It sucks to be in LA if you're a New Yorker - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Jetée · 07-11-2010, 02:43 PM

Ten Movies About New Yorkers Stranded In Los Angeles | Nerve.com

Quote:

Article by RAY RAHMAN

As the cliché goes, New Yorkers think their city is the center of the universe. The only passion rivaling their love for New York is their hate for Los Angeles. To the New Yorker of pop-culture lore, a trip to L.A. is less a relaxing vacation and more a sacrifice of ideals. No movie captures this better than Woody Allen's Annie Hall, which in many ways serves as the genesis for the filmic tug-of-war between the two cities. It, and the other nine movies on this list, examine the special relationship between the coastal metropolises that are opposite not only in geography, but in culture.

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The Listing (Abridged)
1) Valley of the Dolls (1967)
2) Annie Hall (1977)
3) The Karate Kid (1984)
4) Pretty Woman (1990)
5) Barton Fink (1991)
6) Last Action Hero (1993)
7) Swingers (1996)
8) Escape from L.A. (1996)
9) Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)
10) Greenberg (2010)

What do you think about the premise as put forth by the author?
Do you think these films' notion, at least as a general scope of mind, holds true, in that a fair to good portion of New Yorkers, especially, feel like they are fish out of water when in LA? Is it the differential in ideals, the people, the sight and sounds, or just a feeling of one being entirely out of their familiar element? Do you have a personal experience with this you'd like to share (in that LA is the veritable renditon of Wackeyland, along with anecdotes as to why)? Can you think of any other films that inherently have a New Yorker "trapped in enemy territory", landing in LA, and miserable throughout the film because of it?

Comments/opinions are welcome.

FuglyStick · 07-11-2010, 03:37 PM

As a midwesterner, I can safely say that if the portrayals of people on either coast is accurately represented in the movies, then the coasts are over run with self important assholes.

But movies are fiction, and I've got to believe that the asshole tendencies on display in movies and television are highly exaggerated. I hope so, anyway.

Fremen · 07-11-2010, 05:59 PM

Since when was Newark, NJ (The Karate Kid) part of New York?

----

For the life of me, I can't think of any movies like the ones you're looking for, Jetee.

Manic_Skafe · 07-11-2010, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jetée

Do you think these films' notion, at least as a general scope of mind, holds true, in that a fair to good portion of New Yorkers, especially, feel like they are fish out of water when in LA?

Well, considering the fact that once you leave New York you leave the greatest city on the planet, the withdrawal makes perfect sense.

Quote:

Originally Posted by FuglyStick

As a midwesterner, I can safely say that if the portrayals of people on either coast is accurately represented in the movies, then the coasts are over run with self important assholes.

Why, thank you sir.

guy44 · 07-13-2010, 02:17 PM

I gotta say that as a Chicagoan I feel more or less at home in New York. NYC is like Chicago with a 75% density boost or something; it's got the same sort of grid layout, transportation options, etc.

LA, on the other hand, feels like another country. The nearly total lack of public transit, the lack of sidewalks, the urbal sprawl, the unreal traffic...I can definitely understand why a New Yorker would feel like a fish out of water in LA.

FelixP · 07-13-2010, 03:24 PM

Doesn't LA suck regardless of where you're from?

flat5 · 07-14-2010, 01:22 PM

LA Story

07-11-2010, 05:59 PM	#3 (permalink)
Fremen With a mustache, the cool factor would be too much Location: left side of my couch, East Texas	Since when was Newark, NJ (The Karate Kid) part of New York? ---- For the life of me, I can't think of any movies like the ones you're looking for, Jetee. __________________ Google

07-13-2010, 02:17 PM	#5 (permalink)
guy44 Somnabulist Location: corner of No and Where	I gotta say that as a Chicagoan I feel more or less at home in New York. NYC is like Chicago with a 75% density boost or something; it's got the same sort of grid layout, transportation options, etc. LA, on the other hand, feels like another country. The nearly total lack of public transit, the lack of sidewalks, the urbal sprawl, the unreal traffic...I can definitely understand why a New Yorker would feel like a fish out of water in LA. __________________ "You have reached Ritual Sacrifice. For goats press one, or say 'goats.'"

07-13-2010, 03:24 PM	#6 (permalink)
FelixP Insane Location: I'm up they see me I'm down.	Doesn't LA suck regardless of where you're from? __________________ Free will lies not in the ability to craft your own fate, but in not knowing what your fate is. --Me "I have just returned from visting the Marines at the front, and there is not a finer fighting organization in the world." --Douglas MacArthur

07-11-2010, 03:37 PM	#2 (permalink)
FuglyStick WHEEEE! Whee! Whee! WHEEEE! Location: Southern Illinois	As a midwesterner, I can safely say that if the portrayals of people on either coast is accurately represented in the movies, then the coasts are over run with self important assholes. But movies are fiction, and I've got to believe that the asshole tendencies on display in movies and television are highly exaggerated. I hope so, anyway.

07-14-2010, 01:22 PM	#7 (permalink)
flat5 Very Insignificant Pawn Location: Amsterdam, NL	LA Story