The Blues Brothers

From the John Landis heyday, The Blues Brothers is a surprisingly funny AND enjoyable romp, which has managed to stand the test of time. Originally released in 1980, its stars (both musical and otherwise) may not be around but this film captures them in all their glory.

After the release of Jake Blues (Belushi) from prison, he and brother Elwood (Ackroyd) 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?

It's pretty standard caper movie fare in terms of the plot. There is an undeniable love of Blues music at the core of the film however and this marks it out from other films in the genre. Both Ackroyd and Belushi work off one another wonderfully, and the relationship between the pair does come across as that of two siblings. It's odd to see a slim and good-looking Ackroyd saunter on screen and go toe-to-toe with a comedic heavyweight like the late John Belushi.

The famed car chase may well be remembered for the numbers of vehicles destroyed (for many years it layed claim to the record) but it's actually the realism that stands out. You can tell that it is Ackroyd driving the car without CGI or even a rigged set-up on the back ot a truck or trailer. At times you wonder how they got away with it, it is almost as good as the legendary sequence from French Connection with its alleged 'real' crashes and scrapes.


The musical stars do a great job as well, and Aretha Franklin stands out as a sassy cafe owner laying down the law to her husband as he contemplates re-joining the band. Also keep an eye out for a cameo from a famous bearded director (minus the facial hair).

These re-releases are fast becoming the films to most look forward to in the cinematic calender. Not only have we already seen Spartacus beautifully restored, but we can also look forward to the likes of Scarface and The Thing in the coming months. On this occasion it's not just the pristine visuals that work wonders, but the superb soundtrack deserves to be heard in all it's glory.

Rating: ****

Starring: Dan Ackroyd, John Belushi, James Brown, Ray Charles, Carrie Fisher and Aretha Franklin
Director: John Landis
Written By: John Landis & Dan Ackroyd
Cartificate: 15
Runtime: 130mins
Re-Release Date: Out Now

 

Reviewed by: Cassam Looch