Contact review, the real one this time. And once again I will take you on my day to


establish my state of mind while watching the film.

Woke up extremely late in the afternoon, 3:30 in fact. Of course I was working on the


site till 8am this morning. I sign on, and despite yesterday I was in a great mood. Until I


visited my forum, and found out Jimmy Stewart had passed away. Whoooosh! It was if


someone had plucked a bit of my soul away. I hadn't felt this bad since Gene Kelly's


passing and before that Jack Kirby's. I felt as if a family member had passed away. I


won't go in depth on it here, because as you have most likely found out with the Coolnews


page, I explain it there quite adequately. If it's not there yet, it will be soon.

I went to have lunch with my father as I do everyday, and we talked about the passing of


two giants. And Dad choked up big time, while remembering Jimmy Stewart's comments


on Gary Cooper, when the Academy Awards gave Cooper a lifetime achievement award.


Dad, had to take a while to compose himself. He was very surprised about it, as was I.


My father is not an overly emotional man.

Nope, no bathroom story today. We left lunch and headed straight for the theater. Once


again, I did not have tickets. I was not in the mood to see Contact, I wanted to go home


and bury myself with Stewart movies. Close up the doors and mourn the passing of a


deity of mine. As we arrive at the theater, the parking lot is packed, and I get out and


head in. Oh yeah, that's right MEN IN BLACK opened today. I forgot. A friend was


waiting for me, with his extra ticket unused. I volunteer myself. And I sit down. I'm real


depressed, when I talk about Jimmy's passing everyone seems fairly non-chalant about it.


I guess this was something that just hit me and dad hard.

I decide I need cheering up. I know they are showing GODZILLA and the new


STARSHIP TROOPERS trailers with MIB. So I ask a ticket dude, if the projectionist I


knew was on duty. Indeed he was, and sure enough good ol John came down to talk to


me. I asked him where the trailers would show next, he pointed to screen 1 and said at


8pm. DAMMIT, my screening starts at 7:30. He asks me why I'm there. I show him my


stub for CONTACT.

"Oh the print isn't even here yet."

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, man. Yesterday was one thing, but after


Robert Mitchum, Jimmy Stewart and yesterday, dammit I was going to see this film. He


tells me the print is allegedly in Austin somewhere, but that it's likely to get there late,


resulting in a late screening. I am determined to see this film, if I have to wait till 1am, I'm


seeing it. Then, as if by miracle, the mail-god delivered two cans containing the film.


YIPEEE'!!! IT's HERE!!!

I return to the line, and find a rather curious older fella sitting were I was, and not where


he belonged. However, I got the distinct impression that he belonged there. So I don't


say a thing. Then a fan of the site, an Andy comes up and talks to the Professor. Turns


out the older fella teaches Astronomy at the University of Texas. And the site reader, well


he is a student and research assistant. They are searching the universe for Supernovae.


We launch in a rather cool set of conversations. These are the perfect people to see the


film with. And I'm glad they are with us. Plus, Andy had the ticket for my father. Coool.

We head into the theater, and grab our seats. And wait for the film to begin. I am still


very upset with Stewart's passing though. The trailers begin.

MAD CITY - interesting trailer, but I don't know how effective the trailer was. Didn't


quite grip me.

LA CONFIDENTIAL - I've heard fantastic things about this film, and yes the trailer does


arouse an interest.

Then the film begins.

There are several departures from the book. I want to get that out of the way. However,


to deliver the book, would mean a film running 5 hours long. This film is half that length.


I loved this film.

As the film begins there is a shot. I ain't gonna tell you about it. But it instilled AWE.


That sort of awe-inspiring "uuuh" and "ahhhh" that they should. Gorgeous, oh yes,


beautiful, oh yes, amazing, oh yes. Will this shot be talked about on newsgroups and


forums. Oh yes.

However, despite the effects in this film... They are nothing compared to the performance


of Jodie Foster. I am not a Jodie Foster Super Fan. As a matter of fact I actually vomited


during a sneak of her last film, NELL in the theater. This is the exact opposite experience.


Early on during that first shot, that geek tear duct began functioning. You know that


sheer jaw dropping tear of joy. Then without losing a step, the film propelled forward.


The little girl that plays the young Jodie Foster character causes more tears. And those


smiles. You know, the type that hurt your cheeks.

Then there is the masterful use of effects by Robert Zemeckis, who uses the computer to


not just wow us with "Oh look an effect"effect, but hundreds of little ones. The type you


can't see, but you know they are impossible. Watch for the mirror! You'll know what I'm


talking about when you see it. When I saw it, I looked over at Dad, and we shared that


"wow".

I have seen this film labeled as a McCounghey and Foster film. Umm... this is no insult to


Matthew who delivers a wonderful performance, but this is JODIE's film. You instantly


accept her as the character. She is not some cardboard character, but a living breathing


human, who doesn't know the answers. From her stern looks to her pride swallowing


scenes to her emotionally distraught moments. WOW. Easily my favorite female


performance of the year. Goes side by side with my favorite male acting of the year thus


far, with Peter Fonda in ULEE's GOLD. James Woods is really good as his character.


Once again, not a cardboard standup. Tom Skerritt is, well, as usual always a fave of


mine.

How does the film come together as a whole? What FACE/OFF delivered for me as an


action film, this delivers as serious intelligent sci-fi. Is it better than 2001? Don't even try


to compare the two. Different styles of film. A KUBRICK film is a genre all it's own, and


comparing others to it, just ain't right. In this film I found myself choking up (not because


of sadness, but out of sheer respect for the work on screen) on several occasions. What


were the audience's reactions? Frankly I can't really tell ya, I was not in an audience. It


was the screen, my father and me. Everything else disappeared.

The last 40 minutes or so. Ummmm WOW.

Sorry can't write anymore about that. Just wait till you see. Oh boy what you'll see.


Zemeckis, congratulations. You first took me away with Back To The Future, then time


and again, you took me back. Please do not take a vacation of any length. Begin work on


BAD TROUT NOW!!!

How good was this film? For three hours it made me forget the sorrow I had for Jimmy


Stewart's passing. I left this earth and did indeed take a journey to the heart of our


universe. And I will journey forth again. And Again. And Again. And... you get the


picture.

After the screening the projectionist came down and grabbed me to take me to see the


GODZILLA & new STARSHIP TROOPERS trailers. Ummm,


COOOOOOOOOOOOOOL. The audience cheered at both. Though was quite


thunderous with Godzilla. Do those two (Emmerich & Devlin) know how to make a


trailer to motivate salivation or what?

It will be a while I believe till we have another film approaching Contact, so be sure to see


it in theaters, be sure to be ready to open your eyes. Be ready to believe. MAGIC.