The Blues Brothers Movie
Storyline
TAGLINES
They'll never get caught. They're on a mission from God.
They're Back
The Most Dangerous Combination Since Nitro and Glycerine.
The show that really hits the road.
A briefcase full of blues.
After the release of Jake Blues from prison, he and brother Elwood go to visit the old home where they were raised by nuns. They learn the church stopped its support and will sell the place to the education authority, and the only way to keep the place open is if the $5000 tax on the property is paid within 11 days. The brothers want to help and decide to put their blues band back together and raise the the money by staging a big gig. As they set off on their "mission from god" they seem to make more enemies along the way. Will they manage to come up with the money in time?
| John Belushi | 'Joliet' Jake Blues |
| Dan Aykroyd | Elwood Blues |
| James Brown | Reverend Cleophus James |
| Cab Calloway | Curtis |
| Ray Charles | Ray |
| Aretha Franklin | Mrs. Murphy |
| Steve Cropper | Steve 'The Colonel' Cropper |
| Donald Dunn | Donald 'Duck' Dunn |
| Murphy Dunne | Murphy 'Murph' Dunne |
| Willie Hall | Willie 'Too Big' Hall |
| Tom Malone | Tom 'Bones' Malone |
| Lou Marini | 'Blue Lou' Marini |
| Matt Murphy | Matt 'Guitar' Murphy |
| Alan Rubin | Alan 'Mr. Fabulous' Rubin |
| Carrie Fisher | Mystery Woman |
| John Landis |
7.90 out of 10 (48437 votes)
Visitor Reviews
Why the hell is "THE BLUES BROTHERS" not in 'The Top 250?'
posted on 07 Jul 2009Forget the sequel... completely disregard it 100%... this film is the ultimate cult classic and the greatest musical ever made because it wasn't too corny! Fantastic Blues/Rock/Jazz/Swing... very nice stuff... John Belushi Rules... this is my all time favorite movie EVER! From the one-liners to the music to the performances to the dialog... everything about it was just so witty, original, unique, intelligent, superb, hilarious... if only more (or dare I say... less) SNL Spin-Off Film Characters were in TRULY ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC MOVIES LIKE THIS ONE... the world would be a much better place in my opinion! GET THE DVD AND DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT GOING ANYWHERE NEAR BLUES BROTHERS 2000! AT ALL!
Most entertaining!
posted on 07 Jul 2009stars: John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Cab Calloway, The Blues Brother Band, Carrie Fisher, John Candy, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, James Brown, Kathleen Freeman, Twiggy, Frank Oz and Paul Reubens.Plot: Just out of prison, Jake Blues (Belushi) reunites with his brother Elwood (Aykroyd) and they realise that the church that they grew up in is going to be torn down unless they get 5 thousand dollars. So they try to get the band back together.My review: This movie is very long and very slow, but the slowness actually helps it for some reason. The direction is excellent and looks beautiful and the music is very good. The plot could have done with some tuning up, but if you think about it, this film is kind of a setup to show the wonderful singing talents of Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, James Brown, Cab Calloway and even Belushi and Aykroyd. As for action, this film is full of it. There's more explosions and car chase scenes that most action flicks. So, I do recommend this musical comedy to all! my rating: 3 out of 4. rated R for language. 133 mins.
Fantastic mixture of Blues, great one liners and over the top car chases.
posted on 22 Jun 2009To deride the movie as 'silly' is to miss the point - it's a backdrop to great old blues/rnb/soul music. It's a superb movie to cheer you up, and can be watched repeatedly.No, it's not perfect, and it does require that you like the music to derive real enjoyment, but just sit down and relax, drink in the music, crack a smile at the one liners and while away a couple of happy hours.8/10 in case something better comes along.
