On location

In the last three weeks, I have checked out seven films, including one in the theater. While five of them were not entertaining, the other two had one thing in common: they were shot in places I know very well. Here is a comparison of the films’ use of the locations (Don’t worry; there are no spoilers).

Thank You for Smoking: Locations mentioned include Washington, D.C., and Winston-Salem, N.C. While this was a fine movie, all the references to Winston-Salem as “Winston-Salem” agitated me. Any North Carolinian or Big Tobacco executive would refer to it as simply “Winston.” As for the D.C. shots, I really didn’t see the capital in them.

Wedding Crashers: Locations included Washington, D.C. This film is great in both use of location and in content. I wasn’t a fan of The 40 Year Old Virgin, but this similar comedy was better. Throughout the movie, I really got a sense of D.C. (at least the parts I’ve seen of it) as a central part of the film rather than a drop in dialogue.

I also watched Elizabethtown and only like the locations, not the overall story and acting.

permalink | | | 05/17/2006

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