The Brother From Another Planet Resident Scholar Profiles
TOP SCHOLAR: Josh Turgenov
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| Review Summary |
A space alien (Joe Morton) crash-lands his spaceship into the Hudson River and soon finds himself wandering through Harlem amongst throngs of people that look just like him. Superficial similarities soon give way to cultural differences as the mute alien is alternately mesmerized and terrified by the many manifestations of life in the New York streets. After finding a helping hand in a local bar, he rents a room and attempts to find his place in society by getting a job repairing video games. Tension mounts when a pair of "men in black" appears on the scene professing to be hunting an "illegal alien."
Josh Turgenov, Resident Scholar
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An alien crashes in New York harbor and tries to survive on the streets of Harlem. Fortunately, he's black! Unfortunately, he can't speak. Fortunately, he picks up information quickly and can heal broken machines and people's wounds with a touch. Unfortunately, two men in black are in hot pursuit. A social worker keeps trying to find the brother jobs, a single mother puts him up, he encounters muggers, druggies, and an OD, tries shooting up himself, making love to a sexy bar singer, and in general tries to stay out of the clutches of the men in black (wonderfully deadpanned by writer/director John Sayles himself and young David Strathairn). This early Sayles project (1984) is curiously slow-paced and meanders a lot, but nevertheless is oddly compelling. A lot of gentle wit and humor enrich the plot. Morton is impressively nuanced in the non-speaking lead role.
David Loftus, Resident Scholar
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Composition of Movie
Actual chase scenes or violence - 25%
Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzle - 30%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 45%
**Fantasy or Science Fiction?**
- science fiction story
Explore/1st contact
Yes
Explore plotlet:
- friendly alien from space chased by govt
Inner Struggle
Yes
Plotlet:
- feelings as an alien growing up among humans
- search for identity/new understanding
Main Character
Identity:
- male alien
Profession/status:
- slave
Age:
- 20's-30's
Has special powers?
Yes
Magical/mental powers of main character:
- is very quick
- healing
Eccentric:
Yes
- eccentric
Hair color?
- brunette (Black)
Hair type
- (man) short/medium curly
Body type
- average (man)
Events of movie makes character more...
- tougher
Ethnicity/Nationality
- Black
- Eastern European
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor?
- Strong but gentle sense of humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
- Male Alien
Age:
- 20's-30's
Profession/status:
- government investigator
- bounty hunter
Eccentric:
Yes
- obsessed
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- 20%
Hair color
- brunette (Brown)
Hair style
- (man) short/standard straight
Body type
- average (man)
Ethnicity
- White
Sense of humor?
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physical condition
- very athletic
- average physique
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
- mean, arrogant
Setting
Earth setting:
- 20th century (1970's to Present)
Takes place on Earth?
Yes
Big cities?
Yes
Misc settings
- bar/restaurant
Kind of city
- Dirty, crime-ridden (like NY)
Style
Accounts of torture and death?
- moderately detailed references to deaths
Tone of movie
- upbeat
- unhappy
Comedy or somewhat funny movie?
Yes
Sex/nudity in movie?
Yes
What kind of sex:
- vauge references only
- kissing
Any profanity?
- Occasional swearing
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