For those who miss the United States roads, those who have lived there once, American expats worldwide… We made a list to travel through the states of the country without moving from the sofa. Let’s beat the melancholy through films (or get even more nostalgic?). Anyways, here is our list of American road trip movies that will drive you across the US:
Into the Wild (2007)
Highlight of this movie: EDDIE VEDDER. Yes, in capital letters. His songs are the perfect company while traveling across the country and encountering those majestic landscapes in Arizona, Nevada, Colorado… “Hard sun” was the perfect song I tuned in while driving the infinite roads in Montana, and brings me back beautiful memories of freedom and wild nature. Feeling quite like Christopher McCandless.
Based on a true story, Into the wild is more than one of those best American road trip movies. This film talks about following your own path in life and going beyond social conventions. It tells you how much you can get out of your own solidarity and kindness, because “happiness is real when shared”. And I’m going to leave it here in case you haven’t watched the movie or read the book.
Thelma and Louise (1991)
I was in college, and we had to analyse the plot of this film for the script writing class. We analysed some of the scenes in detail and the diverse twists in the plot.
Two women, two stories. Both about women empowerment, personal freedom and friendship among women. I would sum up the popular last scene by saying: If we don’t have freedom, what do we have left? Also another highlight of this film: the (always) amazing Susan Sarandon. One of the best American road trip films, and probably the most iconic.
Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
This little girl taking part in the beauty contest Little Miss Sunshine tells a lot about a family and, for extension, about our society. This girl’s dream of taking part in that beauty contest, along with her family living an economic crisis, make it the starting point of the story. The result: a family road trip from New Mexico to California (where the final of the contest takes place) to fulfill their daughter’s dream but mostly get money out of it.
During this trip, we get to know each character of the family. And through them we can see how this story tells a lot about what we socially consider winners and losers. Also about a job title, a diet, a career path, a retirement community… How do we deal with human emotions, illusions and desire?
But what definitely makes this film a touching one it is the way in which the story is told: through humor, sarcasm, tenderness and child innocence.
On the road (2012)
My love for Kerouac and the beat generation made me watch this film. If you haven’t read the book and haven’t watched the movie either, I would recommend you better read the book and get into the adventures of a group of friends eager of freedom. Their ultimate goal: living life to its fullest. Jazz and poetry inspired Kerouac to write this story which is the most representative of the beat generation.
Francis Ford Coppola has had the film adaptation rights to the book since 1968. The film is written, but the filming scheduled for 2001 has never taken place. It was Walter Sallen who brought the story into the big screen in 2012. I’m not personally a big fan of the movie, but if you are looking for American road trip movies starring a group of friends with historical contexts around the jazz movement, this movie will probably do. A free-spirit road trip across the country, and nonconformist souls.