Today’s Prayer Focus
MOVIE REVIEW

The Blues Brothers

also known as “Los hermanos caradura,” “Les Blues Brothers,” “Brata Blues,” “Bratri Bluesovi,” “Braća Blues,” “Braća Bluz,” See more »

Reviewed by: Brian Nigro
CONTRIBUTOR

Moral Rating: Very Offensive
Moviemaking Quality:
Primary Audience: Adults
Genre: Action Crime Comedy
Length: 2 hr. 13 min.
Year of Release: 1980
USA Release: June 16, 1980 (Chicago)
June 20, 1980 (wide)
Copyright, Universal Picturesclick photos to ENLARGE Copyright, Universal Pictures Copyright, Universal Pictures Copyright, Universal Pictures
Relevant Issues
Copyright, Universal Pictures

Reckless driving

Robbery

Prison parolees

Roman Catholics—nuns and priests—orphanage

Singing / music

Friendship

American Nazis

Featuring John Belushi“Joliet” Jake Blues (Jake)
Dan AkroydElwood Blues (Elwood)
John CandyBurton Mercer
Henry GibsonHead Nazi
James BrownReverend Cleophus James
Carrie FisherMystery Woman
Cab Calloway … Curtis
Ray CharlesRay
Aretha FranklinMrs. Murphy
Twiggy … Chic Lady
Frank Oz … Corrections Officer
Steven SpielbergCook County Assessor’s Office Clerk
Steve Cropper … Steve “The Colonel” Cropper
Donald Dunn … Donald “Duck” Dunn
Murphy Dunne … Murphy “Murph” Dunne
Willie Hall … Willie “Too Big” Hall
Tom Malone … Tom “Bones” Malone
See all »
Director John Landis — “Trading Places” (1983)
Producer Robert K. Weiss
Universal Pictures
Distributor Distributor: Universal Pictures. Trademark logo.Universal Pictures

Sequel: “Blues Brothers 2000” (1998)

“The Blues Brothers,” depending on who you ask, is one of the great American movies. Originally based on a “Saturday Night Live” sketch, the Blues Brothers are Jake (John Belushi) and Elwood (Dan Aykroyd)—two convicted-felon musicians on a “mission from God,” as Elwood says, as they jam away at old Wilson Pickett tunes.

Actually, their “mission from God” is to help save a church orphanage from foreclosure. That’s easily forgotten, given this movie’s mixed message of religion. A lot of Christian audiences may be offended with the initial scene where Jake and Elwood swear at a nun, then walk out of that church and head to a lively Baptist mass. Yet, the Blues Brothers' motivations are undeniably well-intentioned: To help a church.

Jack and Elwood want to get the band back together for this very reason. (“We’re on a mission from God,” Elwood repeatedly insists.) So, they track down the other band members—at a soul food cafe, at a restaurant, at a Holiday Inn lounge, and so on.

“The Blues Brothers” still plays at college campuses around the country, and for good reason: It’s a fun movie. While it’s rated R for some profanity, the funniest scenes are clean. (“Are you cops?” one of the bandmembers' mother asks them in one scene, to which Elwood responds, “No, ma'am, we’re musicians.”) That’s aside from all the inside jokes about Chicago and the state of Illinois.

Incidentally, there are numerous cameo appearances here: The Godfather of Soul himself, James Brown, plays a Baptist minister; Aretha Franklin as a waitress; Ray Charles as a music shop owner; the late John Candy as a cop; British supermodel Twiggy; and, in one of the most pivotal roles, Steven Spielberg (yes, that one) as the county assessor who stamps the check that saves the church orphanage.

CONTENT WARNING: “The Blues Brothers” is rated R primarily for swearing. The four-letter words clock in at nearly 40 instances, with frequent crude phrases and Lord’s name taken in vain six times. Some of the bad guys Jake and Ellwood tick off are the local Klan (a few racial epithets slip by). There is also some violent explosions and gun play, courtesy of Carrie Fisher. The most pervasive questionable content by far, however, is the nonchalant attitude toward beer and cigarettes.

An alternate recommendation for Christian audiences may be the original “Saturday Night Live” videotapes from TV featuring the Blues Brothers. In 1998, the sequel, “Blues Brothers 2000,” was released.

See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.


Viewer CommentsSend your comments
Negative
Negative—This is one of the most offensive movies that I have seen. Though there are some good visuals, the movie’s pace is too fast and has lots of profanity and violence. It’s also very indulgent and wasteful to wreck so many good buildings and cars all in the name of entertainment! There is nothing redemptive either in the story or the acting, and I felt that I had wasted good time watching it. Thank God for the wonderful and inspiring Christian movies like “Miracles from Heaven” and “Priceless” which are coming out nowadays!
My Ratings: Moral rating: Very Offensive / Moviemaking quality: 3
Uday, age 52 (India)

PLEASE share your observations and insights to be posted here.