Review of The Man from Earth (2007) by Danny B — 12 Jan 2009

I've been pondering this review for what seems like ages; this film seems to be quite controversial, not for it's content, but for its existence, what is it trying to do? be smarter than other films? carry a story with only dialogue? invoke thought? simply entertain? annoy wanna be film students with philosophy minors who think they could do better?

There is no one answer, except for the one answer, annoy wanna be film students with philosophy minors who think they could do better. This is absolutely correct and part of why I like this film, as I can't stand bitter film students.

The film could be all the things I mentioned above, it can also suck balls; the film is what you make it, with your final opinion being entirely sculpted by your original expectations. This movie has no reach, and no ability to change one's assumptions about it, it is a doomed from the moment you hear it's premise, or, the method of its delivery.

From an exploration of human knowledge to an annoying, poorly made film with pompous assumptions trying to deliver thought we haven't had with twists we may have seen coming, this flick can assume several identities.

Why do I give it a perfect rating? Because I am bias to it's premise, my expectations and personal taste demand that I enjoy it.

As a film critic, I give it 5 stars becuase I enjoy the thought of what film can be, when a film attempts something, this can surely come off as cocky and elitist, but so can every piece of philosophy and political thought.

The Man From Earth shows that film, perhaps, can come a bit closer to what literature does, and, that it can deserve both 0 stars or 5 stars without quarrel from me.