James McAvoy was my neighbor!
Jul. 2nd, 2008 09:44 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
starzkiWell, James McAvoy wasn't really my neighbor, just his character in Wanted.
Let me back up: Last summer, while I was still living in Chicago, the whole city was abuzz because Angelina Jolie was in town shooting a movie. They had been shooting The Dark Knight downtown all summer, but Angelina and Brad Pitt and their assorted children were salivated over and followed by news crews and paparazzi alike. They were in town for two weeks, shooting the movie Wanted.
During these two weeks, suddenly, the end of my block gets temporarily shut down. Walking the dog and seeing a mob of people, I ask. They were shooting Wanted and people wanted a glimpse of Ms. Jolie. I had heard about Wanted and knew that James McAvoy was the main character. I didn't have all day to hang around, so I rubbernecked for a moment, but then left because everyone was just standing around and it was obvious there was no shooting (and therefore no movie stars) going on at the moment. However, the crew and the light systems (we're talking 60-80 foot high floodlights) were around all day and well into the evening. But each time I walked my dog by, nothing was happening. I found out later that they were shooting stuff that didn't include Angelina Jolie.
Fast forward to last night:scribefigaro and I went to go see Wanted. I rarely go see movies, but wanted to see if I could spot the second or two that the end of my block was in the movie (if it made it in at all). It definitely was! The main character's apartment was supposedly located right at the end of my block! So a lot of external shots of him coming and going (as well as the "L" train that goes by ever so often) were easily recognizable, as were the times he spent at the ATM! And there were a lot of those shots! I kept wishing they'd pan over and shoot the Thai food place that I would go to about once every two weeks. But the character's neighborhood is supposed to be a bit shitty (and my neighborhood was decidedly not shitty), so they couldn't show the more awesome stuff on the block.
So I was thrilled with the movie. Yes, it was quite silly and improbable. I actually think it could have stood less story/exposition and more action sequences. But it was a great experience to be entertained by an action movie that was partially set at the end of my old block.
Let me back up: Last summer, while I was still living in Chicago, the whole city was abuzz because Angelina Jolie was in town shooting a movie. They had been shooting The Dark Knight downtown all summer, but Angelina and Brad Pitt and their assorted children were salivated over and followed by news crews and paparazzi alike. They were in town for two weeks, shooting the movie Wanted.
During these two weeks, suddenly, the end of my block gets temporarily shut down. Walking the dog and seeing a mob of people, I ask. They were shooting Wanted and people wanted a glimpse of Ms. Jolie. I had heard about Wanted and knew that James McAvoy was the main character. I didn't have all day to hang around, so I rubbernecked for a moment, but then left because everyone was just standing around and it was obvious there was no shooting (and therefore no movie stars) going on at the moment. However, the crew and the light systems (we're talking 60-80 foot high floodlights) were around all day and well into the evening. But each time I walked my dog by, nothing was happening. I found out later that they were shooting stuff that didn't include Angelina Jolie.
Fast forward to last night:
scribefigaro and I went to go see Wanted. I rarely go see movies, but wanted to see if I could spot the second or two that the end of my block was in the movie (if it made it in at all). It definitely was! The main character's apartment was supposedly located right at the end of my block! So a lot of external shots of him coming and going (as well as the "L" train that goes by ever so often) were easily recognizable, as were the times he spent at the ATM! And there were a lot of those shots! I kept wishing they'd pan over and shoot the Thai food place that I would go to about once every two weeks. But the character's neighborhood is supposed to be a bit shitty (and my neighborhood was decidedly not shitty), so they couldn't show the more awesome stuff on the block.So I was thrilled with the movie. Yes, it was quite silly and improbable. I actually think it could have stood less story/exposition and more action sequences. But it was a great experience to be entertained by an action movie that was partially set at the end of my old block.
