I was born in Boston, Massachusetts, but grew up in South Carolina. Being able to call myself both a New Englander and Southerner, I believe Sweet Home Alabama did a good job portraying the settings of the north and south during the movie. A setting of a film is the time, location, and everything else that makes up the backdrop and mood. The movie was released in September 2002, making the movie set in early 2000s. In Sweet Home Alabama there are two main settings: New York City, New York and in the town of Pigeon Creek, Alabama. Since Pigeon Creek is not a real town, most of the scenes where shot in Georgia. The movie does a respectable job of representing both moods of these two different places.
The movie starts with Melanie Carmichael (Reese Witherspoon) living in New York City following her dream of being a big fashion designer. You can tell even from her just being in the studio that New York has a rushed mood. People are scrambling around trying to get every last detail perfect before they send the clothes down the runway. The busy life of a New Yorker is again portrayed during the fashion show when people are running around backstage. People are going crazy because either the color is not the right shade or some of the clothes do not fit properly. Melanie during this time is calm and fixes the problems without really breaking her composure. This type of behavior is not seen often in big cities, definitely a southern trait she learned from growing up. It seems like no one has time to stop and think. That is exactly how living in a city up North is like especially New York City. It is fast pace and no one slows down because they always have something to do and somewhere to be. The way these people act makes up the mood of New York as well. The movie portrays New Yorkers as being cold and fast-talking. During the movie Andrew's mom, the mayor of New York City is asked a question regarding how she feels that some people do not agree with her position on repaving a road. She tells the reporter that they should drive down the road and they hopefully will fall in a pothole. That is the stereotypically personality of a New Yorker, tough and stubborn. I believe the movie did a fantastic job representing the big city, making the viewer feel so small compared to it.
When the setting switches over to Pigeon Creek, Alabama, the mood changes also. Everything feels more peaceful and calmer. When she goes home to see her parents they are so happy to see her and make her feel welcomed even though they have not seen each other in many years. When Melanie walks down the street while going to the bank, the people walking around are taking their time and stop to say hello to their friends. Everyone in this town is friendly for the most part. Even though Melanie left to go and pursue her dreams, they welcome her back with open arms. From the scenes of the town people in the bar and carnival, the viewer can tell that these people are close, almost like family. They shared many memories together growing up binding them together. Even the way the writers make the towns people is on point to how most southerners are. They talk slower and are more respectable to others. Even Jake says, " Honey, just cuz I talk slow doesn't mean I'm stupid"(Sweet Home Alabama). That shows that is just the way they were raised. The movie also shows how much they love their history. The American civil war was a significant event in Alabama's history. They join the rest of the southern states to create the confederate army and went to war against the northern. Actually no battles were brought to Alabama until 1863, two years after the beginning of the war. The most notable battle in Alabama was the battle of Mobile Bay fought in 1864. This was a victory for the union combining both naval and land attacks (Friend). Even though the confederate army lost the war in the end, the people of Alabama come to identify themselves as southerners, not just Americans. There love for their past is shown at the end of the movie when Melanie's father dresses up in a confederate uniform to reenact one of the battles fought during the war. Sweet Home Alabama did an excellent job making the viewer feel at home when they are in Pigeon Creek.
Sweet Home Alabama not only did an amazing job with the setting and they also were successful in choosing the people to play the characters. Melanie Carmichael was played by Reese Witherspoon who herself was born in New Orleans, Louisiana (Reese Witherspoon). Her southern charm came out during this role, which made her performance even better. Josh Lucas who plays Jake also has the southern roots to help him with the role. Patrick Dempsey as Andrew had the northern character on point since he too was born in the New England area. The casting director did an outstanding job finding the actors to bring these characters to life. Overall, this was a very good movie and I would recommend it to any of my friends.
The movie starts with Melanie Carmichael (Reese Witherspoon) living in New York City following her dream of being a big fashion designer. You can tell even from her just being in the studio that New York has a rushed mood. People are scrambling around trying to get every last detail perfect before they send the clothes down the runway. The busy life of a New Yorker is again portrayed during the fashion show when people are running around backstage. People are going crazy because either the color is not the right shade or some of the clothes do not fit properly. Melanie during this time is calm and fixes the problems without really breaking her composure. This type of behavior is not seen often in big cities, definitely a southern trait she learned from growing up. It seems like no one has time to stop and think. That is exactly how living in a city up North is like especially New York City. It is fast pace and no one slows down because they always have something to do and somewhere to be. The way these people act makes up the mood of New York as well. The movie portrays New Yorkers as being cold and fast-talking. During the movie Andrew's mom, the mayor of New York City is asked a question regarding how she feels that some people do not agree with her position on repaving a road. She tells the reporter that they should drive down the road and they hopefully will fall in a pothole. That is the stereotypically personality of a New Yorker, tough and stubborn. I believe the movie did a fantastic job representing the big city, making the viewer feel so small compared to it.
When the setting switches over to Pigeon Creek, Alabama, the mood changes also. Everything feels more peaceful and calmer. When she goes home to see her parents they are so happy to see her and make her feel welcomed even though they have not seen each other in many years. When Melanie walks down the street while going to the bank, the people walking around are taking their time and stop to say hello to their friends. Everyone in this town is friendly for the most part. Even though Melanie left to go and pursue her dreams, they welcome her back with open arms. From the scenes of the town people in the bar and carnival, the viewer can tell that these people are close, almost like family. They shared many memories together growing up binding them together. Even the way the writers make the towns people is on point to how most southerners are. They talk slower and are more respectable to others. Even Jake says, " Honey, just cuz I talk slow doesn't mean I'm stupid"(Sweet Home Alabama). That shows that is just the way they were raised. The movie also shows how much they love their history. The American civil war was a significant event in Alabama's history. They join the rest of the southern states to create the confederate army and went to war against the northern. Actually no battles were brought to Alabama until 1863, two years after the beginning of the war. The most notable battle in Alabama was the battle of Mobile Bay fought in 1864. This was a victory for the union combining both naval and land attacks (Friend). Even though the confederate army lost the war in the end, the people of Alabama come to identify themselves as southerners, not just Americans. There love for their past is shown at the end of the movie when Melanie's father dresses up in a confederate uniform to reenact one of the battles fought during the war. Sweet Home Alabama did an excellent job making the viewer feel at home when they are in Pigeon Creek.
Sweet Home Alabama not only did an amazing job with the setting and they also were successful in choosing the people to play the characters. Melanie Carmichael was played by Reese Witherspoon who herself was born in New Orleans, Louisiana (Reese Witherspoon). Her southern charm came out during this role, which made her performance even better. Josh Lucas who plays Jake also has the southern roots to help him with the role. Patrick Dempsey as Andrew had the northern character on point since he too was born in the New England area. The casting director did an outstanding job finding the actors to bring these characters to life. Overall, this was a very good movie and I would recommend it to any of my friends.