The science fiction movie you’re referring to is “Alien Nation”. Released in 1988, it explores the aftermath of Earth’s first contact with an alien civilization. These extraterrestrial beings, known as Newcomers, are slowly integrated into human society after three years of quarantine. The film follows a Newcomer police officer named Sam Francisco (played by Mandy Patinkin) who is partnered with a mildly racist veteran named Matthew Sykes (played by James Caan). Together, they investigate the Newcomer underworld and uncover intriguing secrets1.
In Tenctonese, “Sykes” means “excrement cranium,” which means...