SteveSilver.net

As soon as I read the list, before I got to your end comments, I looked at my home state (Indiana) and immediately thought 'Hoosiers' or 'Rudy' (hey, I live in S. Bend and love ND). Then I looked at Illinois and thought 'blues Brothers'.

Glad you took my Wisconsin suggestion. For Vermont, may I suggest "White Christmas"?

didnt seabiscuit take place in california?

California: Hmmmm.. LA Confidential? Does the Right Stuff Qualify? VERTIGO!?!?!?!?!!?
OK, so its tough, I'll admit

New York: Good Luck... but I like your choice so I can't complain.

Indiana: Hoosiers or Rudy

Connecticut: Scenes From a Mall was shot in my town's mall, but it sucked, and took place in California, so screw that. Hmmm... The private school in Outside Providence is in CT. Also, the Ref takes place in CT. Gentleman's Agreement? Christmas in Connecticut?

Idaho: I vote for Twin Falls, Idaho )having never seen it) since I couldn't stand Napoleon Dynamite on any scale other than the commercials and trailers were funny.

Alaska: Insomnia (I could argue that it might be better than Mystery (but I'm a big hockey fan and a Rangers fan to boot, so I won't bother). Also... THE GOLD RUSH?!?!?!?!?!? Come on Steve.

Oh, and I'll probably comment more when I have more time to research this.

BLOGGER!!! Alot of these choices are full of crap. Outside Providence???? WTF! I'm not gonna name alternatives because its not like you are gonna change your choice anyways...DIE BLOGGERS DIE!

"...the state has to have been a state at the time that the movie is set (which disqualifies lots of Westerns)..."

It also disqualifies DC.

I'm going to have to agree with the comment made by A above: Outside Providence?? I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to assume you couldn't think of anything else taking place in Rhode Island, else I'll have to shed a tear for the sad sad state of RI-based film. Dan said it was good, and I was asleep within 15 minutes of the opening scene. Awful. Offal.

PS: My Own Private Idaho?

Ferris Bueller over Blues Brothers?
also ... how could New Jersey's selection have been anything other than Clerks?
oy.

Alternative choice for RI- Me, Myself, and Irene with Jim Carrey as the wacko rhode island state trooper. Although, I think a lot of the movie actually takes place outside or RI.

*Leprechaun* for North Dakota?

Surely you jest. "Ulee's Gold" was no great shakes, but it was set in NoDak and beat the blarney out of friggin' "Leprechaun". It netted Fonda an Oscar nomination, for crying out loud...

And one of these years, "Pitch Black" is going to finally go into production. It's the story of the Negro league players who spent their summers in NoDak during the twenties and thirties. In '35, a NoDak all star team led by Satchel Paige and Josh Gibson, with a bunch of locals, swept the Major League all stars in a series.

Someday!

I HAVE A WAY BETTER ONE FOR MISSOURI!

Waiting for Guffman!

Minnesota:

Agree with Fargo. But, here are some runner's Up in no particular order. These are the one's I can think of that actually are set in Minnesota, others such as Beutiful Girls, The Good Son were filmed there, but these ones were actually set there.

Foolin' Around - Gary Busey, the St. Paul Cathedral and a hang glider what could be better. It's Caddyshcak without all of that distracting humor;

Mighty Ducks - to NHL franchises in Anaheim what Fargo was to wood chippers (cameos by Mike Madano and Basil McRae);

That was Then, This is Now. Emilio Esteves began his love affair with the state of Minnesota in the mid 1980's only to return to coach a youth hockey team. Casting call for extras at SLP High School in 1985. Frieds Darren and Kurt on a scene on a bus.

Purple Rain: No this is not a tribute to Red McCombs, but Prince's cinematic debut. After Appolonnia asks Prince to help her carreer while the two are walking around Lake of the Isles, Prince tells her she has to purify herself Lake Minnetonka first. Appollonia jumps naked in Lake of the Isles. She is already in the water before Prince tells her, "but this isn't Lake Minnetonka."

Drop Dead Gorgeous: Kirstie Allie as the pagent mom from hell, in this not as funny attempt at being a Christopher Guest a movie. Kirstin Dunst, who ironically looks like one of my old hockey teammates from pee wees in Minnesota, completes the Minnesota connection.

