Society & Entertainment
Film Review
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
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...