It probably comes as no surprise that New Mexico has hosted its share of westerns, including Brokeback Mountain, Appaloosa, and 3:10 to Yuma. Or that the state's desert landscapes have been selected for apocalyptically themed movies such as the upcoming Terminator Salvation and The Book of Eli and the beginning-of-time flick Year One.
But outside the state's boundaries, not many people know that New Mexico has been the backdrop to more than 100 movies over the past century. From that list, here are our 15 favorites.
Based on the famous Depression-era novel, the movie stars Henry Fonda and Jane Darwell as poor sharecroppers, the Joads. The epic drama received seven Academy Award nominations, winning John Ford his second Best Director Oscar. It also carried an ominous tagline: "The thousands who have read the book will know why WE WILL NOT SELL ANY CHILDREN TICKETS to see this picture!"
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This adventure film is one of a handful of adaptations of the suspenseful 1885 novel. The 1950's version doesn't have Sharon Stone (MGM, 1985) or Patrick Swayze (TV, 2003) along on the African rescue mission. But this Oscar-nominated film, starring Deborah Kerr and Stewart Granger, is certainly the most fondly remembered of the lot.
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Dennis Hopper's directorial debut -- in which he starred with co-writer Peter Fonda -- offers a provocative glimpse into the anti-establishment culture of the 1960s. Motorcycle anti-heroes Wyatt and Billy on their "search for America" come across plenty of sex, drugs, and rock-n-roll -- not to mention an alcoholic ACLU lawyer, Jack Nicholson.
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The movie that catapulted Robert Redford into stardom also broke the mold of the classic western -- fugitives Butch Cassidy (Paul Newman) and the Sundance Kid (Redford) made bank robbing look fun. Their unforgettable chemistry, along with the hilarious banter accompanying their endless run-ins with the law, helped make the Oscar-winning film the top-grossing hit of the year.
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David Bowie stars as Thomas Newton, an alien sent to Earth in search of a means to save his dying planet from extinction. The visually stunning cult classic provides a dark commentary on big business and a consumerist society, as Newton's entanglement with Earthly ways threatens his mission. If you look closely in the record-store scene, you can see an ad for Bowie's Young Americans.
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Christopher Reeve is the man of steel in this movie revered by many fanboys as one of the best superhero flicks ever made. The Oscar-nominated blockbuster tells the epic tale of Superman's supernatural origins, his love affair with Lois Lane, and what he does best: saving the world. The all-star cast includes Marlon Brando and Gene Hackman, who offers an unforgettable performance as Lex-Luther.
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It's only fitting that Jim Henson would tell the wacky story of his Muppets' film debut in their film debut, strangely creating a movie about itself. The wild mix of reality and fiction only adds to the hilarity and charm of this fan favorite, in which Kermit the Frog is on a mission to break into the movie business.
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Local handyman Joe Mondragon (Chick Vennera) sticks it to "The Man" and finds, through a series of miraculous events, that God may be on his side. Vennera struggles to release the small town of Milagro (Spanish for "miracle") from the control of big business and government, which threaten his community's way of life. Directed by Robert Redford.
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Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) once again finds himself taking on the Nazis, this time in a perilous race to find the Holy Grail. There is never a dull moment as Indy must continually improvise his way out of the bleakest of situations, assisted by his cunning wit, trusty whip, and quirky but not entirely helpful father (Sean Connery, who is actually only 12 years older than Harrison).
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Billy Crystal plays one of three middle-aged businessmen, all suffering a midlife crisis, who leave their comfort zones behind to sign up for a cattle drive "vacation" leading from New Mexico to Colorado. Their journey quickly becomes a hilarious struggle for survival as they receive little pity from their rugged trail boss (Jack Palance), eventually leading them to realize that what doesn't kill them actually might make them stronger.
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Astronomer Dr. Ellie Arroway (Jodie Foster) turns to the unknown reaches of space for life's answers and receives a response -- in the form of an alien radio signal carrying design plans for a giant spacecraft. Hoping the truth is out there, she eagerly takes on the building project, along with an internal search for spiritual truth. When the movie was released, President Bill Clinton submitted a formal complaint against the filmmakers for having used his likeness through digitally manipulated video footage. They got off with a warning.
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In this indie dramedy, 11-year-old Bo Groden (Valentina de Angelis) struggles to accept the eccentric lifestyle her parents (Joan Allen and Sam Elliott) chose when they left society to live in the New Mexico countryside. Their simple way of life is complicated by the arrival of an IRS agent, who tracks them down for an audit. Initially skeptical over their lack of income, the agent gets drawn in to their world.
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While hunting in the West Texas wilderness, Llewelyn Moss (Josh Brolin) gets in over his head when he intercepts millions of dollars left behind from a drug deal gone lethal. He then becomes the target of a cold-blooded sociopath (Javier Bardem), who will stop at nothing to retrieve the cash-filled suitcase. While investigating the crime, seasoned sheriff Ed Bell (Tommy Lee Jones) finds himself in the disturbing wake of the mayhem that ensues.
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Actor-turned-drama-teacher David Marzsch (Steve Coogan) sets out to redeem his failed acting career by authoring and starring in an ambitious -- and ludicrous -- musical sequel to Hamlet that includes a time machine and Jesus Christ. In the process, Marzsch squeezes the meager resources left at his failing high school drama department and falls in love with Elisabeth Shue, who has left acting to become a nurse at a fertility clinic.
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