616. The Man Who Fell to Earth

The Man Who Fell to Earth
1976
Directed by Nicolas Roeg

Once again, we have a rock star playing the lead in one of our movies.  David Bowie actually managed to be decent in this film, but remember: we are getting closer and closer to Cher in Moonstruck.  Everybody beware!

Bowie is an alien.  I found this premise completely believable and thought this film might actually turn out to be a documentary.  Anyway, there is a drought on his planet and he plans on transporting some water from Earth back home.  He is able to make money by patenting his planet's technology.  He meets an incredibly obnoxious hotel maid or, as I call her, Naggy McNaggyson.  He also befriends a former professor who seems to prey on young girls (Creepy McCreepyson).

I have heard the film's plot described as being about "the corruption of an innocent being."  I don't necessarily think that's true.  Our "hero" seems pretty ready to cheat on his wife from the beginning and, based on the ending, it doesn't seem like his "people" are all that better than us earthlings.

I didn't expect to like this movie that much.  I didn't love it, but maybe I got a bit more out of it than I thought I would.  It is definitely way too long and some of the characters are insanely annoying.  Still, it had a decent plot and there are worse ways to spend two hours.

RATING: **---

Interesting Facts:

Roeg initially wanted to cast Michael Crichton as the lead.  What is the logic behind these casting decisions??

568. Don't Look Now

Don't Look Now
1973
Directed by Nicolas Roeg

Everyone seems to be hellbent on spoiling this movie so if you haven't seen it yet, and don't know the ending, drop everything and watch it right now.  They should have some sort of government protection for people who haven't seen movies like The Sixth Sense or The Usual Suspects.

John and Christine Baxter take a trip to Venice after the death of their daughter.  A blind psychic approaches them and informs them that she can see their daughter.  Although John is initially skeptical, he soon catches glimpses of his deceased child.  Oh yeah and there is a gratuitous sex scene.  Donald Sutherland actually makes quite a few expressions.

I adore horror movies and this is just weird enough to become one of my favorites.  Still, did anyone else feel like it moved a bit too slowly?  Eerie but could definitely have benefited from some cuts.

RATING: ***--

Interesting Facts:

The actors shot the sex scene first in order to get it out of the way.

529. Walkabout

Walkabout
1971
Directed by Nicolas Roeg

What a roller coaster that was.

A teenage girl and her young brother hide from their father after he completely loses it and starts shooting at them.  The pair set out into the Australian outback.  They might not have the best self-preservation instincts.  Anyway, the come across an Aboriginal boy, whose character development isn't...great.

What a strange, trippy movie.  Something big happens at the beginning, nothing really happens during the middle, and something mildly interesting happens at the end.  Obviously, the middle was a little hard to get through.

It was pretty much a worse version of Rabbit-Proof Fence.  So not loving how animalistic the Aboriginal boy was but I guess them's the breaks in the 70s.

RATING: ***--

Interesting Facts:

The screenplay was only 14 pages long.

The main actress was embarrassed about her nudity so the majority of the crew left during those scenes.

518. Performance

Performance
1970
Directed by Donald Cammell and Nicolas Roeg

I somewhat forced Boyfriend to watch this movie with me.  He mentioned on the phone that a film with Mick Jagger might be interesting and I pounced on it.  Foolish boy.  In any case, Boyfriend absolutely hated this.  Now, it has been brought to my attention by a somewhat angry commentator that I seem to always hate movies so I really, REALLY tried to like this.  Sorry Angry Guy, I couldn't do it.  You may continue to despise me.

Boyfriend and I did our best to make sense of this movie and still couldn't understand the plot.  So we are both either really stupid or there are parts of this film that simply don't connect to the plot in any way.  Probably a combination of those two things.  I guess Chas is a member of a gang in London but has to flee after killing...someone.  So he goes to live with Mick Jagger and has a threesome?

Besides the confusing plot, we also are stuck with wooden actors and the most annoying sound effects I have ever heard. Boyfriend's heart also broke during the scene where the gang members poured hydrofluoric acid on a freshly waxed car.  I really traumatized him last night come to think of it.

RATING: *----

Interesting Facts:

One woman vomited in shock after a test screening of this film.  All right, even I think that is an overreaction.