THE MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH (1976)

Country: U.K.

Genre(s): Drama / Sci-Fi

Director: Nicolas Roeg

Cast: David Bowie / Rip Torn / Candy Clark

Plot

An alien arrives on Earth and, pretending to be human, seeks to collect water to save his dying planet.  Instead, he quickly becomes a corporate and media power, seduced by the material temptations of Western culture.

What I Liked

I can say with certainty that “The Man Who Fell to Earth” is very unlike any other movie I have seen to this point. The movie’s slow pace, mixed with the unexpected shifts in time and place, bring an eerie, otherworldly feel to the viewing experience.  David Bowie’s own innate strangeness further contributes to this impression, making his inclusion as the alien Thomas Jerome Newton perfect.

In several ways, “The Man Who Fell to Earth” is a departure from the science fiction genre, particularly pre-1970s sci-fi.  Its focus is on planet Earth, on the humanity of its characters (including Newton) and it largely ignores common sci-fi themes like invasion, war, or advanced technology.  While the fact that Newton is an alien being does play a significant factor in the overall character relationships and themes, those conflicts could have been easily played out in different ways had he not been from another planet, making the most important sci-fi element almost incidental.  The film therefore attempts to delve deeper into universal truths than the limitations of genre (as the best genre films do).

What I Didn’t Like

That a film is unusual and ambitious, doesn’t mean it is successful entertainment.  To be honest, I didn’t find this film interesting or emotionally engaging on any level.  It’s the first film I’ve watched on this project since the epically long silent film “Intolerance” that I found a chore to complete.  For the most part “The Man Who Fell to Earth” is dull.  Even the many and gratuitous sex scenes, equipped with full front nudity, are pretty hokey.  I could go on, but I’d basically just be repeating myself.  “The Man Who Fell to Earth” is distinctive but it’s not worth watching.

Most Memorable Scene

At points throughout the film, Newton flashes back to memories of his miserable life back on his home planet.  These scenes are sad and strange enough to stand out as the most memorable moments of the film.  So maybe I’m contradicting my prior statements that the film is not defined by its science fiction characteristics by identifying the alien planet scenes as the definitive moments.  The fact is they do stand out for how creepy, weird, and terribly low budget they are. 

My Rating: 2 out of 5