Directed by: Barry Levinson
Writing credits: Michael Crichton, Kurt Wimmer, Stephen Hauser, Paul Attanasio
Movie Genre: Sci-Fi/Thriller
Released: 1998
Running Time: 134 minutes
Rating: PG13
Sphere is a 1998 science fiction movie based on the 1987 Michael Crichton novel of the same name.
Government functionary captain Harold C. Barnes assembles a crack scientific team — psychologist Dr. Norman Goodman, who wrote a presidential report on alien contact; biochemist Beth Halperin, once involved romantically with Goodman; mathematician Harry Adams; and astrophysicist Ted Fielding.
After descending a thousand feet, they set up housekeeping at their underwater Habitat base, suit up, and enter the craft, finding evidence that it's a U.S. ship from the future.
However, the craft's cargo of a shimmering, golden sphere is definitely alien.
After Harry contrives to enter the sphere, Norman notes his odd behaviour.
When the Habitat computer system receives an email message from the sphere ("I am happy"), it's not long before the messages from this entity take a threatening turn ("I will kill you all"), triggering fears to surface along with violent attacks to the Habitat.
The film is divided into chapters, such as The Ride Down, The First Exchange, and The Monster.
Shot on soundstages at the abandoned Mare Island Naval Shipyard (Vallejo, California), the effects combine animation, miniatures, prosthetics, animatronics, and digital images.
Tagline: A thousand feet beneath the sea, the blackest holes are in the mind...