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| Rated: R |
1980 |
Color |
2 Hours28Miutes |
| Starring:
John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, James Brown, Cab Calloway, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Steve Cropper, Donald 'Duck' Dunn, Murphy Dunne, Willie Hall, Tom Malone, 'Blue Lou' Marini, Matt Murphy, Alan Rubin, Carrie Fisher |
| Directed
by: John Landis |
| Written
by: Dan Aykroyd and John Landis |
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Critique
Section
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HugeReviews.com's
Official Rating System:
Pathetic
Wimpy
Solid Super
HUGE
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| HugeReviews.com's
Reviews |
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| Movie
Stills: Photos |
Links |
Awards |
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HugeReviews.com Reviews:
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Blues Brothers
by Carleton Hanson |
SUPER
Rhythm and Brothers
“Are you the police?”
“No M’am, we’re musicians.” Musicians on a mission.
“The Blues Brothers” is a tale of two brothers, Jake and
Elwood Blues (John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd), on a quest to save
a bankrupt orphanage. After reuniting their old R & B band,
the duo sets out to raise the $5,000 needed to save the
orphanage, all the while being pursued by the police, the
Illinois Nazis, and a vengeful ex-girlfriend, played by Carrie
Fisher. With great music, witty one-liners, and a plethora of
cameo appearances, the “Blues Brothers” is a fun, though
slightly absurd, musical comedy.
The most defining aspect of the movie is the music. The film
resembles a musical, with people breaking out into dance and
singing such songs as “Think” and “Jailhouse Rock”
rather spontaneously. The movie is filled with many
musical stars, such as Ray Charles, James Brown, and Aretha
Franklin, who all give outstanding vocal performances and are
fairly convincing actors. |
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Although the musical flavor is mostly
R&B, there is also a dash of western and rock thrown into
the mix.
What really gives the movie its charm, however, is the writing.
The film is chock-full of memorable moments and hilarious
quotes. The encounter with a nun early on in the film is one of
my favorite scenes and yields the line “I guess you’re
really up s*** creek.” Although the film does leave a few
questions unanswered, all of the major loose ends are tied up
and you can walk away feeling satisfied that you understood how
things turned out.
With only a few exceptions, the acting in this film is superb.
Belushi and Aykroyd both give excellent performances, bringing
to life their unique and amusing characters. Most of the minor
actors also do well, adding charm and humor to the film. There
are a few exceptions, however. The musicians backing-up the
Blues Brothers, for example, were clearly hired for their
musical skill, not their acting ability. Their lackluster
performances tend to leave you cringing after a horribly spoken
line. This aspect does not take away from the film, however. If
anything, the acting can make you laugh, which adds to the
overall enjoyment.
If you are out to watch a serious drama, this film is not for
you. The light tone, the humor, the “bad acting,” and the
upbeat music all combine for a fun movie you’ll want to see
again. Use discretion when it comes to watching with children,
however. The film is rated R for strong language.
Overall Grade: A- |
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| Awards
& Nominations: IMdb |
Full
Cast & Credits: IMdb |
| Links:
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