I read a blog called Single Dad Laughing, and sometimes it's boring and sometimes it ticks me off [much like any other personal blog] but sometimes it intrigues me. A lot.
Dan just posted a map that I've been playing with for five minutes, The Most Noteworthy Movie Ever Filmed in All 50 States. According to this map, Fried Green Tomatoes is the most noteworthy movie ever filmed in Georgia. Hmm. I liked the movie, a lot. I own it. Despite the bad accents and stereotypes, it's a gem of a movie.
But who decided that was the MOST noteworthy movie ever filmed here?
For my money, The Blind Side is the most noteworthy movie ever filmed here. It's a dramatization of a real story, about real people. It has focused a lot of attention on the problem of foster care, and it's drawn a lot of positive attention to the idea of adopting older children.
And it makes me cry, every time I see it.
Tennessee [where I lived for many years] was the filming locale for The Green Mile, another one of my all-time fave movies. I should have known that. I am chagrined that I didn't recognize the state where I lived for 20 years. A lot of scenes were filmed in North Carolina, too. The mountains of East Tennessee and North Carolina are some of the prettiest places I've ever been.
South Carolina, where I have a lot of family, was the location for the filming of The Big Chill, one of my all-time fave movies. It came out my senior year in college. I thought it was brilliant. I rented it not long ago to show my kids and wished I hadn't - all the characters in the movie use drugs, ALL THE TIME. I was appalled. Aside from an awesome soundtrack, it's a movie about drugs. [Yes, I am that square now, and proud of it.]
Much to my disgust, the iconic southern movie Gone With the Wind was filmed entirely in California. I used to be somewhat obsessed with the movie, and I collected dolls and various memorabilia. I still think it's a great story, but the book is far better than the movie. It's definitely not politically correct and I don't blame African Americans for being upset about the way they are portrayed. One thing I've come to understand about Margaret Mitchell is that while she may have appeared to be a small-minded racist, in fact, she gave a lot of money to Morehouse College, a traditionally black school here in Atlanta.
I digressed... as usual.
What I wanted to point out is that movies which have a firm sense of place are so much more prevalent today. I love that. I love that movies are more realistic.
I love the movie Get Low which was filmed in Georgia, although set in Tennessee.
My son and I have been watching back episodes of Breaking Bad, and I feel like I've been to New Mexico every time we finish an episode. Strong sense of place there.
Anyway, I urge you to check out the movie map and see what's been filmed in your state.
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