A Cinematic and Cultural Spotlight focused on Sacramento
From indie films to MLB detours, Sacramento embraces nostalgia, identity, and its evolving trajectory.
There's a nostalgia to the places you lived for a while. There is a shorthand, inside jokes, sense of space and best routes to get from one spot to another (iMaps be damned!). On Saturday Night Live, when the Californians mock Angelenos for talking about place in terms of freeways (I drove my convertible Corvette up Sepulveda, turned down on La Brea, took it all the way straight), there is a relatability even to those in rural Illinois.
Of course, mentions of Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Miami, and other major cities are commonplace. But when a sketch, a joke, a TV show, or a movie is about your home, the ears perk up and the eyes focus. Recently, Sacramento has received some mid-level attention, and I’m all for it.
Sacramento
Sacramento was released earlier this month. Like the movie “Sideways,” this is a buddy comedy about two guys trying to find themselves amidst loneliness, anxiety, and struggles with maturity. From IMDB: An energetic and free-spirited young man convinces his long-time friend, who's settled into domestic life, to go on an impromptu road trip from Los Angeles to Sacramento.
The film's co-creators, Michael Angarano and Chris Smith, were initially developing a pilot for a show that never materialized. After their project was rejected, they were driving Interstate 5, where they saw a freeway sign to Sacramento (about 400 miles away). They then decided to make a road trip movie instead, which became "Sacramento".
Was it a great movie? Sideways did it better. But the fun was watching my adopted city featured so prominently. There is the Sacramento water tower, the Tower Bridge, the Riverfront, Gunther’s Ice Cream, Der Biergarten, and more. Each time, a small sliver of life in town was showcased, we smiled.
No Address
No Address was also released earlier this year. This movie, starring William Baldwin, follows a group of homeless people as they struggle to survive on the streets against a harassing gang, an unforgiving community, and the local authorities. The filmmakers chose Sacramento because it offers a variety of filming locations, from historic downtowns to diverse cultural settings, providing the perfect backdrop for the film. It was also shot in Sacramento County. I have not seen it yet, but a good friend had a local day player part in it.
One Battle After Another
One Battle After Another is the big studio film among them. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, this movie centers on a group of former revolutionaries who reunite to help their member, Bob Ferguson (DiCaprio), find his daughter.
The movie was shot at the Sacramento County Administration Building, the Sacramento County Courthouse, La Superior Market on Northgate Boulevard, the Railyards, and streets in downtown Sacramento. Additionally, filming took place in Humboldt County, as well as in Arcata, Eureka, Trinidad, and El Paso, Texas. One scene, where a slew of cops on foot chase Leo, was filmed on 12th Street in Sacramento in front of my office. How exciting. Release is later this year.
Ladybird (2017)
While the majority of “Sacramento” takes place in Sacramento, “Ladybird” captures Sacramento. (From IMDB: A fiercely independent teenager tries to make her way in the world while wanting to get out of her hometown of Sacramento, California, and to get away from her complicated mother and recently-unemployed father.)
Sacramento-native Greta Gerwig wrote and directed “Ladybird” and it shows. I laughed at the NorCal vernacular (“hella” anyone?) and the sites from the Fabulous 40s and Gunther’s (again) to the Rose Garden at McKinley Park. There is also a moment at the end when Ladybird leaves her mom a message. We hear the audio of the message intercut between the two of them as they cross the bridges in Sacramento.
“Hey, Mom. Did you feel emotional the first time that you drove in Sacramento? I did, and I wanted to tell you, but we weren’t really talking when it happened. All those bends I’ve known my whole life and stores and the whole thing … I wanted to tell you. I love you. Thank you. I’m… Thank you.”
Sacramento and Ladybird make a perfect double feature if you feel up to it.
Sacramento A’s
Want to feel proud, surreal, and disappointed at the same time? Go to a (No city) Athletics of West Sacramento game.
To catch non-baseball fans up on the situation. The formerly Oakland A’s, after years of struggle to build a new stadium and running the team on one of the smallest payrolls in baseball, entered into a deal to relocate the team to Las Vegas. While a stadium in Sin City is being constructed, the team decided to temporarily park itself in West Sacramento, a suburb across the river from downtown Sacramento, where I live, and play in a minor-league park.
I’ve noted my split loyalties on Substack. Though I'm a lifelong Dodgers fan, I lived in the East Bay for four years, adopted them as my “American League” team, and attended at least 100 games at the dilapidated Oakland Coliseum. LOSE YOURSELF takes place at an Oakland A’s game and captures the essence of attending a game in that park. The organization was gracious and helpful and provided me access to conduct research critical to the novel. In my dealings with the club, they were a class act.
Still, I don’t like the idea of them moving. Even more than the Raiders, the A’s are Oakland. There was a vibe and a culture unlike any other in baseball. They should be in Oakland, period.
Yet, having them eight miles from my house is exciting, and a couple of weeks ago, I attended a game at Sutter Health Park. It was the perfect day and one of those games that you’re afraid no other game will match. At its height, the temperature was 76 degrees, with no clouds in the sky. The seats were behind the dugout. The game was close, with the A’s winning 3-2 over the New York Mets. What else can a fan ask for?
I also noticed that Major League Baseball is not the same as the minor leagues. I’ve been to plenty of Sacramento Rivercats (the minor league club that still plays there) games, and the games serve more as background for a great night out with friends and family. In a Major League Game, you pay attention. The stakes are higher, and you can feel it.
In a way, Sacramento is on a similar trajectory. Although the city is the 20th-largest media market, it is often overlooked compared to San Francisco and Los Angeles. 2025 seems to be an audition moment for the California Capitol. We’ll see if we’re elevated to central casting or resorted to cameos and bit parts in the future.
Side of Mustard
LOSE YOURSELF IS NOW ON AUDIBLE
For those who missed it, 'LOSE YOURSELF' is now available to listen to while in the car, doing chores, or working out. Working with the talented Ian Siguenza, we have created a fantastic production of my novel for your listening pleasure. I have promo codes available (provided you leave a review!)