THE BLUES BROTHERS (1980) - ♦♦♦♦♦

Directed by - John Landis

Written by - Dan Aykroyd, John Landis

Starring - John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, James Brown, Cab Calloway, Ray Charles, Carrie Fisher, Aretha Franklin, Henry Gibson

"Two men are divinely inspired to save the orphanage in which they grew up from financial troubles by getting their blues band together again. Their journey to getting the band together is told in a narrative structure that is not unlike the series of vignettes format of Saturday Night Live, out of which the characters were born. 

The Blues Brothers is simple and unforgettable. A lot of the credit for the film's success can be traced to its two leads Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi, who also wrote the film, and whose on screen quiet charisma and deadpan performances often contrasts drastically with the lively and energetic madness that happens all around them - from an outrageous and gloriously random car chase sequence to the film's many amazing musical numbers. 

Director John Landis enhances the fun by allowing the sheer energy of the blues and soul music featured in the film to positively influence it. It helps that The Blues Brothers also features some fun cameos by some of its greatest interpreters, such as Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, James Brown and Cab Calloway."

Musical, USA