Sweet Home Chicago!
posted on 19 Jun 2009Ever since its initial broadcast, comedy show "Saturday Night Live" has been the launching place for many comedians who use the chance of being in the show as a way to develop their talents and aim for a career on film. As members of the first generation of the show, Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi were among the first to make the jump from the show to the film industry. Although the pair had moderate success at first, Belushi became a modern icon of American comedy in 1978 with "Animal House". It was after that success when the two friends decided to make a movie about one of the most successful "Saturday Night Live" characters, the pair of R&B singers: "The Blues Brothers". Being his most beloved creation, Aykroyd began to write the full story of the characters, but ended up with over 300 pages of script. It was director John Landis' task to transform Aykroyd's script into a realizable movie.The movie begins with the release from prison of Jake Blues (John Belushi), co-founder and singer of the Blues Brothers band. After being picked up by his brother Elwood (Dan Aykroyd), he is informed that the band broke up after his incarceration and that the Blues Brothers are apparently over. However, after discovering that the old Catholic home where they were raised as kids is going to be sold because of its debts, the brothers decide that its their mission, a mission from God, to get the money to save the house, and the only way to achieve that goal will be to reform the legendary Blues Brothers band. With this idea the brothers set to find the band's former members, but in their way they'll find new enemies in the form of a Neo-Nazi group, a country band, and a mysterious woman who just wants the brothers dead.Written by Aykroyd and Landis, the script is essentially a musical tale that cleverly mixes action and comedy while paying homage to that good old rhythm and blues music that both were so fond of. While Aykroyd's extensive and detailed account of the characters' history has been transformed into a simpler, straight forward plot by Landis, the change is very effective as this way to unfold the story is more in tone with the frank and raw attitude of the brothers. The story is fast paced, as the brothers' tale of redemption is one of high octane energy with powerful musical performances and insane car chases that never make the story boring or tiresome. Making up for the simple plot are the very likable personalities of the two main characters, who carry the movie with their charm and a presence that proves that a memorable character is more than a collection of one liners.In this his fourth movie as a director, John Landis once again demonstrated why he was one of the most promising directors of the early 80s, showing a significant growth in his style of directing comedy that clearly set the basis for his 1981 masterpiece, "An American Werewolf in London". Already a master of the direction of big and complex set pieces, Landis takes this to a new level with the amazing car chases conceived for the film. With a bigger budget than in his three previous efforts, Landis creates an explosive musical that perfectly represents everything that Aykroyd and Belushi conceived as "The Blues Brothers". The duo's main trait is the music, and Landis knew this well, so the film is filled not only with the brothers' interpretations of R&B classics, but also the ones by real R&B legends such as Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin and Cab Calloway among others.As expected, the performances by John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd are of an excellent quality. While less over the top than in "Animal House", Belushi's genius for comedy shines through the film in his energetic role of Jake Blues, who is the one who receives the "mission from God". As the laconic Elwood, Dan Aykroyd delivers the subtler comedy in the movie, and shows a complete domain of his character. Together the pair make an excellent team that not only deliver fun comedy but also make an outstanding musical duo. While the Blues brothers are certainly the focus of the story, the vast array of guest stars that appear through the film deliver terrific performances when singing (Ray Charles, James Brown), acting (John Candy, Carrie Fisher) or both (Cab Calloway). The musical performances are simply top notch and make the film really special.As written above, the movie is first and foremost a musical homage to Chicago, so those expecting a laugh riot comedy will definitely find a different kind of beast. This is not to say that there is no comedy, on the contrary, the movie is filled with a good amount of laughs, but the focus of the film remains on the music. Still, "The Blues Brothers" is not your typical musical, as its fast pace makes it a thrilling ride like no other movie, and probably the features that most perfectly represents this are the amazing car chases that the stunt team developed for the movie. As in a rocking dance of destruction, the cars crash and smash across the streets of Chicago in some of the most incredible stunts on film. Some have criticized the emphasis put on this scenes, but I think that they fit perfectly in the mood and tone of the brothers themselves.Without a doubt the Blues brothers are two of the best and most famous characters created by Belushi and Aykroyd, and this movie truly makes them justice. While not the deepest or most insightful movie ever, "The Blues Brothers" is definitely one of the most entertaining ones, and its magic lays in that frank simplicity that surrounds the movie's story. Raw and direct, "The Blues Brothers" is a movie that truly makes Chicago feel like home, sweet home. 8/10
