Review of The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976) by Stuart K — 23 Apr 2012
After Don't Look Now (1973), Nicolas Roeg went off to America for his next film, even though it was made by British Lion with an English crew, based on Walter Tevis' 1963 novel. It makes for a sparse, experimental sci-fi film, but it's beautiful to look at and has a good game cast with a brilliant singer/musician in his screen debut showing confidence and charisma.
It has a mysterious stranger, Thomas Jerome Newton (David Bowie), who is a humanoid alien sent from the planet Anthea, to find water as Anthea is dying due to a terrible drought. In order to do this, he brings from his home planet, designs for many inventions on Earth, with help from patent attorney Oliver V.
Farnsworth (Buck Henry), and eventually Newton becomes head of his own company World Enterprises Corporation. Newton meets and becomes romantically involved with hotel worker Mary-Lou (Candy Clark), and they begin a sexual relationship.
Meanwhile, Newton's closest confidante Dr. Nathan Bryce (Rip Torn) learns that Newton is an alien, and Newton's origins becomes the focus of much press and political scrutiny. It's an engaging and moving film, with locations out in Albuquerque and Artesia in New Mexico, which look as remote and alien as any planet out there.
Roeg gets the best of of Bowie, who is a perfect fit for Newton, giving it an other-worldly quality, with brilliant music by John Phillips and Stomu Yamashta, this is a sci-fi film for grown-ups, and proud of it.
This review of The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976) was written by Stuart K on 23 Apr 2012.
The Man Who Fell to Earth has generally received positive reviews.
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