Wolff rating: EXCELLENT
Plot summary: Driven SETI researcher finally finds a signal that could be from another intelligent life form far from Earth.
Biased, pithy comments: There is real magic in this film. From the accurate depiction of science and scientists, from the beautiful starfields, from the creepy L. Ron Hubbard-esque figure, to even the good old-fashioned excitement and wonder, this is a good film. I found little to bicker with until the end (except perhaps the over-emphasis on religion and the search for faith in a scientist), and overall I found it making me wish it were real, that it was that easy to find intelligent life. The story was so very strong that the (quite good) SFX did exactly what it needed to---support the story but stay in the background. So, a great film, a quality movie-going experience, but ultimately a Hollywood sheen over a classic science fiction idea.
Other Notes: The press and the trailers had managed to release what I believed to be key tidbits about the plot, but I still was rapt and attentive throughout. There's more here than was leaked.
How many times I have seen it: x
Starring: Jodie Foster, David Morse, Jena Malone, Matthew McConaughey, Tom Skerrit.
Directed by: Robert Zemeckis