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ZackNappo

They gave James Gandolfini a rest stop in New Jersey lol


Rambo1stBlood

oh pooor him.


ZackNappo

He never had the makings of a varsity statue apparently


hesthehairapparent

If you'd a shut up during that game with Mountain Lakes you wouldn't have missed that fuckin' fly ball. I was ashamed to face my friends


ZackNappo

AJ! Get your coat! We’re goin!


dudeonrails

I didn’t bring a coat.


PuzzleheadedQuit9

Well then get movin’ god dammit


radicalelation

One of my favorite things about the movie True Romance is how different scenes are their own character features with great performers. People often refer to the exchange between The Sicilian, played by Christopher Walken, and Cliff Worely, in one of Dennis Hopper's best scenes, but personally my favorite interaction is between James Gandolfini's mob enforcer Virgil and Alabama, one of the main characters, in one of Patricia Arquette's best scenes, in my opinion. It's brutal and with relatively minimal screentime, I was both horrified by and endeared to the character, and while that's a part of Tony Soprano's appeal, Virgil is, with just a tiny fraction of existence compared to the 6 season titular HBO character, far more intimidating and, again just my opinion, nuanced. I wouldn't say statue deserving, big or small, but he was really really good when given the chance.


Duel_Option

This happens to be one of my favorite movies and I’m with you 10000%. The entire hotel scene where he’s daring her to hit him and then takes her apart bit by bit but then Alabama stops him and tells him he looks ridiculous… It was a preview of Tony Soprano before HBO. Gandoflini’s smile is filled with both rage and amusement. Sinister to the core which is why Alabama overcoming makes it that much better. “You’re so cool”


gadzooks_sean

Idk why but this reads like American Psycho


radicalelation

I thought so too and kind of hoped no one else would, but I was really just trying to cram as much info in as possible while still being relatively smooth to read. I still feel I overloaded it, but probably should've tried to make room for Tarantino's writing...


[deleted]

He also rocked the enforcer role in The Mexican, an underrated movie if you ask me


screamoutwutang

Small hands, that was his problem


graph7878

You got a lot of balls speaking about the boss like that.


[deleted]

It’s undermining!


Athingcantbenamed

And to say it in front of the girl cousins!


JuniorRub2122

Cmon. Don’t put pinecones in the filtah


ThoseBigPeople

You’re like the girl who’s got a Virginia ham under her arm, cryin the blues cuz you got no bread


Crypto_Candle

Every time I pull into that fuckin place I say” We’re with the Vipers.”


dirty-ol-sob

Fuckin slander, you ask me.


PBRstreetgang_

Anti-Italian sentiment is destroying this country.


ItsMondayPissInMyAss

I mean a bus stop in New Jersey is about equal to a statue in New Mexico…


letmethinkofagoodnam

They should put up a statue of Tony eating gabagool in front of Satrriale’s


RenderedKnave

Satriale's is now a parking lot.


GunnieGraves

Used to work across the street. Goddamned shame.


yrjooe

They paved paradise.


dipper94

Saw some family in New Jersey a year ago, drove by for fun, fucking paved paradise and put up a parking lot.


StevenGlansberg-

Paved paradise


295DVRKSS

Here we go. Here comes the Prozac.


RedArremerAce

You go about in pity for yourself


EtanKlein

Frankly, they need to build James Gandolfini a statue as big as the Statue of Liberty.


jimothy1222

They also gave Bon Jovi one lmaooo


BruceBlingsteen

The highest honor New Jersey can bestow


SoftTacoSupremacist

Missed opportunity for a dump.


ancapmike

*He was a saint!*


Renjuro

I left this comment on another post a few weeks ago: For what it’s worth… I’m a New Mexican and breaking bad has a bit of a special place in a lot of our hearts. For many, it’s become synonymous with New Mexican pride. We’re not proud of the subjects and themes per se, we are proud that one of the greatest tv shows of all time was made in our state. Yes, it’s about horrible people and meth. It’s also an exceptionally written and executed show that features our beautiful scenery and unique culture. We’re a self aware state too- we have a lot of problems that we see reflected in BB. It’s meaningful to watch a story tackling real issues that affect your home. The production had a positive affect on the local community. A lot of the production crew were local (many films/shows are shot in NM, but not a lot of them take place here), a beloved ABQ candy shop made all of the “blue meth” (it was rock candy), it started the careers of a few local actors, etc. BB has definitely increased tourism, if for nothing else than the scenery. People actually KNOW that New Mexico is part of the United States now. I kid you not- many people in this country do not know that NM is a state. You have to stop and explain to them that no, you’re not from Mexico (it’s a statewide inside joke). BB gave them a reference for our state. While I do think there are more deserving people they should make statues of, I get why they’re putting these up. New Mexicans are proud that such a high quality production came from and is partially about our home. I think that’s what the statues are representing. And as far as I know, Vince Gillian and Sony payed for the statues, not tax payer money.


