Comments on: How the Blues Brothers got made http://boingboing.net/2013/01/09/how-the-blues-brothers-got-mad.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Sat, 25 May 2013 20:55:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: noah django http://boingboing.net/2013/01/09/how-the-blues-brothers-got-mad.html#comment-1624409 noah django Thu, 10 Jan 2013 08:55:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=204707#comment-1624409 And some dry white toast, please. (pic:  my roommate and I two halloweens ago) And some dry white toast, please.

(pic:  my roommate and I two halloweens ago)

]]> By: Jake0748 http://boingboing.net/2013/01/09/how-the-blues-brothers-got-mad.html#comment-1624297 Jake0748 Thu, 10 Jan 2013 03:50:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=204707#comment-1624297  I'll have four fried chickens and a coke.  I’ll have four fried chickens and a coke.

]]> By: Buddy Bradley http://boingboing.net/2013/01/09/how-the-blues-brothers-got-mad.html#comment-1624075 Buddy Bradley Wed, 09 Jan 2013 23:12:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=204707#comment-1624075 Great movie and the soundtrack is also stellar, though it always bugged me that they left John Lee Hooker out of the soundtrack. He has a great cameo in the movie though. Great movie and the soundtrack is also stellar, though it always bugged me that they left John Lee Hooker out of the soundtrack. He has a great cameo in the movie though.

]]> By: Felton / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2013/01/09/how-the-blues-brothers-got-mad.html#comment-1624003 Felton / Moderator Wed, 09 Jan 2013 22:22:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=204707#comment-1624003 Hit it. Hit it.

]]> By: Jake0748 http://boingboing.net/2013/01/09/how-the-blues-brothers-got-mad.html#comment-1623998 Jake0748 Wed, 09 Jan 2013 22:15:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=204707#comment-1623998 It's a hundred and six miles to Chicago. We got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and we're wearing sunglasses.   It’s a hundred and six miles to Chicago. We got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it’s dark, and we’re wearing sunglasses.  

]]> By: Halloween_Jack http://boingboing.net/2013/01/09/how-the-blues-brothers-got-mad.html#comment-1623971 Halloween_Jack Wed, 09 Jan 2013 21:59:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=204707#comment-1623971 More big band than blues, of course, but I can believe that--if Ethel Merman could put out a disco album... More big band than blues, of course, but I can believe that–if Ethel Merman could put out a disco album…

]]> By: Halloween_Jack http://boingboing.net/2013/01/09/how-the-blues-brothers-got-mad.html#comment-1623969 Halloween_Jack Wed, 09 Jan 2013 21:58:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=204707#comment-1623969 For me, the movie has always been a number of great musical performances, by both the band and others, interspersed with some incredibly heavy-handed car-chase slapstick. John Landis, even more so than Ivan Reitman, had the benefit of working with some of the funniest people in America at the height of their game, and falls back on unfunny overkill when his stars can't bring their own material. For me, the movie has always been a number of great musical performances, by both the band and others, interspersed with some incredibly heavy-handed car-chase slapstick. John Landis, even more so than Ivan Reitman, had the benefit of working with some of the funniest people in America at the height of their game, and falls back on unfunny overkill when his stars can’t bring their own material.

]]> By: ChickieD http://boingboing.net/2013/01/09/how-the-blues-brothers-got-mad.html#comment-1623766 ChickieD Wed, 09 Jan 2013 18:59:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=204707#comment-1623766 Had to Google that: https://soundcloud.com/macjam/cab-calloway-minnie-the Sort of awesome! Had to Google that:

https://soundcloud.com/macjam/cab-calloway-minnie-the

Sort of awesome!

]]> By: xzzy http://boingboing.net/2013/01/09/how-the-blues-brothers-got-mad.html#comment-1623743 xzzy Wed, 09 Jan 2013 18:34:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=204707#comment-1623743 As a resident of the Chicago region, watching the blues brothers makes me almost appreciate the area for 133 minutes.  Then the credits roll and reality comes crashing back in. As a resident of the Chicago region, watching the blues brothers makes me almost appreciate the area for 133 minutes. 

Then the credits roll and reality comes crashing back in.

]]> By: Navin_Johnson http://boingboing.net/2013/01/09/how-the-blues-brothers-got-mad.html#comment-1623733 Navin_Johnson Wed, 09 Jan 2013 18:24:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=204707#comment-1623733 The Willis comparison is going below the belt. When you consider the actual beginnings of "The Blues Brothers", we're talking about Willis doing his cynical vanity project almost a decade after the fact. In 79/80 traditional R/B and blues couldn't have been any less popular with people at the time. Blondie, yacht rock, and disco songs were topping the charts, and Led Zeppelin were playing around with synthesizers* to put things in perspective... Music aside, I have a hard time thinking of any film that better serves as an elaborate, nuanced, and <i>right on the money</i> *cultural* love letter to a city, than this film does to Chicago. *God bless em'. The Willis comparison is going below the belt. When you consider the actual beginnings of “The Blues Brothers”, we’re talking about Willis doing his cynical vanity project almost a decade after the fact. In 79/80 traditional R/B and blues couldn’t have been any less popular with people at the time. Blondie, yacht rock, and disco songs were topping the charts, and Led Zeppelin were playing around with synthesizers* to put things in perspective…

Music aside, I have a hard time thinking of any film that better serves as an elaborate, nuanced, and right on the money *cultural* love letter to a city, than this film does to Chicago.

