Number 360 on the top 1000 films of all time is John Landis' musical-comedy drama - 'The Blues Brothers.'
Elwood Blues (Dan Ackroyd) and Jake Blues (John Belushi) are brothers, petty crooks and blues musicians. After Jake Blues is released from jail, the brothers find out their Roman Catholic childhood orphanage will be demolished after failing to pay their property taxes. They reform their old blues band to raise money to save their old orphanage. The film features many musical cameos from massive soul singers like James Brown, Aretha Franklin and Ray Charles. Carrie Fisher also co-stars.
John Belushi and Dan Ackroyd were titans of the American comedy world. Both of them were prominent members of SNL - with this film and their characters growing out of an SNL skit and Ackroyd going onto star in the legendary Ghostbuster's franchise. They brought their comedy flair to what was a funny if ridiculous film. But it was ridiculous in all the best ways.
The brother's misadventures include larger-than-life car chases, irritating a vengeful country music band and running neo-Nazi's off a bridge. It was completely bonkers, but that all added to the spectacle. And it all fitted the film's less-than-serious tone. It's a comedy. You're supposed to take things lightly. If you don't, you'll be in trouble.
About as much trouble as Jake and Elwood find themselves in when they return to their orphanage unable to stop cursing or taking the lord's name in vein, Sister Mary Stigmata beats them out of the building in one of the film's funniest if silliest scenes.
And the action scenes also looked great from the aforementioned car chase scenes to Carrie Fisher's increasingly outlandish attempts to kill the two brothers. Granted, this all led to the film going drastically over-budget - with much of that fuelling John Belushi's coke addiction, but it looked great on-screen.
True, the musical cameos were all pretty shoe-horned in, but they only added to the spectacle of the film. And when the cameos included singing legends like James Brown, Aretha Franklin and Ray Charles, who's complaining?
The Blues Brothers was a great film. Yes, it's silly and larger than life, but you need to remember not to take it too seriously.
A great film. I loved the music. Didn't mind the silliness, because it was all such fun.
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