What is your State's movie? What should it be?

[MentalGuy]

I visited Rotten Tomatoes because of the "Worst 100 movies of the last ten years thread" and noticed some other lists that they have. One is a list that they created around the 4th of July which picks a movie for each state. Do you agree with the choice for your state? If not, what would be better?

I am from Kentucky and I agree with the choice of Coal Miner's Daughter.

I lived in Ohio, but can't really comment on Bye-Bye Birdie since I have never seen it.

I lived in Alabama for four years and I don't mind Fried Green Tomatoes, but I would have gone with something about the civil rights movement (though I can't think of anything at the moment).

I have never lived in West Virginia but grew up close by (our TV news was from Huntington). My brother lives in Huntington and his wife is from there and remembers the Marshall plane crash. I understand what a big event that was, but I would have picked October Sky over We Are Marshall (actually I would pick Matewan over either one but I realize they probably wanted to stick to movies people have heard of).

[Khampelf]

Arizona

RT pick - Raising Arizona

Khampelf pick - U Turn. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120399/plotsummary


We're not all colorful eccentrics, some of us are true psychopaths.

[Doyle]

My state's is "The Big Easy." Just a so-so movie, but with a lot of scenes in the French Quarter. A better movie that takes place in LA is "The Apostle," however the setting isn't all that important to the movie. Another good choice would have been "Southern Comfort" - crazy cajuns on the loose.

[Uthrecht]

Hah! Pennsylvania's is Rocky. Well, seeing as I'm in southeastern PA, I suppose I'm fine with that. Solfy might be by in a while to protest, but then again her vote doesn't count.

[Doyle]

Originally Posted by Uthrecht

Hah! Pennsylvania's is Rocky. Well, seeing as I'm in southeastern PA, I suppose I'm fine with that. Solfy might be by in a while to protest, but then again her vote doesn't count.

Solfy's vote is for All the Right Moves.

[SmartAleq]

I dunno, The Goonies is okay and all, but we do have Gus Van Sant and lots of serial killers so maybe something a bit more grownup?

[The Superhero]

They picked Red Dawn for Colorado - not a bad choice, really. I might have gone with South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut instead, as I've always been kind of strangely proud of South Park's Colorado connection. The Shining would also have been an excellent choice, though it's not really about Colorado, it just happens to be a story for which Colorado is an ideal setting. Whenever we take out-of-town visitors up to Estes Park, I always point out the Stanley Hotel to them as Stephen King's inspiration for the book.

Mostly I'm just glad they didn't pick something thoroughly awful like Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead (great title, good song, lousy movie), The Unsinkable Molly Brown (great on stage, terrible on film), or worst of all, Cliffhanger, a movie which has always kind of pissed me off, because in spite of Colorado being the setting, apparently our mountains weren't good enough and the movie was shot mostly in Italy.

The entire list has issues, though. I'm baffled that they picked the thoroughly bland A Prairie Home Companion for Minnesota when Fargo is the obvious and most perfect choice, just so they could reserve Fargo for North Dakota because they've got nothing else for North Dakota.

[mlerose]

I would have picked Cannibal: The Musical for CO.

[PapSett]

Hoosiers for Indiana. About at fitting as any, although not EVERYone in Indiana lives and breathes basketball.

[happiness]

Georgia's is Gone With the Wind. I guess that's really not a big surprise at all, although I would probably would have picked something more current (and realistic).

[Uthrecht]

Originally Posted by The Superhero

The entire list has issues, though. I'm baffled that they picked the thoroughly bland A Prairie Home Companion for Minnesota when Fargo is the obvious and most perfect choice, just so they could reserve Fargo for North Dakota because they've got nothing else for North Dakota.

I'm unfamiliar with the town of Fargo, Minnesota.

[The Superhero]

Originally Posted by Uthrecht

I'm unfamiliar with the town of Fargo, Minnesota.

And yet, all of two minutes of the movie actually takes place in Fargo, with the other 94 minutes happening entirely in Minneapolis and Brainerd, and the entire movie being essentially about the culture clash between criminals and lowlifes and the famous "Minnesota Nice," written and directed by native Minnesotans Joel and Ethan Coen.

In short, other than the title, Fargo has absolutely nothing to do with North Dakota, and everything to do with Minnesota.

