The Man Who Fell to Earth

(Nicolas Roeg, UK 1976, 139 min., 35mm)

Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps). David Bowie stars as an advanced humanoid alien sent to Earth to find a way to save his own dying home planet. He brings along several inventions that make him wealthy but don’t alleviate his tremendous loneliness. Roeg’s brilliant visuals and unusual storytelling that drifts through time and space in totally unexpected bursts goes beyond outer space exploration to Bowie’s inner mind as he struggles to cope with life on Earth. The great supporting cast includes Rip Torn and Buck Henry.