Jennifer Connelly

Requiem For A Dream (2000)

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The 2000 Darren Aronofsky film “Requiem for a Dream” was shot around Brooklyn, New York, with Coney Island serving as the primary backdrop of the film. This apartment building served as the home of Sara Goldfarb, played by Ellen Burstyn.

LOCATION: 3152 Brighton 6th St, Brooklyn, NY 11235

Early in the film, Sara’s son Harry, played by Jared Leto, takes her television to a pawn shop. Harry is seen walking with Tyrone, played by Marlon Wayans, down the Coney Island Beach Boardwalk.

LOCATION: Near 602 Surf Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11224 (GPS coordinates: 40°34’24.0″N, 73°58’39.3″W)

They walk past the former Thunderbolt roller coaster in Luna Park, Coney Island. The original wooden roller coaster seen in the film ran from 1925 to 1982, until it was demolished in 2000 shortly after filming took place. A new steel rollercoaster, still using the Thunderbolt name, opened in 2014.

LOCATION: Near Bowery St & W 15th St, Brooklyn, NY 11224 (since remodeled)

The store of Mr. Rabinowitz, played by Mark Margolis, has since been demolished. A different building now stands in it’s place. This is what the area looks like now.

LOCATION: Near 825 Surf Ave STE 2, Brooklyn, NY 11224 (now demolished)

Harry and Tyrone sit at Pete’s Clam Stop, where Harry has a fantasy about taking a cop’s gun.

LOCATION: 1320 Surf Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11224

Harry has another fantasy about Marion, played by Jennifer Connelly, standing at the end of a pier, looking out toward the water. This scene was filmed at Pat Auletta Steeplechase Pier. After the pier suffered damage from Hurricane Sandy in 2012, it was remodeled, with steel rails and a raised viewing platform added, making its present appearance different from what was seen in the film.

LOCATION: Pat Auletta Steeplechase Pier, Riegelmann Boardwalk, Brooklyn, NY 11224

Near the end of the film, Sara’s friends visit her at a hospital, where they are shocked at her appeared. They sit on a bench crying at 3197 Coney Island Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11235. There is no bench at the actual location.

Top Gun: Maverick (2022)

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The 2022 sequel “Top Gun: Maverick,” much like the original film, shot all around Southern California, from San Diego to Los Angeles. This article contains some minor spoilers for those who haven’t seen the film.

The movie made use of numerous Military Operating Areas (MOAs), closed off from the general public, including Naval Air Station North Island (NASNI) in Coronado, California, Naval Air Station (NAS) Fallon in Nevada, NAS Lemoore in Central Valley, California, Naval Air Facility (NAF) in El Centro, California, Naval Air Weapons Station (NAWS) China Lake near Ridgecrest, California and Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island near Oak Harbor, Washington. The film’s third act was largely filmed in the Cascade Mountain Range.

Maverick, played by Tom Cruise, tests high-hypersonic speed and destroys a prototype jet. Afterwards, he roams into a roadside cafe. These scenes were filmed at the Halfway House Cafe in Santa Clarita, California. The same location has appeared in many productions, such as “Waitress,” “Tenacious D In The Pick Of Destiny,” “Space Cowboys,” “The Twilight Zone: The Movie” and “Westworld.” The cafe also appeared in a famous commercial starring Cindy Crawford.

LOCATION: 15564 Sierra Hwy, Santa Clarita, CA 91390

The Hard Deck Bar where Penny, played by Jennifer Connelly, works was a set, built at Naval Air Station North Island (NASNI) in Coronado, California. It was dismantled at the end of filming.

The private hanger of Marverick was filmed at Inyokern Airport in Inyokern, California (1669 Airport Rd, Inyokern, CA 93527).

The home of Penny can be found in San Pedro.

LOCATION: 391 W 40th St, San Pedro, CA 90731

Here is a wider view of Penny’s house.

Maverick is seen approaching on his motorcycle with Penny from Bluff Pl and turning right onto W 40th St. The production altered several elements of the neighborhood, such as swapping out the street sign for a lamp post and adding numerous palm trees.

The scene where Maverick meets with Admiral Beau ‘Cyclone’ Simpson, played by Jon Hamm, was filmed inside the First Baptist Church Pasadena. The building is only see from interior views in the film.

LOCATION: 75 N Marengo Ave, Pasadena, CA 91101

The home of Admiral Tom ‘Iceman’ Kazansky, played by Val Kilmer, was filmed at Wattles Mansion and Gardens in Los Angeles. The home is owned by the City of Los Angeles and is open to the public, regularly hosting special events. It is only seen from interior views in the film. The mansion has appeared in many films, including “Troop Beverly Hills,” “Rain Man,” “Babylon,” “Queen of the Damned,” “My Family” (“Mi Familia”), “Ghoulies,” “Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa,” “The Lost Empire,” “A Better Life,” “Knock Knock 2” and many more. It has also appeared in the TV shows “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “The O.C.” and “Scandal,” as well as the Diana Ross music video for “Eaten Alive”.

LOCATION: 1824 N Curson Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046

Related articles: Top Gun (1986)

Labyrinth (1986)

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As part of the Jim Henson “Imagination Unlimited” Exhibition at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles, some costumes and memorabilia from Henson’s 1986 fantasy film “Labyrinth” were on display. The exhibition ran from June 1 through September 2, 2018.

Sarah, played by Jennifer Connelly, wore this dress in the film.

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Jareth, played by David Bowie, wore this costume.

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Here is one of the set models from the film.

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And some concept art.

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A poster for the film.

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Lastly, some alternate titles for the film, hand-written by Jim Henson.  The titles include “The Labyrinth,” “Magic Maze,” “Into The Labyrinth,” “Sarah’s Maze,” “Lost in the Maze,” “Trapped in the Mind-Maze,” “Inside Outside,” “Outside Inside,” “Turning Inside Outside,” “Outside In” and “Inside Out.”

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Related articles: The Dark Crystal (1982)