Starman (1984)

Loving the Alien.

Mixed notices then and now for John Carpenter's sci-fi love story - cum human warning parable, but the fact is is that if it touches you it's a touch that stays for ever. It's a lovely film headed up by Jeff Bridges' wonderful turn as the alien from outer space teaming up with Karen Allen for a road trip to a Nevada crater, where he will be picked up by his own species and taken home.

Taking on human form, that of Allen's deceased husband, much of the humour is derived from how the alien tries to adapt to a human lifestyle. The language, food, customs and romance, but always there is a serious thread running through the narrative. He was invited here by the contents of Voyager One, but now the suits want him for less than honourable research, so the pair, coming tog...

One of Jeff Bridges' better performances this one. He is an alien who arrives on Earth and assumes the physical shape of "Hayden". Thing is, he has recently died - so you can imagine how phased his recent widow "Jenny" (Karen Allen) is as he coerces her to drive him to Arizona where he can rendezvous with the others from his race. The crater left by his landing has attracted the attention of SETI - a government agency charged with looking for ET, and - of course - the more militaristic elements under the command of "Fox" (Richard Jaeckel). What now ensues is a road-movie with a difference as the two gradually start to bond whilst being pursued by the authorities. There is a gradually accumulating chemistry between Allen and Bridges, the latter offering a nuanced and gentle performance as i...

Look who directed it... and that raises a lot of questions doesn't it? I mean it's espically good and then you see it's john Carpenter doing a... a love story and a very moving and beautiful love story.

I guess the draft Carpenter got was extremely political... and he took all the politics out and focused on the love story, that was a great call, it was a great call in the 80s and it is great advice for today.

And it's good with Bridges doing a stellar job, and he really didn't learn how to act until the 90s.

I totally forgot about it, and then my wife and I saw it, hadn't seen it since the 80s and forgot how amazing it was. It stands the test of time, it's moving, it's beautiful, and it entertains... you can't ask for more....