The Blues Brothers
1980 · Directed by John Landis
Original language: English
- music
- comedy
- crime
The story
Jake Blues, just released from prison, puts his old band back together to save the Catholic home where he and his brother Elwood were raised.
What it’s like
Loose, high-energy and gleefully chaotic, with bright daylight street scenes, shadowy warehouse rehearsal rooms and a Chicago that looks lived-in and grimy, all shot with a rough, handheld-friendly immediacy. The soundtrack is the engine: horn-driven rhythm and blues, soul and jazz standards played with real swagger, and a steady stream of musical set pieces that break into full-cast dancing and car-chase mayhem. The vibe is anarchic, warm and cheerfully absurd, with a deadpan streak running under the noise. Pacing is brisk and episodic, with the comic momentum rarely letting up, and the emotional register stays light even when the stakes turn outlandish. The two brothers' bond is the steady core, a loyal, bumbling pair who keep stumbling into bigger trouble. Violence is frequent and cartoonish: car smashes, explosions, gunfire and pileups, with plenty of cops and mob-style bad guys getting roughed up, but almost no gore and nothing lingering or cruel. Some crude language and bawdy jokes. It suits a comfort rewatch, a loud Saturday night, or anyone who wants music, slapstick and a lot of movement, for people who love R&B, cult comedy and joyful chaos.
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