caused a bit of controversy
Science and religion collide in this adaptation of the Carl Sagan novel of the same name, which follows a pair of scientists who make contact with extraterrestrial intelligence. Dr. Ellie Arroway (Jodie Foster) works at the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico, where she has been attempting to make contact with extraterrestrials for years. When a repeating signal eventually appears from the Vega star system, she enters into an international race to decipher it, in the hope of being selected to respond to the message. The film caused a bit of controversy when real footage of Bill Clinton responding to the discovery of a meteorite that was thought to be from Mars was inserted into the film, prompting the White House to send a letter to the filmmakers. Former CNN president and chairman Tom Johnson also came forward to express regret for allowing several of his on-air anchors, including Larry King, to appear in the film, believing it blurred the line between news and entertainment.