Movies and Place: The Sequel

A few location-specific movies of interest:

Kontroll (2004):  Filmed almost entirely in the Budapest subway.  Romance, cynicism, and a murder mystery prove there's a lot going on underground.  Move toward the light.

Hoosiers (1986):  I'm biased because it was filmed in my home state.  People who call this a sports movie don't get it; it's about forgiveness and second chances.  The opening credits show rural Indiana beautifully and that's how it really looks.

Casablanca (1942):  Still one of the most beautiful films every made.  Casablanca is the transition point between war-torn Europe and the hope of freedom in America.  Only a special breed, like Rick and his friend Renault, choose to stay in Casablanca.  The film reminds us that, like today, "isolationism is no longer a practical policy."

The Untouchables (1987):  Sean Connery asks the all-important question, "What are you prepared to do?" in the movie that taught us about "the Chicago way."  The heart-stopping train station shootout was filmed in Chicago's Union Station.

The Last Picture Show (1971):  The dust blows, the windshield is cracked, and the bed creaks to wake the devil - Peter Bogdanovich shows us life in a small, remote town with clinical precision.  The nearest glamour is in Wichita Falls, but Cybill Shepherd, Jeff Bridges and Timothy Bottoms give us the beauty and recklessness of youth born in a town without hope.

See my previous post on movies and place for additional suggestions.