The Man Who Fell to Earth at 45: Star Man - 45th Anniversary Video | Movie Birthdays
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- Опубліковано 6 жов 2024
- The Man Who Fell to Earth at 45th Anniversary Video Essay
Director Nicolas Roeg quickly emerged as a visionary director with a flair for experimentation. Following the success of “Don’t Look Now”, he would cast the legendary David Bowie in the lead of his existential alien movie “The Man Who Fell to Earth. The resulting film would mystify audiences with curious and charismatic presence of Bowie, but would also create an experience that would challenge audiences for decades. Layered with striking imagery and touching on grand themes “The Man Who Fell to Earth” is a unique experience worth revisiting. The video touches on the cinematic legacy of Roeg and Bowie, but also celebrates author Walter Tevis whose book inspired the film and how it echoed his own struggles. Fall into this video and let me know what you think in the comments.
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I like David Bowie’s quote: “The strange thing about television is that it doesn’t tell you everything.”
It’s a nice little hint of one of the key themes - confusion and then disillusion.
The film keeps coming back to vision, through the television sets, distorting lenses, and Newton's own eyes, alien or human. This mirrors the cinematographer's obsession with the visual field. But the thing about films is that they don't tell you everything. Because to live is not to restrict oneself to a visual perspective, but rather to immerse into an integrated phenomenological field, a fall from grace (pace Icarus) into a body of water.
@@RobinParmar Thank you very much for that food for thought.
@@mikebasil4832 I recommend reading Merleau-Ponty on phenomenology. Not as difficult as other writers and has a real humanist perspective.
@@RobinParmar Thanks.
What an insightful, thought-provoking review! Bowie was just an astonishing person. The Hunger, Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence, Labyrinth...I'll watch him in anything! Thank you for this terrific analysis.
Love Roeg and always been fascinated by this film...particularly by the way it's edited. In all honesty, I'd never considered that maybe he wasn't an alien at all...need watch this again with that in mind!
It worth revisiting, lots of little details always jump out and add to new insights in terms of theme but also little clues into what is real or imagined.
I loved this movie for decades - thanks for bringing some new insights into it for the viewer! Made it fresh again and even more fascinating!
That’s just because we were all simultaneously just there at the same time.
Nonono you were wrong about his eyes. He has a condition called anisocoria. Anisocoria is a condition in which the pupil of one eye differs in size from the pupil of the other eye and it might look like he has different eye colours, but its just the dilated pupil that makes it look different!
Sorry, thanks for the correction.
He actually had an eye injury caused by a fight when he was about 18
@neilchapman5145 his life long friend punched him in the eye when they were young school boys
Brilliant commentary.
Thanks👍
Finally, a film essay on UA-cam that's worth watching. Thanks for this. I must comment that Roeg's best film is "Walkabout". "Don't Look Now" has some good moments but is rather too gimmicky for my taste.
Glad you enjoyed. I agree Walkabout is the more sophisticated of the two, but I always enjoyed the audacity of Don’t Look Now, it really provokes the viewer almost to the point of frustration. Thanks for your comment.
Great analysis with a lot of thought and solid connections with the author's
own life.
Thanks a lot, glad you enjoyed it.
I recently watched The Man Who Fell to Earth, and I came away with very mixed feelings. On one hand, I think it came close to being something quite beautiful, with its poignant commentary on humanity, suspicion, the burden of genius, and the emptiness of addiction. The love story was really very touching and tragic.
On the other hand, it suffered from the inclusion of far too much unnecessary content that did not add to the story in any way. They could have kept the run time the same, if they had swapped a few of the "sensual" scenes for ones that focused more on the characters, or on the world's reaction to Newton's inventions.
Overall, I did enjoy it for its general story and the character arcs, but I felt I had to wade through so much unnecessary stuff to get to the true meaning of it.
I agree, its experimental approach enhances the meaning but at the same time gets in the way of the poignant moments. It’s a challenging watch regardless but I guess it takes on so many big ideas as you mentioned. I’m yet to watch the new TV adaptation but would be interested to see how well it works and what themes it takes on.
Thanks for such a well thought out comment, I hope you enjoyed the video.
