STARMAN

US, 1984, 115 minutes, Colour.
Jeff Bridges, Karen Allen, Charles Martin Smith, Richard Jaeckel.
Directed by John Carpenter.

Starman is delightful romantic science-fantasy - reminiscent of Close Encounters and E.T. While this is Steven Spielberg territory, the director is John Carpenter who began his feature films in space (tongue-in-cheek) with Dark Star. But, of course, he is better known for Halloweens, Fogs and Things.

While the Spielberg influence is clear, Starman is derivative only in the sense that it takes familiar themes and re-works them freshly. Jeff Bridges received an Oscar nomination for his engaging blend of charm, robot-like gait and his struggles with textbook English and U.S. slang. Karen Allen (Raiders of the Lost Ark, Split Image) is an attractive and resourceful widow..

The film is a fable for adults. Humans are primitive and technological amateurs in the eyes of space aliens. But they have a sense of enthusiasm and fun. Despite the rednecks and trigger-happy military, the message is peace and care. This is a visually exciting fantasy, with sentiment and humour.

1. The appeal of this romantic science-fantasy? How well does it work as a fable?

2. The material familiar from Steven Spielberg's films, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, E.T.? Delightful in itself? Its message about human beings? hope and peace?

3. Panavision photography, visual impact: the range of locations for the United States countryside? The special effects for the planet, Starman's coming to Earth and transforming himself? The finale?

4. The plausibility of the plot: the 1977 invitation sent into space? The alien's hearing the message, watching it on television? The arrival at Earth? The plausibility of such visits and UFOs? Departments for investigation of extra-terrestrial life?

5. The focus on Starman: the planet that he came from, responding to the message from the United Nations? His arrival, the sense of his presence in Jenny's house, his looking over the house (the subjective shots)? The photo of Scott, his strand of hair, the cloning process? The special effects for the child growing immediately into Scott? Jenny's amazed response? An alien on Earth, the awkwardness of movement, imitating, the humorous gestures, watching the home movies, Scott's expressions, asking definitions, hearing the swearing, amusing gestures? His mission, investigation, his attitudes towards Earth - primitive people, technological amateurs? His own background as civilised but lacking zest? his enjoyment of the earthiness of Earth - food etc.? His three days, needing help, otherwise dying? The sense of urgency?


6. Jenny and her watching the film, her grief for her dead husband? The arrival of Starman and her thinking it a dream, witnessing his transformation, tainting? Thinking she was kidnapped, afraid? Talking to Starman, stopping the car on the highway, leaving the message in the toilet? her driving frantically (and driving faster through amber lights - and Starman imitating her later)? The experiences on the road? The diner and the meal, her decision to leave him with the credit card? his bringing the deer back to life? Her decision to stay? The phone call with Sherman? The holiday at the motel, the police gate-crashing? The chase and the crash into the oil tanker? Her being brought to life by Starman? In the mobile home? his leaving her, her hitching a ride, the roadblock and helping him to escape? The train ride to Las Vegas? The lovemaking and her explanation about not having a child, not able to have one, his giving her the baby? The comedy at Las Vegas with the winning of the money, the buying of the car? The hurrying to the crater? Eating at the diner, Sherman’s coming to save them? The helicopter chase in the crater? The farewells? Her experience of the Starman, fear turning to care, turning to love? The gift of the child?

7. Starman and the mirroring of human behaviour: the use of language, human quirks, his reaction to the dead deer and bringing it to life, the tight with the rednecks? His enjoying the food? Asking for definitions? The accident and his saving Jenny? Watching From Here to Eternity and the famous beach scene on the television? The encounter on the train? his wanting to give Jenny a child who would grow up on Earth? Las Vegas and the jackpots? The encounter with Sherman, the farewell to Jenny and the kiss, to Sherman? The final chase and his leaving?

8. Fox and the military mentality, administration, suspicion, discussions with the Russians, the severity of decisions, the clash with Sherman?

9. The contrast with Sherman and his genial nature, a slob, the cigar? His concern, the phone call to Jenny, the pursuit of Starman, the road blocks? The meeting, his allowing them to escape?

10. People on the road, the hunters and the raising to life of the deer, the redneck battles,. the police wanting to break into the motel, the military personnel? The pleasant lady at the diner and her help?

Il. Technological background, helicopters, the contrast with the space vehicle, the capacity for cloning?

12. 20th century interest in space, space adventures? Hopes and peace? Faith in human nature and foibles? A pleasing romance?