Recommended Movies

When, nearly now, 7 years ago, Gabriela and I drove the Grand Circle and The 4 Corners ..spending extra time here in North Central New Mexico ..we were at Tent Rocks and saw listed some movies where important scenes were shot there. We saw quite a few of them!

Now..as we have come to understand, there is a huge movie industry here 'Tamalewood' ..as it's termed, because of the incredible scenery here in New Mexico ..many..many scenes or entire movies are filmed here! Click any Pic to go to NetFlix.com for ordering info.

Below are just some of the ones we'd recommend:

Into the West
2005 NR 4 discs

Executive Producer:    Steven Spielberg

Cast:    Sean Astin, Gary Busey, Jessica Capshaw, Keri Russell, Irene Bedard, Emily Holmes, Tyler Christopher, Jay Tavare, Beau Bridges, Josh Brolin, Daniel Gillies

Director:    Robert Dornhelm, Simon Wincer

Dan's Review:

This, highly entertaining and truthful representation of what happened to 'Indian Lands' was largely filmed here, right in our back-yard!

Our neighbor was the wrangler ..managing up to 150 horses with logistics and scheduling and had a couple cameo's including a great face shot! The White limestone "Plaza Blanca" style landscape at the Entrance to Copper Canyon was the backdrop for a very important scene.

It's multi-disc but/and ....captivating from beginning to end!

City Slickers
1991 PG-13 112 minutes

Cast: Billy Crystal, Daniel Stern, Bruno Kirby, Patricia Wettig, Helen Slater, Jack Palance, Noble Willingham, Tracey Walter, Josh Mostel, David Paymer, Bill Henderson, Jeffrey Tambor, Kyle Secor, Dean Hallo, Robert Costanzo, Walker Brandt, Jake Gyllenhaal

Director: Ron Underwood

Gabriela's Review

Who of us didn’t have the dream of becoming a cowboy and live life on a horseback with adventures galore every day. This is a perfect movie for a wannabe cowboy. It’s funny and entertaining and one of the best parts of course is the scenery of northern New Mexico and more precisely Abiquiu and Georgia O’Keeffe country, Plaza Blanca, and Ghost Ranch, places that we consider to be in our backyard. How lucky are we?

Easy Rider
1969 R 95 minutes

Cast: Dennis Hopper, Peter Fonda, Jack Nicholson, Karen Black, Phil Spector, Sandy Brown Wyeth, Robert Walker, Luana Anders, Sabrina Scharf, Antonio Mendoza, Mac Mashourian, Warren Finnerty, Tita Colorado

Director: Dennis Hopper

Gabriela's Review

The ultimate classic and father of all road movies. Two bikers in search of the real life and freedom that can maybe only found on the roads. Again, the incredible beauty and magic of northern New Mexico stands in as background for their adventures. Some of the locations where the movie was shot are near Espanola, Las Vegas, Santa Fe, Taos and Taos Pueblo.

Lonesome Dove
1989 NR 2 discs

Cast: Robert Duvall, Tommy Lee Jones, Danny Glover, Diane Lane, Robert Urich, Anjelica Huston, Frederic Forrest, D.B. Sweeney, Rick Schroder, Chris Cooper, Glenne Headly, Tim Scott, Barry Corbin, William Sanderson, Steve Buscemi

Director: Simon Wincer

Gabriela's Review

The movie tells the story of a 2500 mile cattle drive adventure: Wild West romanticism at its finest. The cast lead by Robert Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones is outstanding. It’s an enjoyable six hour epic. New Mexico movie locations are: Angel Fire (Black Lake), along with Bonanza Creek Ranch, Cook Ranch/Silverado Set, San Ildefonso Pueblo, Santa Fe, Santo Domingo Pueblo.

The Milagro Beanfield War
1988 R 120 minutes

Cast:    Ruben Blades, Richard Bradford, Sonia Braga, Julie Carmen, James Gammon, Melanie Griffith, John Heard, Carlos Riquelme, Daniel Stern, Chick Vennera, Christopher Walken, Freddy Fender, Tony Genaro

Director:    Robert Redford

Gabriela's Review

The movie is based on John Nichol’s book and set in a small rural town (Truchas). It paints a very realistic picture of the local people of northern New Mexico and their intense and sometimes complex and spirited relationships, their deep connection to the land and its history. If you want to better understand life in rural New Mexico it’s a must see movie or a must read book. Spectacular scenery of Truchas, Los Alamos, Santa Fe, Santa Fe National Forest.

This is the only Recommended that made both our Books AND Movies! Dan

No Country for Old Men
2007 R 122 minutes

Cast:    Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Woody Harrelson, Kelly Macdonald, Stephen Root, Garret Dillahunt, Tess Harper

Director:    Ethan Coen, Joel Coen

Gabriela's Review

Lots of shootings, lots of murder and a killer who is hard to catch. The end is interesting and somewhat unexpected. Not a movie for feeble nerves. But again the scenery, especially the area La Bajada is breathtaking and makes you want to explore it nonetheless. Other locations in the movie are: Albuquerque along with Arroyo Hondo, Las Vegas, Pilar, Santa Fe, Rio Grande Gorge Bridge (Taos).

Off the Map
(2003) PG-13

Cast: Valentina d'Angelis, Sam Elliott, Joan Allen

Gabriela's Review

Beautiful scenery all the way from Albuquerque to Taos with the main location in the middle of Carson National Forest. It’s a touching and endearing family tale about living off the map and off the grid with the beauties but also the struggles that such a life bring. It addresses the subject of “green living” which, in New Mexico in particular, is in vogue and of importance. The story takes an almost surreal turn when a guy from the IRS shows up at the front door of the Gordon home and the family has to deal with it as best as they can. But the magic beauty and enchantment of the scenery has its effect even on the IRS-guy…It’s a family adventure that lets us go through all of life’s emotions, its ups and downs, and in the end love prevails everything. I recommend it highly.

Young Guns
1988 R 102 minutes

Cast: Emilio Estevez, Kiefer Sutherland, Dermot Mulroney, Lou Diamond Phillips, Charlie Sheen, Dermont Mulroney, Casey Siemaszko, Terence Stamp, Jack Palance, Terry O'Quinn

Director: Christopher Cain

Gabriela's Review

Lots of desert, dust, horses. Although it’s not the best movie of its genre, they cast is good and the scenery definitely GREAT! One of the movie location is Kasha-Katuwe National Monument which we hiked even before we knew that this movie was partially filmed there. Other set locations are: Cochiti Pueblo, El Rancho de las Golondrinas Living History Museum, Galisteo Dam, Ghost Ranch, Ojo Caliente, Tesuque Pueblo.

Click Here To View Pictures of Our Vacation Home in Georgia O'Keeffe Country