Review 395: Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Close Encounters of the Third Kind is a  science fiction film, one briming with mystery and wonder and is one of Steven Spielberg's best films.

 

When blue-collar worker, Roy Neary (Richard Dreyfuss) witnesses the arrival of alien ships from a distant world, an incredible series of events begins - planes which disappeared during WWII are found intact in Mexico, long lost ships mysteriously re-appear in the middle of the desert and people from all around the world, including Neary are convinced that someone is trying to communicate with them. Neary's search for an answer leads him to take part in the ultimate encounter with the extraterrestrials.

 

The plot (one of the few to be written be Spielberg) is

The Alienation of being inspired: In the films analogies to the artist's dilemma, we see Spielberg grappling with personal questions about his own life. The depiction of suburban life is depicted as sufforcating for Roy as clearly depicted when Spielberg frames most of the scenes in his house in wide shots

Potential for Human Connection:

Religion: Close Encounters of the Third Kind contains a lot of Judeo-Christian analogies. 

We never learn why the aliens abducted people and why they're returning them now. They are depicted as an entirely unknowable force who do things for reasons the human characters cannot begin to fathom.

the title, itself, is derived from Ufologist J. Allen Hynek's classification of close encounters with extraterrestrials, in which the third kind denotes human observations of extraterrestrials or "animal beings"

 

the cinematography is gorgeous, the score by John Williams is 

Richard Dreyfuss and Melinda Dillion are

Francois Truffaut has a very noteworthy and intriguing role in this film 

5/5.

The Anonymous Critic.