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The Man Who Fell to Earth (Special...
Stars:
David Bowie, Rip Torn, Candy Clark, Buck Henry, and Bernie Casey
Writer:
Paul Mayersberg
Based
On The Novel By: Walter Tevis
Director:
Nicholas Roeg
Feature
length: 139 minutes
Extras:
Featurette, Trailers, TV Spots, Talent Bios, Still Gallery, Original Screenplay
on DVD-ROM
Languages:
English DTS Digital 6.1 ES Theatrical Surround Sound, and Dolby Digital 5.1 EX
Surround Sound, and Dolby Surround Sound
Subtitles:
English Closed Captions
Packaging:
Two-Disc Digipack Within A Cardboard Sleeve
Chapter
Stops: 28
Sound:
DTS Digital 6.1 ES Theatrical Surround Sound, and Dolby Digital 5.1 EX Surround
Sound, and Dolby Surround Sound
Year
of Theatrical Release: 1976/DVD Release: 2003
Home
Video Distributor: Anchor Bay Entertainment
MPAA
Rating: R
Reviewer:
Mark A. Rivera
Arguably
the best acting performance ever given by music star David Bowie is his first
feature film acting debut as the enigmatic “Thomas Jerome Newton” in
Nicholas Roeg’s big screen adaptation of “The Man Who Fell To Earth.”
Bowie is an alien masquerading as a human being while using his advanced
scientific knowledge to secure patent rights and subsequently build a financial
and industrial empire so he can eventually build a spaceship large enough to
transfer himself and some H20 back to his home world where there has been a
great a drought and his family is waiting for him. He came to Earth with only a
rudimentary understanding of it’s culture based on television waves and thus
despite his appearance. Mr. Newton becomes to subject of interest from those who
work for him, those who love him, and those who would destroy him. As the
decades pass, Newton’s true nature only draws more scrutiny because he does
not age on the outside, but only internally and thus this fable about the “E.T.”
who didn’t get away closes with a sense of irony on the dualistic nature of
human nature as seen in part from Newton’s point of view as he succumbs to the
vices of the Earth.
Roeg’s
screen direction suggests more than it actually tells, which opens the film up
to multiple viewings and discussion. Candy Clark, Buck Henry, and Rip Torn give
solid performances that balance Bowie’s otherworldly screen presence. While
there are a few elements of the film that have not suffered too badly in the 25
plus years since it was released, there are a few elements that are
understandably dated, but do not take away from the movie’s overall impact.
Interesting to note as the characters age in the film, Rip Torn actually
becomes more recognizable as he is today at one point though his character
appears to age beyond whatever real life age Mr. Torn is now.
Anchor
Bay Entertainment has presented “The Man Who Fell To Earth” with an
anamorphic widescreen (2.35:1) aspect ratio presenting the film in a fully
restored director’s cut complete with the THX certification stamp and
Optimizer™ program for picture and sound calibration. The results are good,
but not great. Some scenes look grainer than others and appear to have been in a
greater need of restoration than others. Overall I think fans of the film will
still be happy to have the film on DVD, but no one should expect a spectacular
transfer because it simply is not the case.
The
audio tracks fare better with two good and nearly equal in quality discrete
audio soundtracks. An edgy English DTS Digital 6.1 ES Theatrical Surround
Soundtrack is provided along with an English Dolby Digital 5.1 EX Surround
Soundtrack. Both are very full sounding and should please home theater sound
enthusiasts. English Closed Captions for the hearing impaired is also included
as an option.
Disc
two contains the extra features that begin with a newly videotaped interviews
with Director Nicholas Roeg, Executive Producer Si Litvinoff, and Actress Candy
Clark among others discussing the genesis, production, and impact of “The Man
Who Fell To Earth” in “Watching The Alien” (24:32). Candy Clark notes in
the documentary how she felt like she looked like her mother as her character
aged to become a senior citizen in the film, but while I am sure Ms. Clark has a
long way to go before she eligible of Social Security, considering she must be
at least 25 years older than as she appears in the beginning portion of the
film, I think Ms. Clark should not worry about aging at all because as far as I
am concerned she still looks great.
Two
(1.85:1) American trailers and two (2.35:1) international trailers with
two-channel monaural sound are included and are made up of “US Trailer 1”
(1:50), “US Trailer 2” (2:00), “US Teaser” (1:01), “International
Trailer” (2:27), and “International Teaser” (1:08). Two (1.33:1) TV spots
that run about 32 and 33-seconds respectively are also included along with an
extensive gallery of color and black and white behind-the-scenes photos, lobby
cards, one-sheet art, VHS and international DVD cover art, and even a
performance life caste made of Bowie for make-up. Talent bios for Nicholas Roeg
and David Bowie wrap up the DVD-Video extras. DVD-ROM users also have access to
the complete screenplay as a PDF document.
The
menus on both discs feature full motion animation and transitions to standard
interactive still frame menus that are easy to navigate and there is an insert
with liner notes inside the Digipack gatefold that comes within cardboard
sleeve.
“The
Man Who Fell To Earth” is available on DVD-Video now from Anchor Bay
Entertainment.
©
Copyright 2003 By Mark A. Rivera
All Rights Reserved.
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The Man Who Fell to Earth (Special...