[WednesdayAddams]

Texas' is Giant. Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, James Dean in his last role. Which is okay and all, it was a great movie. Were I to pick, it'd probably be either Sons of Katie Elder or Office Space. It was filmed here, dammit, and there are tons of Texas cliches all over the place. All the franchise eateries right next to each other, the neighbor with the mullet and his shirt off all the time....the opening scene where he's inching along? Highway 635, baby. That's Dallas in his rearview.

[Dosipede]

For CA they picked Point Break, which I guess fits. Kinda. California has so freakin' many movies about it that it's hard to narrow it down. For the California I know, I would pick The Grapes of Wrath. I'm sure a lot of people would pick something like Laurel Canyon.

[Solfy]

Originally Posted by DoyleTheLover

Solfy's vote is for All the Right Moves.

You know I've never seen that one or heard more about it than the title. Pittsburgh is all happy about the fact that they've been a movie making spot lately, and we don't associate with Philly that much what with all the cows and trees in between the cities. (WOW there are a lot of cows and trees out there.) I'm positive the RT person who picked Rocky was Philly-centric.

I could vote for Inspector Gadget since they used my employer's corporate headquarters as the evil dude's "secret" hideout. That still cracks me up. Kingpin would be a nice choice. Oh man, how did I miss Bloodsucking Pharos in Pittsburgh?! I'll settle for Flashdance.

I've got to agree - when I think Fargo I think of Minnesotans.

[Zeener Diode]

Originally Posted by SmartAleq

I dunno, The Goonies is okay and all, but we do have Gus Van Sant and lots of serial killers so maybe something a bit more grownup?

Breaking it down by region:

Astoria has Goonies and Kindergarten Cop. Portland has The Temp and The Hunted. But my pick would be central Oregon/ Deschutes River Valley, where they shot both Deliverance and Rooster Cogburn.

[Darmund]

How about "The Shining", shot at Timberline Lodge?

[Zeener Diode]

Of course!

[The Superhero]

Texas and California, I think, are especially difficult due to size and diversity. East Texas and West Texas are practically different states, and probably the only reason that Northern and Southern California aren't different states is that they can't agree on which one would have to take Fresno.

Giant seems like a reasonable pick for Texas, just for encompassing some important aspects of the state like its vast size and the importance of cattle and oil. No Country for Old Men (just like Giant, filmed around Marfa, TX) probably fits the "feel" of modern West Texas better.

(And I don't think the long rows of chain restaurants are unique to Dallas - that's practically all the south end of the Denver Metro Area is, long stretches of office parks peppered with Chili'ses and Olive Gardens.)

Point Break maybe works for SoCal, but has basically nothing to do with Northern California, either geographically or culturally. American Graffiti, filmed in Petaluma and based on George Lucas's memories of growing up in Modesto, might be a better fit, but it doesn't have anything distinctly NorCal-ish about it. Vertigo's got some great SF location photography and The Birds single-handedly made Bodega Bay famous. Milk also has some great shots of The City and tells the story of a pretty key recent historical event in San Francisco and the Bay Area. Bullitt probably features the most iconic San Francisco-specific scene in cinema history.

[SmartAleq]

I can't endorse any movie that thinks the Hawthorne bridge needs a Max train, sorry. On the other hand, Drugstore Cowboy has the Lovejoy Columns and a better insight into the Portland ethos so let's swap out The Hunted for DC, 'kay?

[Doyle]

Originally Posted by The Superhero

Giant seems like a reasonable pick for Texas, just for encompassing some important aspects of the state like its vast size and the importance of cattle and oil. No Country for Old Men (just like Giant, filmed around Marfa, TX) probably fits the "feel" of modern West Texas better.

I was thinking "Hud" for Texas.

[Pansy]

A River Runs Through It for Montana?

Yeah, okay, it could be worse.

[Doyle]

Originally Posted by Solfy

You know I've never seen that one or heard more about it than the title. Pittsburgh is all happy about the fact that they've been a movie making spot lately, and we don't associate with Philly that much what with all the cows and trees in between the cities. (WOW there are a lot of cows and trees out there.) I'm positive the RT person who picked Rocky was Philly-centric.

I could vote for Inspector Gadget since they used my employer's corporate headquarters as the evil dude's "secret" hideout. That still cracks me up. Kingpin would be a nice choice. Oh man, how did I miss Bloodsucking Pharos in Pittsburgh?! I'll settle for Flashdance.

I've got to agree - when I think Fargo I think of Minnesotans.

Wasn't Flashdance Pittsburgh?

[AuntiePam]

Originally Posted by Madpansy

A River Runs Through It for Montana?

