Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
This week on “Shat the Movies,” we journey into the cosmic realms of Steven Spielberg’s 1977 classic, Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Join us as we explore the film’s groundbreaking visuals, iconic score, and its thought-provoking themes surrounding communication with extraterrestrial life.
We’ll dissect Richard Dreyfuss’s transformative performance and the film’s unique blend of wonder and suspense that redefined sci-fi cinema. Whether you’re a devoted fan or new to this stellar adventure, prepare for an enlightening discussion that highlights why Close Encounters remains a timeless masterpiece in film history. Buckle up as we take a ride on this unforgettable cinematic journey!
Plot Summary: In the 1977 sci-fi classic Close Encounters of the Third Kind, directed by Steven Spielberg, Richard Dreyfuss stars as Roy Neary, an ordinary man whose life takes a surreal turn after a close encounter with an unidentified flying object (UFO). After witnessing strange lights and objects in the sky one night, Roy becomes obsessed with strange visions and an inexplicable need to find answers, causing tension in his family and alienating him from those around him.
As Roy’s obsession deepens, he begins to uncover a larger mystery, drawing him to a remote location where he believes the answers lie. Meanwhile, a group of scientists, led by French researcher Claude Lacombe (François Truffaut), is investigating a series of inexplicable phenomena around the world, including the sudden appearance of long-lost ships and airplanes. They soon realize that these events point to an imminent extraterrestrial contact.
Melinda Dillon co-stars as Jillian Guiler, a mother whose son has been abducted by the same otherworldly forces that Roy has encountered. Together, Roy and Jillian embark on a journey to uncover the truth, converging at the Devil’s Tower in Wyoming, where they believe a significant event will take place. As the tension builds, they witness an awe-inspiring and peaceful alien encounter that challenges humanity’s understanding of the universe.
Close Encounters of the Third Kind is a visually stunning and emotionally resonant film that blends human curiosity with the wonder of the unknown. Spielberg’s masterful storytelling, coupled with groundbreaking special effects, makes this film a landmark in the sci-fi genre. Join our podcast review as we dive into this cinematic masterpiece and explore whether its message of discovery and connection still captivates today’s audiences.
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I had a great time listening to this one! Close Encounters is a movie near and dear to my heart since childhood, though I understand the mediocre ratings you guys gave it. Few movies can match the way this one marvels at the unknown. The sense of awe and wonder is palpable throughout. But it also has a meandering plot that ends with a guy joyfully abandoning his family. I don’t have a wife and kids of my own, but I still view this ending very differently at 39 than I did at 13.
One of the best, and worst, things about Close Encounters is how inscrutable the aliens’ actions are. They behave like horror movie monsters in one scene, and benevolent friends in another. This seems to have intrigued and frustrated you as much as it did me. But I want to speak to one point you kept bringing up: the aliens’ manner of selecting people. Why this middle-class dude with a failing marriage? Why this pickup truck full of rednecks? Why not select Olympic athletes, brain surgeons, or world leaders?
Maybe I’m biased by my own life-long love of natural history, but I’ve always seen the aliens differently–more like field biologists taking specimens to study. And as an adult, I’ve done some fieldwork myself. When a biologist wades into a swamp to catch frogs, they are not trying to catch the biggest or strongest or smartest frogs; they are trying to catch a representative sample. When a biologist baits a trap for rodents or mice or bugs, they are fully aware the trap is only going to catch a very small portion of the targeted species.
The visions of Devil’s Tower were bait. Roy and Jillian were average frogs. Larry is one of the fish that got away.
Or maybe I’m just overthinking a movie the creator of has admitted was an escapist fantasy. But what are movie podcasts for, if not for overthinking movies.