When psychologist Norman Goodman (Dustin Hoffman) wrote a report for the government on how to deal with extraterrestrial life forces, he didn't expect his recommendations to be used. Now that a secret government agency is investigating what may be an alien spaceship that has been discovered partially buried on the floor of the Pacific Ocean, Norman finds that the plan he outlined is being put into effect and that the team he named in his report has been assembled.

In addition to Norman, there is Harry Adams (Samuel L. Jackson), a mathematician; Ted Fielding (Liev Schreiber), a physicist; and Beth Halperin (Sharon Stone), a biochemist and Norman's old flame. Led by the secretive Barnes (Peter Coyote), the foursome undergoes a crash course in diving and living under the sea in a naval habitat and begins investigating the mysterious vessel, discovering a huge glowing sphere made of an unidentifiable substance with a shimmering, almost liquidlike surface. As the investigation continues, a series of strange, horrific events leads the team of scientists to doubt each other's sanity and motives. The film is based on the best-selling novel by Michael Crichton.

Filmed at Mare Island, Vallejo, CA, and San Francisco, CA.

Director Barry Levinson had previously collaborated with novelist Michael Crichton on DISCLOSURE.

Levinson had been interested in directing a science film for years and was drawn to Crichton's story because it reflected many of the themes prevalent in Levinson's other films, such as betrayal, friendship, and loyalty.

SPHERE marks Levinson's fourth film with actor Dustin Hoffman, who also appeared in RAIN MAN, SLEEPERS, and WAG THE DOG!!

• Attractive Retail Box
• Genre: Science-Fiction/Fantasy, Action, High Seas, Horror, Mystery, Science-Fiction, Thriller
• Rating: 14A (Canadian Home Video Rating)
• Rating Reason: For Sci-Fi Action, Including Some Startling Images.
• Starring: Peter Coyote, Marga Gomez, Michael Keys Hall, Bernard Hocke, Dustin Hoffman, Samuel L. Jackson, Queen Latifah, Huey Lewis, James Pickens, Queen Latifah, Liev Schreiber, Sharon Stone
• Directed By: Barry Levinson
• Release Information:
• Studio: Warner Studios
• Theatrical Release Date: February 13, 1998
• DVD Release Date: February 8, 2005
• Run Time: 135 minutes
• Production Company: Warner Home Video
• Package Type: Snap Case
• Dual-Layer Format
• DVD Features:
• Encoding: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only). This DVD will probably NOT be viewable in other countries.
• Aspect Ratio(s):
• Widescreen anamorphic - 2.35:1
• Available Audio Tracks:
• English (Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround)
• French (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround)
• Languages: English and French
• Subtitles: English, French and Spanish
• Closed Captioned: Yes
• Bonus Features:
• Behind-the-Scenes Making-of Documentary Shaping the Sphere: The Art of the Visual Effects Supervisor
• Audio Commentary by Dustin Hoffman and Samuel L. Jackson
• Production Notes
• Theatrical Trailer
• Three (3) TV Spots
• Interactive Features:
• Scene Access
• Interactive Menus

• DVD Player

• Trailer: Windows Media, 28-300k (videodetective.com)
• http://reviews.imdb.com/Reviews/110/11019
• http://www.moria.co.nz/sf/sphere.htm
• http://www.kstatecollegian.com/issues/v102/sp/n101/aande/ae-sphere-dean.html