Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977).
IMDb meta-data is a runtime of 2 hours and 18 minutes, rated 7.6 by 211,299 cinematizens.
Genre: Sy Fy.
DNA: USA
Verdict: Superb!
Tagline: ‘They were invited!’
It’s not often a big Hollywood picture features blue-collar leads but this one does and both actors rise to the occasion with compelling performances. The inclusion of François Truffaut is a warm and welcome tribute to that magician of cinema. The meshing of the storylines is good and it steers just clear of turning the army into buffoons. Though the use of dust is straight out of Rage (1972).
I did find some of this version attenuated. Wasn’t sure about that Indian chanting. Roy’s obsession with gardening went on too long. The build-up to the final rendezvous is stretched and then the rendezvous is anti-climatic. No idea why it was so important to exclude those invited but to suit up those in red? Still I liked it that things were not over-explained in a Hollywood science way. It is just presented.
Memo: Returning the abductees is nice, but having taken them in the first place ruined not only their lives but those of their family, relatives, and friends. Who do they sue for compensation?
Compared to Asteroid City (2023) this seems grown up with something to say about the mysterious of the universe that is said well.
It is old news, I know but I came across it and watched it as a reminder that Hollywood can do more than produce bubble gum for and by prepubescent boys with arrested development. I know there is a re-released edited version which I will get to.