the brother from another planet letterboxd
His attempt to make a place for himself in Harlem is an allegory for the immigrant experience in the United States. It has been also described as a film in the Afrofuturism genre. What came flooding back, though, is Sayles' wonderful ease with dialogue; which makes it particularly winsome, as the central character is mute. Mobile site. The Brother from Another Planet is a 1984 science fiction film written, directed and edited by John Sayles. It's a bold move that pays off! I remember catching John Sayles' The Brother from Another Planet back in the 80’s, and being thoroughly charmed by it’s silent, three toed, protagonist, It’s blacksplotation trappings, and rather obvious allusion to immigration and overtones of the Christ story. TMDb Sayles takes a story of this sort to turn it into an allegory regarding immigration in America, except we're also being told the story of a literal illegal alien. What a boy. 96 likes. Waited years to see this, hoping a high quality Blu-ray would come out. Everything on the brand new Criterion Channel Streaming service. If you like (2010's movie) watch (older movie), See You at Mao's: the theory and praxis of class struggle, class consciousness, anti-imperialism, national liberation, people's war, radical feminism, and cultural revolution, Every Film Available on The Criterion Channel, Cult & Bizarre & Psychedelic: A Personal Guide. Opticals are expensive, and Sayles' budget tiny, so he came up with the idea of simply turning the camera upside down while filming … that way he could simply reverse the head and tail of the shot when he cut the negative. Favorites: The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (1943), Andrei Rublev (1966), Salvatore Giuliano (1962), Paths of Glory (1957). I didn't really know a great deal about The Brother from Another Planet going into it but anything that gives Joe Morton a lead role is definitely worth a look. The Brother from Another Planet, Sayles's funky sci-fi, grand metaphor of sanctuary and immigration, immortalizes Morton as a great silent star. "Here is another cult classic that took me far too long to get around to. It’s the better version of Star Man. I don't know, it's complicated-- to be fair Larry Cohen directed a couple of brilliant blaxploitation films too? That aside, still really enjoyed this. Sayles uses some excellent writing to explore the experience of being racially oppressed -- the fact that The Brother is mute means that the characters around him come to pour their hearts out to him and reveal what it's like living in Harlem, slowly drawing out the comparison to the oppression in their own lives. natashakay uses Letterboxd to share film reviews and lists. Often they're bizarre, but mostly they're funny, especially during a really weird, but genuinely awesome fight scene involving Sayles himself as one of two men-in-black hunting The Brother. Mobile site. 781 films watched. Stephanie uses Letterboxd to share film reviews and lists. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Ed’s films. Can’t even enjoy everyday living without anyone thinking a black man is just gonna cause chaos or steal something . 1,755 films watched. The Brother from Another Planet 1984 ★★★★★ Watched Jun 03, 2020. katmandont’s review published on Letterboxd: Immediately was captivated by the gorgeous shots, and fell in love with the pace of the movie. To not be able to talk or write in this film while others talk to him and tell him stuff yet he can’t say anything. Recommended! The Brother from Another Planet. you wanna know my opinion? Viviane uses Letterboxd to share film reviews and lists. Review by Michael Pro. Favorites: Annihilation (2018), First Reformed (2017), Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) (2020), Knives Out (2019). Fun sci-fi blaxploitation crossover, really into the fact that the protagonist doesn't speak at all, really into the positive portrayal of sex (also this seems remarkably free of misogyny for the most part--which has often seemed omnipresent in a lot of the blaxploitation movies I've seen), but, despite, as Lencho pointed out, the lack of whitesplaining, it's still weird that this movie stars & was written/directed by a white dude??? Since The Brother is mute, the side characters often use him as a way to let loose about what's on their mind where they don't feel comfortable doing so to others who can talk back. There isn’t dialogue; in its place Sales crafts captivating and often dryly hilarious speeches. The immediate thing that struck me the most throughout the movie was Sayles's decision to frame New York City as quiet and empty - it's so common to have a New York Movie, ESPECIALLY one that's about an outsider struggling to make sense of it, be jam-packed with extras and noise and busy images, but instead it's often just The Brother and a huge swath of road or alleyway, like Robby Muller's desert in Paris Texas. "The Brother" (Joe Morton) is an alien and escaped slave on the run from his home planet. Join here. The Brother from Another Planet wasn’t diminished by age in the slightest, in fact the opposite, my admiration for it has grown. Writers and comics on the #BFAP podcast. 