Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!genrad!mit-eddie!godot!harvard!seismo!cmcl2!nybcb!drennan
From: drennan@nybcb.UUCP (drennan)
Newsgroups: net.movies
Subject: Brother From Another Planet
Message-ID: <145@nybcb.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 21-Nov-84 11:10:34 EST
Article-I.D.: nybcb.145
Posted: Wed Nov 21 11:10:34 1984
Date-Received: Fri, 23-Nov-84 07:46:33 EST
Lines: 41



	John Sayles' new film "Brother From Another Planet" is a
thoroughly remarkable movie.  The basic premise is that the Brother,
evidently a fugitive from another world, crashes on Ellis Island, and
eventually makes his way to Harlem.  Being black, he fits in pretty well,
and some locals in a bar take him in as their own, not knowing what he is,
of course.  But there's more.  The Brother is being persued by two others
from his world, who happen to be white and dress like Johnny Cash.

	A remarkable thing about this movie is that the Brother never
says a word, yet he conveys such a remarkable sense of wonderment toward
what he encounters in New York, more convincingly than any tourist I've
seen wandering around Times Square.  I don't remember the actor who played
the Brother, but it was one of the best examples of pure acting I've seen.
I would recommend the movie on his performance alone.

	But there are a lot of other reasons to see this movie.  First,
it is genuinely funny.  The humor is a very real sort, the kind you come
across in normal life, and very intelligently done.  I will admit, though,
that many of the jokes require some knowledge of New York, or maybe some
other large city, to make any sense, but this is not something that should
keep anyone away.

	The story is also very touching and warm.  The brother develops a
very sympathetic character, and we really start to feel for him in his struggles
his attempts to fit in, and as he makes friends with people here on earth.

	The acting overall is very good.  The group in Harlem that take him
under their wing is a great collection of personalities that work very well
together, yet still retain very individual characteristics.  They're the sorts
of characters that everyone will recognize somewhere in their lives.  The pair
of aliens following the Brother, one of which is played by John Sayles, are
appropriately bizarre, and one of the funniest parts of the movies.

	On the whole it is a very entertaining movie, and one that I would
strongly recommend for everyone.

						Jim Drennan
						New York Blood Center
						..seismo!cmcl2!nybcb!drennan