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The Man Who Fell to Earth (Criterion Collection)

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The Man Who Fell to Earth (Criterion Collection)

Starring: Bernie Casey, Candy Clark Director: Nicolas Roeg

4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (70 customer reviews)

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Product Details

Actors: Bernie Casey, Candy Clark, Hilary Holland, Linda Hutton, Jackson D. Kane
Directors: Nicolas Roeg
Format: Dolby, NTSC, Widescreen
Language: English
Subtitles: English
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Studio: Criterion
DVD Release Date: Oct 4 2005

Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (70 customer reviews)

ASIN: B000A88EVE

Amazon.ca Sales Rank: #22,119 in DVD (See Bestsellers in DVD)

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#4 in	Books > Literature & Fiction > Authors, A-Z > ( J ) > James, Peter
#14 in	Books > Literature & Fiction > Classics > British > James, Henry
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Product Description

From Amazon.com

While other films directed by Nicolas Roeg have attained similar cult status (including Walkabout and Don't Look Now), none has been as hotly debated as this languid but oddly fascinating adaptation of the science fiction novel by Walter Tevis. David Bowie plays the alien of the title, who arrives on Earth with hopes of finding a way to save his own planet from turning into an arid wasteland. He funds this effort by capitalizing on several highly lucrative inventions, and in so doing becomes the powerful leader of an international corporate conglomerate. But his success has negative consequences as well--his contact with Earth has a disintegrating effect that sends him into a tailspin of disorientation and metaphysical despair. The sexual attention of a cheerful young woman (Candy Clark) doesn't do much to change his outlook, and his introduction to liquor proves even more devastating, until, finally, it looks as though his visit to Earth may be a permanent one. The Man Who Fell to Earth is definitely not for every taste--it's a highly contemplative, primarily visual experience that Roeg directs as an abstract treatise on (among other things) the alienating effects of an over-commercialized society. Stimulating and hypnotic or frightfully dull, depending on your receptiveness to its loosely knit ideas, it's at least in part about not belonging, about being disconnected from the world--about being a stranger in a strange land when there's really no place like home. --Jeff Shannon.

Review

David Bowie's stage persona of "Ziggy Stardust," rock star from Mars, had been so fully absorbed by his fans (and the media) that he seemed the obvious choice to play Thomas Jerome Newton, alien castaway turned millionaire pop star, in the film version of Walter Tevis's novel The Man Who Fell to Earth. But, of course, Newton is only a pop star for a few moments at the end of the film, which is only one of many areas where director Nicolas Roeg and screenwriter Paul Mayersberg confound the audience's expectations. The Man Who Fell to Earth doesn't play like a traditional science fiction film; interstellar technology and alien conquest don't figure into the story, and instead we're told the strange and sad tale of a man who wants nothing more than to go home to his home and family, which circumstances will not permit. While Bowie doesn't come off as a terribly skilled actor, he's highly effective as an alien presence (and his character's jittery paranoia got an unexpected boost from Bowie's well-documented cocaine abuse in this period), and he manages to radiate a human sense of sadness and loss while maintaining a cold, unearthly emotional distance. Roeg's always sure visual sense never fails him here, as he places Newton in a world that seems a step or two removed from reality; this is never his world, and it also doesn't quite seem to be ours. Candy Clark and Rip Torn, as the two principal human characters, have the drawback of playing people less clearly drawn than Newton, but they ultimately acquit themselves admirably. Few sci-fi films have ever seemed quite so human or made earthbound humanity seem such a cruel fate. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

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Customer Reviews

70 Reviews

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(24)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(4)

Average Customer Review

4.0 out of 5 stars (70 customer reviews)

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4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding Criterion Release, Jul 5 2007

By	Kasey Driscoll - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)

The Man Who Fell to Earth is a science fiction cult film from director Nicolas Roeg (Walkabout, Don't Look Now). It stars David Bowie as an alien who visits Earth seeking water for his home world which is barren. It is based on the Walter Tevis novel of the same name and this Criterion release of The Man Who Fell to Earth comes with the book as well. There are significant enough differences between the novel and the film that the novel is a worthy supplement to the experience of watching this movie. You will also want to check out the DVD extras in the same regard.