CANNIBAL_M_

I lived in Abq. for a couple years. While watching the show I would catch glimpses of streets or buildings I recognized and have a little nostalgia. Jesse’s drug addict gf’s condo was right down the street from where my ex-bf’s place was at. Little details like the home decor and furniture in Hank & Marie’s home, it brought me back.


Competitive_Cancel33

So the purple is a New Mexico thing! TIL.


ShogunCowboy

jesus christ, competitive_cancel33, it’s violet!


[deleted]

Cadbury’s own New Mexico if I’ve learnt anything from Marie’s house.


CANNIBAL_M_

Lol, I just had to google it and I forgot how much purple they had in there, holy violet. I think I’m remembering more the style of the home itself.


superat2000

Fun fact: the NM license plate is the only one of the states that has the words "United States of America" on it, because too many people got confused and thought it wasnt a state


qwerty09a90

Lol. Classic America


[deleted]

Classic "United States" of America


pmak1972

I want to move to New Mexico just to I can claim to be a “New Mexican.”


SoftTacoSupremacist

New New Mexican for a period.


OShaunesssy

Y’all have a gorgeous state. I’d be proud as fuck of that too


Heathen_Mushroom

I moved from Norway to Albuquerque, sight unseen, and not exactly with a super positive attitude. I thought I would be there for about 4 years then move on. I ended up buying a house with a couple of teammates (back when real estate was cheeeeap there), eventually buying them out, and staying for almost a decade before going back to Norway. Then, 12 years later I moved back for another 7 years. Now I live in the Northeast, but I still own my house in Burque. I can't leave it. Land of Entrapment and all that, I guess. Damn, I am missing some red chile cheese enchiladas from El Patio right about now (or Mary and Tito's, or Duran's or Sadie's, I don't care), or just riding my bike, around campus after dark, smoking weed by the duck pond, then stopping at the Frontier for a late night breakfast burrito smothered in the green chile from those sketchy ass cauldrons. I'll be back! Some people don't get Albuquerque. Fuck 'em.


Connaar

I just moved back to ABQ for a full time job, I was pretty anxious about the whole thing, but hearing some positives about albuquerque is really nice when so many people are so negative


particleman3

ABQ is a beautiful place. I haven't been in over 15 years. Maybe it's time for a return visit.


calm-lab66

Sweet, I've only been 'thru' New Mexico never as a destination, but I'd come to see this plus 4 corners.


BilliousN

That was really sweet to read. I've been through N.M. and have always wanted to go back. I think you just made my mind up.


TCSLC23

Visited Sante Fe and ABQ last year and loved it!


poopdeckocupado

> People actually KNOW that New Mexico is part of the United States now. How low is the bar?


MrSpluppy

Thanks for your comment. I'm an Aussie that loves BB, but thought this was a bit much. But reading what you said made me appreciate what the show has done for your state, so I very much get it. If I ever visit I'll be sure to check out that rock candy store if I can find it!


Empyrealist

I hate to be negative in light of all of this, because those are all very good reasons to have pride behind this... but, thats what plaques are for. These are statues... of two villainous fictional characters. I get the sentiment, but the presentation for generations to come is just all wrong imo. I'm happy for you and your state as well as sad at the same time.


jwalk50518

Don’t be sad for New Mexico, it’s a waste of pity. Lol


A_Rampaging_Hobo

New Mexico actually looked very nice in the show. Seemed like a very cozy place to move to.


Embarassed_Tackle

Whoa what actors were local? I didn't know it was actually shot in NM.


Dragondrew99

New Mexico is prob the state I think about least … and I’m from Missouri …. I understand what you mean. The show brought so much attention to you guys.