Yeah, okay, it could be worse.

Indeed. Nebraska gets Children of the Corn. I can't come up with anything better though.

Iowa gets Field of Dreams. The only other Iowa movie I could come up with is Music Man but I don't think most people associate it with Iowa. Same for State Fair.

[Zeener Diode]

Originally Posted by SmartAleq

I can't endorse any movie that thinks the Hawthorne bridge needs a Max train, sorry. On the other hand, Drugstore Cowboy has the Lovejoy Columns and a better insight into the Portland ethos so let's swap out The Hunted for DC, 'kay?

Van Sant's made a career shooting movies in Portland. In My Own Private Idaho he used local icons as supporting characters.

I picked The Hunted because I have a man-crush on TLJ.

[Solfy]

Originally Posted by DoyleTheLover

Wasn't Flashdance Pittsburgh?

Yes. That's why I picked it. Screw Philly.

[john ingram]

Washington's movie is...
Singles

Never seen it. From the description I think there's a very valid reason why.

Virginia's movie is...
The New World

While it's a quaint suggestion, I'm willing to bet one week's salary that the majority of Virginians polled would not realize that Pocahontas lived in what would become the Commonwealth of Virginia. Unfortunately, I can't think of any movies related to Virginia that aren't set in either the Colonial, Revolutionary or Civil War eras.

[Zeener Diode]

Originally Posted by john ingram

Never seen it. From the description I think there's a very valid reason why.

You can't diss a movie that has Pearl Jam and Soundgarden as supporting characters! If it wasn't for Singles there'd be no Temple of the Dog!

While it's a quaint suggestion, I'm willing to bet one week's salary that the majority of Virginians polled would not realize that Pocahontas lived in what would become the Commonwealth of Virginia. Unfortunately, I can't think of any movies related to Virginia that aren't set in either the Colonial, Revolutionary or Civil War eras.

Probably because the state is still living in those eras.

[john ingram]

Originally Posted by Zeener Diode

You can't diss a movie that has Pearl Jam and Soundgarden as supporting characters! If it wasn't for Singles there'd be no Temple of the Dog!

And this is supposed to be a good thing? I always hated that era of music.

Probably because the state is still living in those eras.

*sigh* So true. Just one of the reasons I ran away.

[The Superhero]

Originally Posted by john ingram

Never seen it. From the description I think there's a very valid reason why.

Could be worse. They could have picked Sleepless in Seattle.

Me, I probably would have gone with Say Anything..., just because it's the best movie I can think of offhand set in Washington.

[Amythyst]

Florida's movie is Key Largo. I've never seen it, so I can't comment on whether its the best film representation of the state.

[CT_Damsel]

CT's movie is the Ice Storm. I think it should be a movie about corrupt politicians since we have a former Gov. and 3 former mayors who have participated in one nefarious action or another.

[blank]

The Commitments

[Kat]

Illinois is The Blues Brothers. I knew that before I went to the site.

I probably would have picked Ferris Bueller, The Breakfast Club or Adventures in Babysitting ("How fast do your parents drive? 45? We'll go 80."). I'm not a big Blue Brothers fan. I know, I know: Sacrilege and blasphemy.

[Colonel Plink]

Originally Posted by The Superhero

Mostly I'm just glad they didn't pick something thoroughly awful like Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead (great title, good song, lousy movie), The Unsinkable Molly Brown (great on stage, terrible on film), or worst of all, Cliffhanger, a movie which has always kind of pissed me off, because in spite of Colorado being the setting, apparently our mountains weren't good enough and the movie was shot mostly in Italy..

Had they ventured into the sandhills of Yuma County, they'd have picked "Deliverance".

[Stupid Sexy Flanders]

Originally Posted by The Superhero

Whenever we take out-of-town visitors up to Estes Park, I always point out the Stanley Hotel to them as Stephen King's inspiration for the book.

I was there last weekend!

Originally Posted by The Superhero

I'm baffled that they picked the thoroughly bland A Prairie Home Companion for Minnesota when Fargo is the obvious and most perfect choice, just so they could reserve Fargo for North Dakota because they've got nothing else for North Dakota.

Grumpy Old Men would work well for MN too.

[Baldwin]

California isn't my state, but I would have picked Short Cuts.

And Rocky makes sense for Pennsylvania -- but I was hoping for Dawn of the Dead (1978).

I live in Georgia. No surprise that they picked Gone With the Wind. I would have been astonished by anything else.