A legend and automatic Classic
posted on 26 May 2009A Hit from SNLI grew up with this movie. It was the first "R" movie I ever saw. I had always been a fan of blues and rock, a fan of musicals, comedies and SNL. SNL has many movies based on skits from them… this movie has to be one of, if not the top one. It has great music from a excellent bunch of musicians. And great acting from a nice bunch of performers. John B. had always been into music, and on SNL has portrayed many singers to a great like. He is also one of the funniest guys out there. He has got to be one of the best motion picture comedians and physical comedians. He was a stunts man as well, he liked to do a lot of his own stunts, which by looking at him his hard to believe. Dan A. has a great talent for music, playing an excellent harmonica, raised with the blues and still talks on a blues radio show. Great comedian and actor. Then the movie brings in some real musical talent; James Brown (The king of Soul) Aretha Franklin (if James is the king then she is the queen) Cab Calloway (All around great musician- writer, singer) Ray Charles (one of the greatest song writers and piano players) Donald 'Duck' Dunn (probably one of the greatest living bass guitar players) John Lee Hooker (Great blues musician and guitarist) Performers; Carrie Fisher- plays the crazed ex, a big step from Star Wars. ;) Pee-Wee Herman as a waiter, not a big part but I noticed him. John Candy the Cop, helping the cops with a vendetta. Very smooth. There are others I know I left out, but these are the ones that stand out in my mind. This movie is full of comedy… line after line… scene after scene. The signature watch break, police pile ups, and cursing. The movie is a tri story- A mission from god to get money for the orphanage, avoiding Jakes ex-girlfriend, and getting the band back together and keeping it together…. and of course the smaller stories- avoiding the Nazis, cops, and good ole boys. Its an un-imaginable cast, a great story line and non-stop comedy.A excellent movie for all those looking for a great laugh and that love great music. This movie is a legend in its own rights and a classic. Maybe even a bit cultish.
Hated It
posted on 17 May 2009THE BLUES BROTHER is one of those movies that gets highly praised in reviews in TV guides and the like , and it does have a hardcore following . In fact I remember seeing the rather poor WAR OF THE WORLDS TV series from the 1980S that has a scene with the martians walking into a Blues Brother convention ! But to be honest I vaguely remember hating this movie the first time I saw it many years ago and watched it again last night to see if it was as bad as I remembered Jake is released from prison and his brother Elwood comes to pick him up in a second hand police car and the opening sequences seem to drag on . Considering THE BLUES BROTHERS is supposed to be a musical comedy there`s a complete absence of either music or comedy . Later on we do get musical numbers and there is some uplifting moments especially with the Ray Charles number . However with most musicals the segments featuring singing and dancing are set pieces that don`t fit into the narrative easily . There`s also a wider problem with the movie and that is it has no real narrative shape . All through the movie characters and incidents happen as if it seemed like a good idea at the time so by the end we have a chaotic embarrasing mess as troops , fire engines , policemen and SWAT teams chase after Jake and Elwood . In many ways THE BLUES BROTHERS is very similar to the Bond spoof CASINO ROYALE with sometimes memorable musical interludes amidst self indulgent and oh so painfully self indulgent comedy set pieces
A good time had by all.
posted on 11 May 2009When Jake Blues is released from prison he finds that his band has broken up, his brother Elwood has swapped the Bluesmobile for a microphone and the orphanage where he grew up is about to be closed for non payment of taxes. On visiting a local church, Jake sees the light and realises what to do. He and Elwood embark on a rough and tumble quest to put the band back together and raise the cash to bail out the orphanage. Along the way they make enemies of several police forces, a redneck country band, and a group of Illinois Nazis. There's also a mystery woman with a quest of her own - to blow Jake Blues to Kingdom Come.Spectacular stunts, good fun, great music, and remember they're on "a mission from God".
