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The Brother from Another Planet

  • 1984
  • R
  • 1h 48m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
6.9K
YOUR RATING
Joe Morton in The Brother from Another Planet (1984)
A mute alien with the appearance of a black human is chased by outer-space bounty hunters through the streets of Harlem.
Play trailer1:09
1 Video
83 Photos
SatireComedySci-Fi

A mute alien with the appearance of a black human is chased by outer-space bounty hunters through the streets of Harlem.A mute alien with the appearance of a black human is chased by outer-space bounty hunters through the streets of Harlem.A mute alien with the appearance of a black human is chased by outer-space bounty hunters through the streets of Harlem.

  • Director
    • John Sayles
  • Writer
    • John Sayles
  • Stars
    • Joe Morton
    • Daryl Edwards
    • Rosanna Carter
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.7/10
    6.9K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • John Sayles
    • Writer
      • John Sayles
    • Stars
      • Joe Morton
      • Daryl Edwards
      • Rosanna Carter
    • 50User reviews
    • 23Critic reviews
    • 70Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 wins & 1 nomination total

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:09
    Trailer

    Photos83

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    + 75
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    Top cast51

    Edit
    Joe Morton
    Joe Morton
    • The Brother
    Daryl Edwards
    Daryl Edwards
    • Fly
    Rosanna Carter
    • West Indian Woman
    Ray Ramirez
    • Hispanic Man
    Yves Rene
    • Haitian Man
    Peter Richardson
    • Islamic Man
    Ginny Yang
    • Korean Shopkeeper
    Steve James
    Steve James
    • Odell
    Leonard Jackson
    Leonard Jackson
    • Smokey
    Bill Cobbs
    Bill Cobbs
    • Walter
    Maggie Renzi
    Maggie Renzi
    • Noreen
    Olga Merediz
    Olga Merediz
    • Noreen's Client
    Tom Wright
    Tom Wright
    • Sam
    Minnie Gentry
    • Mrs. Brown
    Renn Woods
    Renn Woods
    • Bernice
    • (as Ren Woods)
    Reggie Rock Bythewood
    Reggie Rock Bythewood
    • Rickey
    Alvin Alexis
    Alvin Alexis
    • Willis
    Caroline Aaron
    Caroline Aaron
    • Randy Sue Carter
    • Director
      • John Sayles
    • Writer
      • John Sayles
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews50

    6.76.9K
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    10

    Featured reviews

    8davedee4

    Odd, quiet and very watchable.

    This is a very strange film to watch, but easy to do so despite the fact that the plot is only added to near the end of the film with the men in black. It's no masterpiece at all, not even on a low budget standard, but one thing that brings above a lot of other films is a great performance by Joe Morton as The Brother, not an easy role to do, but his mute performance is pulled off so charismatically, that we can't help but be drawn into to The Brother's adventures. The film is at times very witty, very clever and very charming. John Sayles (writer/director) did well at adding in just enough subtle comedy. Most of the way through, the film is not really a science fiction film, it just happens to contain an alien. If I were to hazard a guess at how Sayles came up with the idea of The Brother From Another Planet, I would assume he started with the idea of; what if everything was kind of new and unfamiliar to you, as if you were born again, he probably started with that and worked from there to form this delightful film. One down side is the ending, because; as I mentioned before, 80% of the film is not really science fiction like, but the ending is very much science fiction, but it doesn't spoil the picture too much.

    I give this gem a firm 8/10.
    10davidals

    A fantastic, multi-layered sci-fi parable...

    *Minor spoilers*

    It's great to see this odd and remarkable film finally getting a worthwhile DVD release. BROTHER FROM ANOTHER PLANET is among the few John Sayles films I've seen, and watching it again makes me want to check out what else I might have missed.

    Blending sly topical humor with science fiction, BROTHER FROM... superficially resembles ALPHAVILLE or MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH as it explores various themes: assimilation, perception and identity; and technology and control; along with less abstract but equally serious issues like drug abuse and urban despair. This fantastic film is notable for its' dry humor and complex observation of urban problems, and is also notable for Joe Morton's astonishing, expressive performance in a mute role, which - though helped by Morton's theatrical training and his overall attractiveness - still has to be seen to be believed.

