Starman (1984)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Graham J

  
  The most touching film John Carpenter ever made, a strange love story disguised as science fiction.

• Chris W

  
  Directing something a little different from his normal fare, this film is one of John Carpenter's best and most interesting that he has ever come up with. The story is a sci-fi tale (with elements of romance) about an alien who crash lands on Earth and journeys across the country… More
  Directing something a little different from his normal fare, this film is one of John Carpenter's best and most interesting that he has ever come up with. The story is a sci-fi tale (with elements of romance) about an alien who crash lands on Earth and journeys across the country to rendezvous with his kind in three days, or he will die. The film is as much a road movie as it is a sci-fi fantasy. And no, despite a dew similarities, this is not a rip-off of E.T. This is not quite as famous, but it's almost just as good. The film has aged decently well, al lthings considered. The music and effects are both good, the chemistry between Jeff Bridges and Karen Allen is terrific, and the performances are dynamite. Bridges got an Oscar nomination for his work here, and his performance is really something. As the alien, Bridges does a great job of playing quirky and unique without going too over-the-top. All of his mannerisms, movements, and speaking manner are just a joy to observe, and he does a great job of conveying being a stranger in a strange land both verbally, and especially nonverbally. Karen Allen is also quite nice, and alongside Raiders of the Losrt Ark, this is one of her best performances as well. John Carpenter said he made this movie as a way of ensuring the survival of his career since The Thing was initially regarded as a disappointment. This is an odd choice for him, since it's not like any of his other films, but in a way, that's awesome, and maybe for the best. "Beautiful" is not a term one uses often if ever in a conventional sense to describe one of Carpenter's films, but it certainly applies here. Give this one a shot. It's a nice film filled with wonder, hope, and a really touching story filled with terrific performances and some great imagery and music.

• Sajin P

  
  Nothing much thought provoking or refreshingly innovative, in this mix of sci-fi / road trip/ romance flick. Jeff Bridges delivered an intriguing performance as the "alien-in-distress", though most of the times he kept reminding of a futuristic cyborg than a… More
  Nothing much thought provoking or refreshingly innovative, in this mix of sci-fi / road trip/ romance flick. Jeff Bridges delivered an intriguing performance as the "alien-in-distress", though most of the times he kept reminding of a futuristic cyborg than a hyper-intelligent alien. Anyway I do love that 80's sci-fi approach to the movie. Rather than making it a special effects spectacle, it gives more attention to the emotions and development of the characters. A fairly decent chemistry between Bridges and Karen Allen make up for many glitches in the script and story.

• Anthony L

  
  Starman hasn't dated too badly, to be honest though, I love the 80's special effects, add Carpenter's signature saying soundtrack and you have an ace film every time. I've only just seen this film recently and I have to say I liked it. The fact Jeff Bridges got an… More
  Starman hasn't dated too badly, to be honest though, I love the 80's special effects, add Carpenter's signature saying soundtrack and you have an ace film every time. I've only just seen this film recently and I have to say I liked it. The fact Jeff Bridges got an Oscar nomination for it and the fact that it actually makes no sense at all (Why did he land, just to go back again?) is a bit puzzling but it's still one of those films that has a certain thing about it that makes it instantly likable.

• Alexis N

  
  Starman is the incredible story of an alien coming to earth and taking the body of the ever sexy, Jeff Bridges, who happens to be the dead husband of a now shocked and confused, Karen Allen. I loved it! Heartwarming, sexy, sad, cute, funny and it's probably my new favorite Jeff… More
  Starman is the incredible story of an alien coming to earth and taking the body of the ever sexy, Jeff Bridges, who happens to be the dead husband of a now shocked and confused, Karen Allen. I loved it! Heartwarming, sexy, sad, cute, funny and it's probably my new favorite Jeff Bridges movie.

• Tim S

  
  Haven't seen this in years, but mediocrity and uninteresting was how I felt watching it.

