Comments on: Carless in Hollywood

By: Barbara

Barbara — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 08:48:58 +0000

Monster - Aileen Wournos cycling a boneshaker to an interview she is bound to fail, along a madly busy road (not sure where in America)cuts a tragic/pathetic figure.

By: Vince

Vince — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 06:07:14 +0000

There’s Gary, the abusive boyfriend of Jean (JLo)in “An Unfinished Life.” He tracks her out to her father-in-law Einar’s (Robert Redford) ranch.
He is ultimately humiliated, not by being beaten or even by having his convertible shot up. The coup de gras is his last appearance looking out a Greyhound window (from the back). Then let’s not forget the more humorous humiliation of Einar when he cannot start his ancient truck and has to clumsily peddle a bicycle to town, suffering several jibes from neighbors on the way.

By: Betsy

Betsy — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 16:17:50 +0000

In Jacques Tati’s film “Mon Oncle” (”My Uncle”), the title character (the hero) rides a beater bike whereas the ridiculous, conformist couple drive a fancy new car as one of their many silly modern gadgets. They end up getting trapped in their own garage.

Other sympathetic characters are on foot or even drive old horsecarts. The drivers of cars are silly, money-grubbing, status-seekers, whereas pedestrians and cyclists are presented as genuine, friendly, and subtle.

By: Femmefatale

Femmefatale — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 19:13:12 +0000

On “Law and Order: SVU”, Casey Novak is seen biking or walking to courtrooms. I’m sure a high-powered Assistant DA could buy a car if she wanted.

By: Edward

Edward — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 04:23:04 +0000

It only seems to be Hollywood films that do this. There is a great crime show from Denmark called the Eagle about a crack team of specialist police officers. The forensic accountant, Villy Frandsen, rides a bike all over the place and looks cool doing it.

In another Danish police show, Anna Pihl, in the first episode, the main character drops off her son with her ex-husband (after bringing him on the back of a bike). She then cycles off, is seen staring out of the train window relaxed and watching fields go by before she arrives, again by bike, at her father’s house in the country.

In English films, they don’t put the goofy characters on bikes. They give them questionable cars - like Mr Bean in his three-wheeler Reliant Regal.

By: Rick

Rick — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 21:07:09 +0000

Surprised no one remembered Ferris Bueller.

From “I asked for a car, I got a computer. How’s that for being born under a bad sign?” to “I quote John Lennon, ‘I don’t believe in Beatles, I just believe in me.’ Good point there. After all, he was the walrus. I could be the walrus. I’d still have to bum rides off people.”

And how does he escape his humdrum high school life? “The 1961 Ferrari 250GT California. Less than a hundred were made. [Cameron's] father spent three years restoring this car. It is his love, it is his passion.” / Ferris: “It’s his fault he didn’t lock the garage.”

By: Matt

Matt — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 02:29:50 +0000

I’ve noticed that most NYC-based TV shows depict nobody ever using the MTA–unless they’re poor or destitute. And when they do, the rider emerges with tales of creeps and weirdos. Taxis, car services, and personal cars are the name of the game. _Sex and the City_. _Seinfeld_. _How I Met Your Mother_. _30 Rock_.

In _How I Met Your Mother_, the characters use taxis or their own cars for almost everything. Taxi to JFK to pick up a friend and another taxi back to Manhattan? Better be glad it’s TV, otherwise, that would be a $90 round trip. You also learn in this show that it’s worth it to fly between JFK and Philadelphia.

In _Big Bang Theory_, set in Pasadena, Sheldon, the Einstein-esque, socially clueless, personality-challenged theoretical physicist, does not drive–he considers himself above such menial labor. He’s never depicted using mass transit, though.

By: RedFern

RedFern — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 15:45:19 +0000

Harold Crick from Stranger Than Fiction (2006) takes the bus. It is a major part of the plot with many scenes taking place at the bus stop or riding in the bus. The character is the quintessential bookish type, an IRS numbers man with compulsions. It is never looked down upon or cast in an unfavorable light but as whenever a bus is used in film, someone gets off at the wrong stop and has to walk the rest of the way.

Natalie Portman’s character, Sam, in Garden State cannot drive because she is an “eccentric epileptic and compulsive liar”. The main character Zach Braff also has a peculiar method of transport in the form of an old military style motorcycle with sidecar.

By: Rya

Rya — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 18:09:34 +0000

The most positive bicycle movie of alltime has to be “E.T.” Aliens don’t drive!

By: wilner

wilner — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 16:22:17 +0000

I should add, has anyone explored the mindset of REAL people who don’t drive, e.g. science fiction author Ray Bradbury who is one of the few Angelenos who doesn’t own a car and never learned how to drive? I bet Manhattan has quite a few individuals with the same history.