The United States of Movies
Nov. 11th, 2010 09:44 pm![[personal profile]](http://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
wordweaverlynnSomeone has taken a US map and named an appropriate movie for each state. Or rather, one movie set there that seemed reasonably typical. Or, in one desperate case, a film that mocks the dullness of the state.* In another desperate case, they assigned the same film to two states.**
They skipped Washington, DC, which is a pity: so many great films are set there, from Mr. Smith Goes to Washington to All the President's Men. Puerto Rico and the other possessions and territories are also missing.
I recently saw Fast Times at Ridgemont High -- California's assigned movie -- for the first time, and I can see the appropriateness. But we're a big state, and plenty of other great and characteristically Californian films are set here. Movies that couldn't have happened anywhere else, like Chinatown or Milk. You could even do a Sean Penn California trilogy with Fast Times, Milk, and The Falcon and the SNowman all showing different aspects of this very diverse state. Then there's Monsters versus Aliens, which is as much about Modesto versus San Francisco as it is about anything else.
And there are so many other movies that embody the values, culture, history, or geography of a particular state, as well as being set there. Take a look at the list and come up with your own suggestions. And we may as well be international about it. What movies embody your whole nation? Or your region? Or both?
*"Delaware. We're in Delaware," Wayne's World.
** Both Wisconsin and North Dakota were assigned Jesus Camp.
States and Their Movies (in alphabetical order)
They skipped Washington, DC, which is a pity: so many great films are set there, from Mr. Smith Goes to Washington to All the President's Men. Puerto Rico and the other possessions and territories are also missing.
I recently saw Fast Times at Ridgemont High -- California's assigned movie -- for the first time, and I can see the appropriateness. But we're a big state, and plenty of other great and characteristically Californian films are set here. Movies that couldn't have happened anywhere else, like Chinatown or Milk. You could even do a Sean Penn California trilogy with Fast Times, Milk, and The Falcon and the SNowman all showing different aspects of this very diverse state. Then there's Monsters versus Aliens, which is as much about Modesto versus San Francisco as it is about anything else.
And there are so many other movies that embody the values, culture, history, or geography of a particular state, as well as being set there. Take a look at the list and come up with your own suggestions. And we may as well be international about it. What movies embody your whole nation? Or your region? Or both?
*"Delaware. We're in Delaware," Wayne's World.
** Both Wisconsin and North Dakota were assigned Jesus Camp.
States and Their Movies (in alphabetical order)
| State | Film Assigned |
|---|---|
| Alabama | My Cousin Vinnie |
| Alaska | Alone in the Wilderness |
| American Samoa | NA |
| Arizona | Raising Arizona |
| Arkansas | True Grit |
| California | Fast Times at Ridgemont High |
| Colorado | Red Dawn |
| Connecticut | The Ice Storm |
| Delaware | Wayne's World |
| District of Columbia | NA |
| Florida | Scarface |
| Georgia | Deliverance |
| Guam | NA |
| Hawaii | Tora! Tora! Tora! |
| Idaho | Napoleon Dynamite |
| Illinois | Blues Brothers |
| Indiana | Hoosiers |
| Iowa | Field of Dreams |
| Kansas | The Wizard of Oz |
| Kentucky | Kalifornia |
| Louisiana | Southern Comfort |
| Maine | The Shawshank Redemption |
| Maryland | Pink Flamningos |
| Massachusetts | The Departed |
| Michigan | Robocop |
| Minnesota | Fargo |
| Mississippi | O Brother Where Art Thou? |
| Missouri | Jesus Camp |
| Montana | A River Runs Through It |
| Nebraska | The Children of the Corn |
| Nevada | Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas |
| New Hampshire | What about Bob? |
| New Jersey | Clerks |
| New Mexico | The Tao of Steve |
| New York | Taxi Driver |
| North Carolina | Bull Durham |
| North Dakota | Jesus Camp (again) |
| Northern Marianas Islands | NA |
| Ohio | Gumbo |
| Oklahoma | Twister |
| Oregon | Goonies |
| Pennsylvania | Groundhog Day |
| Puerto Rico | NA |
| Rhode Island | There's Something about Mary |
| South Carolina | Glory |
| South Dakota | Dances with Wolves |
| Tennessee | The Evil Dead |
| Texas | No Country for Old Men |
| Utah | SLC Punk |
| Vermont | Super Troopers |
| Virginia | Remember the Titans |
| Virgin Islands | NA |
| Washington | First Blood (AKA the first Rambo movie) |
| West Virginia | Rocket Boys |
| Wisconsin | American Movie |
| Wyoming | Brokeback Mountain |
(no subject)
Date: 2010-11-12 01:39 pm (UTC)Milk
Going the Distance
Heathers
Clueless
Better Luck Tomorrow
Nevada:
Casino
Leaving Las Vegas
Bugsy
D.C.:
The American President
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Hawaii:
Lilo & Stitch
Blue Crush (I mean, gag, but still, compared to Tora! Tora! Tora!...)
(no subject)
Date: 2010-11-12 01:57 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-11-12 03:54 pm (UTC)b) that's missouri, not wisconsin. wisconsin is at the top and looks like a face facing west.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-11-12 05:48 pm (UTC)(I lol at Brokeback Mountain. My theory is that Ang Lee saw a photo of Wyoming said "Too ugly! Let's film in Canada!" I think Wyoming is quite lovely, but it's an acquired taste. Montana at least looks a little more like the Canadian Rockies.)