The Blues Brothers (1980)

People are voting emotionally.

This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

Blistering performances.

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties.

With a great set of music, performances, and characters. The Blues Brothers is a very strong and well done piece of cinema. This movie is very self aware about how over the top it is and utilizes this perfectly to construct a well crafted and extremely entertaining comedy. This comedic over the top vibe the movie sends gives full creative control to the team behind the movie which enables them to pretty much do whatever they want. (Multiple car crashes, explosions, etc.) There are parts of the movie that do not make sense but these small issues are easily dissmissable to it being part of the over arching joke. I would recommend this movie to every critic and average moviegoer alike. This is quite a broad review and if anyone wants me to be more specific, let me know.

Is it me, or am I the only one who thinks that a hardcore country/western bar as Bob's Country Bunker is portrayed would serve St Pauli Girl, a German import?

The Emagine Willow Creek movie theater near me runs a monthly "Secret Cinema", hosted by a local movie critic.  You don't know what the film is until it starts but they alternate from a "Classic" (Citizen Kane, Singin' in the Rain) to a "Modern Classic" (Dr. Strangelove, Fargo).  So this month, the "Secret Cinema" was...THE BLUES BROTHERSThis John Belushi/Dan Ackroyd (directed by John Landis) joint from 1980 has grown in stature since it's debut 37 years ago and watching it with fresh eyes on the big screen (and 37 years older than my 19 year old self) has certainly given me a different appreciation of this film.Rather than this being an "above average" comedy, with some pretty good car chases and crashes, this film holds up as an homage to the great Blues talents of the past.  Ackroyd and Belushi were determined to get some of the greats on screen - and they succeeded.  Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin show up and "do their thing" - and they do it well.  But, for me, the highlight was seeing John Lee Hooker as a street musician and the great Cab Calloway doing "Minnie the Moocher" (hi- dee, hi-dee, hi-dee, hi), I am glad these performances have been captured for posterity.And...of course...the Blue Brothers Band is a "who's who" of Blues musicians of the time - "Blue Lou" Marini, Steve Cropper, Donald "Duck" Dunn and Matt "Guitar" Murphy were welcome sites and Ackroyd and Belushi more than held their own on the musical side of things - especially during my favorite musical number - the "Theme from Rawhide" number at the country bar.It's a good thing the music is good for the plot of this film is flimsy (at best) really just put together to get from musical number to musical number, populated with some fun cameos:  John Candy, Carrie Fisher, Artie Gibson (as a Nazi!), Kathleen Freeman, Frank Oz and even Steven Spielberg all get in on the fun, trying hard to keep up with Ackroyd and Belushi in their prime.Complementing this is some of the "funnest" auto chases and crashes in movie cinema history.  It is said that Director Landis has stated that this film sets the record for most cars crashed in a film - and I can believe it.  Car after car after car is demolished as the Brothers complete their quest.An interesting entry in the "Secret Cinema" series.  Certainly one that I wouldn't have chosen, but that's the beauty of this series - it forces me to revisit films on the big screen that I wouldn't normally check out. I can't wait for next month's entry.  In the meantime, check out THE BLUES BROTHERS on line (or watch for it to show up on cable - it is there often).Letter Grade:  right on the border between A-/B+8 (out of 10) stars and you can take that to the Bank (OfMarquis)

The Blues Brother is a hilarious musical about 2 brothers who are in a band together. One of the brothers is released from jail and decides to get the old band back together. Claiming that they are on a mission from God, the 2 boys in suits go around looking for gigs. They are constantly getting themselves into trouble. The songs are hilarious, well-performed, and incredibly catchy.