It’s a human piece
When an alien spacecraft crash-lands in Wisconsin, a young lady soon finds her life incredibly complicated. Taking the form of her dead husband, the alien explains to the woman, Jenny Hayden, that if he doesn’t make it to a certain spot in Arizona in three days, he’ll die. Reluctant to help out, but willing in the end, she drives the visitor on a cross-country adventure of a lifetime. Along the way, the government who intends to capture the space traveller at all costs pursues them.
I saw this film when it came out in the theaters in 1984. I hadn’t returned to it again until it hit blu-ray recently. There are two things that intrigue me the most about this film; the director and the story. John Carpenter is most known for horror and thrillers. He had made such films as Escape from New York, The Thing and his classic horror/slasher film Halloween. To see Starman and murmur the name John Carpenter is a bit odd. The story in the film may have some slight action in it and might be focused on the alien, but ultimately it’s about two separate beings trying to learn each other; in other words it’s very much a drama. Carpenter certainly isn’t known for such things, but what he puts together works out really well. You have a lonely woman trying to coup with the death of her husband, when all of the sudden an alien shows up dressed as him. The one bond between the two characters is the dead husband, but beyond that they’re complete strangers. That device keeps the two characters together and allows them to grow and know each other to the point where they are romantically involved (not in the sexual sense). It’s a wonderful piece about two characters traveling and understanding. This story was certainly different that what most critics probably expected when it first came out. Nonetheless, it was a solid story and while slow in some areas, it really did create a solid emotional effect. You will feel for Hayden’s needs and you will want to get the Starman home; at the same time you want them to stay together after the long trip. It’s a tough movie, sort of like watching Paper Moon and understanding the growing bond between Moses Pray and Addie Loggins as they travel together.
Complimenting the well-established storyline are the acting abilities of Karen Allen and Jeff Bridges. While it’s not argued that Bridges owned this movie and played his role brilliantly, you do have to recognize how he got there. From an alien who barely knew English to an alien who was reluctant to leave, he grew and cultivated his role as Starman methodically. If he doesn’t have Allen there leading him along then he doesn’t do it as well. Her pouty, sorrow filled Jenny Hayden complimented the innocent Bridges’ perfectly. It was a damn good fit from the beginning until the end. Both characters grow with the story and both realize who they are and what they want by the end. It’s nothing short of amazing character development and onscreen acting.
As for the downside to things, you won’t believe this, but if they had nixed the government from trying to capture the alien the movie might have flowed better. I know what you’re thinking, if the government weren’t chasing them then what’s the rush. Well, think about it a bit; if the government wasn’t chasing them the rush would be to get him to Arizona before he dies. Let the government come out and try to understand the alien, but to have them chase him was a bit much. It seemed like an odd road to ride on and it really didn’t fit well with the relationship that the two had already built. It seemed like an unnecessary device and one that was preachier than developed. In almost every film regarding aliens there is always a government that wants to capture and cut open the thing. It just wasn’t necessary and quite frankly it was a turn-off that did more harm than good to the already established story.
1984 never looked so good
While many movies from this time period truly look like crap on blu-ray, it’s nice to see that Columbia and Sony Pictures cleaned up a film to the point of making it stunning to watch. The locales as the two travelers pass through states look really clear and vivid. When the couple reaches Arizona towards the end of the film, it’s quite simply one of the nicest pieces of eye-candy that one could have hoped for. While I can’t say much about the soundtrack, which was pure 80s, I will say that the visuals in HD carry the film and make it worth a watch.
Regretfully, there are no features on the blu-ray. I wanted to at least have commentary from Bridges, Allen and/or Carpenter, but alas nothing.