[leafrog]

Originally Posted by Zeener Diode

Breaking it down by region:

Astoria has Goonies and Kindergarten Cop. Portland has The Temp and The Hunted. But my pick would be central Oregon/ Deschutes River Valley, where they shot both Deliverance and Rooster Cogburn.

If we break it down by region, we can give Eugene Animal House and Stand By Me, though both are set in other places.

Central Oregon/Deschutes River Valley could also get Paint Your Wagon.

But my vote for Oregon would be Drugstore Cowboy. I certainly don't think of my beautiful home state when I think of The Goonies!!

[RedRosesForMe]

Originally Posted by ladybug

Florida's movie is Key Largo. I've never seen it, so I can't comment on whether its the best film representation of the state.

Not only is it an awesome movie (<3 Bogart) it has a hurricane, snowbirding mobsters and those pesky Seminoles.

I like the statement that when the weather cools off, "It's downright livable for about 3 months."

[Stupid Sexy Flanders]

Not my state, and not a major complaint, but Hoop Dreams would've worked pretty well for IL. The Fugitive was also pretty well "there".

[DfrntBreign]

Oklahoma! for Oklahoma. How fucking original. This tells me that no one from Rotten Tomatoes has ever been to or met anyone from Oklahoma.

Twister is actually a pretty good depiction, but lately it seems Expelled is a pretty good fit, too (and I ain't happy about it).

[Radical Edward]

Fried Green Tomatoes, and I couldn't agree more.

[cinehead]

Random thoughts about states that I've spent a lot of time in.

Rhode Island
RT - Jazz On A Summer's Day
I've bever seen it, but it sounds pretty cool, I might have to check it out.
My pick - Wind or Federal Hill

Massachusetts
RT - Good Will Hunting
I can't argue with that one.

Pennsylvania
RT - Rocky
Okay, but I think I would have picked Witness.

Nebraska
RT - Children of the Corn
Horrible film, and it doesn't evoke anything about the state.
I would have picked either Terms of Endearment or Election.

Vermont
RT - Super Troopers (huh?)
My pick - What Lies Beneath.

Washington
RT - Singles
Good pick. It's a decent little film by Cameron Crowe that captured the spirit of the Seattle of the early 90's when I lived there. Another good pick would have been The Fabulous Baker Boys.

Florida.
RT - Key Largo.
My pick Sunshine State or Bully.

And some random thoughts on other states.

Alabama. Fried Green Tomatoes is fine, but what about Forrest Gump?

[Radical Edward]

Forrest Gump depresses the hell out of me. Alabama is a happy place. Where the skies are so blue, ya know?

[Anacanapuna]

Red Dawn!? Fuck that. Colorado can't be summarized in one movie -- it had to have a whole damn mini-series about it, adapted from a bestselling novel.

Don't get me wrong, I'm as big a fan of the late, great Swayze as anybody else, loved Roadhouse, watch it every chance I get. But Red Dawn? Seriously?

Originally Posted by Col. Plink

Had they ventured into the sandhills of Yuma County, they'd have picked "Deliverance".

I dunno -- can you even float a canoe down the Arickaree?

[BarbarianAtTheGate]

Michiganian here, and not entirely happy with their selection of "Standing in the Shadows of Motown" as representative of my home state. Yes, I suppose some folks do associate the Motown sound with Michigan, but I would think a much better choice would be "Blue Collar" and it's auto industry theme.

Of course, for this Northerner, "Anatomy of a Murder" springs to mind, even though no one in the UP talks like Jimmy Stewart.

[beebs]

Posting from Boston I guess Good Will Hunting is the best choice. I really wanted to come in to vote for Maine's movie and RT agrees with me picking Dolores Claiborne. The coast/island social culture and accents were perfect. This movie is what made Kathy Bates my favorite actress.

[Elyanna]

I've never seen Point Break. I would second the recommendation of Grapes of Wrath for the California I'm familiar with. It's such a huge state that I don't think one movie can encompass it all.

[The Second Stone]

Point Break for California? That movie was gawd awful!

I've seen no love yet for Chinatown, which is the perfect California masterpiece, and I suppose that has something to do with its director being a child rapist, but the movie is still a masterpiece. To Live And Die In L.A. is also damn good, Sunset Blvd., S.O.B. and Bullit.

[What Exit?]

Clerks for New Jersey actually works pretty well. I was thinking Clerks but surprised to see RT picked it too.

I'm just glad it was not a mob movie.