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A review by pagesfromhome
The Blues Brothers by Daniel de Visé
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Thanks to Grove Atlantic for the gifted finished copy!
Daniel de Visé tackles A LOT in this story, from childhood antics to SNL sketches to movie productions and everything in between. He has a stellar ability to write non-fiction in a way that doesn't feel dry or slogging and even in the moments of the book that weren't as intriguing, I found myself reading through every moment. That said, this book reads more as a biography of John Belushi and improv as a whole.It goes so far as to end with Belushi's death before diving into an Epilogue that highlights Aykroyd's ongoing career and the successes of various other people from throughout the book. It isn't until about halfway through the book that we see the Blues Brothers really form. And while Dan is absolutely a focus, you don't get nearly the in-depth look at him as you get into John. And I would have loved to have seen more talk of their friendship and really diving into what it meant for them to be best friends and brothers through such important times in their lives.
Now...is any of that a bad thing? Absolutely not. The book still chronicles an incredible duo who changes the course of comedy as we know it. de Visé does an impeccable job of putting you directly into moments with the people in the story; you laugh at the jokes, you get frustrated at the drug use, and you feel what they're feeling in a way that is normally closed off in such an informative biography. And when you get into the back half of the book and dive into the behind-the-scenes stories of The Blues Brothers, the book turns to gold. The research and interviewing are incredible and, while the story remains at times frustratingly objective when some more subjective judgment would have been welcome, you never get bored.
If you're a Blues Brothers fan like myself or you want to get a deeper look into the world of comedy, look no further. And if you're planning to see SNL 1975 when it comes out...read this first.
Daniel de Visé tackles A LOT in this story, from childhood antics to SNL sketches to movie productions and everything in between. He has a stellar ability to write non-fiction in a way that doesn't feel dry or slogging and even in the moments of the book that weren't as intriguing, I found myself reading through every moment. That said, this book reads more as a biography of John Belushi and improv as a whole.
Now...is any of that a bad thing? Absolutely not. The book still chronicles an incredible duo who changes the course of comedy as we know it. de Visé does an impeccable job of putting you directly into moments with the people in the story; you laugh at the jokes, you get frustrated at the drug use, and you feel what they're feeling in a way that is normally closed off in such an informative biography. And when you get into the back half of the book and dive into the behind-the-scenes stories of The Blues Brothers, the book turns to gold. The research and interviewing are incredible and, while the story remains at times frustratingly objective when some more subjective judgment would have been welcome, you never get bored.
If you're a Blues Brothers fan like myself or you want to get a deeper look into the world of comedy, look no further. And if you're planning to see SNL 1975 when it comes out...read this first.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use and Drug abuse