Leonard Jackson

Conspiracy Theory -- Academy Award-winner Mel Gibson stars as a comedically paranoid taxi driver who constantly reveals his crazy conspiracy theories to skeptical Justice Department attorney Julia Roberts.

The Brother from Another Planet -- An alien from outer space lands on the mean streets of Harlem but is quickly adopted by the local residents. This film is directed by John Sayles and features an early performance by Academy Award nominee David Strathairn. From IFC Films.

In contrast to most of the violence-laden "blaxploitation" films of the period, this low-budget effort eschews exploitation for humanity and domestic drama. Leonard Jackson plays a barber who is also the domineering head of a middle-class African American family. Jackson is forced to rethink his values when his previously docile wife joins their three children in rebelling against her husband's retrogressive behavior.

In this black comedy from John Sayles, a terrified space pilot (Joe Morton) is forced to ditch his rickety-looking UFO in the Hudson River. Dawn breaks over the twin towers of the World Trade Center as The Brother begins to explore his new surroundings. On the streets of Harlem, surrounded by people who look like him but could scarcely be more different, even ordinary sights and sounds are fascinating and at times, terrifying. The Brother finds a haven in the friendly neighborhood bar run by Odell (Steve James), where the regulars are puzzled by The Brother's mute, inquisitive presence. The fastidious Walter (Bill Cobbs) worries about germs and dirt and mourns the passing of Harlem's glory days. Hard-drinking Smokey (Leonard Jackson) conducts a few experiments with a shot of whiskey and a handy paper bag, determining that while The Brother is not "deaf," he is unable to speak. And Fly (Daryl Edwards), a video-game fanatic, discovers one of The Brother's special talents: he can fix any machine with a touch of his hand. This indie comedy from IFC Films features cameo appearances by John Sayles and David Strathairn as mysterious visitors from Somewhere Else. Armed with a set of mug shots and an ESL textbook, these ungainly men claim to be hunting an "illegal alien."