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The Brother from Another Planet (1984)
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Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
7 September 1984 (USA) moreTagline:
Welcome to a world of crude beauty... of danger and excitement... of wonders, legend, and imagination... Welcome to Harlem, Brother. morePlot:
A mute alien is chased by outer-space bounty hunters through the streets of Harlem in this thought-provoking cult classic. full summary | add synopsisAwards:
2 wins & 1 nomination moreNewsDesk:
(2 articles)
Cinematical Seven: Our Alien Friends (From Cinematical. 18 August 2009, 8:02 PM, PDT)
Scenes We Love: The Brother From Another Planet
(From Cinematical. 12 March 2009, 4:03 PM, PDT)
User Comments:
Typical Sayles more (33 total)Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Joe Morton | ... | The Brother | |
| Rosanna Carter | ... | West Indian Woman | |
| Ray Ramirez | ... | Hispanic Man | |
| Yves Rene | ... | Haitian Man | |
| Peter Richardson | ... | Islamic Man | |
| Ginny Yang | ... | Korean Shopkeeper | |
| Daryl Edwards | ... | Fly | |
| Steve James | ... | Odell | |
| Leonard Jackson | ... | Smokey | |
| Bill Cobbs | ... | Walter | |
| Maggie Renzi | ... | Noreen | |
| Olga Merediz | ... | Noreen's Client | |
| Tom Wright | ... | Sam | |
| Minnie Gentry | ... | Mrs. Brown | |
| Ren Woods | ... | Bernice |
Additional Details
MPAA:
Rated R for language, some drug content and brief nudity.Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parentsRuntime:
108 min | Australia:106 minCountry:
USAColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 moreSound Mix:
MonoFun Stuff
Trivia:
The entrance and exit scenes of the Men in Black's first appearance in the bar were filmed entirely in reverse with the camera upside down, according to director Sayles' commentary on the restored print. The two men started on the bar stools, then backed out of the room for the entrance; while the exit was filmed with the two outside the bar and backing into it, including Strathairn replacing the cookies in the cookie bowl. moreGoofs:
Continuity: After sitting on the steps listening to the cop, The Brother walks away leaving the cop sitting there. The cop has his cap on when they're both on the steps, but in the next shot of The Brother walking away, his cap is off and he soon puts it on. moreQuotes:
Fly: (about Harlem) I'd rather be a cockroach on a baseboard up here than the Emperor of Mississippi. moreSoundtrack:
Dinero moreFAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (33 total)
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Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Brother from Another Planet (1984)| Recent Posts (updated daily) | User |
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| Subtitles, dammit! | momohl |
| Matrix connection` | antigraviton |
| He's got funny feet. | Floressa-1 |
Recommendations
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What I love about Sayles is that he never forgets that first and foremost, movies should tell stories.
This one is a real gem in the rough. It has the irreverence and SciFi conventions of Barry Sonnenfeld's MIB but with social commentary instead of a budget. Also, instead of merely clever comments on NYC life, Sayles shows his characteristic political side by highlighting little tableaux of real life. Slipping in the Harriet Tubman subplot was pure Sayles.
I especially loved his usage of music and the chemistry of the barroom regulars. That fight with the MIB was a hoot! Sayles, a Corman vet, knows that special effects shouldn't be used for the sake of having them.