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Starman

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Starman (1984)

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82 %
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Reviews Counted: 22

Fresh: 18

Rotten:4

Average Rating: 6.6/10

Consensus: What initially begins as sci-fi transforms into a surprisingly sweet, offbeat drama, courtesy of John Carpenter's careful direction.

Runtime: 1 hr 55 mins

Genre: Science-Fiction/Fantasy

Synopsis: A departure for director John Carpenter, STARMAN is a gentle, simple film that won accolades from critics and applause from audiences. Jeff Bridges plays the title character, an alien that has come... A departure for director John Carpenter, STARMAN is a gentle, simple film that won accolades from critics and applause from audiences. Jeff Bridges plays the title character, an alien that has come down to Earth on a peaceful scouting mission. When he takes the form of a recently widowed woman's dead husband he unintentionally involves her in his mission. The alien only has a few days to reach a rendezvous point where he will be picked up by his mothership. Along the way he must discover what he can about human beings and our civilization. He finds out plenty very quickly, as his relationship with the young widow grows very strong as they make their way to the rendezvous point. Meanwhile, the FBI is in hot pursuit after it discovers the discarded landing vehicle, and the alien's own health is deteriorating in Earth's foreign atmosphere. The story tells of the struggle for communication, the pain of letting go, and the search for understanding. Jeff Bridges gives an unforgettable performance as the gentle alien trying his best to cope with being a human. With STARMAN, Carpenter proves he is a master storyteller, not just of horror and science fiction, but of subtle, emotional drama as well. [More]

Starring: Jeff Bridges, Karen Allen, Charles Martin Smith, Richard Jaeckel

Starring: Jeff Bridges, Karen Allen, Charles Martin Smith, Richard Jaeckel, Robert Phalen, Tony Edwards, John Walter Davis, Ted White, Dirk Blocker, M.C. Gainey, Sean Faro, George Flower, Russ Benning, Ralph Cosham, David Wells, Anthony Grumbach, James Deeth, Alex Daniels, Carol Rosenthal, Mickey Jones, Lu Leonard, Charles Hughes, Byron Walls, Betty Bunch, Victor McLemore, Steven Brennan, Pat Lee, Judith Kim, Ronald Colby, Robert Stein, Kenny Call

Director: John Carpenter, Bruce A. Evans

Director: John Carpenter
Producer: Larry J. Franco
Director: Bruce A. Evans
Screenwriter: Raynold Gideon
Composer: Jack Nitzsche

[See More Credits]

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Release:

Aug 11, 2009

[DVD Details]
 
 

Blu-ray Disc Features:

  • Package Note: Region ABC
  • Anamorphic Widescreen - 2.40

Audio:

  • Dolby True HD 5.1 - English, French
  • Subtitles - English, English SDH, French

Interactive Features:

  • BDLive: Enabled
 
 
 
 

Reviews for Starman

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1 - 20 (sorted by date)
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Arrange By: Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

There is little that is original in Starman, but at least it has chosen good models.

Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
06/06/07
Variety Staff
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

An enjoyable film filled with the kind of sensitivity, love, and humor seldom seen on today's screens.

Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | comment Comment
06/06/07
TV Guide's Movie Guide

It isn't pleasant to watch a talented filmmaker like John Carpenter willfully distort his personality to fit a commercial (read Spielbergian) profile, and only the opening suspense-horror sequences have the weight of real involvement.

Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | comment Comment
06/06/07
Dave Kehr
Chicago Reader
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

No review available.

comment Comment
12/23/06
Michael Dequina
Mr. Brown's Movies

The best special effects are in the first five minutes. Thereafter, it's all rather predictable.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
06/24/06
Derek Adams
Time Out

No review available.

comment Comment
10/21/05
Susan Granger
www.susangranger.com

No review available.

comment Comment
07/29/05
Chuck O'Leary
Fantastica Daily

No review available.

comment Comment
07/05/05
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com

Early Jeff Bridges starrer is fun sci-fi.

comment Comment
10/30/04
Steve Crum
Kansas City Kansan

Starman contains the potential to be a very silly movie, but the two actors have so much sympathy for their characters that the movie, advertised as space fiction, turns into one of 1984's more touching love stories.

Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times | comment Comment
10/23/04
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

No review available.

comment Comment
01/08/04
Greg Maki
Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)

No review available.

comment Comment
12/18/03
Brian J. Arthurs
Beach Reporter (Southern California)

No review available.

comment Comment
10/04/03
Rebecca Murray
About.com

No review available.

comment Comment
08/22/03
Carol Cling
Las Vegas Review-Journal

Carpenter is a master of framing for widescreen, and Starman is certainly a forum for him to show off his prowess behind the lens.

Full Review Source: Reel Film Reviews | comment Comment
08/01/03
David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews

In Mr. Bridges' hands [his role] becomes the occasion for a sweetly affecting characterization -- a fine showcase for the actor's blend of grace, precision and seemingly offhanded charm.

Full Review Source: New York Times | comment Comment
05/20/03
Janet Maslin
New York Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

No review available.

comment Comment
08/23/02
Rob Blackwelder
SPLICEDWire

As science fiction, it's decent enough, but it finds its real power as a weird, offbeat romance. Bridges has rarely been better.

comment Comment
08/12/02
Rob Vaux
Flipside Movie Emporium

Provides an opportunity for us to look afresh at ourselves and to ponder what it means to be children of the Universe.

Full Review Source: Spirituality and Practice | comment Comment
03/04/02
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Spirituality and Practice

One of John Carpenter's best films.

Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | comment Comment
11/04/01
Christopher Null
Filmcritic.com
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date)
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Latest News for Starman

February 07, 2007: The Dude Teams Up With "Iron Man"
What do Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Terrence Howard, and Jeff Bridges all have in common? They've all been nominated for Oscars -- and they're all set to star in Jon... More...

March 16, 2006: Hurt To Play Costner's Evil Twin In "Mr. Brooks"
William Hurt, whose role as a crime boss in David Cronenberg's "A History of Violence" nabbed him an Oscar nomination, joins the cast of MGM's psychological thriller... More...

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