The Man from Earth opens with a compelling premise that continues to drag you in, further and further down the rabbit hole. Your satisfaction level though will ultimately depend on how willing you are to accept the (eventual) assertions of ‘the Man’ himself.
John Oldman is leaving. Having spent over a decade teaching children in the local community, he feels now is the right to move on. But a decade is a long enough time to make a mark, and several of John’s friends and colleagues arrive to politely spoil his plans of fading away without trace.
Convivial chat and good natured ribbing, assisted by some well aged liquor, comes to a sudden halt when John – after much prodding – tells the six or so guests that he is in fact some fourteen thousand years old, and hasn’t aged for that time.
Mocking and sarcastic comments inevitably steam forth, with the educated and intelligent people understandably finding this allegation ludicrous.
But John continues on, perhaps emboldened by the cries of bullshit. He calmly tells his story from the most simple times to present day, explaining apparent loopholes and politely shooting down attempts to discredit his story. John abides the obvious cynicism and the resentment of those that feel he is having them on for a ride, until ultimately his claims become too much for some to handle.
Despite taking place in one location and essentially being a ninety minute group conversation, The Man from Earth is true sci-fi. It remains at least interesting throughout even as it demands more than mere interest in the latter stages of the film.
As a project it is intriguing and mostly admirable. As a film it is middling. I was happy to suspend my disbelief – as I do with almost all films – but couldn’t share its sense of self satisfaction.
Final Rating – 6.7 / 10. Somehow both compelling and boring at the same time.
