Review of The Blues Brothers (1980) by Elliott C — 24 Feb 2010

The Blues Brothers Film Review.

By Elliott Croot.

The Blues Brothers is definitely one of the best musical-comedies of all time. Dan Aykroyd and John Delushi play the criminally minded brothers known as Jake and Elwood on a mission from God, who bring their old band back to life in order to raise money for their old orphanage. However, the brothers and the band make a few enemies along the way.

The plot provides the excuse for a range of musical numbers and appearances from music legends such as James Brown and Ray Charles. When the music runs out, the director includes the biggest car chase in film history involving the Army, Nazis and a rabid western band.

In the mall police chase scene, the director involves a lot of very wide shots to show the audience more of the action and destruction caused by the car chase. This intrigues the audience into watching the film. Another scene that involves a very wide shot is the Nazi scene to show the Illinois Nazi's jumping off the bridge. This camera shot could also be used to set the scene as well. This scene also includes a point-of-view shot to show the Nazi's through the eyes of the brothers in the Bluesmobile.

In the Haider & Petzner Car Chase scene, diegetic sounds are used for the gun shots made from the Nazi's. Non-diegetic sound is also used to increase drama levels and to draw the audience in further.

The Church scene includes a montage sequence, which is a series of short shots. The director has included this because it allows the audience to view the whole of the church and see all of the action.

This film is one of the greatest of its kind. However, there is fault in this legendary movie. The huge car chase near the end of the film is breathtaking but also unrealistic. A car chase in reality wouldn't involve so many police cars and wouldn't include so much action. Another glitch in this film is the fact that the woman who hunted the brothers in order to kill Jake wouldn't have been able to be in control of the weapons she used in the films.

Verdict.

The Blues Brothers is a spectacular, silly musical-comedy that should be on the shelf of everyone's home.

5 out of 5 stars.