Good fable, superb police chases, just too long
posted on 05 May 2009This movie would have been perfect if it weren't so long. That having been said, the movie is good for two reasons: the moral stories and the police chases. In trying to raise money for the orphanage, the Blues Brothers build Rome in a day, and it crashes down on all the characters. The police chases are the best part of the movie because Hollywood nowadays has a problem with such things.
a 10/10
posted on 02 Apr 2009I'm not surprised this movie is not on IMDb's Top 250 and I can't really argue with people who think it's no great shakes. It's their loss. For me, it's one of the most fun movies ever made.I don't know what make movies great, but I think if I enjoy my 2 hours, it makes the cut. The Blues Brothers has a great 'repeat value', in the sense that it gets more fun to watch every single time. The soundtrack is great, the little cameos will keep you interested throughout and the shots of Chicago will make you want to be there.But above all, it is the whole attitude of the movie that makes it so special. Fans of the movie know what I'm talking about. And for those of you who haven't seen it, I'm not giving away anything. You either get this attitude or you don't. But do watch it, you might just be lucky enough to pick it up and become a fan. Elwood asking a random girl to meet him 'if her date don't work out' and her actually showing up is exactly the attitude I'm referring to.It's a longish movie and I've seen it a few hundred times. But still, on any given day, I am likely to fast forward to the bit when Jake and Elwood enter the arena for their final performance through the ladies' washroom and watch the movie down to a very exciting, exaggerated and thoroughly uplifting ending. I think IMDb's top 10 is roughly accurate, I wouldn't debate. But none of those, and I do adore each one, is a movie that make me want to 'be' the main character. This movie does. I'd give up whatever I have going to be Jake or Elwood, any given day.
Holds up pretty well
posted on 27 Mar 2009The movie holds up quite well; despite the excess, it looks almost modest and demure by subsequent standards. And it's not as if that excess isn't funny in this context - the juxtaposition of the rather abstract Blues brothers, sometimes conniving and self-serving (albeit justified by their supposed mission from God) but more often hermetically sealed in their own weird outlook and set of rules, largely oblivious to the vast property destruction and chaos following in their wake, is fundamentally a pretty good joke; and Landis' ceaseless commitment to pushing it further and further carries it right until the end (although he seems to undercut the very last joke through bad editing). The quirkily specific evocation of Chicago is an effective counterpoint; as is the very sincere and guileless enthusiasm for the music: the movie's ambition to act as a showcase for a classic line-up of soul/r&b performers is a great asset in time capsule terms. It's more interesting (or at least innocuous) than funny, with relatively few laughs. But there's a lot of genuine engaging oddity - the extremely long walk through the prison yard in the opening sequence; the one-off stylistic parodies in such scenes as the confrontation with Freeman; the cover of Rawhide; the strange tenderness as they go to sleep in the dingy apartment near the train tracks.
Jake and Elwood are on a Mission from God and Nobody is Going to Stand in Their Way. Not Even the Army, Navy, National Guard, Nazis and Every Cop Within A 500 Mile Radius!