Little Big League - A kid takes over ownership of the Twins from his grandfather, an aged owner who dies, and Twins win the WS. Apparently learning his lesson from Field of Dreams, Timothy Busfield is a great player on the team, who wants to date the kid's MILFy mom. John Gordon plays himself as the Twins announcer and actually gets his line right. Yeah, we can dream.

A Simple Plan: Billy Bob before Anegelina and Sling Blade. Fargo-esque in its Northern Minnesota setting. Great crime/mystery flick with a twist at the end. Call it the poor man's Fargo, but a really good flick.

Grumpy Old Men: Ever since Ann Margaret appeared on an episode of the Flintsones, I have been hooked. So were Lemmon/Mathau in this classic buddy film. Best old guy buddy performance since George Burns and Art Carney in the Sunshine Boys.

Ice Castles: Only DB Sweeney could have saved this sappy flick about a blind figure skater. Scenes at the met center is about the only thing I remember.

Illinois: How can you forget Wayne's World?

Whoa! Guffman! Totally forgot about that one... Steve, will you be revising at all, or do you stand by your choices regardless of comments? Is there some kind of site that has a listing of where movies take place, or do we have to get creative and try to actually remember these things? This one's tough.

Nevada: Does Godfather II count? If not, then I'd go with Leaving Las Vegas before Casino. I liked Casino better when it was made the first time as a film named Goodfellas. :)

Excellent list, only a few quibbles...

AL - "Forrest Gump"
CA - "Chinatown"
OH - "The Shawshank Redemption"
OR - "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest"
SD - "North By Northwest"

SD - Starship Troopers - "The only good bug is a dead bug!"

Krybo, I like Casino as the choice for Nevada. People have always screamed at me for this one, but I liked Casino better than Goodfellas. I think DeNiro and Pesci both give more powerful performances; it's a better looking movie; and Ray Liotta is a douchebag. Hah! (And I'm not sure Godfather II counts. A lot is in Nevada, but I doubt it adds up to 2/3. Maybe half.)

Illinois: either the Blues Brothers or the Untouchables.

Wouldn't credit for Fargo technically go to North Dakota?

Comments on the comments...

Wasn't Shawshank set in Maine? That would automatically make it the best movie set in that state.

As for Illinois, The Untouchables is it.

You could also have "Psycho" for Arizona.

As for Ulee's Gold: Wasn't that in Florida?

And definitely Chinatown for California. Or Singin' in the Rain, but not Graffiti. Good, but it doesn't measure up to those two.

I was thinking of Untouchables, but somehow I forgot to put it in my original post. And I wholeheartedly agree with Rob on the whole Singin' in the Rain thing. I would even put Who Framed Roger Rabbit on a top 10 California movies list.
Rob, Steve HATES Shawshank (and as a college friend of his who attended a few critics screenings with Steve, all I can say is that his tast falters on occassion :-P) but I agree with Rob on whatever State Shawshank is in it is the best movie taking place in that state.
And I always have an issue with moving a Steven King Novella out of its original setting for a movie purpose (I'm referring to Stand By Me here. IT SHOULD BE IN MAINE!!!)

Evil Dead was in Morristown, Tennessee. Maybe it should get a mention just because it says that even a schmuck like me can make a pretty good film. ("Pretty good" is probably questionable.)
If DC is going to be there, you should also include US Territories in that list. Though I am pressed to think of any movies. Maybe some one else will.
And N by NW wasn't all in South Dakota. Just the final scenes. He flew to Mount Rushmore. Remember the scenes with the UN?

I vote "To Kill a Mockingbird" for Alabama.

Would dispute a few of the choices and assumptions (Shawshank was set in Maine), but I'll stick to my own state in challenging the choices.
"Remember the Titans" certainly makes the top three, but what about "Shenandoah" (Jimmy Stewart), and "Gods and Generals"? Of the three, probably only the latter two uniquely capture the character of her people while also reflecting the Commonwealth's natural beauty.

The best movie that takes place in RI is easily Federal Hill.

robocop was better then "out of sight" any day.. i mean come on.. its a robot cop!

I hate to be a pest, but your own rules said that the movie has to be set in a state WHILE it was a state.

"From Here To Eternity" was set in Hawaii...in 1941 --- right around Pearl Harbor if my memory serves. Either way, it was before Hawaii was a state by a good many years. Hawaii was just a possession of the USA at the time. So, in theory, saying you can't count many classic westerns because they took place in United States territories - not states - at the time would hold true for "From Here To Eternity" considering Hawaii wasn't a state when the movie took place.

