After seeing a Blues Brothers tribute band on Saturday night, I figured it was time to revisit the movie. Sunday afternoon saw us on the couch in front of the TV watching my video of The Blues Brothers.
When the movie first came out in 1980 I was constantly at the cinema watching it. The first time I saw it was a Saturday night with a bunch of friends. I was so impressed that within a couple of days I had arranged with another friend to go see it the following Saturday night.
I think I saw The Blues Brothers at the cinema or drive-ins about 13 or 14 times. I’m not sure how many times I’ve seen it since on TV or on video. I guess I’ve seen the movie over 20 times. It might be years since I last watched the movie but I still know most of the movie’s dialogue word for word.
While watching the movie on Sunday I couldn’t help but feel a little sad. I kept seeing cast members who are no longer alive. John Belushi, Ray Charles, John Lee Hooker, Cab Calloway, Kathleen Freeman, John Candy, they’ve all passed away. I suppose the movie was put together over 25 years ago so it’s inevitable that some of those involved would have died by now.
I also found myself getting a little angry. How could such a talented guy as John Belushi throw his life away on drugs. His wild living caused his very early death. I’m not sure where my anger was directed. Maybe I was angry that we never got to see Belushi’s full talent unfold. Maybe I was angry at him for being so careless and reckless with such a precious thing as life. Perhaps I was angry at an industry that fools people into believing that they’re invincible.
It was great watching Jake and Elwood again after all these years. I’d forgotten just how young Dan Aykroyd looked back then and just how good the music sounds when the stereo’s turned up nice and loud.
Posted by Rodney Olsen
Technorati Tags: Blues Brothers – John Belushi – Movies
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Yeah, agreed (about how cool the Brothers are). You really need to see Grease, though.
Infact, on retrospect, maybe the great thing about the Blues Brothers is that you first saw them and loved them years ago. Maybe Grease wouldn’t hold the same appeal if I’d only just seen it for the first time.
The beautiful and terrible thing about other people’s lives is that they are free to do with them as they wish.
I don’t take drugs or drink to excess but I waste so much of each of my days in really petty ways. But at least John Belushi did something with his talent for a little while.
Just look at Freddy Mercury… he didn´t even know what he was doing wrong those days. A wonderful man who could have given us so much more great music. Life sometimes isn´t fair – but going against it on purpuse really makes me mad…
It’s the best movie ever made. (OK, “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” and “Life of Brian” are way up there with it as well.)
However, you need to watch it five or six times as often to catch up to me 🙂