David Bowie is the title character in his only feature role. He is Thomas Newton and he only has to adjust his appearance a little bit to look somewhat human. That is if you think David Bowie even looks human because I don't, but I do realize he is...I think? Anyway, Thomas Newton rises to great wealth due to his society's advances in technology and his ability to create enterprises based on his patenting compilations of ideas that his world produced, nonexistent on Earth. He is trying of course to fund the shipment of water back to his home world. Thomas soon meets Mary-Lou (played by Candy Clark). Mary-Lou is your typical girl who introduces him to many of Earth's temptations. Thomas is soon inhibited by his aberrant consumption of alcohol and his fixation with television. It all has a very negative effect on him. Mary-Lou and his friend Nathan (Rip Torn) both eventually discover separately that Thomas is indeed an alien. After being revealed and after the government imprisons him, Thomas's inevitable downfall becomes apparent. We see him gradually accept failure in his task and grow increasingly negative in his disposition. He has truly fallen to Earth I suppose.

The big strengths in this film are primarily its cinematography. I like Nicholas Roeg's other films a lot so I'm aware that this is to be expected. I like the idea of a science fiction art film and overall I can really appreciate the fact that The Man Who Fell to Earth is not as in your face as most science fiction is today and was even back then in the mid 70s. However, this is almost too surreal and sedated for me. It was convincing but there were some long and boring stretches and I couldn't figure out why exactly, beyond the photography alone. It just seemed a lot longer than the story warranted. Also, I think I can draw the line between gratuitous nudity and appropriate nudity and I'm grown up enough to accept both. The Man Who Fell to Earth has much gratuitous nudity, but that was a sign of the times I guess so it's partially forgivable. There is more emotion and drive behind Newton in the Tevis novel and it seemed a bit more controlled as an existential piece of work. It doesn't matter though because with the Criterion release you are getting both and if you like to collect interesting and unique films that will have you talking then this set is worth owning. The film itself would probably get three stars from me but the Criterion release justifies four. It really is an exceptional package. The extras are outstanding and should help answer most questions you will have. Provoking movies like this one, whether they be good or bad, deserve the royal treatment so kudos to Criterion once again.

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5.0 out of 5 stars How to explain this movie..., Jun 16 2004

By	Kate "Rocker" (Chicago, IL (USA)) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Man Who Fell To Earth (DVD)

This is one of those films that is best watched in the dark, by yourself, because sometimes, you just might want to shout out "WHAT?"

Basically this movie is a great cult classic about an alien who comes to our planet in search of water for his desert planet. David Bowie... how do you rate his performance with that of other conventional actors? You can't. He is brilliant in his role as Mr. Newton! I was completely mesmerized and even attracted to him as the thin redhead. I was surprised however that he was completely unclothed in one scene, but hey, it didn't hurt any part of the movie!

I would recomend this to anyone, period. I give the movie a 5, but Bowie's performance gets a 10!

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5.0 out of 5 stars Loving The Alien, Jun 10 2004

By	Andre' S Grindle "Funk Meister" (Bangor,ME.) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Man Who Fell to Earth (Widescreen) (DVD)

I never went into thi film expecting anything that
conventional,considering David Bowie stars in it.But it is a
socially relevant science fiction movie about an alien who comes
to Earth in search of water to aid his draught-ridden planet and
in the process get's caught up in the corrupt politics of human
culture.In the end he basically forgets why he came to Earth to
start with after falling in love and becoming owner of a big
cooperation.The overall message-if aliens arn't visiting this

planet there's a REASON!The movie uses stark settings and is
shot very surreally so it isn't for those without the most
open mind to avante-garde film making.Bowie,having already had
mime and theatre experience (and being the dramatic Ziggy Stardust of course) is brilliant as an actor and it is all too
believable that he doesn't come from Earth (I wonder if Bowie
really IS an alien sometimes anyway).But for those who can make
their mind and visual spectrum stretch and who don't mind a sadly
ironic ending you will enjoy this film.