*God bless em’.

]]> By: Sekino http://boingboing.net/2013/01/09/how-the-blues-brothers-got-mad.html#comment-1623673 Sekino Wed, 09 Jan 2013 17:42:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=204707#comment-1623673 I understand the feeling. I have the exact same issue with The Princess Bride. I understand the feeling. I have the exact same issue with The Princess Bride.

]]> By: mccrum http://boingboing.net/2013/01/09/how-the-blues-brothers-got-mad.html#comment-1623661 mccrum Wed, 09 Jan 2013 17:30:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=204707#comment-1623661 One of the better stories I heard Landis tell was that Calloway had recently put out a disco version of some of his older songs and was annoyed that he had to do his old blues version when he had just put out a new album showing how hip he was to the kids' new music! One of the better stories I heard Landis tell was that Calloway had recently put out a disco version of some of his older songs and was annoyed that he had to do his old blues version when he had just put out a new album showing how hip he was to the kids’ new music!

]]> By: ChickieD http://boingboing.net/2013/01/09/how-the-blues-brothers-got-mad.html#comment-1623638 ChickieD Wed, 09 Jan 2013 17:08:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=204707#comment-1623638 I think one of the keys to understanding it is knowing just how serious Aykroyd is about the blues; he owned a blues bar and he is hard core about music. At the time it was made, people like Ray Charles and Cab Calloway were way off the radar screen for the youth culture. It is a silly movie, but what genius to make a movie that appealed to 20 year olds that included all this "old guy" music in it. I think if you have benefited from the blues revival that this movie started - all the alt-stuff that is so hip now, it's hard to remember that these musicians were moldering away at the time it was filmed. I think one of the keys to understanding it is knowing just how serious Aykroyd is about the blues; he owned a blues bar and he is hard core about music. At the time it was made, people like Ray Charles and Cab Calloway were way off the radar screen for the youth culture. It is a silly movie, but what genius to make a movie that appealed to 20 year olds that included all this “old guy” music in it. I think if you have benefited from the blues revival that this movie started – all the alt-stuff that is so hip now, it’s hard to remember that these musicians were moldering away at the time it was filmed.

]]> By: 10xor01 http://boingboing.net/2013/01/09/how-the-blues-brothers-got-mad.html#comment-1623621 10xor01 Wed, 09 Jan 2013 16:56:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=204707#comment-1623621 Landis was surely on a mission from God. Landis was surely on a mission from God.

]]> By: Edward http://boingboing.net/2013/01/09/how-the-blues-brothers-got-mad.html#comment-1623610 Edward Wed, 09 Jan 2013 16:50:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=204707#comment-1623610 Fantastic movie. Fantastic movie.

]]> By: mccrum http://boingboing.net/2013/01/09/how-the-blues-brothers-got-mad.html#comment-1623594 mccrum Wed, 09 Jan 2013 16:29:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=204707#comment-1623594 Some movies you just see too late in life to really get.  The time in your life where it would have been great has passed.  I tried to get a younger relative into Hitchhiker's Guide recently, but once you get past college it's tough to find the time to read about Arthur Dent's madcap adventures. As a side note, your comment reminded me that I saw Bruce Willis play harmonica live with the Allman Brothers once.  Totally surreal.  Like watching a circus act of a dog walk a cat. Some movies you just see too late in life to really get.  The time in your life where it would have been great has passed.  I tried to get a younger relative into Hitchhiker’s Guide recently, but once you get past college it’s tough to find the time to read about Arthur Dent’s madcap adventures.

As a side note, your comment reminded me that I saw Bruce Willis play harmonica live with the Allman Brothers once.  Totally surreal.  Like watching a circus act of a dog walk a cat.

]]> By: mccrum http://boingboing.net/2013/01/09/how-the-blues-brothers-got-mad.html#comment-1623591 mccrum Wed, 09 Jan 2013 16:25:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=204707#comment-1623591 60 cop cars at $400 each, $24,000, so 0.0087.  This isn't including maintenance, of course. 60 cop cars at $400 each, $24,000, so 0.0087.  This isn’t including maintenance, of course.

]]> By: mccrum http://boingboing.net/2013/01/09/how-the-blues-brothers-got-mad.html#comment-1623589 mccrum Wed, 09 Jan 2013 16:22:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=204707#comment-1623589 Hollywood magic.  And probably white people willing to go to Compton to see Belushi. Hollywood magic.  And probably white people willing to go to Compton to see Belushi.

