In probably her best (and most Oscar-worthy) role since Silence of the Lambs, Jodie Foster plays Dr. Ellie Arroway, a scientist who has devoted her entire life to sweeping the distant space for evidence of other intelligent life. Fighting a male dominated and "science-fiction" weary scientific community, she makes a discovery that will forever alter the way society thinks and believes, in both the spiritual and secular realms. A signal from a distant star, 26 light years away from earth. Caught in a crossfire of controversy and international hysteria, she turns to Palmer Ross (Mathew McConaughey), a handsome and intelligent religious scholar/government advisor, for guidance and support. She embarks on a journey as the world's spokes-woman, that will take her beyond all fathomable worlds, bringing forth the unanswered issues of faith and science.

           In short, Contact transcends the meaning of brilliance. It is a powerful look at what we perceive as truth and fiction, as well as a pensive introspection into the fundamental characteristics of our society. It is separated, just as Vega (the distant star system) is, by lightyears: the religious right, atheists, politicians, scientists, etc. Contact boldly confronts the issues that require our attention: the idea that God and religion might be just representation of our fear of the unknown, or that out of the billions and billions of galaxies floating in the vastness of the universe, why we Earthlings should be the only ones in existence. As Ellie's father puts it, "If it's just us, it seems like an awful waste of space."

           What allows Zemeckis to play with these ideas without coming across as thoughtless or over-zealous is the work of his fantastic stars Foster and McConaughey. Zemeckis shows us that even in their apparently distant and anchored beliefs (science vs. religion) lies a union between fact and faith. The notion that both co-exist to make our society as interesting and functional as it is. And while Contact boasts itself as a "journey to the heart of the Universe," in actuality, it is a journey into the heart of humanity, that makes us stop and think about the implications and meaning of what we know as life.

           However, the best part of Contact is still its star, Jodie Foster. In her strongest role yet, Foster's performance is nothing short of spectacular, and yet, in all her strength, there lies a hint of vulnerability and wonder. And this is what gives Ellie the kind of tangible likeable-ness that makes us WANT her to succeed. That makes us wince when she is pained. That makes us emotional when she tears. And makes us joyous when she DOES succeed.

Stephen Wong, 1997