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The Blues Brothers (1980)

Director: John Landis

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Movie review

From Time Out London

Soul-stirring celebration or crass cultural exploitation? Truth is, ‘The Blues Brothers’ is a bit of both, lending exposure to rhythm and blues legends who might otherwise have faded into silence while at the same time treating black culture as a colourful pantomime backdrop for the antics of two white comedians. That Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi adore this music is not in question – it’s lovingly chosen and brilliantly performed – but the film sometimes feels like a work of cultural tourism, particularly in scenes set in a gospel church and a Chicago street market. These lively musical sequences also sit awkwardly with director John Landis’s bizarre predilection for wholesale destruction: sure, smashing up cop cars can be fun, but Landis takes things to a tiresome extreme. Still, the film retains a huge nostalgic kick, thanks in large part to Aykroyd and Belushi’s easy rapport, a smattering of daft, shaggy humour and some truly iconic musical sequences.

Author: Tom Huddleston 2009-07-21 12:28:29

Time Out London issue 2031, July 23-29, 2009

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User reviews of this film

  • Torren P said...
    Posted on Dec 08 2007 11:34 This is an extremely bias review. The Blues Brothers was a childhood favorite of mine, and I'm sure can be thoroughly enjoyed by anyone with a sense of humor and a love of music. It is a GREAT film!
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The Blues Brothers

Cast & crew

Director: John Landis

Producer: Robert K Weiss

Cast: John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Kathleen Freeman, James Brown, Henry Gibson, John Landis, Frank Oz, Cab Calloway, Aretha Franklin, Carrie Fisher full cast

Genre(s): Musicals

Duration: 133 mins

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