Continental Divide

This movie is the REASON I moved to Washington State, even though it was filmed in Montana. When Nell showed Ernie "church" and the panorama of the mountains was shown, I literally had tears running down my cheeks. I was in an Atlanta movie theater. It is then that I made up my mind to come west. I've never looked back. It is all due to this movie. It is, without a doubt, my favorite movie of all time. I just wish Mr. Belushi were still with us. At least Blair is. I'd like to see much more of her in movies. Blair Brown is VERY, VERY underrated. She was wonderful in this film and the film itself should have gotten way more recognition. Just look at the difficulties the cameramen must have encountered for those climbing and coming down the mountain in the snow shots.

One person wrote that a bear entered the cabin. It was NOT a bear, but rather a mountain lion. The only bears in the movie were encountered when Ernie Souchak was climbing up the mountain with the guide, going to Nell's place. See--I do know it by heart.

Hats off to Continental Divide!!!

Predictable and clichéd as it may be, Continental Divide isn't a bad film. The performances are sincere, the mood upbeat, and the characters easy enough to root for. The story deals with a streetwise Chicago reporter having to get out of town for a while after incurring the wrath of a corrupt local politician. Is there any other kind in the Windy City? Anyway, his editor and the editor's wife think he should write a story about a mysterious female ornithologist living in the mountains of Wyoming. Apparently she has lived all alone for 4 years and has become the world's foremost expert on bald eagles. Predictably the reporter is skeptical of this assignment, but of course in the very next scene we see him stumbling up the side of a mountain, cursing the entire way. Naturally when the reporter and scientist meet, it isn't love at first sight. They bicker about this and that between shots of nature and occasional animal attacks. The reporter is sexually attracted to the woman, but it takes a while for her to dump her mountain man lover and warm to her new guest.

In some ways, this plot reminded me of Crocodile Dundee which I've seen recently. Only this time, the reporter mostly stays in the wilderness and HE is the fish out of water. This film clearly marked a turning point in Belushi's brief career. Here he was definitely trying to tone things down from his demeanor in previous films, and he pretty much pulls it off. He could have played just about any role had he lived long enough to do so. He does however look about a decade older than he actually was when this was made. The years of drug abuse were taking their tole. Blair Brown is fetching, energetic, and someone who could have had a bigger career. She is believable as the bird-lover, though the interior of her cabin is too LL Bean-ish compared to the rugged exterior we see in outdoor shots. Indoor and outdoor scenes were likely filmed in different locations. And the film uses the scenic Empire Builder route of Amtrack as the setting for a marathon love-making session by our two leads. Very romantic, indeed.

This film has some glaring lapses in logic, as many romantic comedies do. Do you really think that street muggers would recognize even the most famous of city beat reporters on sight as they rob him for his watch and wallet? How about prostitutes? These don't seem like the types that read newspapers too often. How often do hunters actually shoot at bald eagles? Not much if ever. Despite their reputations among city folk, most hunters have a great love and respect for nature and would never take a shot at an endangered symbol of our country. It does set up a scene with an interesting payoff, though. 6 of 10 stars.

The Hound.

This movie gives me one more reason to wish that John Belushi had taken care of himself, rather than diving into self-destruction. It shows that he had talent well beyond sketch comedy, or Animal House buffoonery. I wish he were still with us.

I'm a sucker for romantic comedies, and -- while not as comedic as most of the genre -- I think Continental Divide definitely qualifies. It's a great "opposites attract" film, and it works for me. The fact that each of the central characters has a vocational passion makes them all the more attracted to each other, despite their callings being separated by a lot of geography, and a lot of psychological differences. I love the scenery, I love Blair Brown, and I love the energy of Belushi's character. We can't bring him back, but I'm thankful we have J.B.'s films to watch forever.

John Belushi - who would have turned 58 today - is remembered as Bluto Blutarsky ("Animal House"), Wild Bill Kelso ("1941"), Jake Blues ("The Blues Brothers"), and various "SNL" characters; all totally wacky. In "Continental Divide", he got what was probably his one serious role. Although most people pooh-poohed it, I didn't find it that bad. As a Chicago reporter developing a relationship with an eagle researcher (Blair Brown) in the Rocky Mountains, Belushi got the chance to say that he had one serious role before his untimely death. If that is the movie's only real strength, then so be it. It may be worth seeing just for that.

And if I may add one thing: people need to give "1941" another chance.

Enjoyable as 'The Blues Brothers' was, it didn't really get a chance to show the versatility of John Belushi's acting talent, or his quieter side. 'Continental Divide' does both - it's a love story which isn't outrageous or slapstick, but genuinely sweet and funny.

Belushi plays a reporter, Ernie, who takes a vacation from sniffing out corruption in Chicago's high places to get a story on a reclusive female scientist (Blair Brown), who is doing just nicely, holed up in the Rocky Mountains. Ernie isn't really the mountain type but as both characters evolve, he becomes more suited to the hard life.

Some corny moments exist in this movie, but it isn't bad at all. It feels a bit like a TV movie rather than a big budget cinema piece (although the locations are beautiful), but it does show there was more to Belushi than you might guess from watching 'National Lampoon's Animal Vacation' or '1941'.