Life-changing cinema: The classic sci-fi movie David Fincher claims “shouldn’t work”
Even though his directorial debut, 1993’s Alien 3, was an admitted disaster, David Fincher made it his personal mission to establish himself as one of American cinema’s greatest modern filmmakers. Considering the movies that duly followed, it’s fair to say that Fincher has ultimately achieved his early ambition.
Some of contemporary cinema’s greatest moments have arrived with Fincher at the helm. From his breakthrough in 1995 with Seven on through the likes of Fight Club, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Social Network and Gone Girl, Fincher has always doused his films with a sense of the quality of the highest order.
Widespread acclaim has been issued at Fincher throughout his career, and the director himself is no stranger to considering which of his fellow filmmakers he has the most respect for. In a feature with A-Frame, Fincher once stated the movies that had the deepest impact on him and named the likes of William Friedkin, Peter Bogdanovich, John Carpenter and Bob Fosse as some of his favourite filmmakers.
Fincher is not necessarily known for his contributions to the science fiction genre, and it’s likely that he abandoned hopes of succeeding in the genre given his panned effort in Aliens 3. Still, it looks as though the filmmaker has a soft spot for the work of Steven Spielberg and, particularly, one of the legendary director’s classic science fiction moments.
Discussing Spielberg’s 1977 science fiction drama Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Fincher noted, “[It] might be the most wondrous and compelling dream that Steven Spielberg’s ever shared.” The film starred Richard Dreyfuss, Melinda Dillion, Teri Garr and even the iconic French director Francois Truffaut.
Diving into the human desire to understand the world that exists beyond them, Spielberg’s film tells of a man whose life is changed forever when he comes into close contact with an unidentified flying object and who finds himself seeking out those who have reported a similar experience.
John William is on hand to deliver yet another mesmerising score for Spielberg, while some of the visuals remain some of the most memorable moments in the science fiction genre. Spielberg manages to weave a story that transcends its genre, though, by detailing the relentless human pursuit of knowledge.
Fincher feels that Close Encounters of the Third Kind “shouldn’t work,” and yet it undoubtedly does. Made on a budget of $19.4million, Spielberg’s 1977 sci-fi went on to gross more than $300million worldwide whilst receiving widespread critical acclaim, earning nine nominations at the Academy Awards, winning ‘Best Cinematography’ and ‘Best Sound Effects Editing’ Special Achievement Award.
Continuing to express his admiration for Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Fincher added, “Watergate meets The Day the Earth Stood Still? A tremendous Richard Dreyfuss actually leaving the amazing Teri Garr… BEHIND? But I never looked at the night sky the same way again.”
Fincher is not the only director or artist who has expressed admiration for Spielberg’s classic science fiction movies. Modern sci-fi legend Denis Villeneuve once explained that it, alongside Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey, helped to birth his “love of cinema”, while Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain was also said to be a big fan of the film.
Spielberg left a deep impression not only on Fincher but on the world of science fiction at large, something he would continue to do throughout his career.