97 likes. A worthy entry in the annals of MiBdom, their awkwardly fluid movements, and attempts at linguistic intimidation in a language they obviously don’t fully comprehend is a special kind of funny. It harks back to the aesthetic of 70s blaxploitation, subverting the stereotypes but not in a way that leaves you feeling like you've been hit over the head … Film data from TMDb. Rewatched At times, it rings far too true - but that's also a part of what makes Sayles such a fascinating filmmaker too. Whatever I expected The Brother from Another Planet to be, this wasn't it. john sayles as a director fascinates me to no end. Jonathan is using Letterboxd to share film reviews and lists with friends. After he lands in New York City, he tries to adapt to life on the streets of Harlem. © Letterboxd Limited. Letterboxd is an independent service created by a small team, and we rely mostly on the support of our members to maintain our site and apps. Made by fans in Auckland, New Zealand. Simply a slight of hand . 17, When the movies started to talk, they began to lose the open-eyed simplicity with which they saw the world. The Brother from Another Planet 1984 ★★★★ Watched Jan 13 , 2021 Mark W.’s review published on Letterboxd: I highly recommend you catch it on U.S. Netflix while it’s still available. Surrealist cinema…. This movie was great! While our gentle ‘Brother’ ( he has no other name ) from Another Planet ( which also has no other name ) is completely endearing in his telepathic and empathetic way, and his one particularly remarkable gift, it’s the characters that populate 80’s Harlem are the real stars of the show. There isn’t dialogue; in its place Sales crafts captivating and often dryly hilarious speeches. I watched it on a very shitty bare-bones region-free DVD, and although the shabbiness of it was fitting and didnt detract from the experience, I'd like to seek out a better looking version, lofi scifi at it’s finest, up there’s with the likes of Repo Man, Liquid Sky, and Body Melt for some of the best lofi scifi around . That makes it sound serious, but like all the most serious movies, it's a comedy. This…, I’ve enjoyed many of these films because they’ve provided me with a variety of portrayals and images of black men…, Juan-Carlos Arias 350 films 1,828 43 Edit. Rather than Chronenbergian practical effects, it was just a simple acting technique of covering his eye with his hand, and when he removes it, his eyelid is closed, and there's an eyeball in his hand. The Brother from Another Planet. A philosophy not lost on Shane Carruth when he made Primer for about $7,000 a couple of decades later. John Sayles should still be writing and directing now. This was the first movie to be directed by John Sayles that I've seen, but from what I understand it's the only one to use any of the stuff he learned in his background writing exploitation movies for Roger Corman. To achieve this, a filmmaker would normally send the ‘shot in reverse’ scene to an optical lab, who would run the original through an optical printer in reverse, thus producing a final product where the film runs backwards even though it’s being projected forwards. Watched by Ed Gonzalez. John Sayles's quirky sci-fi drama about a mute three-toed alien who lands in Ellis Island and goes on to explore the neighbourhood of Harlem moves to the beat of its own drum. Da 5 Bloods. The way the brother from another planet looks at how stupid people react towards his actions is a whole mood . The ways the filmmakers depict otherworldly scenarios without expensive visual effects are super creative and fun to watch. Favorites: Withnail & I (1987), The Connection (1961), Tampopo (1985), Hyenas (1992). Jamaican Virgil conducting the hero through the Harlem night scene might be my favorite touch in a movie full of beautiful, funny, empathetic vignettes. The Brother from Another Planet is a 1984 low-budget science fiction film, written and directed by John Sayles and starring Joe Morton . Theatrical release poster. you wanna know my opinion? Favorites: Edward Scissorhands (1990), Dirty Dancing (1987), Scream (1996), Halloweentown (1998). Each character an orator standing on speaker’s corner, going on for anyone who will listen. Should that be a thing? Directed by John Sayles. A simple but effective technique. Criterion, where you at? The dialogue is quick and witty, and the solidarity created between the alien and his cohorts warms the heart. Voila, same effect, no expensive opticals. I remember catching John Sayles' The Brother from Another Planet back in the 80’s, and being thoroughly charmed by it’s silent, three toed, protagonist, It’s blacksplotation trappings, and rather obvious allusion to immigration and overtones of the Christ story. Directed by. How difficult must this role have been for Joe Morton? When we stumbled across it on Netflix the other night ( my wife, who hadn’t seen it, made the suggestion ), I was a bit worried about tarnishing a sweet memory. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Writers and comics on the #BFAP podcast. More details at Oddball comedy with a serious underlining, the central performance and role of Joe Morton as the alien who lands on earth is quietly (literally) brilliant, and pivotal to everything that makes this film good. The Brother from Another Planet 1984 ★★★. I also love how Sayles reveals this without overtly explaining it. Wasp Network. You can make a science fiction, before the advent of CGI and inexpensive PC based software like AfterEffects, with just a few good ideas for practical effects. Join here. Layers of observations from the perspective of an alien who happens to be of color. The Brother is an alien who has crash-landed on Earth, in New York City. His attempt to find a place for himself on Earth parallels that of the immigrant experience. Had to settle on a poor 720p export with subtitles. Ed is using Letterboxd to share film reviews and lists with friends. It’s a brilliant film about alienation, immigration and bigotry. IMDb Linklaters and Sodeberghs and Coens get heaps and heaps of praise, but John Sayles should be absolutely amongst them in those ranks. Not much else I have in my mind to say, but I did really enjoy it. "The Brother" (Joe Morton) is an alien and escaped slave on the run from his home planet. "The Brother From Another Planet" tells the story of a man who cannot talk, but who can read minds, listen carefully, look deep into eyes, and provide a sort of mirror for our society. The best moments lie with those he meets oddly enough, and how he interacts with them, progressively becoming more competent with expressing himself. Watched Jun 30, 2020. Katie uses Letterboxd to share film reviews and lists. Review by pd187 Pro. I'm a sucker for empathy, and this movie is absolutely full of it. Simple and effective. Joe Morton does a compelling job, even without any words. Pretty unique how the movie uses comedy to show how an outsider feels about the binary treatment of people. Hosting monthly comedy shows, including, "CPT: Comedy People's Time" and Ego Trippin'. Manon uses Letterboxd to share film reviews and lists. That's the question posed by John Sayles in "The Brother From Another Planet", and it's a thought-provoking one. The Battle of Chile Part One represents all three parts. The Brother from Another Planet. 757 films watched. Brothers from Another Planet. When we stumbled across it on Netflix the other night ( my wife, who hadn’t seen it, made the suggestion ), I was a bit worried about … The Brother from Another Planet.1984: https://watre.trosck.com/utqnzz2 He's one of those filmmakers who must fall through the cracks of the many projects I undertake, and perhaps also because his films often defy easy genre tagging? An alien slave crash-lands in New York City while being pursued by two Men in Black bounty hunters. He would have made a great silent era actor. "White folks get stranger all the time. Joe Morton Rosanna Carter Ray Ramirez Yves Rene Ginny Yang Daryl Edwards Steve James Leonard Jackson Bill Cobbs Maggie Renzi Olga Merediz Tom Wright Minnie Gentry Ren Woods Reggie Rock Bythewood Alvin Alexis David Strathairn John Sayles Caroline Aaron Copper Cunningham Josh Mostel Fisher Stevens Dee Dee Bridgewater, 108 mins The Brother being mute really works in the film's favour. Add a review? 1984 we had a kid overdose downstairs last night and you're pestering people about some piece of paper that says theyr legal? Brothers from Another Planet. Likewise another brilliantly simple practical effect; to make the Men In Black appear more outworldly, Sayles filed the scenes of them entering and exiting a scene in reverse … so when they were walking in to the scene, they were actually filmed walking out of the scene ( backwards ), and then the film was projected in reverse. I remember catching John Sayles' The Brother from Another Planet back in the 80’s, and being thoroughly charmed by it’s silent, three toed, protagonist, It’s blacksplotation trappings, and rather obvious allusion to immigration and overtones of the Christ story. Just a solid film all-round. But as most people on this site that I follow have noted, there's a lot to admire about how Sayles still keeps much of this so low-key, yet it never stifles how bizarre this film can get - as thoughtful as it remains from beginning to end. Close Encounters of the Feb Kind I didn't really know a great deal about The Brother from Another Planet going into it but anything that gives Joe Morton a lead role is definitely worth a look. The Brother from Another Planet 1984 ★★★★★ 04 Oct, 2019 pd187’s review published on Letterboxd: "immigration? Out of every movie I think everyone should watch at least once, I didn't expect this to be one of them but here I am. Share this page. This is a glorious time for filmmaking. Report this film, "immigration? 534 films watched. John Sayles is one of those directors I assumed I'd seen more by but apparently I've only seen two films by him, Lone Star and Eight Men Out - both of which are terrific. hamburger splash 1,853 films 16,624 98 Edit, I’m sick of sorting through concerts, series, and other non-movies. Very few genre films in this budget range have such great performances and believable characters. The Brother from Another Planet 1984 ★★★★ Watched Jan 18 , 2021 Boboche’s review published on Letterboxd: the complete rediscovery of identity and unity. gimme a break. 