In fact, the movie was made in 1953 I think...and Hawaii didn't even come a state until 1959. It doesn't even cut it for that argument as well.

Again, sorry to be a pest.

Okay, so major beef with "A River Runs Through It"; being a Montanan, it was just sentimental crap to me. I'd have to say that the best Montana movie is "Rancho Deluxe" (with Jeff Bridges at some of his pre-Dude best as a very small-time cattle thief).

Really, I don't have a big beef with "Stand by Me" but "...Cuckoo's..." and another Ken Kesey creation, "Sometimes a Great Notion" are simply better than SBM, IMHO.

And you just got to go with "Hoosiers" or "Rudy" for Indiana. I mean, maybe in 2057 when cycling is all the rage again...

Okay, so major beef with "A River Runs Through It"; being a Montanan, it was just sentimental crap to me. I'd have to say that the best Montana movie is "Rancho Deluxe" (with Jeff Bridges at some of his pre-Dude best as a very small-time cattle thief).

Really, I don't have a big beef with "Stand by Me" but "...Cuckoo's..." and another Ken Kesey creation, "Sometimes a Great Notion" are simply better than SBM, IMHO.

And you just got to go with "Hoosiers" or "Rudy" for Indiana. I mean, maybe in 2057 when cycling is all the rage again...

How can Wisconsin not be "Major League?"

Shawshank Redemption was set in Mansfield, Ohio (http://www.mrps.org/)

Broadway recently featured a video of an avant garde dance troop out of Dayton, Ohio. Hollywood has used us as a location for four major motion pictures: Harry and Walter go to New York; Tango and Cash; The Shawshank Redemption; and, Air Force One.

Washington State Movies (A LOT better than Singles)

Fear (Mostly filmed on Mercer Island)

Sleepless In Seattle (DUH!!!)

Parts of War Games (Such as the NORAD HQ set, were built in the North Cascades. Sets were also built at Darrington High School and a general store pay phone scene was only five miles from town. The “Oregon” airport was actually Boeing Field and “Goose Island” was none other than our own Anderson Island.)

Black Sheep (Buckley)

Dante's Peak (The interiors of the volcano were filmed at Mount Saint Helens.)

Double Jeopardy (Ashley Judd's character's house is at East Beach, just north of Deception Pass. Also Whidbey Island)

Ghost Dad (Seattle)

The Hand That Rocks The Cradle (Issaquah, Seattle, Tacoma)

The Hunt for Red October (Keyport and Port Angeles)

Indian Jones and the Temple of Doom (Parts filmes at Grand Coulee Dam above the Columbia River and Franklin D. Roosevelt Lake.)

Life or Something Like It (Starring Angelina Jolie. The fictional show, That's Seattle Life, was filmed at KOMO-TV Channel 4. Various other downtown exteriors were also used.)

The Long Kiss Goodnight (filmed in Lynwood)

The Ring (Bellingham, Monroe, Deception Pass, Whidbey Island, Port Townsend, Seattle and Stanwood)

Ten Things I Hate About You (Seattle)

Surviving The Game (Starring Ice-T, Gary Busey, Charles S. Dutton Filmed in Wenatchee and Entiat)

Shawshank Redemption was set in Mansfield, Ohio (http://www.mrps.org/)

Broadway recently featured a video of an avant garde dance troop out of Dayton, Ohio. Hollywood has used us as a location for four major motion pictures: Harry and Walter go to New York; Tango and Cash; The Shawshank Redemption; and, Air Force One.

Washington State Movies (A LOT better than Singles)

Fear (Mostly filmed on Mercer Island)

Sleepless In Seattle (DUH!!!)

Parts of War Games (Such as the NORAD HQ set, were built in the North Cascades. Sets were also built at Darrington High School and a general store pay phone scene was only five miles from town. The “Oregon” airport was actually Boeing Field and “Goose Island” was none other than our own Anderson Island.)

Black Sheep (Buckley)

Dante's Peak (The interiors of the volcano were filmed at Mount Saint Helens.)

Double Jeopardy (Ashley Judd's character's house is at East Beach, just north of Deception Pass. Also Whidbey Island)

Ghost Dad (Seattle)

The Hand That Rocks The Cradle (Issaquah, Seattle, Tacoma)

The Hunt for Red October (Keyport and Port Angeles)

Indian Jones and the Temple of Doom (Parts filmes at Grand Coulee Dam above the Columbia River and Franklin D. Roosevelt Lake.)

