the wormhole sequence was great--just think, we get to take a trip to another star system in another galaxy--very heady stuff.

My biggest problem with Contact is Matthew McCaunahay. He was horribly miscast and thus almost ruined the entire picture.

Still, the makers of this movie did at least try to give us two different perspectives about where we come from and our belief system. I give the movie an 8/10.

Shall we play a game?

[–] Mickey77 8 years ago

I agree - Matthews character is so poorly written that no actor could have played it. However, everything else is the movie is just fantastic. William Fincher, John Hurt and James Woods all do their best every screen work here and how Jodie Foster missed out on an Oscar nomination is a complete mystery.

"Thank God For Darwin"

[–] marvelass 8 years ago

Thank you! I've always said the wormhole sequence was the film's failure. Everything else was perfect, but it would've made more of an impact if the audience had not been privy to her journey and just had to decide whether they believed her or not. After all, this film was about faith.

.

[–] ncdwbmk6 8 years ago

The novel on which the film was based goes into much more detail on the construction of the Machine, the journey and the experiences of the travelers with the aliens. (In the novel there were five occupants.) It's made clear that the contact with the aliens was intended to be real.

---
Fowler's knots? Did you say ... fowler's knots?

[–] packro 8 years ago

You're commenting about a movie based on a novel. The people who are reading your comment are people who have watched the movie and not read the novel. Keep that in mind. Talking about a "novel" on a "movie" thread, is just wrong.

[–] ncdwbmk6 8 years ago

Obviously most of the people asking questions have not read the novel, since the novel answers the questions. There's nothing wrong with referencing a novel on which a film is based.

---
Fowler's knots? Did you say ... fowler's knots?

[–] dcoydcoy 8 years ago

A masterpiece 15 yrs ago. But today it's a rather silly movie. Think of this actually happening, and how our science community would decide on a candidate to represent our species. There would be no Matthew and no discussion of magic, god's, and shjt. And Matthew's arguement for god? They attempt having him sound logical, yet his comments are pure infantile.

[–] packro 8 years ago

This movie will never be "silly." If anything, you are silly.

[–] onethreetwo 8 years ago

I consider the film a flawed masterpiece. It's a little to schmaltzy when she meets the alien. The romance, while minor, was unnecessary and awkward. And I thought Woods' acting was suspect. All minor complaints. I personally loved the wormhole sequence. I thought it was beautiful. It's not a perfect movie, but it's close.

[–] packro 8 years ago

WTF is wrong with you?! Romance?! THERE IS NO ROMANCE!!!

[–] packro 8 years ago

It's a masterpiece. Maybe not to you, but to me, it is.