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The Man from Earth (2007)

post #1 of 9
3/17/08 at 1:00am
Thread Starter 
I couldn't even tell you how I ran across this, but I think this may be my hidden gem for the year (alas, it was made in '07). It's a very, very simple premise, that could of been the Sci-Fi channel movie of the week, but ended up being....a bit different. Basically about a professor (David Lee Smith) who confesses to a group of colleagues that he's essentially immortal and has lived for 14,000 years. The acting is a bit static, but sci-fi veteran Jerome Bixby's script (you may know him from the original Fantastic Voyage and a variety of sci-fi T.V. writing) is impeccable, and makes up for the aforementioned acting and clearly B production values. It's an easy movie to get a hold of, and it wouldn't surprise me if it was available online for free (I think it was originally made for T.V.). I'm not even much of a Sci-Fi man, but I found it extremely interesting. Check it if you can.
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post #2 of 9
5/15/08 at 1:45am
It really is a great film. The story is so compellilng and engrossing you have to see what happens next.

The film actually was in the festival circuit, apparently it didn't do so well, ended up getting released on torrents with the blessing of the producers who wanted to generate interest. It got released several months back on DVD and I highly recommend picking it up. Once you make it past the first 15 minutes you should be hooked until the end.
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post #3 of 9
5/15/08 at 3:24am
Thread Starter 
Yeah, absolutely. It's certainly a testimony to good storytelling, and the great power it holds in making a simple premise a great film.
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post #4 of 9
7/31/10 at 6:05pm
I just found this movie. In a way it reminded me of UNDER SUSPICION, a film that would've been a hell of a lot better in the hands of a director who was more minimalist or just better as a play. But as it stands, silly acting aside sometimes, it's a great story.
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post #5 of 9
8/1/10 at 3:55pm
It's on Netflix instant. Will watch soon.

Also, Under Suspicion is on instant as well. Worth it Eaton? I do loves me some Hackman.
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post #6 of 9
8/2/10 at 7:53pm
It's decent. Hackman's actually really engaged in it and the ending has a really great payoff. The rest of the cast is fine too, but it's him you'll be watching (especially that end). So it's satisfying, even if Stephen Hopkins over-stylizes the hell out of it. As I remember, aside from the flashbacks, the thing's all in two rooms which is neat.

Back on TMFE: it's a Starz Play. It's condensed widescreen to fill the screen so if you adjust your TV you can restore it so that's back to the original ratio. I'm sure you'll figure it out or make do.
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post #7 of 9
8/2/10 at 9:40pm
Just watched Man From Earth. Agree with the praise/criticism. The story is riveting, but the production values and some of the acting (that fucking guy who's also in The Island--he plays the biology professor in this--Christ I want to punch him) are pretty sub par. Still a very worthwhile watch, and the stuff in it stays with you.

Especially good is the lead-up where he reveals that he's jesus. That should be eye-rolling as all hell, but it really works in the context of the film.

Also--man, is the lead actor Jon Hamms long-lost brother or what?
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post #8 of 9
8/3/10 at 10:34am
It was clunky as hell (gun drama!) but as metaphor for transition from understanding the world through faith to through science I liked it.

If you enjoyed this and haven't read the Hob Gadling origin story in the Sandman comics, it's an excellent similar tale. There the message is man can eventually get around to learning how to live right with enough time, here it's that time distorts movements and loses details.
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post #9 of 9
3/2/12 at 8:04pm

I really enjoyed it. This would never make it in a theater, so I definitely see why it wasn't marketed.  Tony Todd, John Billingsly, and Richard Riehle are all Star Trek alumni. The idea is interesting, if overwrought at points. Another, but for the sake of Chud, I would never have watched it.

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