The Man Who Fell to Earth
Review of the 2016 re-release of Nic Roeg's cult classic, for SciFiNow Magazine.
The Man Who Fell to Earth A self-indulgent sci-fi romp, saved by Bowie’s star man
Released: Fri 9 Sep Certificate: 18 Director: Nicolas Roeg Screenwriter: Cast: David Bowie, Rip Torn, Candy Clark, Buck Henry, Bernie Casey Distributor: Park Circus Running Time: 133 mins
This late-70s sci-fi is infused with the mythology of its star David Bowie and the off-kilter worldview and ‘anything goes’ attitude of its director Nicolas Roeg. Perhaps it’s this potent combo that establishes this as a cult movie, one regarded with fondness by many, despite its failings (and there are a few). Roeg is known for not storyboarding his movies – ‘God laughs at people who make plans’ – and, at over two hours, the meandering story reflects this carefree attitude. Bowie is perfectly cast as billionaire Thomas J Newton, a ‘visitor’ who aims to develop tech to transfer Earth’s water to his drought-stricken home planet. With his wife and kids’ lives depending on him, he’s driven to succeed, despite drawing the attention of the press, jealous business rivals and a lovesick chambermaid with a penchant for gin. But if you’re looking for a gripping narrative, look elsewhere; enjoy the B-movie effects and crash zooms, the melodramatic acting, the eclectic soundtrack, Hockney-esque visuals and Bowie’s effortless charisma instead. Notice, also, the self-aware moments and in-jokes about Bowie’s looks, fame and talent – the singing in church scene is a lovely one. The metaphors, like the VFX, are obvious and heavy-handed, but what could be more entertaining than seeing a (literally) spaced-out Bowie in a skin-tight alien suit getting into a spaceship that looks like a Madeira cake on wheels? Roeg’s influences here range from The Third Man to his ex-colleague Roger Corman, and even Kubrick, but look closer and you’ll see that The Man Who Fell to Earth has in-turn influenced others, not least Ridley Scott’s vision for Roy Batty. Because there’s so much to love in this sexy mess of a film, we should be able to forgive its flabby ridiculous moments and simply enjoy gazing at a star man – the ‘phenomenon of our time,’ as the trailer dubs Bowie – and be thankful that his un-used work for the film score eventually became Station to Station.
Or Stay In And Watch… Starman John Carpenter’s 1984 movie about an alien (Jeff Bridges) in a dead man’s body, who finds love on the run.
Trivia: When filming The Man Who Fell to Earth at an Aztec burial ground the cameras kept inexplicably jamming…