What movie defines your country/city/region?

[El Presidente]

This was a topic of discussion at last weeks long lunch (we cover all the big issues )

Naturally we were talking Australian movies. it was agreed that by a country mile the movie that defined broadbase Australia was "The Castle". Solid working class people with humour, dodgy lawyers, shifty politicians,,,,brilliant. if you can download it do so.

Similarly, I was wondering today if there are a members around the world who resonate with a movie that defines an important characteristic of their country. it may not be a blockbuster...but one that strikes a chord.

let me know and I will download a few

[aes8]

Two come to mind for me personally. Gran Torino and Crash.

I grew up in the rust belt and then moved west to start my career after graduation.

[Pilsner14]

4.............Slap slot, Strange Brew, Canadian Bacon, and.......... Fubar (for good measure)...............

Classic canadiana.........if only one...........Strange brew. Enjoy Rob!

JD

[CanuckSARTech]

"Bon Cop, Bad Cop"

[Jeremy Festa]

Two Aussie films that I cannot recommend enough are, "He Died with a Felafel in His Hand" for its (fairly) present day snap shot and I love "The Proposition" for a historical glimpse of what may have been. Both are definitely worth a watch! Soundtrack to The Proposition is exceptional also.

[CaptainQuintero]

This is a lot harder than I thought. I think 'Brassed Off', 'Billy Elliot' and 'The Full Monty' are really good at showing how the North of England declined after the closure of the pits and steelworks, still to this day really.

Although they aren't that good films, 'Warhorse' 'The Dutchess' (Any of the half dozen period dramas filmed at Chatsworth house over the last few years) 'Robin Hood Prince of Thieves' all were enjoyable to watch as all the scenery and outside shots were filmed near me. The dales and peaks of Yorkshire/Derbyshire/Cumbria are really what I associate with my life the most and it's always nice ot see them on the big screen.

[ironchefscott]

Goonies for movie...and the television show Portlandia does my city crazy accurately!

[Rushman]

Well I was in Ciudad Juarez last week, so how about "Man on Fire"......no not really.

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I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=19.307832,-81.379118

[Rushman]

Well I was in Ciudad Juarez last week, so how about "Man on Fire"......no not really.

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I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=19.307832,-81.379118

Can't not give my fave quote:

Rayburn: A man can be an artist... in anything, food, whatever. It depends on how good he is at it. Creasey's art is death. He's about to paint his masterpiece.

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I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=19.307834,-81.379123

[dangolf18]

When I think of Australia and movies, I somehow think of Mission Impossible 2. . I think Bullit with Steve McQueen pretty much defines my city, San Francisco. There are many others though.

[Natedog]

October sky. This movie really struck a chord with me and I believe it captures what's great about the united states. It's based on a true story about a group of kids (homer hickam and his friends) growing up in coal mine country, blue collar, good,honest, hard working people. kids enter a school sponsored science competition and you will have to watch it to see how it finishes. Gonna have to watch it now.

[Natedog]

When I think of Australia and movies, I somehow think of Mission Impossible 2. . I think Bullit with Steve McQueen pretty much defines my city, San Francisco. There are many others though.

When I think of Australia and movies I think of Percilla queen of the desert.

[cigcars]

I luuuv "Maniac Cop," "Mulan," and "Aliens"! These all strike a cord in my heart! Yet in all seriousness when I saw "On The Waterfront" in 1987, THAT was the one that was most descriptive of what was both a bad time, yet a triumphant time in my life simultaneously. No, it had nothing to do with being a stoolie, but bringing a bunch of oppressed, beleaguered workers away from a rotten guy and their following a better guy at the end. I'll stop right there.

[Blakes]

Withnail and i.

A Classic film.. with a large part shot in the lake district in Cumbria, my home County and a place i love to be in.

[Skyfall]

[Fuzz]

I grew up in the inner west of Sydney, in a suburb called Ashfield, so the movie The Wog Boy would be the movie that summed up Australia for me.

[Wil]

In all seriousness, probably Lantana. Although it's set in Syndey, it captures the reality of everyday suburban, Australian life.

[mazolaman]

Another vote for Withnail and I...From another Cumbrian! It shows the changing London of the end of the sixties, lots of English oddness, ie, how we like to get wasted, our strange upper classes etc etc...and it shows glimpses of my own beautiful land.

And also dead mans shoes...shows the beauty of the Derby Dales...counterpointed by our various kinks and legacies of wars.

Sightseers....watched this recently, really black comedy...shows what an odd bunch we are...

[Danston]

Another vote for Withnail and I...From another Cumbrian! It shows the changing London of the end of the sixties, lots of English oddness, ie, how we like to get wasted, our strange upper classes etc etc...and it shows glimpses of my own beautiful land.

And also dead mans shoes...shows the beauty of the Derby Dales...counterpointed by our various kinks and legacies of wars.

Sightseers....watched this recently, really black comedy...shows what an odd bunch we are...

2 fantastic films!

And Captain how could you forget the greatest of all Yorkshire films.....Kes!

[CaptainQuintero]

Ohh good catch with dead mans shoes Kev!

Dan I've never seen Kes, or heard of it!

Zulu has to get an honourable mention as Christmas day wouldn't be the same without it on in the background.

[Jeremy Festa]

Yes! Dead Man's Shoes is a class film! Might impact any tourism to the area, if fellow members were to use it as a representation though. ;-)

[CaptainQuintero]

I guess it's closer to reality than Oliver Twist lol!

[alloy]

Olympus has Fallen, Independence Day, Blazing Saddles. Wash. DC metro area.

[canadianbeaver]

Agree with brother Pilsner but my favorite Canadian movie has to be Black Robe.

[Scdalak]