50 States 50 Movies - YOUR Picks

[pfrsue]

admin said:

How many years has your non-native shell resided in that locale?

Not.....quite.......half my life.....

But, but, Johnny Depp was here a few weeks ago! Only a few miles away! Filming! Really! (If only Christian Bale had showed up, I'd have gone over there with the rest of the gawkers.)

In any case, I can't quibble about your choices for my homeland. (Pennsylvania.) In fact, my ex's mother was a waitress at the restuarant where Harrison Ford ate while filming Witness.

[Rett Mikhal]

I couldn't care less about the rest, but Massachusetts should have no movie. It's not cool enough. If it has to have a movie, it should be 5 hours of Stephen Hawkings talking about quantum singularities so you get an impression how much the state sucks (GET IT?!), or 10 hours of the Angry Video Game Nerd to show what everyone is like and why we need a neutron BOMB.

[delmarod]

Great feature Justin!

<< I wonder if the Mormons actually tried tasting the lake water before planting down their homes, or if they realized their boo-boo a few years after the temple was built?>>

I realize this was probably a bit rhetorical, but I thought I'd chime in anyway. The Mormon pioneers got to Utah (er...Mexico) in 1847, and the temple wasn't finished until over 40 years later. They'd probably figured out their "boo boo" well before that, but after being forced out of their homes (more than once), I suppose some reasty lake wasn't about to stop them from putting down first and last month's rent. Besides, the mountains more than make up for it.

Not that these meet the criteria, but two movies with Utah links you may not have guessed are Footloose (the tales of Kevin Bacon's experience of attending Utah High schools are pretty funny) and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade's opening scenes were shot there...I guess that's the best a state can do when it's capital city is named after an overly salt body of water...

[StarOpal]

coccatino said:

I think Fools Rush In is Nevada- she drives over the Hoover dam

Ah! Okay, I knew it started in Las Vegas (and therefore Nevada), but thought maybe they moved somewhere else. Thanks!

[Head Mutant]

Mea culpa on the Twister/Kansas thing... gonna rectify that. I did try to do my homework, but I guess it was stuck in my mind that Twister = Kansas and that was that.

Boondock Saints is a great pick for Mass, and it's another one I can't believe I didn't think of. That's kind of how the process of making this list went -- I had to resign myself to the knowledge that I'd always be finding more and better movies for each state. Oh well.

[wdm0744]

First of all, great list, Justin. I really enjoyed it. I think that "O Brother, Where Art Thou" was a great choice for my native state of Mississippi. Thanks for not choosing one of the many films that makes Mississippians look like a bunch of backwards, shoe-less racists who don't have access to such advanced technology as air conditioning or ceiling fans (I'm looking at you "A Time to Kill".)

However, I'm a bit confused by your comments concerning the state. Are you saying that the only reason to visit Mississippi would be to escape from another state ruled by mutant blood-sucking insects, and that even then, it would be a difficult choice? If so, I got to say, that's more than a bit offensive.

I've lived in Ms all my life and I've worked for the state government, and let me tell you, it is extremely hard for us to live down similar pre-conceived notions that other people in this country have concerning this state.

Sorry, I'm not trying to get all defensive. I realize every state has been ridiculed or ill-potrayed in the movies at one time or another, although Ms has certainly gotten more than its fair share of bad press.

If you weren't saying that Mississippi is just a step up from the Land That Time Forgot, then my apologies. I just wanted some clarification.

[Head Mutant]

wdm0744,

Maybe I should've elaborated a bit -- my sole experience in Mississippi is when I was passing through and my fuel pump gave out. I spent a day there, and the sheer mugginess and mosquito attacks nearly drove me insane. Wasn't saying anything about the populace at all.

I totally sympathize with your perspective because MANY states receive the butt end of generic, negative stereotypes by Hollywood (esp. the deep south and the midwest), whereas others are elevated to demigod status. When I was growing up in Indiana, I recall growing more and more miffed that so few movies ever took place in the state, whereas NY and CA and IL kept hogging all the glory.

[wdm0744]

Justin,

Thanks for the clarification. Believe me I can relate- I can't imagine that summers in the Amazon are much more miserable than August in Mississippi. The humidity just hits you like a wet brick wall and there are 1 million mosquitos to very person.

Once again, sorry if I came off as angry and defensive. I think Mississippians are just so used to being ridiculed that some of us have developed an over-sensitivity.

I too remember thinking that it was unfair that so many movies were set in NY and CA. Unfortunately, with very few exceptions, any films that actually are set in MS tend to degrade and demonize the state and its people.

Again, thanks for responding in such a patient and clear manner.

[Rett Mikhal]

I'd like to retract my last statement. After observing 'Gone Baby Gone', I have come to the conclusion they must have used real Boston people for it. Everyone is just so... damn... ugly... it's like looking out my window both before and after I vomit. Plus the hideous accents are just so, so, so damn spot on. No where in the history of the universe was there, or will there, ever be enough money to pay someone to intentionally have a Boston accent. I would rather shove forks in my eyes and look inside a toaster.

So, because it IS Boston and the ending makes you question WHY police are so damn stupid (IS IT A LIGHTBRIGHT?!!?!?), GBG gets my vote.

Good Will Hunting, however, does NOT. No where in my walks of life have I ever met anyone even close to intelligent in the 'great' state of Massachusetts.

I remind you I attend college in Boston.

I remind you it's an engineering college.

Motto of the story AVOID BRIDGES.

[ironica728]

Wizard of Oz for Kansas, definitely.
Clueless for California.
What about the Departed to Massachusetts? Not even a mention!

But I love that Goonies won Oregon! Goonies Goonies Goonies!!!!!!