• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Effie Caldarola
          • John Garvey
          • Father Ed Dougherty, M.M.
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
  • Advertising
  • CR Radio
  • Printing
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe
Chiwetel Ejiofor stars in a scene from "The Man Who Fell to Earth," premiering April 24, 2022, on Showtime. (CNS photo/Rico Torres, Showtime)

TV REVIEW: ‘The Man Who Fell to Earth’

May 5, 2022
By Chris Byrd
Catholic News Service
Filed Under: Feature, Movie & Television Reviews

NEW YORK (CNS) — “The Man Who Fell to Earth,” British director Nicolas Roeg’s 1976 big-screen adaptation of Walter Tevis’ 1963 sci-fi novel, caused quite a stir on its release and has gone on to become a critical favorite and a cult classic.

Among other things, the film is notable for having provided glam rock star David Bowie with his first starring role.

Billed as a continuation — not a reboot — the eponymous 10-episode limited-series drama premiered April 24, 10-11 p.m. on Showtime. It will continue in that time slot throughout its run, concluding July 3.

A torrent of crude talk, unjustified by the story’s context, undermines the program. It also entirely undercuts the thoughtful tone that the show’s creators — Jenny Lumet and her frequent collaborator, Alex Kurtzman — attempt to establish at the outset.

Together with the rear nudity and incidents of violence, including torture, presented to viewers, the script’s excessive vulgarity limits the appropriate audience for the series. In fact, viewers of faith may prefer to skip it altogether.

True to its literary source, Roeg’s movie centered on Bowie’s character, humanoid alien Thomas Jerome Newton.

But this is primarily the tale of a different extraterrestrial, an initially unnamed starman played by Chiwetel Ejiofor. He crash lands in Los Alamos, New Mexico — famed, of course, as the site of the Manhattan Project that developed the first atomic bomb.

Taken in for questioning by Officer K. Faraday (Martha Plimpton), the newcomer is asked into whose custody he would like to be released and identifies Justin Falls (Naomie Harris). Although she’s naturally a complete stranger to him — and understandably perplexed at his choice of her — the space traveler is familiar with Justin’s scientific work, which is vital to his own mission.

Predictably, the plot contrives to drive this duo apart and then bring them back together so Justin can assist her new acquaintance, who has taken his interrogator’s last name, as he strives to save his home planet, Anthea. A subplot involves single mother Justin’s struggle to care for her elderly, wheelchair-bound father, Josiah (Clarke Peters), despite lacking health insurance.

Interestingly, Lumet is Hollywood royalty, being the daughter of celebrated director Sidney Lumet and the granddaughter of dazzling singer and actress Lena Horne. And the cast includes at least two players, Kate Mulgrew and Bill Nighy, from whom viewers might justifiably expect great things.

Neither a storied lineage nor talents that turn out to be wasted, however, can mask the basic banality of “The Man Who Fell to Earth.” Despite a promising start, the show quickly stalls out aesthetically, leaving even those grown TV fans for whom it might be morally acceptable stranded.


Byrd is a guest reviewer for Catholic News Service.

Read More Movie & Television Reviews

MOVIE REVIEW: Top Gun: Maverick

MOVIE REVIEW: The Bob’s Burgers Movie

MOVIE REVIEW: ‘Family Camp’

MOVIE REVIEW: ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’

MOVIE REVIEW: ‘The Northman’

MOVIE REVIEW: ‘The Bad Guys’

Copyright © 2022 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

Print Print

Primary Sidebar

Chris Byrd

Catholic News Service is a leading agency for religious news. Its mission is to report fully, fairly and freely on the involvement of the church in the world today.

View all posts from this author

For the latest news delivered twice a week via email or text message, sign up to receive our free enewsletter.

MOST POPULAR

  • Archbishop William Lori announces clerical appointments, including three retirements
  • Archdiocese of Baltimore ordains 9 transitional deacons
  • Returning from Ukraine, Polish archbishop urges Vatican to revise attitude
  • Church presence in Uvalde, Texas, gives strength, love, archbishop says
  • A lost tortoise comes home

Archbishop Lori Milestones

CURRENT EDITION

Crisis in Ukraine

Returning from Ukraine, Polish archbishop urges Vatican to revise attitude

Vatican foreign minister visits Ukraine in sign of solidarity, support

Ukrainians ‘have made the Bible come alive’ for world, says archbishop

Christian divisions make fertile ground for conflict, pope says

‘Witnesses of hope’: N.Y. delegation visits Ukraine, bordering countries

Catholic Review Radio

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Coronavirus Pandemic

Christian divisions make fertile ground for conflict, pope says

Schools deal with effects of pandemic

Report: Kids’ time spent on screen soars during the pandemic

Inflation wallops parishes and schools in Archdiocese of Baltimore

Movie & Television Reviews

MOVIE REVIEW: Top Gun: Maverick

MOVIE REVIEW: The Bob’s Burgers Movie

MOVIE REVIEW: ‘Family Camp’

MOVIE REVIEW: ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’

En español

Casi 500 personas responden al llamado de entrar en plena comunión con la Iglesia Católica en la Arquidiócesis de Baltimore

Papa: Victoria no es izar una bandera sobre un montón de escombros

Papa consagrará Ucrania y Rusia a María

Papa Francisco sobre Ucrania: ‘Detengan esta matanza’

Footer

Our Vision

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • Close of Year of the Eucharist will be celebrated at Cathedral of Mary Our Queen
  • MOVIE REVIEW: Top Gun: Maverick
  • MOVIE REVIEW: The Bob’s Burgers Movie
  • Church presence in Uvalde, Texas, gives strength, love, archbishop says
  • Mary, Star of the Sea, protects mariners and is guide for all, bishop says
  • Bishops push gun control; some call mass shootings ‘pressing life issue’
  • Baltimore native to be ordained Jesuit priest
  • Sulpicians elect Father Daniel Moore as provincial superior
  • Finding solace in faith after shootings provide another reminder of horrific day

Search

Membership

Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2022 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED