Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)

Great story, great acting, and truly amazing effects for its time. There’s a sincerity and wonder in Spielberg’s vision that’s rare, especially in sci-fi. The story still holds up, though it’s striking how much “smarter” films like Contact have become in their handling of similar material. Audiences today are not only more UFO-savvy, but also more film-savvy. If this were made today, the studio might have cut 45 minutes of “boring” footage to speed things up.

Richard Dreyfuss is funny and charming, bringing a grounded energy to a role that balances the otherworldly mystery. The rest of the ensemble does an admirable job. Fun seeing Truffaut in his role.

You can see Spielberg continuing to define his style here: the awe-filled shots, the soft lighting, the children watching in silent wonder. There’s even a musical callback to Jaws with the signature tones, and he later reused the “lights over the cliff” shot almost exactly in E.T.. One visual detail I’ve always wondered about: why are there clouds around the mothership? Is there a scientific reason for that, or just Spielberg going for mood? Branding is everywhere. It’s an occasionally distracting Spielberg trademark, unfortunately.

The Special Edition offers a peek inside the ship, cool but perhaps unnecessary. What made the ending powerful was its mystery. Once you go inside, some of the wonder fades.