After aTomiK rebooted Chris's incredible John Belushi tribute thread, it reminded me of the seldom mentioned film "Continental Divide" where John Belushi plays Ernie Souchak, a Chicago newspaper columnist. Ernie loves the city life of Chicago, but when his hard-hitting stories about a corrupt city official bring death threats, his editor decides to protect him by sending him on a story way out of town. Ernie is actually sent to the Rocky Mountains to interview Nell (Blair Brown), a reclusive ornithologist. As a huge fish out of water, Ernie struggles against the elements. As with most films with an opposites attract premise, Ernie eventually does his best to understand Nell's world. But things start heating up back in Chicago, so Ernie must come out of hiding..
This not your usual John Belushi comedy flick, but that might be part of the reason that I appreciate it so much.
Posts: 7845 | From: Smiling and glancing in awe in the back of a limo | Registered: Mar 2003 | Site Updates: 22
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Yea you don't associate John with romantic comedys but he was pretty good in this one. I haven't seen this one in years luckly it is on Netflix instant play Queue. Going to watch it tonight and maybe do a Belushi night with 1941 and Blues Brothers.
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Belushi was fine, I just didn't find enough to like in this movie. There were some great scenes and some great dialogue, but the way they threaded the characters stories together just left something out. I see it as an interesting failure.
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Seen today it's a tantalyzing look at what might have been had the studios not been blindly bent on having him simply do Bluto over and over and over again. It certainly helped that he was at his cleanest throughout production, his inner circle having for the time being gotten him full-on professional help; unfortunately, the low box office gross set off a relapse that probably can be pinpointed as the beginning of the end.
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I saw this on HBO back in the day. The part I remember most is them coming back to the city, and Belushi saying "Look, eagles" about a bunch of pigeons as they fly away. He was sweet in this movie, but seemed uncomfortable-to me anyway. Definitely a different role for him.
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I think Belushi was struggling with the image the world had of him at that point.
I really enjoy 'Neighbors' even though it's very very odd. Aykroyd steals the show and the cup scene is one of the best ever.
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I really like this movie. Sure, it may not seem like the kind of movie John Belushi would normally star in. But Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn didn't (at first) appear to be a likely romantic on-screen couple either, yet they ended up making lots of movies together.
This movie is one of the most underrated of the early 1980's. I have to wonder what kind of movies he would've done if he were alive today.
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As I've said before, I think he would have been an ideal Jack Sparrow for one; although Johnny Depp has done quite well with the role, it seems when I take a closer look to be screaming for a Belushian take. Also, Randy Quaid's role in Indpendence Day also seems like something that would have worked for him; the troubled guy who makes it right in the end (not to mention, "Hello boys, I'M BAAAAAAAAACCCK!!!!" is the perfect character closing line for him to deliver if he were to blow himself up to save the world) would be a role he'd fill to the T.
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aTomiK
.... has green eyes as well....
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Continental Divide ended my Belushi double last night. This was the first time for me and i liked it a lot.
Lots of talent behind the camera:
Directed by Michael Apted (Gorky Park, Firstborn, Thunderheart etc.) Written by Lawrence Kasdan (Empire Strikes Back, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Body Heat etc.) Even Spielberg is mentioned as executive producer.
John Belushi and Blair Brown have a pretty good chemistry. Loved the Chicago city scenes and the Colorado mountains too.
Oh Belushi, we need you back.
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