Oh the Places You'll Go: Illinois

Illinois rocks, in my personal opinion, and some great films have been set or made in this fair state. Here are the top 10 best films set in Illinois, most of which are set in Chicago:

1. High Fidelity (Chicago) - How can anyone deny the greatness of this film? John Cusack gives the performance of his life as a middle-age record freak living in Wicker Park who loses his girlfriend. It shows the cool spots in Chicago, such as the Music Box and the Double Door, showcases Reckless Records, and features the cleanest El train ever to exist in Chicago.
   
2. The Breakfast Club (The fictitious town of Sherman) - John Hughes loves the town of Sherman. Too bad it doesn't exist, but to the group of five detention-bound high schoolers it's a very real place. The interiors of The Breakfast Club were shot at the now torn down Maine North High School, while the exteriors were shot at Glenbrook North High School, Hughes alma mater. Both are in the suburbs of Chicago, about 30 minutes away. Even though you can't jam out in the cool library to some 80s tunes, you can go to Glenbrook's football field and re-enact Bender fist-in-the-air moment.
   
3. The Untouchables (Chicago) - I've never been prouder to live in Chicago than the moment after I saw this movie. Brian De Palma does a wonderful job of showing the Al Capone era of Chicago history through his Prohibition film starring Kevin Costner and Sean Connery. Many of the exterior shots were filmed in Chicago by blocking off the streets and recreating the 1920s all over again.
   
4. The Blues Brothers (Chicago) - What can I say? There wouldn't be a Blues Brothers if there wasn't a city named Chicago.
   
5. Wayne's World (Aurora) - Aurora is not a cool place to live, but Wayne and Garth make it cool. The two host a late-night public access show that takes off when people actually start watching it. One plus of this film, you can actually go out towards O'Hare, sit on the hood of your car, and see the planes fly over you. Just don't freak out like Wayne and Garth do.
   
6. Ferris Bueller's Day Off (Chicago/Sherman) - John Hughes just loves Sherman. Yet again, a bored youth of Sherman ventures off. Ferris Bueller and his friends decide to ditch school and visit Chicago for the day, much to the chagrin of the principal. Now, I'm not sure if it's actually possible to do everything that Ferris does in a day (go see the Sears Tower, Wrigley, the Art Institute, and participate in the German Pride Parade), but I will give $20 to whoever can.
   
7. Home Alone (Chicago/Winnetka) - What ten year old kid doesn't want to be left behind in a huge house like that? You can actually go visit the house in Winnetka where they shot the film at, but I would suggest going around Christmas time. It's much prettier. And, I have to admit, I am guilty of re-enacting the running scene in O'Hare, even when I wasn't late for my flight.
   
8. Proof (Evanston) - This play to screen film is set in Evanston, which is right outside of Chicago. Most of the college scenes are at the University of Chicago, not Northwestern as many believe. But can you believe it, some of it was shot in the UK! But there is an amazing shot of Gweneth Paltrow looking over the skyline by the lake up north.
   
9. Chicago (Fake Chicago) - Ok, none of this film was shot in Chicago. But it's a great adaptation of the musical and it does showcase the outside of the Chicago Theater.
   
10. My Best Friend's Wedding (Chicago) - Julia Roberts, you stop that wedding! And go to a Soxs game while you're at it and get into a fight in the bathroom!
    

Honorable Mentions:
-- Field of Dreams - Although not set in Illinois, is does feature Chicago's best baseball team the White Soxs.
-- Batman Begins - Yes, it's called Gotham, but he's standing on top of the Water Tower!
-- Risky Business - Kudos to Tom Cruise for having sex on the El. He probably has ten venereal diseases now just from that moment alone...and all his clothes smell like piss.
-- Mean Girls - Just because Tina Fey is awesome, and I miss pre-coke Lindsey Lohan. But if you didn't know, it's supposedly set in Evanston even though it was mostly shot in Canada.