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Brother John (1971)

posted 19 years ago by spookysr
12 replies | jump to latest

Poitier plays a man who was always "different" and enigmatic, who returns to his home town, 13 September 1998
Author: Duzebyte from Chicago Illinois USA

I found the movie thought provoking when I first saw it. So much so, I purchased and read the book. Will Geer gives a performance that should have gotten him at least an oscar nomimation. The conversations between Poitier's character and Geer's are simple yet profound in what they imply. Not an action movie, more of a prophetic drama. Not a lot of people I have talked to have seen it but of those who have seen it, they have liked it. Its a great discussion group movie.

The comment above was posted supposedly 9/13/98 by a person who registered in 2001. Besides that trick his comments about Brother John were interesting as well as accurate. I'm still trying to find the "book" he mentions. In deferrence to his last comment I offer this new topic as I would like to discuss this movie with someone... PLEASE HAVE AT IT!

[–] puzzle_queen 18 years ago

I was hoping that there would be more discussion too.
I guess this is a pretty little known movie. I was definitely entertained by it but I can't think of any discussion topics. It's pretty clear that Poitier is supposed to be the second coming but he doesn't do much in the way of teaching. He just goes all over the world to meet people...
Marianne

[–] danielj_old999 18 years ago

I found this for a dollar in the thrift shop - god I love 70;'s movies - how about that line - "stop by and see our john, brother john?" that is so funky, silly and ingenuous that it could only have occurred in a movie of this period. this is one of those movies that establishes great characters, makes you live in their world and then is quickly over, making you wish you knew them better. another great scene the redneck sherriff breaking up the fight between the brothers and muttering, "you'll never know..." after being humbled by Poitier.

[–] spookysr 18 years ago

Just think how Denzel Washington (i.e. The Preacher's Wife) could expand the Brother John role! I mean he did a really occult character in the movie based on Mick Jagger's song. The one with John Goodman in it and Denzel was a detective battling the devil in John et al. I guess Hollywood likes depicting blacks as pimps, crackheads, gang bangers, and such. They don't like depicting them as angels and messiahs. I mean God forbid if Jesus was actually a Mediterranean dark curly haired, brown-eyed, medium-dark-skinned, SW Asian Jew of average height and weight for 1st century CE indigenous peoples of Palestine. Oops... ;->

Poiter is way too old...

[–] danielj_old999 18 years ago

that's a great idea, although Poitier had that ingenuous quality that might be hard for D. to match; in fact could any remake match the sweet funky ingenuous quality of the original, I doubt it

[–] csu16387 17 years ago

I've seen a featurette on Sidney Poitier which airs on TCM from time to time. Both Forest Whitaker and Charles S. Dutton believe Brother John features Sidney Poitier's best performance. I haven't seen the film yet, but it's on my must-see list. It sounds like a very good movie.

"Dry your eyes baby, it's out of character."

[–] Calinks 15 years ago

I heard bad things but this film was WAY better then people made it out to be. I loved it.

"Cool will get ya dead." -Former NBA Power Forward, Karl Malone

[–] MystMoonstruck 15 years ago

Joe Morton could do it. He has such a wonderful quality in whatever role he takes. He would be a wonderful Brother John.

By the way, Turner Classic Movies is airing it now, during a daylong tribute to Sidney Poitier. I've seen it listed before but couldn't catch it. I don't recall it being at a theater in town, but back then, in a much-smaller city, we had only one thater and ended up missing many movies. If a popular one was held over, there were films that likely passed us by. I LOVE TCM, IFC, Fox Movie Channel, HBO, Starz, etc.!

~~MystMoonstruck~~

[–] sharallwillis-850-636616 10 years ago

Joe Morton already did it, it was called "Brother From Another Planet".

[–] MystMoonstruck 10 years ago

I definitely wouldn't equate a mute alien with this role.

*** The trouble with reality is there is no background music. ***

[–] sharallwillis-850-636616 10 years ago

I'm sorry that you don't see the similarities between the two films but they are very obvious to me.

[–] WarpedRecord 13 years ago

It's almost like Brother John predicting deaths. Some people just have it ... or are they something more than people?

[–] Moon_Doggie 9 years ago

The comment above was posted supposedly 9/13/98 by a person who registered in 2001.

He probably canceled his subscription and then joined again several years later with the same handle (at that time no longer in use, so he could grab it again).

A person's a person, no matter how small. -- Dr. Seuss