posted on 09 Mar 2009Today, Jake Blues finally paid his debt to society and was released from prison. His brother, Elwood Blues, picks him up in the new car he had acquired: a '74 Dodge police cruiser. Jake and Elwood stop at the Catholic orphanage, their old stomping grounds, and learn from the Mother Superior that the orphanage is $5,000 in the hole and unless they can come up with the money, it will be sold and condemned. The Blues brothers wish to help. They next visit Revered Cleophus James' church, and suddenly, Jake had an epiphany, as if from Above. An easy way to raise the money: get the band back together and play a concert. On the way home, Elwood was speeding so the police pull them over. It seems Elwood had hundreds of outstanding warrants so when the police attempt to arrest him, he floored it and tore away from the cops, who give chase. The Blues brothers turn into a parking lot, trying to elude the cops. Next they crash through the Toys 'R Us and drive right through the mall. The police come to a crashing halt. Next, Elwood and Jake retire to Elwood's cramped Chicago apartment for the night. All the while, they were being followed by a mysterious woman with a short fuse: Camille. She had it out for Jake. Badly. She blew up the apartment building in an attempt to kill him. Fortunately Elwood and Jake survive and they head out the next day to reunite the old band.Today, some hated Illinois Nazis were holding a conference, right when the Blues Brothers drove right through it, knocking the fascists into the water. The Head Nazi vowed serious vengeance; It wasn't easy reuniting the old band as most of them had straight careers now. "Blue Lou" Marini and Matt "Guitar" Murphy operated the neighborhood diner, and Tom "Bones" Malone ran a fancy restaurant. But, with much persuasion, they managed to get back the band, including Donald "Duck" Dunn, Murph, and Willie "Too Big" Hall. They buy some instruments and head to their first gig. Only problem: they really didn't have a gig. They stop at Bob's Country Bunker and swindle the manager into thinking THEY were the headlined band: The Good Ole Boys. A blues band trying to play country isn't pretty, but they manage to pull it off. But then the real Good Ole Boys show up, and, Jake and Elwood owe $300 for beer. But by then the Blues brothers had made a clean get away; Next, they visit Jake's booking agent, Maury Sline, who get's them a major gig at the Palace Hotel. Right away they spread the word and in no time at all, it's a full theater. Full of both friends AND foe, including armed and dangerous cops and Good Ole Boys. After the concert, a record producer offers $10,000 to Jake and Elwood for the rights to record their songs. They keep $5,000 and slip out, avoiding the angry mob; En route to the Bluesmobile, they run into Camille again, who apparently was an old flame of Jake's, whom he had jilted. Jake begs and pleads to be spared. Camille took pity. They kiss. He runs. She tries to shoot him. They escape. The Good Ole Boys and Bob give chase, but they can't seem to hit the brakes and go zooming right into the lake. The Blues brothers zoom down the highway towards Chicago with an entire police force on their tail. More and more squads join the pursuit until every trooper in the state of Illinois was after them. The Illinois Nazis were also on their tail. Jake and Elwood manage to elude the cops, by causing a massive police car pile-up. The Nazis chase the Blues brothers onto an unfinished freeway and well, they didn't hit the brakes in time and when soaring off into the air. They fall 2,000 feet and crash into the street; Finally arriving at the Cook Country Assessor's Office, Jake and Elwood ditch their car, which falls apart after all that, and race upstairs. By then, the entire police force, as well as the army, the SWAT team and the National Guard arrive. Meanwhile, Elwood and Jake jam the elevators so they couldn't be followed and finally deliver the money to the Cook Country Assessors. Just then, the police, who took the stairs, capture and incarcerate Elwood and Jake and sent to the maximum security ward at Joliet Correctional where they put on concerts for the inmates. The Blues Brothers is a hysterical musical comedy. Saturday Night Live's own Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi are a smash as Elwood and Jake Blues. Unfortunately John Belushi passed away in 1982 because he chose drugs over life. Also in the cast, Carrie Fisher, Henry Gibson, Kathleen Freeman, John Candy (who is also no longer with us), and famous musicians like: James Brown, Cab Calloway, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, and Twiggy. If Louis Prima were still around, they'd have used him too. I guess they didn't have room for Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Wayne Newton? Watch for Muppetier Frank Oz as the Joliet Correctional clerk and, ironically, in the Toys 'R Us scene someone is buying a Grover Monster doll, whom Frank Oz performs as on Sesame Street, as well as Miss Piggy! And, watch for a young Steven Spielberg as the Cook Country Assessor clerk! This movie is based on skits Aykroyd and Belushi did on SNL. There was a sequel in 1998, Blues Brothers 2000. Ayrkroyd returned as Elwood. John Goodman was in it. Anyway, if you like John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd, then The Blues Brothers is for you. It's got excellent car chases and car crashes, action, comedy and music up the wazoo! See it today! I recommend The Blues Brothers.-
The Mission From God Rocks On!
