Film Review: Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Society & Entertainment
Film Review
What do you get when you combine aliens, a little bit of mystery,
tasteful comedy, good acting, and award-winning direction? A wonderful film
from one of the most celebrated directors of our time, Stephen Spielberg.
"Close Encounters" places Richard Dreyfuss and Melinda Barro in roles of regular
suburbanites who both believe to have seen a UFO. The plot thickens and the
intrigue begins when these two determined people try to find out what is really
going on in their town. Dreyfuss, obsessed with the UFO sightings, nearly
drives his family away, and destroys his home in suburbia because of his
unrelinquished need to answer his own questions. Although this is obviously a
science fiction film, Dreyfuss also turns in just the right amount of delightful
comedy to keep boredom from the audience's grasp. Spielberg has won a hit with
his heartfelt, intriguing, sci-fi flick that has that patented Spielberg ending
we all have grown to love over the years.
The reason for the greatness of this movie lies firmly in the
outstanding performances by Dreyfuss, Barro, and co-star Terri Garr. Dreyfuss
has a knack for being able to portray an erratic man who in one instant is
completely normal, and at other times becomes utterly insane. Melinda Barro
also puts in an extremely believable performance as Dreyfuss's side-kick in
search of her abducted son. But perhaps the most hidden success of this movie
is the very underrated actress Teri Garr, who put in her two cents as Dreyfuss's
wife. Garr did play a small role, yet it was effective, it produced a gauge of
just how crazy Dreyfuss was really getting. The wonderful acting carried the
film over the obvious special effects that Spielberg uses.
This film was pretty much original for it's time, but once you see the
special effects, you are instantly reminded of films like E.T., Star Wars and
other such science fiction slash space... [continues]
Society & Entertainment
Film Review
What do you get when you combine aliens, a little bit of mystery,
tasteful comedy, good acting, and award-winning direction? A wonderful film
from one of the most celebrated directors of our time, Stephen Spielberg.
"Close Encounters" places Richard Dreyfuss and Melinda Barro in roles of regular
suburbanites who both believe to have seen a UFO. The plot thickens and the
intrigue begins when these two determined people try to find out what is really
going on in their town. Dreyfuss, obsessed with the UFO sightings, nearly
drives his family away, and destroys his home in suburbia because of his
unrelinquished need to answer his own questions. Although this is obviously a
science fiction film, Dreyfuss also turns in just the right amount of delightful
comedy to keep boredom from the audience's grasp. Spielberg has won a hit with
his heartfelt, intriguing, sci-fi flick that has that patented Spielberg ending
we all have grown to love over the years.
The reason for the greatness of this movie lies firmly in the
outstanding performances by Dreyfuss, Barro, and co-star Terri Garr. Dreyfuss
has a knack for being able to portray an erratic man who in one instant is
completely normal, and at other times becomes utterly insane. Melinda Barro
also puts in an extremely believable performance as Dreyfuss's side-kick in
search of her abducted son. But perhaps the most hidden success of this movie
is the very underrated actress Teri Garr, who put in her two cents as Dreyfuss's
wife. Garr did play a small role, yet it was effective, it produced a gauge of
just how crazy Dreyfuss was really getting. The wonderful acting carried the
film over the obvious special effects that Spielberg uses.
This film was pretty much original for it's time, but once you see the
special effects, you are instantly reminded of films like E.T., Star Wars and
other such science fiction slash space... [continues]
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