National Treasure

From 2004, National Treasure with Nicholas Cage is a fun movie that was filmed partially in Philadelphia.  I am intimately familiar with all the streets used in the movie, and I have spent a lot of time in the historic area of Independence National Historical Park.  It always makes a movie more fun if you've been to the location.

Of course, that also opens up to scrutiny the artistic license taken by the film makers.  After Cage and his troupe are sighted by the bad guys at Independence Hall, they split up and run.  Two of them, Diane Kruger and Justin Bartha, run west and almost instantly enter the Reading Terminal Market from 12th St.  That is actually a distance of eight city blocks, through heavy traffic and a lot of street lights.  Then, all of a sudden, they are another six blocks away, running north on Broad St. toward City Hall.  I still love the movie!

The full cast is interesting, probably because most big budget films can afford an interesting cast.  I saw Tony Luke, Jr listed as a sweeper in the strip club.  I must not be paying attention...I not only missed Tony, I missed the strip club.  I'll have to watch it again.  Anyway, Tony is the owner of Tony Lukes restaurant, a fixture in South Philly and one of the best places to get a cheese steak in the city.  I guess he also likes acting because he has been in 16 films and is working on 17. 

A surprise was seeing Christopher Plummer listed as John Adams Gates, appearing in the beginning of the film.  It was a small role, but his voice played a big part in setting the mood of the film.  He is amazing.  He has had 180 roles in 57 years, playing everything from The Sound of Music to becoming a Klingon in two Star Trek movies.  He will take any role, and always do well.

Here's a list of movies.  What do they have in common?
Days of Thunder
Con Air
Enemy of the State
Gone in Sixty Seconds
Coyote Ugly
National Treasure

You are right!  All of them include Alexandra Balahoutis in the cast.  She has been in eight films total, so six of them were very good movies with great stars.  Way to pick scripts, Alexandra!  BTW, in National Treasure she played the clothing store clerk where Cage and Kruger bought new clothes in Philly.  Good luck in your acting career, Alex.