Life or Something Like It (Starring Angelina Jolie. The fictional show, That's Seattle Life, was filmed at KOMO-TV Channel 4. Various other downtown exteriors were also used.)

The Long Kiss Goodnight (filmed in Lynwood)

The Ring (Bellingham, Monroe, Deception Pass, Whidbey Island, Port Townsend, Seattle and Stanwood)

Ten Things I Hate About You (Seattle)

Surviving The Game (Starring Ice-T, Gary Busey, Charles S. Dutton Filmed in Wenatchee and Entiat)

indiana - a christmas story, a timeless classic along with hoosiers.

"The fictional town of Castle Rock is used as the setting for several Stephen King stories. Though ["Stand by me"] was shot in Oregon, only "Portland" is alluded to in the film which is also a major city in Maine - where King is from and sets his stories."
-imdb.com

South Dakota - Dances With Wolves

Illinois HAS TO BE BLUES BROTHERS.

Illinois-Blues Brothers
Rhode Island-Dumb and Dumber (who cares about aspen)
Mass.-Boondock Saints

Deer Hunter kicks Rocky's ass for PA.

Night of the Living Dead and Deer Hunter kick Rocky's chump ass for PA.

Shawshank Redemption is definately set in maine, it may have been filmed in ohio, but the movie is set in Maine. the Maine national bank, which andy visits when taking out money, is in Portland, Maine. there are also refrences to the maine state correctional system.

also its pretty hard to argue with remember the titans, but what about donnie darko, it's set completely in farfax county virginia, and is sweet.

apparently you didn't do your research for Oklahoma, just picked the obvious. The Outsiders by Coppola (and starring Matt Dillon, Ralph Macchio, C. Thomas Howell, Patrick Swayze, Rob Lowe, Emilio Estevez, Tom Cruise, Diane Lane and Tom Waits) was set and filmed in Tulsa. Not to mention the kids classic "Where the Red Fern Grows", also set in OK.

Come on what the hell is diner?...Alright ill admit it.... Marylands got nothing.

Cool as hell man, I never knew people even knew where north dakota was.

Well, no westerns limits it a bit much, but.. for California, you also have all those great noirs: The Maltese Falcon, The Big Sleep, Farewell My Lovely, etc.

Not to mention that little film that Orson Welles did, whassitcalled, oh yeah, Citizen Kane.

I'm also pretty sure that most of Close Encounters is set somewhere else; only the finale takes place in Wyoming.

clerks for NJ and definatly North by northwest for SD. and someone mentioned "ten things i hate about you" being seattle. that's the skyline they showed in the movie, but the school (which is an actual public high school) is in tacoma wash. ((and called stadium high, after the crazy football field))

First of all, I am extremely disappointed in the CA choice. American Graffiti is good, but may I suggest Pulp (F-ing) Fiction, for God's sake? Other good choices would be Mullholland Drive, LA Confidential or Sideways (just to name a few).

Also, being that Singles is a piece of crap, may I suggest Black Sheep w/ Farley and Spade? Stupid, perhaps. But no one can deny a Farley/Spade flick is better than Singles.

Ohio--"Major League"
NY--"Goodfellas"
NJ--"Clerks"
CA--"Reservoir Dogs" (I have a thing for Tarantino)

NJ - A Beautiful Mind

You gotta put "The Postman" for Oregon because "Stand By Me" was a good film, but wasn't set in Oregon. It was set in Maine like it was said earlier. Since the book and parts of the film are set in Maine, it disqualifies it from being on the list for Oregon.

California: Bullitt. It seems so obvious to me.

screw The Postman. How about Animal House for Oregon?!?!?!? clearly the best choice.

from IMDB:
John Landis had a budget of only $2.5 million, so to cut costs the movie was shot almost entirely on the U of O (university of oregon) campus, including the court scene and scenes in the dean's office (the exceptions being the road trip and the parade, which were filmed near Cottage Grove, Oregon).

screw The Postman. How about Animal House for Oregon?!?!?!? clearly the best choice.

from IMDB:
John Landis had a budget of only $2.5 million, so to cut costs the movie was shot almost entirely on the U of O (university of oregon) campus, including the court scene and scenes in the dean's office (the exceptions being the road trip and the parade, which were filmed near Cottage Grove, Oregon).

Although it's not obvious, Fight Club took place in Wilmington, Delaware and is infinately better than Dead Poets Society.