• Conner R

  
  I finally accomplished seeing this in widescreen and it made all the difference. Being plagued with crapping pan&scan full screen versions forever, John Carpenter's alien masterpiece hasn't been truly seen for years. It's an amazing movie about aliens and totally… More
  I finally accomplished seeing this in widescreen and it made all the difference. Being plagued with crapping pan&scan full screen versions forever, John Carpenter's alien masterpiece hasn't been truly seen for years. It's an amazing movie about aliens and totally unique for wen it came out; being a complete 360 from ET. Jeff Bridges is all kinds of crazy as an alien who sings "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" and plays sick games on Karen Allen by emulating her dead husband. In many ways this is like a modern day Superman, showing how he would be treated in the real world. However, there's something so special about this that isn't borrowed of relatable to any other movie. It's definitely amongst my favorites now.

• Jason O

  
  I've always liked Jeff Bridges and this one didn't let me down. Didn't know this was a John Carpenter film, but I'm not surprised, cause I usually like his stuff too. Bridges manages to be funny at times, but it's a more heartwarming and charming sci-fi movie… More
  I've always liked Jeff Bridges and this one didn't let me down. Didn't know this was a John Carpenter film, but I'm not surprised, cause I usually like his stuff too. Bridges manages to be funny at times, but it's a more heartwarming and charming sci-fi movie than anything.

• Aaron N

  
  Starman: I send greetings. Brad Heinmuller: What the hell's going on here? Jenny Hayden: I'm being kidnapped! Starman: Greetings. Brad Heinmuller: You better let her go pal, I'll give you some greetings. The issue with many John Carpenter movies are that the… More
  Starman: I send greetings. Brad Heinmuller: What the hell's going on here? Jenny Hayden: I'm being kidnapped! Starman: Greetings. Brad Heinmuller: You better let her go pal, I'll give you some greetings. The issue with many John Carpenter movies are that the characters are usually lacking. This film manages to be a change in pace for that reason. This is a much warmer film for Carpenter, who manages to combine his affinity towards genre filmmaking with the plot of a road movie/love story. After an encounter with one of the Voyager satellites, sent out to probe space with greetings messages from earth, an alien visitor is knocked off course and lands in Wisconsin. The alien, Starman, assumes the form of the dead husband of a widow, Jenny played by Karen Allen. Starman is now played by Jeff Bridges. After dealing with the startling revelation of seeing her dead husband, let alone the fact that she is dealing with an alien, Jenny is basically forced to help Starman make it to his rendezvous in Arizona before his human form dies out in three days time. Jenny is at first apprehensive, but grows a bond with Starman and tries to help him learn. Meanwhile, the government has tracked the crash of the Alien and is in pursuit of the being. George Fox: Do you seriously expect me to tell the President that an alien has landed, assumed the identity of a dead house painter from Madison, Wisconsin and is presently out tooling around the countryside in a hopped up orange and black 1977 Mustang? Its a tender John Carpenter film. By that I mean that all the various qualities of a Carpenter film are present. The premise fits a B-movie. The score is simplistic, but effective. His style of special effects use. All of this is aided by these two lead performances that keep the film from entering camp territory. Starman: Shit! Jenny Hayden: Don't mind him. He's just learning English. Roadhouse Waitress: Well, he's got a hell of a start on it! Bridges is playing an alien in a human body. His movements are kind of birdlike, his language is fractured, and he is constantly observing what it is to be on earth. Karen Allen is very good as well. Her character has to do two things. She is essentially teaching Starman to be human on earth, in her own way defining things that range from simple explanations to something like love. The other thing her character gets to do is deal with being around her dead husband. She now has a chance to gain closure on the grief over her loss. The elements involving the government aren't great, but they come standard for this kind of story, and break up the pacing appropriately. Charles Martin Smith, who I really disliked in The Untouchables, manages to be decently entertaining as a government employee who dreams of meeting an alien. I found this film to be very enjoyable. Its a bit dated, but Bridges and Allen are both solid, the story works, and the closing scene is just kind of great. Starman: Shall I tell you what I find beautiful about you? You are at your very best when things are worst.