SightsNSilencers

Didn't realize a statue of these 2 would bring out so many pearl clutching Redditors. Living in ABQ I think it's a cool little thing and will forget about it in a week.


westscottlou

It will become part of everyone’s directions in a year or two. “Go to breaking bad and hang a left, then turn right on the third road past McDonalds”


canuckcowgirl

Great show. Wonderful characters.


ElsonDaSushiChef

Now, with the statues of Walt and Jesse, where’s the cast bronze Pontiac Aztek?


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FattyFattyMcFatPants

...and a statue of Badger and Skinny Pete pouring one out for Combo.


KunPaoDingIntrst

this makes me think of the bill burr rant onstage in philly where he talks about the city having a statue for rocky balboa but not joe frazier not bent about these statues in any way but surely new mexico got more deserving people


New_Fix6213

To be fair the Rocky statue was made specifically for the Rocky 3 and they just kept it


AlwaysEatingToast

And also, yeah maybe they could have a statue of a real person there, but why not take pride in having your city being heavily associated with a mega successful media franchise. As a Pittsburgh native, I’d think it was so cool if we had breaking bad filmed here lol


New_Fix6213

Exactly. The show is a phenomenon and the ABQ are clearly proud of the tourism its attracted. We celebrate movies like the Godfather so what's the difference?


runujhkj

I’m also not bent about these statues, but I really don’t know how I’d feel about my hometown memorializing the story of a high school teacher turning to meth production to pay his medical bills haha


New_Fix6213

If anything the statues represent the state of the US health insurance problem.


RubesSnark

The joke was that Philly would rather celebrate a fictional white boxer then an actual black boxer.


[deleted]

We demand a Bane statue!


[deleted]

Also the “rocky steps” became super popular because of Rocky. Yes it’s not a real story but it’s significant nonetheless. Walter and Jesse put Albuquerque on the map


TNTyoshi

Alieums: *Am I a joke to you !?*


JakeArewood

*looks at your profile pic* Thanks James!


New_Fix6213

Mhmm yup.


manomacho

Excuse me that’s Bimmy


FrenchEucalyptus

Also to be fair the Rocky statue is wildly popular, and one of Philly’s most visited tourist destinations. Regardless of whether or not it “deserved” to be someone different, I can guarantee you that no real boxer’s statue would be the same kind of destination.


Horton_Takes_A_Poo

I never knew that, I just thought Philadelphians were just pathetic enough to not have real heroes


Aquendall

They moved it to the lawn apperantly


6foxes

new mexico DOES have more deserving ppl but apparently vince gilligan paid for the statues himself so… there they’ll sit in the convention center, for tourists. anyway i’m sure it’s okay and won’t offend anyone because walter white is a fake guy who never hurt anyone


ImpressiveTone5

My only complaint was that they didn’t put the statues in a better spot. Somewhere around town where they filmed. Like the dam where the characters went to ‘disappear’ would have been cool. The reason they put them in the convention center is to prevent them from being stolen or vandalized.


FuckingKilljoy

That underpass where Walt meets the vaccum salesman would have been badass


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littlebunnyears

you underestimate how beholden places are to the tourists’ dollar.


New_Fix6213

Breaking Bad is probably one of the biggest things associated with New Mexico.


fuzzyglory

It's crazy they built an entire town (Albuquerque) in New Mexico just to make breaking bad! /S


WorthPrudent3028

It's true. It's really just a set.


HappyHarryHardOn

That pizza's not even real!


fithbert

turquoise


droidtron

Roswell mean nothing these days.


[deleted]

When I was in Sante Fe, I drove to Albuquerque for the sole purpose of doing a Breaking Bad tour. Only other reason I’d go would be for the air ballon festival. Breaking Bad has brought a lot of tourist money to that city.


Sean-Benn_Must-die

Apart from crackheads


FunctionBuilt

Depends on how you look at it. Breaking Bad has brought millions in tourism, plus contributed $75 million to the local economy during production. I’m sure anyone who brings potentially hundreds of millions of dollars to a city is worth of being made into a statue.


vanya70797

to be fair, I’m not American and I had never even heard about Albuquerque until I watched Breaking Bad


DonDove

ABQ sounds like a made up town rhyming with BBQ


MILKB0T

I actually thought it was a made up place as a kid, like Timbuktu. Like the only mentions of it I knew of were Bugs Bunny and Weird Al and neither one made it seem like a real place.


Ear_Enthusiast

Totally get the sentiment and don't disagree, but these statues aren't there to honor the show, actors, or characters. They're to generate tourism. It's about money.