Although it's not obvious, Fight Club took place in Wilmington, Delaware and is infinately better than Dead Poets Society.

Colorado = South Park: The Movie. The end.

DONKEYS! A bunch of gibberish from dolts that know nothing about the film industry!

How can you not pick RoboCop for Michigan...that is a no brainer

Arizona - Psycho
Washington, D.C. - Dr. Strangelove
Alabama - Forrest Gump
Mississippi - Cool Hand Luke

Texas - Office Space

TEXAS- Life Of David Gale

Just so people know...most movies set in AK are not filmed there....it's all Canada...

hey listen.. yea thats pretty sad the only movie u can relate to missouri is meet me in st. louis... damn this state sucks

Oregon?

Animal HOUSE. Please!

ohio - shawshank redemption

Alabama? Forest Gump? Duh?

Close Encounters "took place" in Muncie, IN

I think Louisiana's should have been "RAY".

Most of it was filmed at the Saenger Theatre in New Orleans. Other parts were at the various jazz clubs in New Orleans.

Dazed & Confused should absolutely win for Texas.

The first part of "There's Something About Mary" takes place in RI.

Also, a great low budget movie called "Providence."

michigan, virgin suicides.
but ive never seen the other one posted.

How about Clerks, Mallrats, or Chasing Amy for New Jersey...that's some true Jersey flavor.

Minnesota: “Fargo”-

But, Fargo isn't in Minnesota. It's in North Dakota.

All of John Waters' movies were set in Baltimore. I would choose Pecker over Diner any day, but I know Diner is considered a really good flick.

Animal House was filmed in Oregon but is supposed to be set in PA so, it can't be an Oregon film, sorry guys...from IMDB:

It is likely the unnamed location of Faber College is Pennsylvania, as there are many references to that state in the movie. Flounder's brother is from Harrisburg; Flounder borrows his brother's car only "for a week or so" to bring his girlfriend "up for the weekend" and the car has the yellow-on-blue license plates which were the official Pennsylvania plate colors in the 1960s and '70s; many other vehicles in the movie have the same color plates; they take their road trip to Dickinson College ("I hear Dickinson girls are fast.").

Although the film takes place in Pennsylvania, a Tennessee flag is shown in the courtroom. This is because the set decorator was unable to find a large enough Pennsylvania flag for the scene, and the blue Oregon state flag wouldn't work because it had "State of Oregon" text on the upper part. So the set decorator used the most generic flag he could find, which turned out to be the Tennessee state flag.

Thanks for listing Stripes for Kentucky! I nearly gagged when I saw the first choice was Seabiscuit, though...

I would have to add Norma Rae to the list for Alabama, instead of "Big Fish"...

And I would say Manhattan instead of The Godfather for NY, just because Godfather isn't really *that* NY...

I would say Say Anything is perhaps a better movie than Singles for Washington, but what do I know...

And I would agree that Chinatown is more California than American G... just my two cents...

Other than that, I think this list is pretty amazing.

Not much as been shot in Okla, but I wouldn't say "OKLAHOMA" was the best of them.

Twister was shot in Oklahoma and is a much better movie. Also The Outsiders and Tex were both shot in Oklahoma and written by a Okie. Both are better movies.

Fargo is in North Dakota. NOT Minnesota.

the first half of full metal jacket takes place in south carolina.
Lords of Discipline was a terrible movie, I say that and I'm a Citadel Grad, find something better for lords of discipline

furthermore "no way out" starring kevin costner takes place largely in arlington va, better than crappy and innacurate RTT.
Also Patriot Games is a hell fo a good movie and takes place in Maryland
Detroit Rock city crushes Out of Sight

Major League was set in Cleveland, Ohio, not in Wisconsin as someone commented. The stadium scenes were filmed in Milwaukee though.

Much of the action of Bringing Up Baby takes place in Connecticut. That's really a classic. A key scene in Auntie Mame takes place in CT. What else? Amistad, Jacknife (which no one saw but was filmed a few streets over from me and in my high school), Mystic Pizza, PCU was based on Wesleyan University (one of the most PC places in the US), both Stepford Wives (though how good either of those are is debatable).

How about Party House for Oregon

FARGO IS NORTH DAKOTA !

For Minnesota you should have 'Drop Dead Gorgeous'

Fargo takes place in Minnesota you dumbf*%$s. Yes, the city of Fargo is in ND. But the movie takes place in Brainerd (home of Babe the Big Blue Ox and Paul Bunyan) Minneapolis, and White Bear Lake (go Bears!)

