The Blues Brothers (15)
Time Out rating:
<strong>Rating: </strong>3/5
Time Out says
Tue Jul 21 2009
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
Release details
Rated:
15
UK release:
Fri Jul 24 2009
Duration:
133 mins
Cast and crew
Director:
Cast:
Aretha Franklin, Cab Calloway, Frank Oz, John Landis, Henry Gibson, James Brown, Kathleen Freeman, Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Carrie Fisher
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