• Martin B

  
  Guess the movie: Alien gets stranded on Earth, is dying, and must reach a rendezvous or be stuck on Earth. Alien forms special bond with first human contact and has healing powers. Government agents are in pursuit except for one who befriends them. In the end everyone watches as… More
  Guess the movie: Alien gets stranded on Earth, is dying, and must reach a rendezvous or be stuck on Earth. Alien forms special bond with first human contact and has healing powers. Government agents are in pursuit except for one who befriends them. In the end everyone watches as alien says goodbye to his human friend and goes home. <b>E.T.</b>? No, This is <b>Starman</b>! A blatant E.T. rip-off, just altered for an older audience and the alien takes human form. Oh yeah, and with drastically inferior acting, directing, score... everything. Why do I even try to watch John Carpenter movies? I keep thinking, "maybe this one will be the one I enjoy, and I'll understand why people like this guy (and why decent actors will work for him)," yet every time I just get burned again. Starman was no different. I thought the always-reliable Jeff Bridges would be enough to make it good, yet he turns in one of the worst performances of his career under Carpenter's direction. Then I see he got an OSCAR nomination for this??!? Wow, must have been REALLY slim pickings that year.

• Mike S

  
  Cool story that kept my mind well-fed with some sweet sci-fi candy. The special effects are pretty good for their time, despite the fact that this movie has more than twenty years on it's neck. In fact, it just happens to be as old as I am :-)

• Red L

  
  I like the blend of sci-fi and romance. It is interesting that government agents always act as the bad guys in any Sci-fi film.

• Jason S

  
  This is a really cool flick that has a little bit of everything. Action, romance, comedy. Jeff Bridges is excellent and the story is really compeling. The way the alien comes to earth is original and it really would be a bit of a mind freak if it happened to someone. There was… More
  This is a really cool flick that has a little bit of everything. Action, romance, comedy. Jeff Bridges is excellent and the story is really compeling. The way the alien comes to earth is original and it really would be a bit of a mind freak if it happened to someone. There was also a tv show based on the movie that was pretty cool as well.

• xGary X

  
  Carpenter takes a break from the usual chills and gore to make a heartwarming and lightly comic stranger in a strange land sci-fi, in which a stranded alien takes the form of Karen Allen's dead husband and seeks her help in reaching his rescuers. Touching, amusing and sensitively… More
  Carpenter takes a break from the usual chills and gore to make a heartwarming and lightly comic stranger in a strange land sci-fi, in which a stranded alien takes the form of Karen Allen's dead husband and seeks her help in reaching his rescuers. Touching, amusing and sensitively directed, it shows JC had more than one string to his bow.

• Dean M

  
  In this film at times less sci-fi than straight romance, it is made by Jeff Bridges' amazingly convincing performance.

• Danny R

  
  John Carpenter's finest achievement as a director and without a doubt his most intelligent and beguiling film, a science-fiction odyssey about an alien who's space vessel has been shot down by Air Force jets after entering earth's atmosphere and the space vessel crash… More
  John Carpenter's finest achievement as a director and without a doubt his most intelligent and beguiling film, a science-fiction odyssey about an alien who's space vessel has been shot down by Air Force jets after entering earth's atmosphere and the space vessel crash lands in the Wisconsin forest, the Starman, played wonderfully by Jeff Bridges who delivers a mesmerizing Oscar nominated performance arrives at the remote cabin of a distraught young widow named Jenny Hayden, who is still grieving over the recent death of her husband Scott Hayden, she is beautifully played by Karen Allen, the Starman finds a photo album and samples DNA from a lock of hair from Jenny's dead husband; he then clones the physical form of the deceased Scott Hayden, Jenny responds at first with shock and fear at the slight of her husband, the Starman forces Jenny on interstate road trip to Arizona to be picked up by his mothership in three days or he'll die, along the trip Jenny's fear turns to sympathy and finally love and the Starman learns what it means to be a man in love for he has developed a deep passon for Jenny Hayden. But they must watch out for the government agents and the military who are hot on their trail and consider the Starman a dangerous alien threat! The chemistry between Bridges and Allen rings true and is extremely moving. Solid supporting performances by Charles Martin Smith and the late Richard Jaeckel, but it is Jeff Bridges's brilliant and sublime performance that makes this film a must-see, there is a marvelous synthesizer score by Jack Nitzche. A witty, resonant heartwarming fantasy. Highly Recommended. Academy Awards nomination for Best Actor: Jeff Bridges and Golden Globe Awards nominations for Best Actor: Jeff Bridges, Best Original Score-Motion Picture: Jack Nitzsche.