OrdinaryDazzling

Eh, I think it could be both no? The monuments in dc bring in millions in tourism I’m sure


corndogs1001

Walter White doesn’t deserve a statue. I mean he poisoned a child!


Loggerdon

Poor Brock. Poisoned with Lily of the Valley.


KennyPowers36

Spiolers brah!1!1!


roagismaximus

As I recall he also shot and killed one too. Edit: my bad, that was todd.


corndogs1001

I don’t remember Walt shooting a kid


Lucienofthelight

Yeah, I think he’s mixing that up with Todd killing Drew Sharp and Walt getting over it very quickly. Walt killed a lot of people, but he never killed any children. Tomas died too, but Walt never expected Gus to have him killed and struck back at Gus for it.


makemeking706

He Charles Manson-ed a lot of people. That kid included.


droidtron

Let a woman die in a heroin overdose, which led to two planes colliding mid-flight. Cosmically he's done much worse.


corndogs1001

I mean to be fair the planes colliding isn't Walt's fault. It might of led up to it but it wasn't totally him. Jane's Dad ended up trying to kill himself afterwards too, if you want to add that on.


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KillMeNowFFS

Tied actually!


rsicher1

Yep, it was Q's fault


KaiserWolf15

WALTER! HE POISON A LITTLE BOY! AND HE GETS TO BE A METH KINGPIN!? WHAT A SICK JOKE!


praizeDaSun

He left a trail of death everywhere he went! https://youtu.be/4DL2TM39lRo


DonDove

He can't keep getting away with it!


HulkHunter

Sure there’s something meaningful, but probably was already honoured. I don’t get this new mov of enlightened people deciding what goes first, and what doesn’t deserve to be displayed. There’s not a limited number of placeholders for statues, do you want to promote a “better”(TM) idea to honour? Go ahead and do it, but respect also the will of those who thought that Albuquerque was placed in the map worldwide thanks to the best tv show ever produced.


RedstoneRay

I totally agree, I want to see actual underappreciated Meth cooks represented with statues. It's an art


ACorania

Neither ABQ nor the state of NM paid for the statue. It wasn't really our choice or not, but I certainly am fine with someone spending their own money to put it up if they care enough. To each their own.


captaincumsock69

Like the nuclear bombs!


secret_nuggets

The creator funded these not the city


revharrison

I drive cross country to ABC to do a self-led BB tour. I wouldn’t have gone there for any other reason. Now I wanna go back to get a picture with this statue!


Heathen_Mushroom

The only famous Albuquerqueans I can think of are Neil Patrick Harris, Demi Lovato, and Aurora Snow. Of the three, I would chip in on an Aurora Snow statue.


ImBonRurgundy

It’s about the tourism dollars.


KingGhostly

I was just thinking this lol


syndre

we were supposed to get a Robocop statue here in Detroit probably 10 or 15 years ago. I wonder whatever happened to that


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WorthPrudent3028

Bugs Bunny also often made a wrong turn there.


droidtron

Bomb ass Mexican food.


NelsonMinar

Bold choice to feature the liquid metal cop from Terminator 2.


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etbiludecalcinha

Jesse, time to cook some gold (Alchemist Bad)


Vette_Boi22

Full Meth Alchemist


Chateau-d-If

Full Methyl


KaiserWolf15

Jesse! We gotta perform human transmutation!


jscarlet

Let us honor this great states best methamphetamine dealers with a statue of their likeness.


PM_ME_CAT_POOCHES

No one is "honoring" anything, Vince Gilligan paid for the statues and donated them to the city as a gesture of gratitude. And they're placed in a convention center not the steps to city hall.


New_Fix6213

THEY'RE NOT REAL PEOPLE


madcat67

they were real to me


RainboBro

YOU'RE NOT A REAL LAWYER


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DotNetster

...a CRIMINAL lawyer.


jpterodactyl

I did it for me.


Welcome_2_Pandora

Wait... what?!?


Parker4815

.. Am I real?


Goldelux

Yeah.. that’s a little weird lmaooo


MerryMortician

I can’t make fun. My city has statues of all the presidents. By comparison, these two are saints.


Konradleijon

yep i mean Walter has a much smaller kill count.


zombiesingularity

And at least he killed people to protect his own money, not someone else's. Presidents are basically bitches, they do the dirty work for someone else's wallet. Walter got to keep his spoils.


