The Man Who Fell to Earth (1987)

The Man Who Fell to Earth Poster

In this made-for-TV movie, an alien lands on earth, and decides that he needs to take a job in order to raise money to build a spaceship so he can get back to his home planet.

The Man Who Fell to Earth: Brief Summary
"The Man Who Fell to Earth" is a critically acclaimed sci-fi movie directed by Nicolas Roeg. The 1987 movie is based on the 1963 novel by Walter Tevis of the very same name. Both the book and the movie check out styles of alienation, existentialism, and the perversion of American capitalist society.

Plot Overview
The lead character of the film is Thomas Jerome Newton, an alien from a water-starved planet who has actually come to Earth to get what his world does not have. Played by David Bowie, Newton utilizes his sophisticated alien technology to collect a fortune in hopes of constructing a spacecraft to carry water back to his house.

Main Characters
Apart from Newton, the film provides other essential characters consisting of Mary-Lou, portrayed by Candy Clark. She befriends Newton without understanding his true identity, and they ultimately become romantically involved. Rip Torn's character, Dr. Nathan Bryce, is a specialist contracted by Newton to deal with an intriguing task. Bryce ultimately discovers Newton's alien nature and outs him to the federal government.

Themes and Symbolism
The film signifies the severe truth of commercial exploitation as Newton's objectives are honorable however damaged by the American capitalist system. His technology, suggested to conserve his desolate world, is stolen, commodified, and used for individual gain rather of assisting his cause. Furthermore, it communicates the alienation suffered by people who are various or not understood by society. Newton, despite his efforts to absorb, remains an outsider.

Cinematic Style
"The Man Who Fell to Earth" is visually apprehending, using a distinct visual language that frequently provides images and ideas out of conventional chronological order. Roeg uses a non-linearity technique in presenting time and occasions to stress Newton's alien perspective. The visual design of the movie is considered ahead of its time and has actually considerably influenced later on works within the science fiction category.

Conclusion of the Film
The movie concludes on a desolate note as Newton is separated from his loved ones and left stranded in the world, in what is a downhearted critique of American materialism and xenophobia. Despite his superior innovation and intelligence, he is defenseless against the greed of his business partners and the ruthlessness of a federal government that sees him only as a possible "foreign" hazard. The story ends with his human love interest, Mary-Lou, aged and alone, and Newton, drinking himself to oblivion in a desolated apartment or condo.

Tradition of the Film
"The Man Who Fell to Earth" is considered a ground-breaking science fiction motion picture. Its combining of sci-fi with a rigorous evaluation of modern-day capitalist society sets it apart from its contemporaries. Furthermore, its casting of the rock icon David Bowie ahead role has actually etched the movie into popular culture.
In conclusion, "The Man Who Fell to Earth" is a complex and thought-provoking movie that uses the guise of a science fiction narrative to review modern American social mores. The movie's engaging storyline and effective efficiencies are instilled with dark commentary on capitalist exploitation and societal seclusion.

Top Cast

  • Lewis Smith (small)
    Lewis Smith
    John Dory
  • James Laurenson (small)
    James Laurenson
    Felix Hawthorne
  • Robert Picardo (small)
    Robert Picardo
    Agent Richard Morse
  • Bruce McGill (small)
    Bruce McGill
    Vernon Gage
  • Wil Wheaton (small)
    Wil Wheaton
    Billy Milton
  • Annie Potts (small)
    Annie Potts
    Louise
  • Beverly D'Angelo (small)
    Beverly D'Angelo
    Eva Milton
  • Henry G. Sanders (small)
    Henry G. Sanders
  • Bobbi Jo Lathan
  • Carmen Argenziano (small)
    Carmen Argenziano
  • Chris DeRose
    Record Clerk