Keep It Oldskool Movie of the week

 

 

 

The Blues Brothers was released in 1980 and was directed by John Landis. This movie made on a budget if $30 million went on to gross over $115 million. The movie was born from the Blue Brothers performances on Saturday Night Live. The movie starred Dan Akroyd and John Belushi. This movie had to many cameos to even name. Some of the more prominent ones were Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin and James Brown.

 

Elwood and Jake Blues

 

Elwood and Jake Blues (Dan Akroyd and John Belushi)

 

The plot involves Jake Blues (Belushi)  a blues musician getting out of prison and along with his brother Elwood (Ackroyd) hearing that the orphanage they grew up in is set to close unless they get the back owed property taxes. The brothers decide that in order to raise the money they will need to get the band who have broken up and went on to different lives back together. During their odyssey the run across Nazis, a crazed ex fiancé and ofcourse the police. The movie features one of the best car chases (even through a mall) ever. The movie features great musical performances most prominently  Aretha Franklin and Ray Charles

 

Aretha Franklin performing “Think”

 

Ray Charles performing in the Blues Brothers

 

Car chase through the Mall

 

The Blues Brothers was as staple of cable TV for a long time. The movie spawned a sequel in Blues Brothers 2000 released in 1998 minus John Belushi whom had passed away in 1982 although not a very good movie. That doesn’t take away from the fact that in 1980 Ackroyd and Belushi (John not Jim) were the coolest Caucasians on film.

 

 

Keep It Oldskool