The Man Who Fell to Earth - Loving the Alien

As a 'die hard' David Bowie fan, you may think I'd be automatically inclined to love everything he's ever done, albeit musically, or on screen.  He's dabbled in acting here and there and let's just say his filmic career has been a 'mixed bag.' However, most seem to agree that 'The Man Who Fell to Earth' is an outright classic.  I guess it is.  To a degree.

Bowie plays an alien who comes to Earth in order to save his own dying planet which is running out of water - fast.  However, once he's here he has to come to the - depressing - conclusion that he's probably never going home and slowly falls victim to us humans' 'desires and pleasures.'

You may well think that, based on that plot synopsis, that you're going to get some sort of major out and out science fiction film with plenty of special effects and maybe even some action.  You'd be very wrong.  What you'll get is more akin to a documentary.  No, the characters are all acting and - of course - not aware of the camera.  Yet it feels like it's almost a 'fly-on-the-wall' kind of affair.  Bowie is excellent as the titular alien; he's aloof and 'otherworldly,' although critics do point out that he's more just playing himself and even slightly influenced by various substances that plagued his life in the seventies.

If you're a major fan of Bowie, like me, then you'll probably love it, but despite the overall feeling that this film is amazing, there are always going to be those who downright hate it.  And, to be fair, I can see why.  It's no easy watch and, although I own it on DVD, it's not a film I choose to sit through often.  You certainly need to be in the mood for something very dark and serious.  There are never really any moments that lighten the mood and it'll leave you feeling pretty bleak and empty afterwards.  Plus it's getting on for nearly two and a half hours long, so it doesn't end quickly either!

It is a classic though.  If nothing else you have to agree that there's very little in the way of modern films that come close to the look, feel and topics that 'The Man Who Fell to Earth' covers.

8/10 The Force is definitely strong with this one