94 films watched. It's clearly an analogue for slavery, with The Brother fleeing a couple of MIB (one played by Sayles himself) and a slave-trading elite on his home planet, but reflects on the black experience of America without getting preachy about it. It’s not that particular technique, though, that’s the clever part. A shining exemplar of American independent cinema and how high-concept sci-fi/fantasy can be used to explore truths about our own world. Films made in NYC before Rudy Giuliani became mayor in 1994. Hosting monthly comedy shows, including, "CPT: Comedy People's Time" and Ego Trippin'. Matt uses Letterboxd to share film reviews and lists. When we stumbled across it on Netflix the other night ( my wife, who hadn’t seen it, made the suggestion ), I was a bit worried about tarnishing a sweet memory. It takes no sides, and doesn't preach and prance around, and I liked it because at any time, it can be taken seriously, or not so much - maybe never diving into either pool particularly deep, but still managing an entertaining and thoughtful film. 662 films watched. I miss John Sayles (hope he comes back) and Joe Morton doesn’t get enough love. It is a dark comedy, funny only occasionally.. mostly thought provoking and relevant 37 years after it came out. Each character an orator standing on speaker’s corner, going on for anyone who will…. It's too bad, because this movie's fantastic conceit brought down to Earth and shot through with real human characters is pretty damn irresistible. The Brother from Another Planet 1984. 236 films watched. I don’t think you’ll regret it. declanmd uses Letterboxd to share film reviews and lists. Primarily based on director's influences and recommendations. Somebody who has seen more by him would be able to clarify if that's the case, and The Brother from Another Planet…. But you would be completely wrong. The Brother from Another Planet. Sayles also proved another point. Directed by John Sayles • 1984 • United States Starring Joe Morton, Daryl Edwards, Steve James. I love how Joe Morton's alien character (who arrives on Earth by crash-landing on Ellis Island, which is a terrific little touch) is a eventually revealed to be a runaway slave from outer space. Even when a brother from another planet is curious about planet earth, white people and cops still gotta chase him down. gimme a break. My overlong point here is that it’s amazing what you can do when you inject a little creativity into the equation. While mute, strongly empathic, and able to fix things, he resembles a Black man with strange feet. WhatsPappening uses Letterboxd to share film reviews and lists. There is a scene where The Brother has to remove his eyeball ( don’t squirm / not gross ) so he can use it like a spy cam. There is no review for this diary entry. John Sayles is one of those directors I assumed I'd seen more by but apparently I've only seen two films by him, Lone Star and Eight Men Out - both of which are terrific. The…, Jayce Fryman 18,680 films 3,483 115 Edit, This list collects every film from the Starting List that became They Shoot Pictures Don't They's 1000 Greatest Films. The real scene stealers, though, are Sayles himself and David Strathairn as the mysterious and lizardry Men in Black, hot in pursuit of The Brother. Made by fans in Auckland, New Zealand. Very clever low-budget sci fi flick with a poignant social message. He merely has Joe Morton point to a museum exhibit about Harriet Tubman and then point to himself. Anything with more than 1,000 views on Letterboxd that’s longer…, Pretty self-explanatory, "older films" must've come out at least 20 years ago. Favorites: Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999), The Wizard of Oz (1939), The Brother from Another Planet (1984), Mulholland Drive (2001). Michael’s review published on Letterboxd: :: the 13 week esoteric/hidden knowledge & 8th-dimensional killuminati broadcasts challenge/ley lines/skeleton key/scavenger hunt :: week 5: june 29-july 5. john keel died july 3rd, 2009 - R.I.P.! my opinion is you people just made up the immigration scam just to keep people under your thumb". (As of01/17/21) Sort list by last added for latest additions (there…, This is merely a personal guide for the bizarre and weird stuff I've been watching or want to watch in…. John Sayles's quirky sci-fi drama about a mute three-toed alien who lands in Ellis Island and goes on to explore the neighbourhood of Harlem moves to the beat of its own drum. My kinda movie! Favorites: The Blues Brothers (1980), Yojimbo (1961), Whiplash (2014), Chinatown (1974). A film like The Brother from Another Planet could easily have been taken as any other blaxploitation film that came out within this period, and yet John Sayles finds a way around that template to turn it into something quite unique. The film's strongest aspect is definitely its characters. The Brother from Another Planet 1984 ★★★★ Jun 09, 2020.