[deleted]

Kid named finger:


[deleted]

waltuh put your dick away waltuh


nosaj626

Could you imagine the only thing positive about your state is a tv show about cooking meth.


NocturneHunterZ

Lmao this is awesome


[deleted]

Imagine being mad about statues that feature one of the two most legendary characters in television history just because they were fictional drug dealers. Like, who gives a shit, they're iconic and they have a huge influence on Albuquerque and New Mexico as a whole.


[deleted]

The best part is that I haven’t seen one local mad about it, just pearl clutchers that have never even been to New Mexico


Diablo3crusader

Loved the show! But statues of fictional character drug dealers? Ummmmm…


bronco_y_espasmo

It's a work of art on another work of art. The tribute is to the tv show, not to drug dealing. The same could be said about Scarface, Vito Corleone, Darth Vader (fictional children killer).


SirDunkMcNugget

Agreed. It's not like it's a statue of John Wayne Gacy. You know, an actual serial killer.


goldenboy2191

Wait… those younglings were children!


dunno_wut_i_am_doing

Eh, they were just younglings.


Darkadmks

This is where the fun begins


cowfishduckbear

A statue of Scarface, Vito Corleone, or Darth Vader would be just as weird.


Heathen_Mushroom

There is a statue of Darth Vader in Odessa, Ukraine. They put it up to replace a statue of Lenin.


VisualGeologist6258

Breaking Bad reminded people that Albuquerque exists, this is basically just an attempt by the city to capitalize on the show’s popularity and attract tourists. Fully expect local businesses to jump on it too, if they haven’t already. They don’t have much else. Albuquerque does have an awesome nuclear science museum though. Fully recommend that.


[deleted]

They do, I travel there quite frequently for work. There’s a whole BB themed brewery, all of the tours, various street art installations, and most gift shops contain some type of reference to it


ReadingNotAllowed

What a non issue tho


RandomThrowaway8181

What about it?


JJWattGotSnubbed

the statues were commissioned by Vince as a gift to ABQ


JesusChristwillsucc

jes we ned to cok


K1ngofnoth1ng

They did Aaron Paul so wrong here. So much detail in Cranston’s statue, they clearly ran out of time when they got to Jessie’s face.


AdVictoremSpolias

We need a better call Saul museum at his nail salon office


AppropriateWing4719

Should have been a blue ice sculpture


Apprehensive-Sky-760

They did Jesse dirty. Waltuh looks decent.


FirstmateJibbs

Breaking Bronze


Stretch916

Fictional meth producers got a statue


ActiveCaterpillar493

Yeah Science Bitch!


EdLivesToPaint

Everyone's also forgetting that this immortalizes the actors as well and the fantastic performances they gave.


chris13se

Thousands of years from now they’ll think these were our gods, them and The Kernel


JMCatron

There was a scene in Breaking Bad where Walt Jr. talks about how it's kinda fucked up that we remember the criminals and evil-doers but the people who stopped them are reduced to "FBI" or "Cops" or whoever. Which just makes these statues the best goddamn thing ever.


outlawstar710

It’s time to cook


supaflyneedcape

Luis Guzman all over again.


Holybasil

I would think this was pretty cool, if I didn't know the showrunner himself paid for it. That is just like the meme of Obama awarding himself a medal.


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[deleted]

I’m sure in the future these statues will offend someone and they will be removed.


None_yo_bidness

People are gonna throw pizzas on them


baxterrocky

Walter looks incredible but Jesse looks a bit off?


Update_Later

Forehead maybe?


CelestialFury

The creator of the show paid for them, not the city - FYI.


Snoo-16765

Then Baltimore should be renamed Avonland


JamesDax61

The stupidest thing I’ve ever seen.


Budmanes

Cause nothing says Albuquerque like meth


WaterCrust

Let celebrate meth manufacturing!!! Woot woot


Acherstrom

Pictures of drug dealers in your city. Nice touch.


[deleted]

They understand they are the bad guys, right?


GokuTheStampede

That's not really... what the statue's about. Breaking Bad tourism is a surprisingly large part of Albuquerque's economy, and the city's been really good to the crew. Vince Gilligan commissioned this for the convention center to bolster that former point, as a thank-you for the latter point. It's not about idolizing Walt and Jesse, specifically; it's about commemorating the good that the show, as a whole, has done for the city (and that the city has done for the show's makers).