    Crash landing his tiny space ship in Harlem, our silent hero tries to make sense of his surroundings, moving from fear and puzzlement to relative comfort. Because of his dark skin, certain assumptions are instantly made of him, even as his silence gives no one anything to hang a stereotype on. It quickly becomes apparent that 'he ain't from around here.' The edgy humor turns on this (pay attention for great spoof quotes from TERMINATOR and TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE/BLAZING SADDLES) - not so p.c. at the surface, but still broad-minded and intelligently observational, with an intriguing viewpoint - that of a very disoriented immigrant dropped into the American subculture he's expected to most easily fit into. Simultaneously, his quiet and graceful manner of dealing with the world around him implies an unquestionable conviction that every human ought to be considered with some kind of respect and dignity, even as day-to-day realities might necessarily modify this ideal (another of the key themes here).

    A short subplot involving a nightclub singer touches vaguely upon Harlem's celebrated past, making apparent Sayles' belief in the contemporary value of history, and his awareness of the importance of context even in a fantastical story. Likewise, a second subplot - though a tad clumsy - deals with Harlem's more recent history - a struggle to survive and preserve identity through an avalanche of drugs, potential violence and despair.

    As a runaway slave from another world, themes of technology, surveillance and control (shown in the eyeball/flashback scenes, and the great capture scene near the end) are also introduced, even as Sayles' references African-American history at unexpected moments throughout ("My people built this country. Ever heard of South Carolina?...") - implying to a degree that technology can easily be manipulated to make slaves of us all, or at least that technology hold the potential to divorce us from our history.

    With all of the varied themes and subplots, BROTHER FROM... could've easily become overloaded or didactic, but Sayles' loose stylishness and light touch as a director (along with the skill of the cast) makes it all work well, even with a very modest budget and a tight shooting schedule. The cinematography throughout is remarkable - lots of long takes, with characters woven into the fabric of everyday life. The pacing is slow and methodical (Sayles is always very meticulous in developing plot and characters), but never dull.

    This is a great film - below a hip and ironic surface, the covert intellect and graceful sweetness of this film links its' numerous themes into a seamless and unique fantasy/parable. This cult classic from the mid-80s deserved a wider audience at the time, and still does - I strongly recommend it.
    10film_aficionado

    Great Cult Film.

    This is one of the best and most underrated movies I have ever seen. This is a brilliant black comedy with great social commentary on racism and classism. I loved it the first time I saw it, and it held up when I bought it on DVD. This is definitely worth the time it takes to watch it, and you will find yourself quoting the movie later. The "Beer . . . on the Rocks" quote is my personal favorite, but the card trick is a close second. Have fun with this little known, early John Sayles Masterpiece.
    7dwpollar

    Strange and unique quiet drama...

    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.
    7gavin6942

    An Unusual Cult Classic

    A mute alien (Joe Morton) with the appearance of a black human is chased by outer-space bounty hunters through the streets of Harlem.

    If this film had been made five years earlier, it might have fallen into the blaxploitation trap. But, luckily, this is not the case because it is above and beyond blaxploitation and in many ways far more clever. Rather than dwell on race, it just sort of accepts it.

    There is the theme of immigration, though it is not heavy-handed and the viewer can choose to see this as a parable or not. They can choose to see it as science fiction or not. (Obviously it is, but it is light.) There is plenty of room for a viewer to imprint his or her own thoughts on to the story and make it their own.

    Bonus: Fisher Stevens shows up.

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    Related interests

    Peter Sellers in Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)
    Satire
    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
    James Earl Jones and David Prowse in Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
    Sci-Fi

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      John Sayles financed most of this movie himself. According to Wikipedia, "Sayles describes this movie as being about the immigrant experience of assimilation. He spent part of his MacArthur Fellows 'genius' grant on the film, which cost $350,000 to produce".
    • Goofs
      After Little Earl takes off his band-aid, and The Brother heals his knee, the band-aid reappears where his cut was.
    • Quotes

      Smokey: [Men in Black have just left] White folks get stranger all the time.

    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Teachers/Country/The Brother from Another Planet/Old Enough (1984)
    • Soundtracks
      Homeboy
      Sung by Joe Morton

      By Mason Daring and John Sayles

      Sweet Melodies Publishing/ASCAP

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    FAQ19

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 14, 1984 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Watch on Pave TV
    • Languages
      • English
      • Spanish
      • French
    • Also known as
      • Der Typ vom anderen Stern
    • Filming locations
      • Ellis Island, New York Harbor, New York City, New York, USA
    • Production companies
      • Anarchist's Convention Films
      • UCLA Film and Television Archive
      • A-Train Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $350,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $3,677,209
    • Gross worldwide
      • $3,677,209
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 48m(108 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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