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1970s sci-fi fantasy is as absurd as it is profound

Author: Robert Skuch Published

if you think david bowie maze This is his weirdest movie role, come to think of it. This title belongs to the 1976 The man who fell to eartha sci-fi fantasy film that doubles as softcore intergalactic porn.

Both absurd and profound, The man who fell to earth Centered on Thomas Jerome Newton, played by David Bowie, it explores addiction, media overconsumption and corporate corruption. Granted, there’s more unnecessary nudity than necessary, but the film is a visual feast that captures an otherworldly sense of existential dread that only Bowie could achieve.

fish out of water story

The man who fell to earth This is a fish out of water story, not because Thomas Newton plopped down on land, but because his planet was effectively out of water. After crash-landing on Earth, Thomas disguises himself as a human, creates a false identity, and hires patent attorney Oliver Farnsworth (Buck Henry) to help him profit from his homeworld’s technology. Through his company, World Enterprises, he quickly amassed a fortune to fund a spacecraft that could return water to his dying planet and family.

While visiting a crash site in New Mexico, Thomas meets Mary-Lou (Candy Clark), a hotel worker who is attracted to his uniqueness. One of the best jokes in the film is when Thomas explains his strangeness by claiming he’s just British. As their romance progressed, he developed addiction to alcohol. He spent hours drinking Beefeater gin in front of a wall of TVs, mumbling lines like “TV is weird, it doesn’t tell you anything” while sinking into despair.

Meanwhile, lecherous college professor Dr. Nathan Bryce (Rip Towne) takes over the fuel division of World Enterprise. His goal is to exploit Thomas’ technology while proving that he is not human.

“The Man Who Fell to Earth” live broadcast

The man who fell to earth review Fraction

My only real complaint The man who fell to earth is its length. Throughout its 138-minute runtime, a few risqué scenes feel indulgent rather than necessary.

In the third act, Thomas shoots Mary Lou naked for an uncomfortable amount of time in the apartment-turned-prison, under kaleidoscopic lights. It’s visually wild but narratively unnecessary. similar movies Species Use sex to drive the story forward; the man seems to linger in it for no reason.

That is to say, The man who fell to earth Still a surreal, character-driven sci-fi fantasy that relies on atmosphere rather than exposition. With David Bowie in the lead, things get about as weird as you’d hope.

Widely regarded as one of Nicolas Roeg’s best films, you can watch The man who fell to earth Free on Tubi. Just be prepared for the consequences; you may be tempted to put away all the TVs later and recuperate by immersing yourself in sitcom reruns.


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