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nu;—-Iiiji 'u - - .. ■, ..I, .... II .I— mm .I,...- — I ...Singers rival Blues clownsUWVEfcSAl STUWOSDan Aykroyd (left) and John Belushi (right) bargain with Ray Charles for music instruments.There is a new generation of filmmakers whose reality is based solely on American pop culture. Their films are influenced by vintage movies, televi-MoviesLeonardKladyThe blue Brothers is a joke that went too far.Hie original duo of Joliet Jake and Elwood Blues began as a gag on television’s Saturday Night Live. John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd donned dark glasses, black suits, skinny ties and belted out old rhythm and blues standards.The next chapter in the Blues’ saga was a record album which went double platinum. Suddenly, people stopped laughing and began to take notice of the comedians’ alter egos.When Belushi and Aykroyd left Saturday Night Live for the big screen, the Blues Brothers became a bankable film property. Director John Landis from Animal House was selected to transfer the raw energy and wild humor of Jake and Elwood onto film.The result is a not terribly funny, episodic tale of epic proportion. As was done with the recent comedy extravaganza 1941, The Blues Brothers creators believe people laugh loudest when the mayhem runs highest.Urban renewal boostDozens of cars are destroyed, buildings demolished, and a shopping mall levelled to eke out a few paltty guffaws. Granted, Chicago, the movie’s locale, is portrayed as a genuinely ugly city which could stand with a little celluloid urban renewal.Although it bears no plot similarity to the movie by Steven Spielberg (who has a cameo as a Cook County clerk), The Blues Brothers is a natural progression from 1941. You might call it 1942.The story deals with the two brothers’ attempts to regroup their old band and raise $5,000 for their alma mater, St. Helen of the Blessed Shroud Orphanage. The hrphanage will face the city's wrecking bail unless it can come up with assessed back taxes.Jake and Elwood see the light and set out on their “mission from God.” Alongthe way they run into such musical guests as Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, James Brown and John Lee* Hooker.They also incur the wrath of several state troopers, the Illinois Nazi Party, a country and western band and a bazooka-toting mystery woman. The ingredients are perfect for a long,merry chase filled with outrageoussituations.Surprisingly, the movie’s best moments are in no way related to the chase. The screen shines only when the musical guests get centre stage. Both Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin breathe life into the film when they break into song.Charles as a music store owner and Franklin as a soul-food cafe owner step out of the drama and take voice. The result is an exciting musical-fantasy in the grand tradition of the cinema’s great musical era. Busby Berkeleywould applaud these stylish antics.Landis, who showed great promise in the modestly budgeted Animal House, has been undone by the rumored $30 million Blues Brothers budget. It looks as if he threw away the script and decided to pjlay with all the fabulous movie toys ranging from special effects to stunts.sion and rock ’n’ roll. When you ask about the classics, they pull out their collection of comic books.The Blues Brothers is a victim of this shallow perspective. Hopefully the studios have learned their lesson and will be making more films about people andfewer tired, expensive in-Jokes.♦»The Blues BrothersDirected by John Landis; screenplay by Dan Aykroyd and.Landis; cinematography by Stephen Katz; production design by John Ltoyd; choreogra* phv by Carlton Johnson; stunt co-ordmatlon bv Gary McLartvi edited George Folsey; musk stir-per vised bv Ira Newborn; produced by Robert Weiss. A Universal Him release. At Garrick 1. Mature.Joliet Jake Blues............................ John Belushi£ I wood Blues................................ Dan AykroydRev. Ctcophu* James..................... James BrownCurtis........................................... Cab CallowavRav .................................. Rdv CharlesMystery Woman............................ Carrie FisherSoul Food Cafe Owner................ Aretha FranklinHead Nazi......................................Henry GibsonMaury Sllne................................ Steve LawrenceThe Blues Brothers Band ... Murphy Dunne, Steve Cropper, Donald Dunn, WIIHe Halt, Tom Malone, Alan Rubin, Lou Marini, Matt Murphy,4 4*The April-May issue of the Directors Guild of Canada newsletter lists 24 English-Canadian movies expected to film before year-end.After last year’s bonanza of more _ than 55 productions, this is quite a nose-dive. It’s interesting to note that eight films will be directed by non-Canadians.Two ex-Winnipeggers have projects ' on the DGC’s roll. Director Alan Eastman ts listed with Rock and the Hard Place for producer Bennet Fode out of Toronto and Don Williams, who used to work at CBC Winnipeg, will be directing Blooper Red and the Skinner inVancouver.
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