Great Film overall

Excellent but underrated film

To all those who have watched it: I hope you enjoyed it as much as I do.

Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

WARNING! Spoilers Galore! If you haven't seen the film yet, you will NOT want to read this review!This film was screened on opening night of MOMA's "Future Imperfect" series on July 17, 2017. Director John Sayles introduced the film and participated in a talk afterwards. The author's intention is to preserve some of the discussion.The panel consisted of the director, producers Maggie Renzi and Peggy Rajski, actors Daryl Edwards and Fisher Stevens,and curator Josh Siegel.Sayles said the plot came to him in a series of dreams. The producers said the financing for another film fell through the day before shooting was to begin, but Sayles said he had $300K in the bank (his Macarthur grant)and would be willing to spend it on a film about a black ET who lands in Harlem.The first day of shooting was a disaster. The production manager's wife was in labor, and the guy who was supposed to provide the dolly track got a better offer and ditched Sayles. Fisher Stevens said he had to change his clothes in a station wagon. But the experience of this film was great fun and turned him on to independent productions.Aside: the card trick Stevens does for Joe Morton is a real effect, known in the trade as "Sam the Bellhop," popularized by Bill Malone. Stevens noted that Morton, a method actor, hardly said a word to the other cast members.Daryl Edwards said this was his second professional gig, and he was just happy to be there, not realizing the shoestring budget made for a very unconventional shoot. The opening special effect, Sayles said, cost just $50 to achieve. An audience member asked what Josh Mostel was doing in a cameo late in the film. Rajski explained he was her ex-husband!All were grateful to Siskel and Ebert, whose review of the film on their PBS show gave the film "millions of dollars worth of free publicity."This is a rousing, crowd pleasing comedy with a few dark undertones (pun not intended.)Dee Dee Bridgewater sings and has a fling with Morton. Morton gives a sensational performance as the mute fugitive. Sayles and David Strathairn are a hoot as "men in black" pursuing runaway slave Morton. The brother has empathic abilities and can fix electronics with a touch, but unlike ET and Starman, cannot restore people to life. There's a subplot about heroin that seems out of place, and the script meanders a bit, but on the whole this is a winner. At the end the MOMA audience gave the film a deserved loud ovation.Highly recommended.(This would make a great double feature with Charles Lane's "Sidewalk Stories." )

A mute, three-toed, super-sensory humanoid (a fine performance from Joe Morton) arrives on Earth, appropriately landing near Ellis Island and taking up residence in Harlem, where his African American appearance helps him to blend in with the locals. The inquisitive alien sets about exploring his strange new environment, absorbing the unique sights and sounds of '80s New York with the help of his otherworldly sense of touch and his removable eyeball, but his journey of discovery is interrupted when he finds himself being hunted by two mysterious men in black...Although writer/director/star John Sayles' strongly suggests that Morton's character is an escaped slave and makes references to class divide, racism and America's history of slavery, he ensures that The Brother From Another Planet doesn't ram a moralistic or political message down the viewer's throat, focusing instead on examining the human condition though the use of interesting characters, quirky dialogue and intriguing situations. The film is all the better for it—a somewhat bizarre but fun sci-fi adventure on the surface, but one that can be dissected, examined and discussed on a deeper level if so desired.

1st watched 6/6/2007 - 7 out of 10(Dir-John Sayles): Strange and unique quiet drama about a man who lands on earth as an escapee from another planet where he was apparently a slave. Joe Morton, as this brother from the other planet has no dialogue but effectively portrays a true illegal alien. He really is a frail being who just wants to do good and be needed. He is being hunted by what appears to be his owners but he affects everyone he comes across in such a positive way that they get behind him 100% and keep these thugs from getting him. He eventually earns his money by fixing things with his otherworldly powers(once he realizes that stealing isn't right) and even gets to the point of hunting down a drug dealer in Harlem who has caused the demise of a young one in the neighborhood. This character is probably the most likable alien that has ever been put on the screen(next to maybe E.T.) and it's definitely a departure from most films. The low production value is certainly evident but the character and the storyline keeps you interested and rooting for this unlikely hero from another planet. These were the type of quiet independent movies that were made in the 80's when it was truly "seen" that the budget was low, but the makers only cared about creating a worthwhile project and John Sayles definitely did that with this one. This 80's relic is not to be missed by a true cinemaphile or anyone who wants to see the benefits of good deeds even if it's coming from someone with feet a little different than ours.

The Brother From Another Planet, is about an African American alien who crash lands on Earth in Harlem, in New York City. The brother does not speak English (or any language at all) but he can understand others and soon makes friends at a local bar and gets a job fixing things. He also gets a place to stay, lodging with a single mother. Many things on Earth seem unusual to the brother and he encounters many unusual people and situations. Soon we also find out about two men in black who are after the brother and want to get rid of him. He also shows his many alien talents during the film. Winner of The Caixa de Catalunya Award for Best Actor (Joe Morton, who plays the brother) and Best Screenplay (John Sayles, who also directed and edited the film) at The Catalonian International Film Festival. The Brother From Another Planet, has good direction, a good script, a good performance by Joe Morton, as well as a good supporting cast, good original music, good cinematography and good film editing. The Brother From Another Planet, takes a little while to get into but gives us an entertaining story, a likable main character and likable side characters, interesting situations and the script is filled with good dialogue, good character development, is full of smart satire and unusual characters and lots of unique situations and plot twists. The film is quite enjoyable and entertaining and is deliciously different. I enjoyed this film quite a bit and it is a nice clever sci-fi/comedy.