Monday, February 19, 2018

How did they do it?

Some people love it, some don't really care about it, but I have never run across someone who actively hates The Blues Brothers (1980).

This is not a review of the classic comedy, that would be a bit pointless, it's an introduction of the making of video. I watched it last night, and it was fascinating.

The Blues Brothers is a movie that essentially does everything right. And it's an odd one. Part action comedy, part rhythm and blues musical. It's also odd in how there is no typical good guy / bad guys set up.
Sure, Jake and Elwood are the good guys, but they lie, steal, cheat, sabotage and destroy property in spades.
Then we have the Illinois Nazis and the violent Good Ole Boys, but one group are Nazis (no, really?) that don't really accomplish anything, and the Good Ole Boys who, while in the wrong, have every right to be mad at the Blues Brothers. Law enforcement does not count since they're doing their jobs.
In the end, everyone get what's coming to them. Even Jake and Elwood (and the entire band) goes to jail, as they should.

But for all the chaos and madness, it's a really heart warming movie. You feel good after seeing it. It's a movie the likes of which we will likely never see again. It was too expensive, too demanding and way too experimental. You know, things studios void at all costs. After all, 103 cars were wrecked during shooting (a record at the time) and in the penultimate scene, there are over 500 extras running around. Oh, and three Sherman tanks, all in central Chicago, which had to be shut down.

Anyway, I tripped over the Making of the Blues Brothers documentary, and it's really interesting, so I thought I'd share it with you guys.

Until next time have a swinging week!




Direct link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHMzKNR7iWc

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