For Michigan how about:
Gross Point Blank
8 Mile
Roger & Me
Hoffa
Somewhere in Time

For Wisconsin:
The Great Outdoors

For Michigan how about:
Gross Point Blank
8 Mile
Roger & Me
Hoffa
Somewhere in Time

For Wisconsin:
The Great Outdoors

Illinois, you have to consider Risky Business and The Sting. Untouchables is also strong. Putting a musical on the list may be femme, but then, if a movie is called "Chicago" and it wins Best Picture, it might have an argument.

Everyone seems to be forgetting about the best Oregon movie...GOONIES!

Mystery, Alaska is a horrible film. The more one knows about hockey, the worse it is. A much better Alaska choice would be Limbo.

Stripes is pretty weak for Kentucky, considering half the film is in Chicago or Europe.

Last I checked there was no Fargo, MN. I do admit that Minnesota was part of the settings for fargo, but fargo is in way, way north eastern North Dakota. Check it out:
http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?searchtype=address&country=US&addtohistory=&searchtab=home&address=&city=fargo&state=ND&zipcode=

For the love of god--yes, the city of Fargo is in North Dakota, but the *movie* takes place in Minnesota. Similarly, Chinatown is the title of a movie, very little of which actually takes place *in* Chinatown. Symbolism and stuff.

Being There should take Bull Durham off the list for NC.

Being There should take Bull Durham off the list for NC.

i thought evil dead was in MI

Can someone please send a list of movies filmed/partially filmed in Ky? In the process of making a scrapbook for my daughter. Thanks.
Melissa

What is the movie set in Seattle and Whidbey Island about three generations of strong women in a family. It was a great movie.

Best movie set in Minnesota has got to be "Purple Rain". I love Fargo - but "Purple Rain" is the best. "What is the password?" "Right!". Pure hilarity.

On the Waterfront was FILMED in New Jersey, but it was Hoboken standing in for the Brooklyn dockyards. By that criteria, one could pick Eight Men Out, where Hoboken stood in for Chicago, or the countless films where is has stood in for Manhattan.

For best New Jersey film, I'd actually nominate Louis Malle's tragically overlooked mini-classic Atlantic City.

"you'll find a rock that has no earthly business in a Maine hayfield"

Shawshank was in Maine.

I agree DC should really be Dr. Strangelove. (I also really liked "Shattered Glass," but it's nothing should beat Strangelove.)

For Maryland, I much prefer "Avalon" to "Diner," as long as we are talking Barry Levinson films.

For Texas, I'd pick "Dazed and Confused." But there are lots of things I'd pick before "Last Picture Show."

Doesn't Utah have any better movies at all?

maryland - anything by john waters.

I think South Dakota was just the Dakota Territory when the film was set - hence your not including it - but what about Dances with Wolves?

I'd vote Giant for Texas. Also, I still think of Stand by Me as set in Maine, even if it was shot in Oregon. I'd pick Goonies instead.

"Being There should take Bull Durham off the list for NC."

Agreed . . . and then Cape Fear and Cold Mountain should both take Being There off the list.

The Blair Witch Project was filmed in Maryland.

Also Maine has a new movie coming out this summer called "Stern Maine," Thats a pretty sweet movie, and my cousin is the star in it Zach Batchelder. It was filmed in Vanhaven last summer.

The Blair Witch Project was filmed in Maryland.

Also Maine has a new movie coming out this summer called "Stern Maine," Thats a pretty sweet movie, and my cousin is the star in it Zach Batchelder. It was filmed in Vanhaven last summer.
If you've never seen is "Lake Plasid" was also based in Maine.

A strange question to ask I know, but this forum has been unbelievably helpful for me! I'm an Australian actress currently working on a show in which I need to take on a Mid-west accent, specifically rural Illinois (Chicago is not really appropriate) What films/actors could you recommend watching for good examples of this accent? (if the movie is actually good like Ferris then it's a bonus but not essential!)

Thanks!

PS In the same show in an abstractly connected role, I'm playing 30s film star Jean Harlow (born Kansas, Missouri) - do you film buffs have any idea in which films she's using her own authentic accent?

A strange question to ask I know, but this forum has been unbelievably helpful for me! I'm an Australian actress currently working on a show in which I need to take on a Mid-west accent, specifically rural Illinois (Chicago is not really appropriate) What films could you recommend for great examples of this accent?

