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      Brother John

      PG-13 Released Mar 24, 1971 1 hr. 36 min. Drama List
      Reviews 54% 100+ Ratings Audience Score Visiting his Alabama hometown for his sister's funeral, an enigmatic black man, John Kane (Sidney Poitier), is appalled by the discrimination and hatred he witnesses. There is a strike going on at the same time as the funeral, and some in the community assume he is an outside agitator. In reality, Kane is a messenger from heaven sent to assess mankind's worthiness of redemption. Although dismayed by the atrocities he sees, Kane is not ready to give up on human beings just yet. Read More Read Less Watch on Fandango at Home Premiered Sep 21 Buy Now

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      Audience Reviews

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      jerry m I have purposely resisted reviewing this picture because I realized just how complicated it is to articulate just what makes this the masterpiece it is. Where do I start? It's about Sidney Portier playing a man who comes home to small town and reveals himself to be much more than he appears to be. Perhaps I need to explain why most people would not care much for a movie like this. It's talky most of the time. It never gets around to answering any of the questions it poses. In fact it ends with out really giving the audience the revelation that for me was all too apparent. So I will attempt to break this review down to three essential points. This and "Cotton comes to Harlem" were the start of the blacksploitation film era but Brother John was completely ignored at the time of it's release. In fact it is an anti exploitation film. The message of the picture is easy to follow for me having grown up attending a Black Baptist Church. What would happen if Jesus did return but in the form of a Black Man. Though John is never identified as the second coming he is someone who has been sent to judge mankind. Finally, Sidney Portier is one of a handful of actors who could actually pull this off. This is totally his picture. As for me this is a deep film on a personal level. I'm at the point of maturity where I get it. As for the lack of a resolution I get that too. It's about faith. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/27/23 Full Review Steve D Keeps you guessing but I wanted more answers. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 08/01/23 Full Review Audience Member Who is brother John, where he come from, why is here here, what does he want? The great Sidney Poitier in another one of his 1970s flicks. Here he plays John Kane who comes home to Alabama for his sister's funeral. What's surprising is that he's entered a world full of hatred and extreme racist behavior. A strike is taking place simultaneously with labor laws involving black workers and the townsfolk view him as an instigator. They find out he's been traveling frequently as well as being a high school dropout. But the truth of the matter is that John is actually a heavenly messenger sent from above. He's been tasked with seeing if mankind is worthy of redemption. It's going to be tough for him to swim through the treacherous waters of discrimination and hostility but he has faith in his quest. Poitier is perfect as this mysterious man who can't stay in one place too long but somehow creating an influence everywhere he goes with everyone he meets. I like that the movie never straight up says what he's doing it's all allusioned. Every time someone dies he's there and has to bear witness the worst of humanity. Maybe he can succeed in changing our attitude and perception of things, maybe not. The movie relies on Poitier's performance alone but also looking at the rough discriminatory conditions still plaguing a part of the world. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/22/23 Full Review Audience Member A superb performance by Sidney Poiter in Brother John (1971) of drama and mystery that unfolds in a segregated southern town. Definitely, a must-see. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/21/23 Full Review Audience Member A mystery set in a small town, revolving around mans inhumanity to man. Sidney Poitier delivers one of his best performances. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review Audience Member Not awful, but, a bit before my time. Love Sidney Poirier though. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/30/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Critics Reviews

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      Robert Roten Laramie Movie Scope To me, this is the one Sidney Poitier film that haunts me most. I watched it again last night, and now, 50 years later, its apocalyptic warning seems even more prescient and prophetic than it did then. Rated: B Jan 22, 2022 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Rated: 3/5 Sep 9, 2005 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis Visiting his Alabama hometown for his sister's funeral, an enigmatic black man, John Kane (Sidney Poitier), is appalled by the discrimination and hatred he witnesses. There is a strike going on at the same time as the funeral, and some in the community assume he is an outside agitator. In reality, Kane is a messenger from heaven sent to assess mankind's worthiness of redemption. Although dismayed by the atrocities he sees, Kane is not ready to give up on human beings just yet.
      Director
      James Goldstone
      Distributor
      Columbia Pictures
      Production Co
      Columbia Pictures Corporation
      Rating
      PG-13
      Genre
      Drama
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Mar 24, 1971, Limited
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Jul 27, 2010
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