A Suitcase Full of Blues (The Blues Brothers (DVD))

Member Name: MI9to5

Product:	The Blues Brothers (DVD)
Date:	02/07/09 (58 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Superb musicality

Disadvantages: A tad too long maybe

The Blues Brothers is just one of those films that the whole of my family enjoy watching and if I'm honest that is really rare, as normally at least one of us isn't content with the film the others have chosen. The Blues Brothers however is a film that has something for everyone from music to car chases, humour to seriousness.

== The Plot ==

The films premise is rather simple and focuses around the two main characters Jake and Elwood Blues aka The Blues Brothers. The film begins with Jake's release from prison where he is collected by his brother in a recently purchased slightly antique police car and taken to visit the orphanage where nuns raised the pair.

It is at the orphanage that they learn that the church has stopped its support of the nuns work and that unless the tax that is owed on the property is paid within 11 days it will be sold. On a 'mission from God' the pair decide to raise the money needed in the only way they know how - by singing for it. The brothers set out to put back together their blues band and stage a gig big enough to pay that tax. The road however is very long and definitely winding as they make a great deal of enemies everywhere they go.

Jake: First you traded the Cadillac in for a microphone. Then you lied to me about the band. And now you're gonna put me right back in the joint!
Elwood: They're not gonna catch us. We're on a mission from God.

== The Cast ==

The films main characters are Jake and Elwood Blues and therefore John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd who play them are the lead actors throughout. Other well-known names such as Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Ray Charles and Cab Calloway play roles within the film and often take on the parts of characters with the same names.

The acting throughout is brilliant and each cast member seems to be exceptionally suited to the character role allocated to them and therefore give tremendous performances throughout. The guest stars are brilliant and in many ways add an element if not more of humour to the storyline. I must say however that I can see how this appeal has and probably will dwindle as time progresses and the big names seem less big to the audience.

== The Music ==

The music throughout this film is brilliant and really makes the film the gem it is to watch. Without the music of course the film would have no point but it is the class of performance given for all the musical numbers that makes the film so endearing. Aretha Franklin's number is just marvellous, extremely comic and wonderfully theatrical. Belushi and Aykroyd also do brilliant jobs with all the songs sung by the Blues Brothers band and bring the spirit of the blues to life with each bar they sing.

== Action and Humour ==

The action within the film isn't full on and in your face like in some films of the same period. The action instead compliments the storyline and makes the film appeal to a much wider audience. The car chase late on in the film is a cinematic masterpiece in my opinion and brings the emotion of the chase to the forefront.

It is however the humour of the film that takes the lead at most points throughout the storyline, as it the comic elements that help keep up the films pace and ensure that the simple storyline doesn't drag. Some of the humour falls within the slapstick area whilst other elements are based more on irony and sarcasm. This blend of humour mixed with the opportune appearances of big names makes The Blues Brothers a real pleasure to watch.

== Closing Comment ==

I must say that I really enjoy watching this film and am more than happy to watch it with my parents whenever they suggest it. It is different because it mixes so many film genres together in a clever yet still easy to follow and enjoyable way. A superb film in my opinion and one that everyone should be able to say they've seen.

== Facts ==

Release Date - 1980
Certificate - 15
Running Time - 2hrs 8 mins

Summary: A brilliant film that I can watch over and over again