By Peyton Bliley
As a film and television major, I love giving movie or TV series recommendations to my friends and family. I figured there’s no better way to introduce myself as a new COM Ambassador and share my love for Boston and this school than to share a list of films that fit the city’s vibe!
B: Big Fish (2003)
I’m a little biased because I was recently in a theater production of this, but it is a very sweet story about grand adventures and magic. What makes this feel like Boston is that I’ve really come to view Boston as home and the people I hang out with here as family. I’ve met so many wonderful and fascinating people here, and I will remember them and the memories I share with them for the rest of my life.
O: O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)
An adaptation of Homer’s Odyssey feels like an accurate pick for this list! Every year I’ve been at Boston University, I have experienced many major changes in my life, whether they be physically, emotionally, or involving those around me. It all feels like one big adventure, and going through it all in Boston makes it feel all the more magical!
S: Spotlight (2015)
An actual Boston-located movie, Spotlight is an incredible true story based on Boston Globe news reporters uncovering a story regarding the Catholic Church dating farther back than any of them realized. Boston is a very exciting city with a lot happening all the time and many great news outlets to release that information; you’ll always hear about “the talk of the town” one way or another.
T: The Town (2010)
Another Boston-related film, this shows the rough life of bank robbers from Charlestown. This is really only here for the strong accents featured; my dad likes to quote this movie with an accent, and it was my first exposure to Boston accents. I’ve encountered a fair share of strangers on public transportation with accents like the ones from this movie, and I highly recommend watching any movie to get acclimated with the vernacular!
O: Over the Garden Wall (2014)
Boston is a BIG city, with many different areas and aesthetics. Cambridge has a different vibe from Back Bay, which has a different vibe from Fenway, and so on and so forth. Over the Garden Wall is another Odyssey of sorts, with the two main characters exploring different parts of a fantasy world. Honestly, I feel as delighted and curious as they do whenever I venture to a corner of Boston that I haven’t been to yet.
N: Night At The Museum (2006)
How can you talk about Boston without mentioning the historic sites? From the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum to the Paul Revere House, there are so many cool places to visit and things to learn about American history that you may not have read in textbooks.
In summary, Boston is a big, diverse city with many facets and places to explore, and I hope these movies help give you a better idea of this place I love so dearly!