It's clever, it's quirky, but the amazing thing about this movie is that it exists and it is as well made as it is. It was made for nothing -- $60K -- and yet it has smart camerawork, a solid (and funny) premise, believeable (enough) acting, good lighting, pathos, satire, romance, it's all there. It's not fall-on-the-floor funny for the most part -- it is actually more subtle and deadpan. Somehow, the movie even manages to get some emotions across without being trite or sentimental about it; when Spaceman first looks off into space, longing, hoping for a sign, as an orphan hopes for the return of his parents, it's actually moving. It's weird, and stylish, but never self-conscious. The score verges on bombast but is actually effective at setting the mood -- and the director had the good taste to go with a chamber orchestra rather than taking the easy way out and dropping in a bunch of cheesy synth like many ultra-low-budget movies. Criticisms: it is seems slow, at times, though its deliberate pace does help build atmosphere and contribute to the deadpan strangeness in a Jarmuschy kind of way. Some of the acting is below par (the mob boss and his thugs, for example), but they are minor characters and it can be easily forgiven. The editing is adequate but nothing more, and occasionally seems awkward; also, not a big deal. Be sure to hit the pause button on the DVD during the newspaper articles close-up. All in all a commendable effort for all concerned.
