The
Brother From Another Planet (1984) – A runaway from another
world lands in Harlem and has to find his way.
Brother From Another Planet (1984) – A runaway from another
world lands in Harlem and has to find his way.
Director John Sayles
Star Joe Morton
Star Joe Morton
This
low budget sci-fi movie was a personal project for director John
Sayles. He financed the #350,000 budget himself. It’s another
example of what can be done with characterization and story. There
are almost nothing that qualify as “special effects” in this
movie. Joe Morton (the Brother, the only name the character gets)
has to carry the story with no dialogue. While his character learns
English, he cannot speak. The combination of his expressive face and
a supporting cast of veteran character actors move us through the
story. Part gentle comedy and part social commentary, “The Brother
From Another Planet” looks at questions around freedom, refugees,
and integration into a new society.
low budget sci-fi movie was a personal project for director John
Sayles. He financed the #350,000 budget himself. It’s another
example of what can be done with characterization and story. There
are almost nothing that qualify as “special effects” in this
movie. Joe Morton (the Brother, the only name the character gets)
has to carry the story with no dialogue. While his character learns
English, he cannot speak. The combination of his expressive face and
a supporting cast of veteran character actors move us through the
story. Part gentle comedy and part social commentary, “The Brother
From Another Planet” looks at questions around freedom, refugees,
and integration into a new society.
As
with any low budget film, there are parts that clank badly. Director
Sayles and David Strathairn play bounty hunters in pursuit of The
Brother. They manage to be both funny and vaguely threatening, but
someone decided they needed a threatening “noise” that just
sounds silly. The rest of the movie makes up for the low budget
compromises.
with any low budget film, there are parts that clank badly. Director
Sayles and David Strathairn play bounty hunters in pursuit of The
Brother. They manage to be both funny and vaguely threatening, but
someone decided they needed a threatening “noise” that just
sounds silly. The rest of the movie makes up for the low budget
compromises.
Why
You Will Like It: Good story with good performances in an
interesting story telling style.
You Will Like It: Good story with good performances in an
interesting story telling style.
Rating:
– *** Worth a Look
– *** Worth a Look
Stories Are My Life 
Leave a comment