posted on 03 Mar 2009I watched The Blues Brothers: Collector's Edition DVD tonight.It has some new footage and has been digitally remastered. It really is "A Collector's Edition." I'm actually going to keep this one instead of returning it!Joliet Jake really is on "A Mission From God." The way that he gets the band together and sets out for their first gig with no gig scheduled is just like the way Christ would say to the Apostles, "Follow me," with no worries about what to bring along for the trip. Jesus even let a thief act as his Treasurer.Jesus cursed a fig tree for not being ready for Him. Jake and Elwood encounter a gas station that has no gas for them, and ironically the gas station explodes behind them when they finally get on their way.As for Jailhouse Rock at the end, I think that has always been an inside joke that Elvis is really still alive! The reason why all the prisoners are dancing in the aisles is that they've finally seen the light and are having the type of epiphany Jake had when he did front hand springs up the aisle in the church.I must have watched The Blues Brothers on VHS 30 times or more over the years, and I'd always thought I knew who Carrie Fisher's "Mystery Woman" was based on. It wasn't until tonight that I realized that she was planning to kill Elwood the whole time, as well.The new DVD is a gem. I think that if they used cutting edge computer technology to throw in some Matrix style special effects with all the dancing, police cars flying, The Penguin sliding back inside her office, and John Belushi doing front hand springs up the aisle of the church, it would break all existing Box Office records!And speaking of "records," throw in a little more music and suddenly everyone realizes that it always has been a musical!The use of the Peter Gunn theme has always been cool, and if I could request a song for the new theatrical release, I'd like to request that Henry Mancini theme from the original Pink Panther when David Niven and Robert Wagner are skiing. I always thought that theme was a cool one, too.I'd like to see The Blues Brothers in one of those new totally digital theaters. In that way, the timing could be controlled to allow for the audience laughter and applause. The brightness could be adjusted so that everyone in the audience wears Blues Brothers 3-D sunglasses.They could even put in a young Paul Schaeffer with today's technology, as if he'd always been in the film all along!Could a a digitally remastered movie from 1980 win an Academy Award in 2002? It's easy when you're "on a mission from God!"
Amazing Car Chases Are Pretty Much the Whole Film
posted on 10 Feb 20097 out of 10 Jake (Belushi) gets out of jail and joins his brother Elwood (Aykroyd).
They decide to start up their old band so as to raise money for their old orphanage. Trying to get the old members back proves harder than they thought. They also have just about every police agency in the state (and various other riff-raff) on their tail. If you take away the songs and the extended car chases you may have only 20 minutes of actual comedy. Even then it is not real hilarious just amusing. Sometimes it gets just downright silly almost like an old Disney movie. There is no real edginess or satire. There isn't even the expected crudeness or sophmorics. Having this thing rated 'R' is ridiculous. For such a simple comedy this thing is very well staged almost like a grand scale spectacle. The stunts are spectacular almost breathtaking.