PS In the same show in an abstractly connected role, I'm playing 30s film star Jean Harlow (born Kansas, Missouri) - any idea in what films she's using her own authentic accent?

I think that American Splendor was overlooked as Ohio's best, and you could also make a case for Tommy Boy, but its almost impossible to say there is a best movie from California or New York because about half of all movies take place in one of the two. There are just to many to choose from.

I agree. "The Godfather" may seem like an easy choice for NY, but, if you really think about it, the number of great films set in NY is astounding: you could name over a dozen great films made by Scorcese and Woody that are set there (Annie Hall, Taxi Driver, Manhattan, Raging Bull, Crimes and Misdemeanors, Mean Streets, etc.) as well as The Producers, Rear Window, Dog Day Afternoon, Do the Right Thing, Network, a large part of Citizen Kane, and too many others to mention...might as well be it's own, seperate conversation.

California the same thing: Chinatown, Pulp Fiction, The Graduate, Most of the best film noir (Double Indemnity, Touch of Evil, etc.) Vertigo, Shadow of a Doubt, Sunset Boulevard, Magnolia, The Big Lebowski, etc.

As for the others, here are a few that haven't been mentioned:

WV: Night of the Hunter

AL: I'd rather watch My Cousin Vinny than Forrest Gump

TX: Blood Simple

MA: Mystic River

AZ - Arizona became a state in 1912, "The Wild Bunch" is clearly set during World War I, so it would be one of the few westerns that would qualify (and one of the best westerns, as well), and though part of it is in Mexico, enough of it is in Arizona to count.

Also, why not a companion list of the worst movies set in each state: Can Crocodile Dundee I, and Crocodile Dundee III pull off the vaunted NY/LA sweep? Or, will the Tommy Lee Jones vehicle "The Park is Mine" team up with "Encino Man" to deny Paul Hogan's place in the Pantheon?

I agree. "The Godfather" may seem like an easy choice for NY, but, if you really think about it, the number of great films set in NY is astounding: you could name over a dozen great films made by Scorcese and Woody that are set there (Annie Hall, Taxi Driver, Manhattan, Raging Bull, Crimes and Misdemeanors, Mean Streets, etc.) as well as The Producers, Rear Window, Dog Day Afternoon, Do the Right Thing, Network, a large part of Citizen Kane, and too many others to mention...might as well be it's own, seperate conversation.

California the same thing: Chinatown, Pulp Fiction, The Graduate, Most of the best film noir (Double Indemnity, Touch of Evil, etc.) Vertigo, Shadow of a Doubt, Sunset Boulevard, Magnolia, The Big Lebowski, etc.

As for the others, here are a few that haven't been mentioned:

WV: Night of the Hunter

AL: I'd rather watch My Cousin Vinny than Forrest Gump

TX: Blood Simple

MA: Mystic River

AZ - Arizona became a state in 1912, "The Wild Bunch" is clearly set during World War I, so it would be one of the few westerns that would qualify (and one of the best westerns, as well), and though part of it is in Mexico, enough of it is in Arizona to count.

Also, why not a companion list of the worst movies set in each state: Can Crocodile Dundee I, and Crocodile Dundee III pull off the vaunted NY/LA sweep? Or, will the Tommy Lee Jones vehicle "The Park is Mine" team up with "Encino Man" to deny Paul Hogan's place in the Pantheon?

Illinois- The Breakfast Club :)

"The movie's a big Hollywood action flick that's all about extreme California livin': beach settings, house parties, skydiving register domain, and a whole lot of surfing. There are girls with weird hair, guys with ridiculous names, and a beach bum as your gun toting government hero. Only in California!"

Yeah and people in Iowa is obsessed with corn, Texans are a gun-totting racists, Alabamans are all inbred, those in Georgia are just waiting for tourist to get lost so they can rape them, and the entire state of Wisconsin shuts down for every Packer game.

I am so tired of the idea that we fit into three groups: radical liberals in San Francisco, self-obsessed wannabe celebrities in Los Angeles, or surfers. There's so much more to the state than that. How about Terminator 2 dedicated server, Pirates of Silicon Valley, Lethal Weapon, Back to the Future, Beverly Hills Cop, Scream, Die Hard, Speed, or Who Framed Roger Rabbit?

Also you should have done Washington DC since it does have electoral votes.