Close Encounters Of The Third Kind Movie Review (1977)
A science-fiction drama about ordinary people trying to make sense of encounters with unexplained phenomena, Close Encounters Of The Third Kind is a beautifully paced film that uses extraordinary performances and a breathtaking finale to tell a story that’s ultimately more about obsession than aliens.
When Disclosure Day was released in theaters a few months ago, I was looking forward to seeing it. Directed by Stephen Spielberg, it felt like a sort of cousin to this movie, where maybe he had more to say on the topic. Unfortunately, I thought it was terrible. The cinematography is poor, the narrative is all over the place, there is so much CGI that it destroys any kind of reality, and the (mostly) spectacular cast does what they can to keep things afloat, but it doesn’t work well. So I thought it was time to rewatch the original.
Close Encounters Of The Third Kind is about various people who begin to see extraterrestrial activity in different ways. A French scientist and his interpreter discover missing Navy ships in the desert. Three-year-old Barry finds toys going off in his home and is warmly curious about the beings in his house, while his mother sees them as a threat that wants to take her child. Blue-collar worker and family man Roy sees a ship in the sky, and it burns half of his face with its light. All the people who have encountered the phenomenon, and many others, begin to feel a pull toward Devils Tower in Wyoming, where they believe something might happen.
This is a fantastic film that has held up well despite being made 50 years ago. There are moments that feel a little dated, but it’s important to remember that Close Encounters set the standard for this area of science fiction. So, when you watch a movie and think, “Oh, this is much better than that,” consider that this is one of the building blocks that other films worked from.
In addition to the authentic performance of Cary Guffey as Barry, who, in Stephen Spielberg’s genius, had genuine emotion and reactions filmed while being shown small surprises off screen, and the chill-inducing moments of the discoveries of long-lost ships and airplanes (enhanced by a beautiful score), the ending sequence is a classic for a reason. Between the five musical notes that everyone has heard, the glass shattering in one of the booths due to how loud the spacecraft plays those notes, and the mesmerizing moments as you finally see the otherworldly visitors, it truly doesn’t get old. It is breathtaking and exhilarating. And this is 50 years later. I can only imagine what it would have been like to first see it on the big screen in 1977.
The other thing that makes this movie different from all of the others is that, as much as it is about contact between humans and aliens, it is really about obsession. Roy, who has a single experience that gives him a sunburn, slowly devolves into someone who cannot focus on anything other than Devils Tower, a place he has no name for. His family begs him to see them, but his entire existence becomes this place and this happening. Is he doing it to himself? Are they communicating with him in some way? And he’s not the only one, as Barry’s mother draws the same place dozens of times, only to start a new drawing as she finishes each picture.
As a child, I remember watching the television version of Close Encounters with the alternate ending, where Roy is inside the ship, looking around. Spielberg did not want that ending, and it has since been removed so that you can see the original vision he had, full of mystery and possibility. But you can watch it on YouTube. It takes away from the imagination, though, so although you might want more answers, it makes for a more hollow experience.
Close Encounters Of The Third Kind is a timeless film that helped pave the way for the rich science fiction movies we have now. It is immersive and philosophical, asking who has the right to seek answers to the questions we all have. It’s an iconic movie that shows you don’t need all the effects we have today if you do it right. Ditch Disclosure Day and watch this again. You won’t be sorry.
Runtime: 137 minutes
Motion Picture Rating: PG
Languages Spoken In The Film: English
Should You Watch It? Yes
Did I Cry? Nope
My Rating: 4/5 Stars
Available: To rent on Prime Video or may be available for free on other streaming platforms
