The Appearance of a Man

• Edward R. 1 year, 11 months ago When will I be able to order this film?

Experimenting with Reality by Jonathan W. Hickman Reviewed: 2008-11-14 Father Michael’s headaches are beginning to affect his job performance. He’s always been a little different, but now people are starting to take notice. Daniel Pace’s “The Appearance of a Man” is an experimental mystery film, feeling very much like an episode of the X-Files but with new age metaphysical underpinnings. While I’m not sure what the story is ultimately all about, Pace’s “Man” is an interesting movie that will challenge the viewer. The narrative of here concerns an event that occurred in 1997 in which a number of colored lights flew over the city of Phoenix. This unexplained event that is based on a real occurrence provided writer/director Pace with a jumping off point for a fictionalized account. Pace focuses on Father Michael (Michael Tassoni), who after the lights had passed, has an encounter with a mysterious man (Slade Hall). Michael then begins to get more intense headaches and have strange dreams. The mystery man appears to others, including a Vietnam veteran, Jimmy (Richard Glover) who is having some kind of midlife crisis. Director Pace moves the story along slowly at first concentrating on Father Michael’s investigation into his headaches and the visions that follow. At first, Michael makes great efforts to conceal his problems, but eventually, his erratic behavior draws notice from the Catholic Church who seeks to remove him. But Michael has begun to realize that his visions or dreams represent something significant, and he travels to Mexico to visit his friend and former priest Father Daniel (Tom Basham). This is where the action begins to pick up. There is a definite “Omen” thing going on here. Hidden within a mysterious locked box in Daniel’s home, Michael might find answers to many of his lingering questions. But will opening the box lead to more questions? Or is Michael just slipping into insanity? Exuding ambiguity and clothed in slick, highly-saturated, dark style “The Appearance of a Man” makes for unusual and fascinating viewing. There has to be a rhyme to the intricate web Writer/Director Pace has spun, but it might take repeat viewings to gather the details. And the film does require a leap of faith at times to give into the bizarre happenings. It is as though this movie is an abbreviated telling of the pilot and the premiere of cool cable television series. Parts of the story might cause viewers to dig deeper for answers. And the promotional campaign should help inform viewers. Pace has fashioned a website (http://www.theappearanceofaman.com/) that plays on the blurred line between reality and fiction as chronicled in his film. He’s even put together a very neat YouTube channel with clips (http://www.youtube.com/user/theappearanceofaman). Like “Blair Witch” and others after, this viral campaign might create the kind of buzz necessary to get people chatting about the film. Certainly folks will have much to discuss after actually seeing it. The technical aspects of the production are interesting. The film looks very good, at times, exceptional. Pace told me that he shot the movie using modest gear and a combination of DV and HDV although he used an anamorphic lens to achieve a uniform aspect ratio. He built a number of things like his own special dolly and a steadicam to achieve a cinematic look. Of course, great attention to lighting was a must. At one point, he even used the famed Canon HV30, a consumer (less than a thousand dollar) HDV camera that will shoot in 24p (although processing was done in 25p PAL, so, he may not have shot in the progressive setting). Because the film has so many odd mysterious elements, I would be hard-pressed to tell any differences in the look from one scene to another. The visuals are rich and warm throughout, and even from the dvd screening copy, it looked very sharp where sharpness was required. Budding filmmakers take heart, “The Appearance of a Man” is a testament to the use of computer non-linear-editing systems and what can be done in the video environment. Way back in 2001, I reviewed Daniel Pace’s first feature, “14 Ways to Wear Lipstick.” That film also teamed Pace with actor Michael Tassoni. And this latest effort confirms that this is an excellent matching. Tassoni has real acting ability and when given material by Pace convinces us that he’s a leading man. His work in “The Appearance of a Man” also shows an improvement in Tassoni’s skill. That improvement is complemented by Pace’s advancement as a filmmaker, and with “Man” both show off their talents in an excellent showcase. Let’s hope that their efforts don’t go unnoticed by producers. And hopefully, it won’t take another 7 years for me to review a Daniel Pace/Michael Tassoni feature. -Jonathan W. Hickman

UFO Digest Reviews [reproduced from ufodigest.com] A Groundbreaking UFO Film “The Appearance of a Man” A Film By Daniel Pace A UFO Digest Film Review By Robert D. Morningstar & Jill Benzer (Copyright 2009, Robert D. Morningstar & Jill Benzer - All Rights Reserved) “The Appearance of a Man”, an independent film written and directed by Daniel Pace is a most compelling work that boldly explores a unique perspective on UFOs. It is a special achievement, reflecting much research, soul searching and a profound dedication to the artistic process. The endeavor was inspired by the personal experiences of people in Arizona and the phenomenon of “The Phoenix Lights.” The colors, composition and intimacy of the cinematography convey true visual beauty. The images are unusually alive – vital as a storyteller, expressing much through adventurous perspectives and wordless intervals. Remarkably, the film flows with centeredness and peace, despite an ever-present intimation of a potentially frightful and awe-inspiring Unknown. The integrity of the performances of the actors is outstanding, and the vivid characterizations that remain in the mind’s eye long after the film is over. In “The Appearance of a Man”, starring Michel Tassoni, we take a difficult journey with a man who must discover more about who he is and, in the process, more about all of existence. He and the others in the story have felt their lives altered by the intense, confounding, oddly compassionate presence of a being with “the appearance of a man.” The title is a reference to a phrase from the Book of Daniel, suggesting the occurrence of parallel events 2000 years ago. The film celebrates the willingness to seek answers to questions from the innermost Self and follow the guidance to be found there without hiding the pain that may be involved…a road that may enable us to contribute something truly good to our world. The film brings and even greater mystery to questions about life choices, our involvement with fate, evolution and human destiny. The content is fascinating to contemplate and leaves the viewer with significant material to explore with new openness and interest. Daniel Pace makes a novel contribution to the realms of science fiction and the mystical. One UFO expert who previewed the film states: “Anyone interested in deeper thinking as in who were are and where we’re going, must check out Daniel Pace’s award-winning film ‘The Appearance of a Man’.” ---- Jim Marrs We highly recommend this film to all people. Propelled by the driving performances of the lead actors, Michael Tassoni and Slade Hall, and well supported by a strong cast, including Thomas Basham, Richard Glover, Katherine Stewart, the film recalls the unrelenting suspense of “film noir” movies of the late 1940s & 50s, where the attention of the viewer is never released from the grip of the drama unfolding with visual impact and dramatic pace throughout the experience. Robert D. Morningstar & Jill Benzer New York City September 7th, 2009