@@MovieBirthdays I definitely enjoyed your video. Its nice to see some good discussion on this interesting film!
I first saw it in the theater back in 1976 and have seen it countless times over the years. And I think in particular the sequence of Bowie with the pistol from the newer extended version is useless, it's a pointless scene that I'm glad was left out of the original release. For me it kills off any mystique from Newton's character.
Am here after watching The man who fell to Earth tv show.
One thing i Like about this movie and particularly the seriese is their view of life.
Faraday specifically .
I haven’t seen the TV show yet, would you recommend it?
@@MovieBirthdays definitely . Though only 4 episodes are out.
Great content
@@sam-u-el I’ll check it out
This is a brilliant analysis of a film that has intrigued and baffled me for some time. Thank you
Thanks a lot, I’m glad you enjoyed the video.
Incredible depth of analysis, contextualisation and with an intriguing and highly credible and/or informed proposition of the director's underlying/meta subtext. (Good to be cerebrally stimulated again...)
Glad you enjoyed it, the film opened up a lot areas to explore which is some way surpass the quality of the film itself. It was a fun film to revisit.
I love your voice man, almost hypnotic. And, once again, great video.
Thanks a lot, glad you enjoyed it.
Interesting take. But it's an onion. The layer I am interested is the water element. Its mismanagement as we get distracted and greedy will be our doom.
Great observation.
Boy you've hit the nail on the head!
Brilliant commentar - "Bowie is special effect!"...
He meant "special"
Great analysis, I also read the book, like the movie it is underrated.
If a person was truly born to play a character, it was Bowie in his role of Newton.
Cheers
It’s hard to imagine anyone else in the role. I believe a remake is in the works, I’ll be interest to see how that turns out.
@@MovieBirthdays According to an article from Variety, Chiwetel Ejiofor will be playing Newton. He is an excellent actor but not an actor who I would associate with the role.
I will keep an open mind. It will be interesting to see how this adaptation is presented.
www.google.com/amp/s/variety.com/2021/tv/news/rob-delaney-chiwetel-ejiofor-showtime-the-man-who-fell-to-earth-1234951614/amp/
@@ejacks3 it will be interesting to see the interpretation but not the most unique casting choice.
@@MovieBirthdays agreed
One of roegs greatest movies, as you said multiple layers and only Bowie could play this strange ambiguous lead. His London accent is vaguely hinted at but Bowie with that almost ethereal quality (few performers have it-sissy spacek is another) and broken narrative are remarkable.
Surprised you didn't mention Bowie's wonderful turn as Colin the hit man in John Landis neglected lost in LA caper 'Into the night' a truly witty performance has him stealing every scene he is in.
Brilliant review
Bowie was indeed a very capable actor with his intelligence and charisma shining through every role. A natural performer and a pleasure to watch.
I also agree in that this is arguably Roeg’s most definitive work.
OUTSTANDING and intelligent essay on this film. Subscribed.
Wow, thank you. I appreciate the support. 👍
Rip brother.
You are the only person who I try and leave a comment on because I want the algorithm to showcase you more. Great work as always! 'Mulholland Drive' is 20 years old this year...just saying. ;)
Thanks so much, really appreciate the support. I’m thinking about Mulholland Drive. It’s quite daunting, but I might take the leap and tackle it. Stay tuned.
Good vision I admire it
Could the beginning be seen as Newton, an engineering genius, one day seeing himself as a crash landed alien and overwhelmed by his surroundings that he decides to want to get out. When he does, he wants more of something but what, so when he doesn't find the answer he self destructs. Are you aware of Osamu Dazai, and if so, I could see parables with Tevis and Dazai's lives in terms of alienation and bleak outlooks.
That’s a really great possibility. I’ve not heard oF Dazai but I’ll look him up any key texts to start with?
@@MovieBirthdays no longer human
The accident didn't "turn one eye blue"...dolt...lol...it affected the muscle in his left eye such that it kept his pupil open, not only blurring vision in that rye but making it appear to be a different color, sometimes gray blue, or hazel blue or green....he was born with blue eyes....
