Anyway, this is my third comment to specifically say, this is a phenomenal write-up of a movie that seemingly does not merit such hard work, with great insight into the depiction of race onscreen, and every website that does not employ you to write about pop culture is poorer for it.
"I was struck anew by how much James Belushi looks and sounds like his brother."
You know what's weird? I have absolutely never thought so. I acknowledge they have similar features -- pudgy, dark hair, stern eyes -- but there's something specifically comedic and wicked yet sweet about John's physique and face, even as it seems more exaggerated and curdled than Jim's genericly hard-nosed face and receding hairline. Jim looks paternal with a hard, straight brow. John looks like a mischievous son, a twisted cherub with a downward nose and rounded cheeks. You may think this is a side-effect of Jim living so much longer than John, but I'm looking at a photo of Jim from 1982 right now and he looks the same as always. Likewise I feel Jim's voice is gruffer with more old dog bass in it, but I am not familiar enough with John's works (having been born many years after he died and mostly knowing him from clips) to say it with certainty. Jim seems like someone who can't hurt you, but John you wouldn't be so sure.
That said, Wikipedia has a picture of John from his High School yearbook and the resemblance is much clearer there.
I find the films during the "thin Jim" years (late 80s - early 90s) to be fascinating - The Principal, Real Men, Taking Care of Business, Red Heat, etc.. All of them are watchable, enjoyable, and yeah, disposable, but I have a fondness for them. It seemed that when he slimmed down he ventured into more leading man and action roles, which while he had Thief and Salvador under his belt, he was still then a supporting character. To me, About Last Night (still a supporting character) was the basic mold for Jim Belushi characters - it played into his sketch work persona: loud, brash, and bigger than life. When he started doing action comedies, I found him much more interesting even if the movie is either cheesy guilty pleasure (Principal) or goofy time waster (TCB). I lost interest when he started slumming in his sitcom years.
When it gets to the part where Belushi gets the shot beat out of him, I always like to yell at the screen “I find you guilty of being James Belushi. Let the punishment fit the crime!”
I believe Abraxas is a Jesse "The Body" Ventura vehicle. If so, my parents once got me a copy for christmas to put in my stocking (my two brothers and I all got one VHS tape out of the discount bin that year, including Devil Bat with Bela Lugosi, and the original Little Shop of Horrors.) In deference to the bizarreness of the gift, I never took it out of the shrink wrap, and I believe it's still in my basement today as an adult.
ABRAXAS, GUARDIAN OF THE UNIVERSE is a Jesse Ventura movie, with Jim Belushi in a supporting role as Principal Rick Latimer, just like Nabin said. I don't know if that's just a winking reference or if Principal Latimer is creating his own cinematic universe like Det. Bunch did.
Maybe Jim Orenthal in ACCORDING TO JIM is Principal Latimer in witness protection after the event of THE PRINCIPAL and ABRAXAS?
Anyway, this is my third comment to specifically say, this is a phenomenal write-up of a movie that seemingly does not merit such hard work, with great insight into the depiction of race onscreen, and every website that does not employ you to write about pop culture is poorer for it.
"I was struck anew by how much James Belushi looks and sounds like his brother."
You know what's weird? I have absolutely never thought so. I acknowledge they have similar features -- pudgy, dark hair, stern eyes -- but there's something specifically comedic and wicked yet sweet about John's physique and face, even as it seems more exaggerated and curdled than Jim's genericly hard-nosed face and receding hairline. Jim looks paternal with a hard, straight brow. John looks like a mischievous son, a twisted cherub with a downward nose and rounded cheeks. You may think this is a side-effect of Jim living so much longer than John, but I'm looking at a photo of Jim from 1982 right now and he looks the same as always. Likewise I feel Jim's voice is gruffer with more old dog bass in it, but I am not familiar enough with John's works (having been born many years after he died and mostly knowing him from clips) to say it with certainty. Jim seems like someone who can't hurt you, but John you wouldn't be so sure.
That said, Wikipedia has a picture of John from his High School yearbook and the resemblance is much clearer there.
Jim Belushi is definitely an ageless kinda guy. He looked like he was 40 at both 25 and 60.
I find the films during the "thin Jim" years (late 80s - early 90s) to be fascinating - The Principal, Real Men, Taking Care of Business, Red Heat, etc.. All of them are watchable, enjoyable, and yeah, disposable, but I have a fondness for them. It seemed that when he slimmed down he ventured into more leading man and action roles, which while he had Thief and Salvador under his belt, he was still then a supporting character. To me, About Last Night (still a supporting character) was the basic mold for Jim Belushi characters - it played into his sketch work persona: loud, brash, and bigger than life. When he started doing action comedies, I found him much more interesting even if the movie is either cheesy guilty pleasure (Principal) or goofy time waster (TCB). I lost interest when he started slumming in his sitcom years.
When it gets to the part where Belushi gets the shot beat out of him, I always like to yell at the screen “I find you guilty of being James Belushi. Let the punishment fit the crime!”
I believe Abraxas is a Jesse "The Body" Ventura vehicle. If so, my parents once got me a copy for christmas to put in my stocking (my two brothers and I all got one VHS tape out of the discount bin that year, including Devil Bat with Bela Lugosi, and the original Little Shop of Horrors.) In deference to the bizarreness of the gift, I never took it out of the shrink wrap, and I believe it's still in my basement today as an adult.
ABRAXAS, GUARDIAN OF THE UNIVERSE is a Jesse Ventura movie, with Jim Belushi in a supporting role as Principal Rick Latimer, just like Nabin said. I don't know if that's just a winking reference or if Principal Latimer is creating his own cinematic universe like Det. Bunch did.
Maybe Jim Orenthal in ACCORDING TO JIM is Principal Latimer in witness protection after the event of THE PRINCIPAL and ABRAXAS?