Resurfaced Short Reviews, Part IX

These are Resurfaced short or quickie reviews written in 2002 or earlier. For more information, please visit this link: Resurfaced Reviews.

Contact

Contact (1997)

Rating

Director

Robert Zemeckis

Screenplay

James V. Hart, Michael Goldenberg (Novel: Carl Sagan, Ann Druyan)

Length

2h 30m

Starring

Jodie Foster, Jena Malone, David Morse, Geoffrey Blake, William Fichtner, SaMi Chester, Timothy McNeil, Matthew McConaughey, Tom Skerritt, John Hurtob Lowe, Jake Busey, Angela Bassett, James Woods

MPAA Rating

Basic Plot

Based on the Science Fiction Best-seller by Carl Sagan director of Forrest Gump brings us another visual effects spectacular. A Scientist, Ellie Arroway, in the search for Extra-Terrestrial life comes across a bizarre sound eminating from Vega. In an attempt to locate this source Government becomes involved and effectively takes over the project. Ellie must overcome her disbelief in faith and certainty for proof to find out the truth somewhere out there.

Review

Starring two-time Oscar winner Jodie Foster and rising hunk star Matthew McConaughey Along with a terrific all-star cast including James Woods, Tom Skerritt, Rob Lowe and Angela Bassett. With a cameo appearance by President Clinton’s Newsfootage.

Jodie Foster brings to incredible life scientist Ellie Arroway. Driven by a knack for science and a love for astronomy, she embarks on a life-long journey to find evidence of life on other planets. McConaughey plays a religious-poised advisor to the President of the United States and presumable love interest of Dr. Arroway. Woods plays a nay-saying political advisor, Skerritt a credit-stealing, useable-science scientist, Rob Lowe a self-righteous, conservative right spokesman and Bassett a tough-as-nails Presidential Advisor. While Foster gives an wonderful performance, deserving of an Oscar Nomination, McConaughey falls a little flat and the rest of the ensemble plays adequately and sometimes above par.

The story is amazing and brings up several debate topics and also some possible contention from the Religious Right. But the films underscored story is the one you have to think about. This isn’t just another dumb summer movie, this is a GOOD summer movie. The story is believable and at times one almost feels as if he’s part of the whole thing. The visual effects are almost seemless and the opening sequence is worth the price of admission itself. I won’t give away any of the plot, so those of you who haven’t read the book may enjoy the movie in all its glory. For those of you who are fond Sagan’s novel and are familiar with it end may not mesh with the film, but I’m sure you will appreciate its statements about our government, our society, our ideals and most importantly our OWN personal beliefs.

Awards Prospects

Best Picture is an award nomination I could see coming in the future as well as Best Actress for Jodie Foster and Supporting nominations for Woods, Skerritt or Bassett. This also has chances for direction, adapted screenplay, film editing, cinematography, sound, sound effects and visual effects.

Review Written

Unknown (a full review was later written)

The Empire Strikes Back

The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Rating

Director

Irvin Kershner

Screenplay

Leigh Brackett, Lawrence Kasdan, George Lucas

Length

2h 04m

Starring

Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Peter Cushing, Billy Dee Williams, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, Peter Mayhew, David Prowse, Frank Oz, Alec Guinness, Jeremy Bulloch, James Earl Jones (uncredited)

MPAA Rating

Basic Plot

The Second film in the Star Wars Trilogy, but the fifth episode overall. The most successful movie franchise in history. The Empire Strikes Back focuses on the continuing aggression of the Imperial Forces, still searching for the Rebel base in order to destroy it. Luke Skywalker goes in search of a man known to have taught many Jedi warriors, Yoda.

Review

A strong sequel in a time period when sequels meant something other than revenue. The scenery is again the forefront of the film with acting taking a back seat. Still one of the finest film series in history Empire Strikes Back is a stiff-standing film.

Review Written

Unknown

The Wiz

The Wiz (1978)

Rating

Director

Sidney Lumet

Screenplay

Joel Schumacher (Novel: L. Frank Baum; Musical Book: William F. Brown)

Length

2h 14m

Starring

Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Nipsey Russell, Ted Ross, Mabel King, Theresa Merritt, Thelma Carpenter, Lena Horne, Richard Pryor, Stanley Greene

MPAA Rating

Basic Plot

A black Broadway version of the classic tale of The Wizard of Oz. This film takes the subject and makes it into an original musical.

Review

Diana Ross leads a stellar cast in one of the best and original retellings of the famous story. To be outdone only by the Judy Garland version Wiz is refreshing, original and beautiful. The costumes, sets and music are terrific, Diana Ross is superb and the remainder of the cast are no slouches. A must see for anyone into musicals and Oz.

Review Written

Unknown

Selena

Selena (1997)

Rating

Director

Gregory Nava

Screenplay

Gregory Nava

Length

2h 07m

Starring

Jennifer Lopez, Edward James Olmos, Constance Marie, Jon Seda, Lupe Ontiveros, Jackie Guerra, Jacob Vargas, Alexandra Meneses, John Verea, Ruben Gonzalez, Seidy López, Pete Ostudillo, Ricky Vela, Don Shelton

MPAA Rating

Basic Plot

This story follows the life of Selena Quintanilla from a young girl to an adult and to her murder.

Review

Defying standard review, because the story itself revolves around a real-life person, Selena is an emotion packed film that shows what can happen when someone puts faith into their work. As well as showing the frailty and inconsistancy of fame. Brillian performances from everyone in the cast. On too many occasions, emotional thrills don’t connect and several places the direction is choppy and ill-placed and seems to pop out of nowhere, including a split-screen technique used poorly.