Contact

Christian Century, July 30, 1997 by James M. Wall

Contact was the one summer movie that promised substantive thought about religion, but alas, what was intended by director Robert Zemeckis as substance emerges as pure fluff in the stilted dialogue between scientist Ellie Arroway (Julie Foster) and "theologian" Palmer Joss (Matthew McConaughey). Their discussions rises no higher than "You can't prove God. Can you prove you love your father?" -- which is unfortunate, because there should be room in popular entertainment to consider God's role as creator in a universe with Carl Sagan's "billions and billions" of galaxies out there.

Zemeckis's script is burdened with the bias and plot of the original novel by militant atheist Sagan, who died just before the film was completed. Clearly not wanting to offend that part of the public (over 85 percent) that tells pollsters it believes in God, Zemeckis rejects atheism as an option and concludes that something is out there that wants to talk to us. Is it God or is it another civilization with superior means of communication? When Ellie supposedly travels into space is she gone a few seconds or 18 hours? Did she even leave Earth? Can't say, but the film says both. Can you prove you love your father?

The film's theology fails to move beyond the William Jennings Bryan-Clarence Darrow debate of the 1920s. Too bad, because the film does have its moments of awe and excitement as Ellie's team finally hears the first signals from space. The religion nondebate is bad enough, but the film falters badly in its use of clips of President Clinton, lifted out of context from actual press conferences. Zemeckis wove historical figures into the life of Forrest Gump, but the viewer knew these were amusing fakes. When Clinton first appears on screen in Contact, the audience laughs. His appearance seems so incongruous that one begins to wonder if the director persuaded Clinton to play himself. A poor casting choice by Zemeckis.