Review of Starman (1984) by Danny R — 06 Dec 2011

John Carpenter's finest achievement as a director and without a doubt his most intelligent and beguiling film, a science-fiction odyssey about an alien who's space vessel has been shot down by Air Force jets after entering earth's atmosphere and the space vessel crash lands in the Wisconsin forest, the Starman, played wonderfully by Jeff Bridges who delivers a mesmerizing Oscar nominated performance arrives at the remote cabin of a distraught young widow named Jenny Hayden, who is still grieving over the recent death of her husband Scott Hayden, she is beautifully played by Karen Allen, the Starman finds a photo album and samples DNA from a lock of hair from Jenny's dead husband; he then clones the physical form of the deceased Scott Hayden, Jenny responds at first with shock and fear at the slight of her husband, the Starman forces Jenny on interstate road trip to Arizona to be picked up by his mothership in three days or he'll die, along the trip Jenny's fear turns to sympathy and finally love and the Starman learns what it means to be a man in love for he has developed a deep passon for Jenny Hayden.

But they must watch out for the government agents and the military who are hot on their trail and consider the Starman a dangerous alien threat! The chemistry between Bridges and Allen rings true and is extremely moving.

Solid supporting performances by Charles Martin Smith and the late Richard Jaeckel, but it is Jeff Bridges's brilliant and sublime performance that makes this film a must-see, there is a marvelous synthesizer score by Jack Nitzche.

A witty, resonant heartwarming fantasy. Highly Recommended. Academy Awards nomination for Best Actor: Jeff Bridges and Golden Globe Awards nominations for Best Actor: Jeff Bridges, Best Original Score-Motion Picture: Jack Nitzsche.