Sunday, September 13, 2009

ON MOVIES ~ On Location...


Feature Presentation...
MONDAY MOVIE MEME

Molly looked around for a weekly meme about movies and did not have any luck. So therefore she decided to start her own! Andy will play along as well - hopefully you will too. Go to your blog and create your own post on the topic, linking back to us in your post, then come back and leave a link to your post here in our Comments section. If you don’t have a blog, just share your response in the Comments section.

This week's movie topic is all about Regional Representation...

We live outside of Boston and in addition to a growth in the filmmaking business going on in the region, there are lots of films being made about our hometown. Sometimes they get the accent right, sometimes they don't. In many instances the city is painted in a beautiful light, often times ugly pieces from the past are shoved into the spotlight. There are times when we are intimately familiar with the settings, and in others we are introduced to new spots. It is hard to not be drawn to a movie set in your home city, state or region. Here are some that have portrayed pieces of our area. Share on your blog movies set in your part of the world and then link back here at The Bumbles. And don't forget to visit your fellow participants!

  • The Departed (2006) - Re-make of a Hong Kong film tailored to fit the Whitey Bulger mafia world of Boston with strong performances by Matt Damon, Leo DiCaprio, Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg, Martin Sheen and Alec Baldwin - Leo's accent was better than locals Damon and Wahlberg.
  • Blown Away (1984) - Former IRA radical explosives expert escapes Irish prison and flees to Boston where he seeks revenge on a Boston Bomb Squad officer - with actors like Jeff Bridges, Tommy Lee Jones and Forest Whitaker you would think this would be a good movie. Not so much - and the accents were horrible. But the explosions and hurtling cars were kinda cool with the city as a backdrop.
  • Good Will Hunting (1997) - Pointing out the disparity between working class Southie and high brow Cambridge, Matt Damon & Ben Affleck's movie about a math whiz stuck on the wrong side of the tracks highlights Robin Williams as the patient mentor from which he earned an Oscar (in spite of the bad accent).
  • Field of Dreams (1989) - Though set in Iowa, Kevin Costner's character makes a plot defining trip to Boston to bring James Earl Jones, as a reclusive '60's radical author, to a Red Sox game at Fenway before convincing him of his fated destination back in the cornfields.
  • Mystic River (2003) - There is nothing pretty about the Boston neighborhood, characters or tragedy connecting them in this dark movie directed by Clint Eastwood featuring Kevin Bacon along with Tim Robbins and Sean Penn in very deserving Oscar winning roles. Three childhood friends are reconnected by a tragic murder and the twist at the end is heart wrenching. The accents here were close enough.
  • Far and Away (1992) - Back when Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman were a happy couple, Ron Howard directed them in this beautiful movie about Irish immigrants in Boston searching for the American Dream in the late 1800's.
  • Mona Lisa Smile (2003) - Julia Roberts portrays a forward thinking teacher in the 1950's at all girls school Wellesley College outside of Boston (alma mater of Hillary Clinton) where she tries to convince her young students to be independent and self-sufficient in a culture where that is frowned upon. Stellar supporting cast includes Kirsten Dunst, Julia Stiles, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Ginnifer Goodwin and Marcia Gay Harden. The movie showcases the beautiful grounds of the college which is 5 minutes from our house!

  • Do you have a topic to suggest to the Monday Movie Meme? Leave it in the Comments section or send us an e-mail.

    24 comments:

    maritz said...

    been here.. love to join

    Sandy Nawrot said...

    This is not an easy one for me, so since I'm not participating today, I guess I saved myself a few hours obsessing over all the bad movies shot in Florida! haha Hey, where is Fever Pitch?

    Beth F said...

    Well you have so many good local movies. I don't think there are any local to my area, though there are certainly movies shot in PA.

    Natsthename said...

    Hmm, since I also live in your area, I'll choose flicks from my actual hometown. See if I can think of any.

    Natsthename said...

    And, what no Boston Strangler?

    LOL at the comment on Fever Pitch.

    Unknown said...

    This one is fun for me. Thanks.

    Mine is here

    I had to really narrow it down, so I only put 3.

    kayerj said...

    I loved Mona Lisa Smile. You'd think with all of the rich history, and historical sights something from the revolutionary war period would be made. If you want to wander down my road I’m home.

    Penny said...

    Add Shutter Island to that list :)

    Heather G. said...

    You have some great movies being shot in your area...we get a few here in Utah, but not too many. I'm doing a pirate theme week on my blog so I'll be back to my regular scheduled programming next week for this meme!

    Carleen said...

    You'd think that because I'm in California, hello -- HOLLYWOOD and all -- that this one would have been easy, right? Ha! I laugh in the face of adversity. . .

    and then cry in the corner!

    Here's my post: http://lifelibertycoffee.blogspot.com/2009/09/monday-movie-meme-regional.html

    Chris said...

    i dont think i would be able to join today's theme :)

    whats our theme next week?? :D

    ds said...

    Not too many movies about this area (though it has served as a location for some). Loved your list, especially Good Will Hunting.
    Thanks!

    The Gal Herself said...

    I loved this week! Not only for the movies that feature my beloved Chicago, but because Boston is also one of my favorite cities. Naturally I'm a fan of Matt and Ben, and part of why I continue reading the Spenser books is that so much action takes place in the Commons and the Garden and the Ritz. Boston is a great city to walk around in.

    Heather said...

    I remembered this week.

    Movies set/filmed in Madison/Wisconsin

    Anonymous said...

    I watch a movie every night lately and we've been running out of things to watch, you're giving me great ideas!

    Anonymous said...

    I loved Far & Away and Mystic River! I can't do this post today, but a few Cleveland area movies...Christmas Story, 1983(the house is a tourist attraction here), The Soloist 2009, Antwone Fisher 2002, and of course, Major League 1989.

    Janet said...

    Blown Away came out when I lived in Japan and boy was I happy to see all those old familiar places!

    Lulu said...

    Good Will Hunting is a good movie.

    Mike said...

    Are you trying to make me actually think? I have moved around a bit, and I am drawing a blank, except for the original Friday the 13th that was filmed in Jersey!

    Matty said...

    Here are a few from Philadelphia.

    http://mattythoughts26.blogspot.com/2009/09/on-movieson-location.html

    You might want to use Mr. McLinky on this meme, so everyone can see everyone else who posted. Just a thought.

    Julie said...

    Boston has been the scene for so many great movies! My list is up :)

    Unknown said...

    Um, let me think what movies are set in Florida. I know of a few tv shows: Miami Vice, CSI Miami.

    I think "Married to the Mob" had a scene in Miami. Flipper. Ernest Saves Christmas. Girl Happy (Elvis). Clambake (Elvis). Smokey & The Bandit part 3. There's Something About Mary. True Lies.

    Jennifer said...

    Ah man, Boston gets all the good movies. What's Las Vegas good for? The hookers and murderers! ;-) LOL!

    Anonymous said...

    Well, I have to make sure that "Gone Baby Gone" gets a mention here.