jadzia92 On the surface Roswell may looked like a science fiction TV movie but it is actually based on actual events from eyewitness accounts of what went on in Roswell in 1947. This TV movie intercuts between the present day of the late 1970s and the immediate aftermath of that certain event in 1947.Kyle MacLachlan played the real-life Jesse Marcel, a retired major who was there in Roswell in 1947 who is trying to piece together of what went on in Roswell back then and he plays very well with extreme sincerity. The flashbacks of the eyewitness accounts were very fascinating and made for thrilling viewing especially the account of what happened to Defence Secretary James V Forrestral. This account of what really account in Roswell was very fascinating and a gripping movie to watch.

graduatedan Your enjoyment of this film does not depend largely on your acceptance of the story of a crashed alien spacecraft and a government cover up that just does not seem to want to go away. If you believe the narrative, which is based upon Kevin Randle's book UFO crash at Roswell, you will be amply rewarded by a tale that adheres closely to the story, and which treats the subject matter with respect. Even if you think the whole story is stuff and nonsense, you can still enjoy a well made, well cast film that has plenty of atmosphere and crisp direction. Although made for television, Roswell has above average production values which add greatly to the overall tone of the film. Kyle Mclachlan's performance as the perplexed Marcel is fine and some of the set pieces, especially the discovery of the spacecraft wreckage are truly unnerving.

Robert J. Maxwell Kyle MacLachlan is the real-life retired USAF Major Jesse Marcel. He was one of the first people to handle the debris from a suspected alien spacecraft crash on a remote field in Roswell, New Mexico. The government then ordered him to shut up. Many years later, at a reunion of his unit, MacLachlan is old and dying of emphysema, and is intent on prying the Truth out of the several others who were involved in collecting and disposing of the mysterious trash.It's pretty dull going, even for UFOlogists. MacLachlan goes from barbecue to swimming pool to dinners, encountering others, and getting their stories in flashbacks.The more dubious aspects of the legend -- disappearing participants, living alien corpses, "men in dark suits" -- are accepted with the same eager alacrity as the more credible claims -- the government's throwing all kinds of humdrum explanations against the wall to see if any of them stick, the tendency of agencies to beef up their own importance by classifying information about what they do.The movie gives you the legend in its full-blown form here, with Michael Sheen showing up as "Townsend", the man who takes MacLachlan aside and spills the beans in their entirety, in a scene that is an anti-climax if there ever was one. The explanation is all hearsay from an anonymous source. MacLachlan must depart the scene still in a state of distress and confusion.With the exception of some of the supporting players, the acting is perfunctory. The direction is pedestrian. There isn't any real tension and there is no real ending. It all just seems to fade away.These comments, I ought to emphasize, are about the movie, not about the question of UFOs. I should think that by now, with multiple, credible witnesses, the presence of something inexplicable is indisputable. Oh, maybe not alien space ships but surely something. The alternative belief is that many of our military and commercial pilots, scientists, police officers -- people to whom we entrust our lives -- are crazy. Well, let's throw out 99% of the most reliable sighting. That leaves 1% who are believable. All it takes is one case. Too bad none of the UFOs has been obliging enough to put down on the White House lawn.

Neiro3k ....I won't say much. This wasn't going to be a movie that was going to create havoc at the Oscars or break some mold at the box office but, let me just say, we had to watch this for school........it was used as an example of how NOT to make a film. Bad acting. (Martin Sheen, for shame! Hardly broke a sweat standing in the background for most of the duration) Bad direction. (Tried to be creative by having flashbacks in different styles, but may I ask, why the dramatic shots of paintings in the Political meeting? It was like Days Of Our Lives for Chrissake!) Bad BAD script. (classics from the main characters wife, like : "Dance time, dear" and "Your father's back, son".) And bad bad BAD make up! (throw some baby powder over Kyles face to make him look old, yeah, wow.) This film also has to win "most pathetic sick man portrayal" by Kyle Mac in the scene where he grabs one of the witnesses in his living room by the shoulders and coughs, jerking his head back and forth like a duck at a disco. (I tried the same move at a club last weekend, the bouncers almost booted me out). I wouldn't normally even think about watching something like this, but we had to. My God. Really bad. Half a Star. And thats coz it at least had an Alien in it that could'nt act either.