]]> By: Steve Olsen http://boingboing.net/2013/01/09/how-the-blues-brothers-got-mad.html#comment-1623575 Steve Olsen Wed, 09 Jan 2013 16:10:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=204707#comment-1623575 I tried to like this film. There is something about it though... It makes me think of Bruce Willis playing Harmonica on SNL, which is a terrible thing for some reason. I think "Vanity Piece," as mentioned in the article, is how my brain processes it. I think under different circumstances I could like it. I just haven't found the right light to view it in. It's actually a thing. People I trust like it and it bothers me to not be able to see it in the same light. I tried to like this film. There is something about it though… It makes me think of Bruce Willis playing Harmonica on SNL, which is a terrible thing for some reason. I think “Vanity Piece,” as mentioned in the article, is how my brain processes it. I think under different circumstances I could like it. I just haven’t found the right light to view it in. It’s actually a thing. People I trust like it and it bothers me to not be able to see it in the same light.

]]> By: xzzy http://boingboing.net/2013/01/09/how-the-blues-brothers-got-mad.html#comment-1623573 xzzy Wed, 09 Jan 2013 16:09:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=204707#comment-1623573 I just wanna know what percentage of the $27.5 million the movie cost was spent on police cars. I just wanna know what percentage of the $27.5 million the movie cost was spent on police cars.

]]> By: ChickieD http://boingboing.net/2013/01/09/how-the-blues-brothers-got-mad.html#comment-1623565 ChickieD Wed, 09 Jan 2013 15:52:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=204707#comment-1623565 I enjoyed the article because it's always nice to read about Aykroyd and Belushi in their heyday, but it didn't say much that I couldn't have already guessed - John Belushi was coked out? The script was a hot mess?  Then, the article concludes with a few sentences about how the movie got limited distribution because the theaters thought it was a black movie - and the next thing it says is that it then went on to make a killing. Ok, how did it go from being this joke of a movie with poor reviews and limited screenings to a megasuccess? What turned the tide? And when it says that the production was such a well-oiled machine, well, I'm curious who was making that happen since it obviously wasn't the leads. I enjoyed the article because it’s always nice to read about Aykroyd and Belushi in their heyday, but it didn’t say much that I couldn’t have already guessed – John Belushi was coked out? The script was a hot mess? 

Then, the article concludes with a few sentences about how the movie got limited distribution because the theaters thought it was a black movie – and the next thing it says is that it then went on to make a killing. Ok, how did it go from being this joke of a movie with poor reviews and limited screenings to a megasuccess? What turned the tide? And when it says that the production was such a well-oiled machine, well, I’m curious who was making that happen since it obviously wasn’t the leads.

]]> By: Just_Ok http://boingboing.net/2013/01/09/how-the-blues-brothers-got-mad.html#comment-1623549 Just_Ok Wed, 09 Jan 2013 15:09:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=204707#comment-1623549 "Embedding disabled by request". Must be from one of those new scenes. “Embedding disabled by request”.
Must be from one of those new scenes.

]]> By: mccrum http://boingboing.net/2013/01/09/how-the-blues-brothers-got-mad.html#comment-1623545 mccrum Wed, 09 Jan 2013 14:57:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=204707#comment-1623545 Judith Jacklin Belushi pretty much took all of Aykroyd's script material and collated it into book form, published like a dossier Burton Mercer (Orange whip?  Orange whip?  Three orange whips.) had compiled.  It's some hundred pages of pretty dense information.  As a guy who prides himself on knowing the Bluesmobile's license plate or what kind of gas station Armond Cerami and Steven Williams are hiding behind when they pull over Elwood for proceeding through a yellow light, even I thought it was difficult to slog through at times. http://www.amazon.com/Blues-Brothers-Private-Judith-Jacklin/dp/0399504761 Nevertheless, I do anticipate enjoying this VF article. Judith Jacklin Belushi pretty much took all of Aykroyd’s script material and collated it into book form, published like a dossier Burton Mercer (Orange whip?  Orange whip?  Three orange whips.) had compiled.  It’s some hundred pages of pretty dense information. 

As a guy who prides himself on knowing the Bluesmobile’s license plate or what kind of gas station Armond Cerami and Steven Williams are hiding behind when they pull over Elwood for proceeding through a yellow light, even I thought it was difficult to slog through at times.
http://www.amazon.com/Blues-Brothers-Private-Judith-Jacklin/dp/0399504761

Nevertheless, I do anticipate enjoying this VF article.

]]> By: lava http://boingboing.net/2013/01/09/how-the-blues-brothers-got-mad.html#comment-1623524 lava Wed, 09 Jan 2013 14:14:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=204707#comment-1623524 Oh crap! Where can we read the 324pg first draft? Oh crap! Where can we read the 324pg first draft?

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