They seem to have shut down the whole city of Chicago to do it and it definitely set a new standard for car chases. Some of it actually makes you grab the edge of your seat especially when you see in fast motion, from their viewpoint, coming down the street as they dodge cars and pedestrians that seem to just pop up at you. It's also helps the validity to have them run into some road construction because in Chicago that's pretty much all you really do see. Yet is still would have been nice to see them WEARING THEIR SEATBELTS!!. Anyone else not wearing them would have been killed or injured with any one of the number of things they do. That thought alone does take away from some of the fun of it. It also would have helped the plausibility to have a couple of the bullets shot at them at least hit the car. There is a scene were over a hundred different policeman shoot at the car and yet NOT EVEN ONE hits it! On the musical end it's not too bad. In fact in many ways this really is more of a musical anyways. There is a nice emphasis on the blues and also brings out a distinct Chicago flavor. Cab Calloway is fun doing his famous rendition of 'Minnie the Moocher' while the Blues Band plays along dressed like a 1920's swing band. Yet it is actually the numbers done by the Blues Brothers themselves that is the most rousing. They guys can actually sing! Their rendition of 'Rawhide' is especially funny. Kathleen Freeman has probably the funniest part in a nifty send up of all those old school teacher nuns that just loved to use a ruler as a disciplinary tool. Carrie Fisher is fun as a jilted bride out for revenge (She always did have a very 'Don't mess with me' look in her eyes). Henry Gibson gives off his usual slightly sinister style as the head of the local Nazi party. Yet Aykroyd is the real star. He is at his deadpan best throughout. Look quickly for Paul "Pee Wee Herman" Ruebens as a French waiter!
Also the DVD version has 18 minutes of extra footage.
Riotous knockabout comedy (spoilers)
posted on 21 Nov 2008It doesn't matter where you go, you are unlikely to find a film as lighthearted, as shamelessly ludicrous and as ridiculously good fun as "The Blues Brothers". It does not have a plot, credible characters or believable situations. And the wonderful thing is, it doesn't pretend it has. That is where it's magic lies.Joliet Jake (the late John Belushi) is released from Chicago prison to meet his brother Elwood (Dan Ackroyd). Returning to the neighbourhood where they grew up, the pair are horrified to learn the church-run orphanage that took them in as children is to be closed down. Jake and Elwood then find themselves on a "mission from God" to reform their band "The Blues Brothers" to raise the money to save the orphanage. Problem is, they keep making enemies everywhere they go.That is about as much story as there is in the entire film. The rest of the movie's running time consists of slapstick comedy scenes, hilariously improbable car chases, and well-staged musical numbers featuring musical stars from the sixties and seventies (among them Ray Charles, Cab Calloway and Aretha Franklin). Belushi and Ackroyd are two highly amusing leads. With their suits, hats and shades and a barrage of well-placed one-liners, they make a lively pair of lovable rogues. They're well supported by an array of cameos including John Candy as the head cop on their case, Kathleen Freeman as "the penguin", Henry Gibson as a luckless neo-Nazi and Carrie Fisher, playing Jake's psychotic ex-girlfriend who ends up dropped in the mud. There are many others.The musical numbers are guaranteed to have you up out of your chair dancing.
Be it James Brown's divine "Landmark", "The Theme From Rawhide" or the concluding "Jailhouse Rock", there's something here for everyone.Relentless, unpretentious knockabout fun, there simply isn't another movie quite like this.
"WE'RE ON A MISSION FROM GOD!"
posted on 15 Nov 2008In my book, this is the greatest musical-comedy ever made and it topples the likes of Grease! Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi put in brilliant performances that are very hilarious at times as Elwood and Jake Blues! The story is about 2 hoodlum brothers who come together after one finally is released from the slammer! In an attempt to redeem themselves for the orphanage they once belonged to, they go on "THEIR MISSION FROM GOD!" in an attempt to reunite their old blues band and go on a fabulous musical journey to make enough money to save their orphanage from closing down! There are terrific musical moments, classic comedy moments, an all-star cast and the memories that make this movie an absolute classic! I'd probably have this at number one on my all time favorite movies list and this really should be in the top 250! (AND SHOULD HAVE A FEW AWARDS, SUCH AS GOLDEN GLOBES OR OSCARS!) 9/10
A great film
posted on 25 Oct 2008This is one hell of a good film, even if you don't like music. It has everything: car chase sequences that even include the Natzi party as well as the police; great actors like Dan Ankroyd and John Landis; great guest appearances by fantastic musicians like Ray Charles, James Brown and Cab Calloway (who sings "Minnie the Moocher", a real showstopper"). The film also has some great lines that are legends, in my opinion, in the history of great film lines ("We're on a mission from God") not to mention a long line of fabulous songs such as the one I mentioned before "Minnie the Moocher" and a great rendition of "Shake those tailfeathers" by Ray Charles. Do not let the pathetic sequel "Blues Brothers 2000" put you off this film, it's a classic, and it's a real shame that films like this are so rarely made. Enjoy it!