Nice montage at the beginning. Didn't think anyone remembered Cool as Ice. Also your site is good as a good curious recommendation for movies. Almost all the movies you've screened, Ive shown interest in seeing. Thanks.
Well spotted, I’ve seen Cool as Ice more times than I would like to admit. It hasn’t aged well. Glad you’re getting a lot of out the channel, I hope you enjoy the movies I recommend, let me know what you think of the ones you check out.
@@MovieBirthdays Thx 1138, Taxi Driver, The Town, and American Psycho
@@daltonanderson3718 Awesome, all great movies.
@@MovieBirthdays Cool As Ice was very popular in Eastern Europe. Travelled through the place around 30 odd years ago when I was a child and there were posters for it everywhere.🤣
@@spaceodds1985 Now I’m thinking does it deserve its own episode. It turns 30 this year. 👍
Would Elvis Presley be considered the first music star to become successful in movies? No Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby may be the firsts. I should have asked was he the first (rock star) to be successful in movies.
I would say so, and if not he would definitely be the biggest to make the transition. But I’m sure there were others before.
Bill Haley didn't he predate Elvis at movies
I think he did, but just didn’t have the same level of success arguably.
Interesting take👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
Thanks
Thanks
There isn't any question that the Alien in the Man Who Fell To Earth is an Alien. It's quite clear & utterly unambiguous in the novel, & very clear in the film. The flashbacks of his family are not a fantasy. "It's possible that there never were lenses covering his eyes" is rather pointless conjecture. The novel & the film are not a "drunken fantasy".
Fair enough, but it’s fun to dream.
The novel is existential. Roegs film is typically dense/layered in meaning.
@@stuartwray6175 The film is also "existential." Thank you, Captain Obvious!
Brilliant analysis, well edited and very well presented... However, sadly, I am not a fan of this film. I’ve never really warmed to Roeg’s films. Don’t Look Now is by far IMO his best film. Bad Timing is an interesting curio and Walkabout also has his moments. But I find The Man Who Fell To Earth to be very frustrating.
I agree it’s not the greatest film, but there has always been something intriguing about the movie and every time I’ve rewatched it I’ve noticed different details. I didn’t really scratch the surface of Rip Torn’s character who I’ve come to realise is also another surrogate for the author. The multiple story strands don’t quite gel and only add more questions as to what the film is really about but I think that’s what makes me revisit the film. It seems as though Roeg was trying to step into the shoes of Kubrick with his own version of 2001 and the resulting film is a compelling experiment.
@@MovieBirthdays Well said. And as we all know stepping into Kubrick’s shoes... do so at your peril. The only one who has sort of managed to that IMO was Christopher Nolan with Dunkirk.
@@spaceodds1985 Big shoes indeed and hard to stand on the shoulders of a giant like Kubrick. Many have tried to create the existential sci-fi movie but none have come close.
Think it was meant to be frustrating, enigmatic and thought provoking.
His eyes were always blue. His pupil was constantly dilated.
I think the delusional alien is a bit far fetched. While alcohol and addiction are definitely a theme, I don’t think they are all there is. The alien actually had a higher purpose, but he gets defeated by his lack of understanding of human nature, including his own.
This movie reminds me of a David Lynch movie.
Definitely, lots to interpret and lots of powerful imagery.
Can you do a video of Shrek
I’ll think about it, still have some of my other favourites to work through. I’ll do my best to get to it.
@@MovieBirthdays Okay 👍 God bless
@@elijahdalbroi433 thanks for your comment I hope you enjoyed the video.
the new showtime series in kinda interesting but also terrible writing, dialogue, characters, and direction. such a disappointment. it's actually a continuation of this with Bill Nighy as older Thomas Newton, but he can barely stand up and barely resembles the character whatsoever. it's pathetic, only thing going for it is it's ideas
That’s a shame, I’m still intrigued enough to give it a chance just a see a different take on something I feel is so unique and difficult to replicate.
I think the delusional alien is a bit far fetched. While alcohol and addiction are definitely a theme, I don’t think they are all there is. The alien actually had a higher purpose, but he gets defeated by his lack of understanding of human nature, including his own.