• Jonny C

  
  John Carpenter took a break from scaring the shit out of everyone, and released this romantic sci-fi type movie in the early eighties. Starman is well acted and directed, with a nice chemistry between Bridges and Allen, and clever editing. However, I thought the plot was wafer thin… More
  John Carpenter took a break from scaring the shit out of everyone, and released this romantic sci-fi type movie in the early eighties. Starman is well acted and directed, with a nice chemistry between Bridges and Allen, and clever editing. However, I thought the plot was wafer thin and all too predictable. It depresses me to think how far some great directors have fallen, as Carpenter, Ford Coppola, De Palma, to name a few have been releasing drivel for the last 20 years.

• Stephen E

  
  Sure, "Starman" is sweet. I'll certainly give it that. There are some scenes that'll just charm the socks right off of you and the overall message is a good one. But aside from that, it's a mess. It makes little sense, features some dated special effects, is… More
  Sure, "Starman" is sweet. I'll certainly give it that. There are some scenes that'll just charm the socks right off of you and the overall message is a good one. But aside from that, it's a mess. It makes little sense, features some dated special effects, is highly unoriginal, and the performance from Jeff Bridges is less like an alien and more like a mentally-handicapped person. That's not saying that it wasn't a good performance; it just wasn't the right kind of performance. "Starman" starts out well but progressively turns into the same thing we've seen before a thousand times.

• Sean L

  
  I don't know why it took me so long to get to this movie. As a big fan of John Carpenter, I've seen most of his stuff. I put off seeing a few like Village of the Damned and Memoirs of an Invisible Man, but people like this one. I liked it too. Its a straightforward sci… More
  I don't know why it took me so long to get to this movie. As a big fan of John Carpenter, I've seen most of his stuff. I put off seeing a few like Village of the Damned and Memoirs of an Invisible Man, but people like this one. I liked it too. Its a straightforward sci fi romance. Jeff Bridges and Karen Allen are fantastic. Carpenter proves that he can do an effective story about characters interacting and it works. I guess this was his response to E.T. after it kicked the shit out of The Thing. That's fine. I can handle Jeff Bridges resurrecting deer, even if I prefer the alien who bites arms off and contorts into horrible nightmare inducing creations. Carpenter can do both. Thats why I love him.

• RJ M

  
  When John Carpenter released The Thing in 1982, he came under tremendous fire for what was deemed (at the time) the goriest movie ever made. In response to this, Carpenter went completely the other way with this movie about the gentlest alien since ET. It's love story that shows… More
  When John Carpenter released The Thing in 1982, he came under tremendous fire for what was deemed (at the time) the goriest movie ever made. In response to this, Carpenter went completely the other way with this movie about the gentlest alien since ET. It's love story that shows that you don't have to be human to have humanity, and that life can go on in the face of the most devastating tragedy. As a HUGE fan of Carpenter, it would be easy to dismiss this movie as a sell-out, in the wake of harsh criticism. But Carpenter is a master storyteller with an unmatched visual style, and both serve him well here. Karen Allen gives the performance of her career. From a woman completely broken by the sudden death of her husband, she has her humanity reawakend by this visitor who finds beauty in life, and shows her that her life is not over. I write not too much about Carpenter or Allen because for all the great things they do, this movie belongs to Jeff Bridges. Bridges received an Academy Award nominaton for his performance here, and the fact that he lost is one of the great slights in Oscar history. His character has to learn to be human in every way. Physically, emotionally, verbally, and every other way you can imagine. From his first bumbling steps, and his bird like movements of his head, he grows in both body and mind, to where by the end of the movie, he's more human than the government agents that are hunting him. A towerhouse performance by one of the best actors of modern times. Equally as important is the musical score. Normally Carpenter supplies the score to his movies. This time, he turns the duties over to Jack Nitzche, and it is one of the most haunting and beautiful scores of all time. Somehow the score ties together all the emotions that the characters run through. I'm not one for romantic movies. But this is one that I highly recommend.

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