A Wonderful Film
posted on 16 Oct 2008This is a wonderful film directed by John Landis who also directed: Animal House (1978), Traiding Places (1983), and Susan's Plan (1998). The main actors are Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi. Elwood (Aykroyd) and "Joliet" Jake (Belushi) Blues need to get $5,000 for the orphanage in which they grew up. They decide to get the money by getting the band back together. They end up doing that, but everywhere they go they end up making enemies like: the police, Bob from "Bob's Country Bunker", Jake's ex-girlfriend, and more! This movie has great music that every one should appreciate.
One of the best movies.
posted on 07 Oct 2008John Landis´ none-fearing anarchistic movie of two brothers who try to raise $5000 to save an orphanage from demolition. The Brothers put their old band back together and go playing on the road with the police and some Nazi´s chasing them. Lot´s of brilliant dialogue and probably the more (police)cars destroyed than in any movie. Funny and full of action and great music, one can really see that making this movie must have been fun.
Hidey-hidey-hidey-hidey-ho!
posted on 10 Sep 2008Ask most people what the greatest musical of all time is, and they will tell you some piece of garbage like The Sound Of Music or Mary Poppins. There are two possibilities in such an event: they're either not real musicians, or they've just never seen The Blues Brothers!The Blues Brothers is the musical of the musician. No other film gets so close to the truth of what life in the business is like for an actual musician, and no other captures the essence of what real music forms, the Blues especially, are about. Music is not about a bunch of gutless trendies following whatever the PR at Sony tells them to follow, it is about the creative dreams of ordinary men and women, just like the people listening or viewing. The scene outside the Soul Food Cafe is a perfect representation of this: an improptu band performance outside the cafe, attended by the average Joes that they made the music for.Of course, there is still a demonstration of the corruption and stagnation that has become inherent in the music industry, but rather than flaunting it as just something we have to accept, this film shows that with enough determination and work, it can be overcome. One day, I hope to get everyone who's been raised on the garbage they play on the radio these days and stick them in a hall, then play Minnie The Moocher at them. I'm sure the shock of hearing real music with a dozen musicians playing a tight, intricate rhythm in two different speeds will shatter the ease with which they can listen to repetitive noise. As a musician heavily influenced by everyone from The Blues Brothers to Frank Zappa to Black Sabbath (the real Black Sabbath, anyway), I am counting on it because I can see how awful society will become without real music.Alas, Cab Calloway, John Belushi, and John Candy are no longer with us to see that the legacy of this film is still as strong and defiant against stagnant radio drivel as it was in the early 1980s. Calloway in particular gives a performance that shows what a mistake society is making by throwing real music on the scrapheap. The performance of Minnie The Moocher convinced me in five seconds flat that I wanted to be a musician. Now that the DVD is out, grab it and watch it on a widescreen unit with the Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack turned up to full bore... you'll be a better person for it.
A funky mixture of music, action, and comedy
posted on 18 Aug 2009THE BLUES BROTHERS nearly rocked the house down in SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE during its late 70's era, and the black suit-donned brothers had hit the big time with their own feature film. Dan Akroyd and John Belushi are terrific as the Blues Brothers, kinfolks that trek along thecountry on "a mission from God," going on car wild car chases withthe cops along the way. But the brothers do what they do best, andthat's play the blues like there's no tomorrow.