Andy Wolverton's Blog, page 9
December 7, 2022
What's Your Film Journey Look Like?
Every movie lover has an origin story, the place where the love of movies took hold and never turned you loose. I hope you'll share some of your stores with me.
I thought the holiday season might be a good time to share part of my movie journey, which is ongoing. My video series Growing Up with Movies began earlier this year. Maybe you'll find that your journey took a similar - or wildly different - path. Again, I'd love to hear your stories.
Thanks for reading and for watching.
https://youtu.be/MErb3RW7bSMIntroduction
https://youtu.be/TuMtDsyf1B8Episode 1: My Rude Awakening to Classic Movies
https://youtu.be/elzuq6cNo8EEpisode 2: Hard Lessons with Bonnie and Clyde
https://youtu.be/0wk-7YFoD6gEpisode 3: When Once is Not Enough
https://youtu.be/Bjp6kJ2vU2AEpisode 4: How I Met Buford Pusser, Part I
https://youtu.be/1qTA3t1btowEpisode 5: How I Met Buford Pusser, Part II
https://youtu.be/4QZQqtbqdlkEpisode 6: Revisiting Peggy Sue Got Married and Not Being Prepared for It
December 5, 2022
Video Essays from 2022
I didn't create as many video essays as I would've liked, but I alway enjoy putting these together and hope you'll enjoy watching one or two. All of the videos contain spoilers, so be warned. Thanks for watching.
https://youtu.be/V2xe_SLfTysAlthough one of my favorite film noir titles, The Asphalt Jungle, is primarily a heist movie, I wanted to focus on one aspect of the film that's often neglected: the women behind the men.
https://youtu.be/ueg5mZlHOCAThanks to my friend Jeff Duncanson for bringing this terrific film noir to my attention.
https://youtu.be/fZA5BQPFvuYWith the recent release from Fun City Editions, there's never been a better time to discover (or rediscover) Cutter's Way (1981), one of the great films from the '80s that most people have either forgotten or never knew about. Watch the film before you watch my video.
https://youtu.be/Yr1bywaHBJ0I was too young to see Doc in 1971, but in this video I tried to imagine what would've happened had I seen it at the age of 9.
https://youtu.be/4QZQqtbqdlkHave you ever watched a movie, thinking that is was pleasant enough, only to revisit it years later, discovering that it knocked you to the floor? That's what happened when I revisited Peggy Sue Got Married (1986).
https://youtu.be/4ho3LXOaBiYHere's a film noir that tends to be forgotten but is definitely worth a look: The Big Operator (1959).
https://youtu.be/2PAEJWccJlUAlthough this video essay is from 2021, several people have told me that Quantez (1957) has become one of their favorite Westerns. Hey, always glad to help!
I'm looking forward to doing more video essays in 2023. Got a film you'd like for me to consider? Let me know in the comments below. Thanks for watching.
December 4, 2022
The Best of our Great Movies Virtual Discussions for 2022
My cohost Darnice and I had some outstanding virtual discussions this year with some outstanding special guests. The following is a list of (and links to) some of our best programs from 2022. (Okay, some of them may have been from 2021, but who's counting?) I hope you'll find something to enjoy, maybe even a movie to explore or revisit.
https://youtu.be/oia_jRVNq8chttps://youtu.be/CO_wMhQgfA8https://youtu.be/ZRF2X7q4M2ghttps://youtu.be/T1uXEOF3NMAhttps://youtu.be/Lj-bxNQIMe8https://youtu.be/kMFmOUnux90https://youtu.be/FuFFhd4xMpkhttps://youtu.be/rfQtauDG9rAhttps://youtu.be/lTd40hJXE_Ehttps://youtu.be/9UTytPJo5XQhttps://youtu.be/qKSFpnUOUZMhttps://youtu.be/KfrjJT7bakkNovember 27, 2022
What You Missed in Film Noir New Releases in 2022
2022 saw quite a few film noir and neo-noir titles released on physical media. Maybe you missed a few? Now's a perfect time to take a look at what came out this year. Here's my month-by-month rundown. Enjoy!
https://youtu.be/0v9D9KENwSkhttps://youtu.be/Ctcvqee8b2Yhttps://youtu.be/VZeD6ls7y4shttps://youtu.be/0mep4jvnV-4https://youtu.be/Eu44TYTT5Oohttps://youtu.be/ph8dzhKn2Kkhttps://youtu.be/I39f2GqrG2chttps://youtu.be/MhpT7KdcBywhttps://youtu.be/gqKv8mt01tUhttps://youtu.be/9ozHHLmguuQhttps://youtu.be/EQsbwBLLkx8https://youtu.be/r9h2_ZoGcEYNovember 19, 2022
October 18, 2022
We Can't Live Without It
It might sound crazy, but lately I’ve been encouraged. I know we can all point to so much in the world that’s not encouraging, but I’m seeing signs that give me hope. Last weekend I attended a local film festival that brought in people from several different states. I can’t tell you how uplifting it was to be with a community of movie fans, many of whom I already knew, but others I met for the very first time. We shared our stories, our favorite films and movie moments, and so much more.
I’ve also been overwhelmed at the number of people who’ve read my book Men Don’t Read: The Unlikely Story of the Guys Book Club. People contact me telling me how much they enjoyed the book, but also asking how they can start their own book clubs (and not just for guys). Some are buying copies for their friends. And yes, wives buying copies for their husbands, because, as the title of my book says….
I believe that most people are looking for community. (It doesn’t have to come in the form of a book club, but starting and running one is easier than you might think.) Some will disagree, but we weren’t made for life in isolation. (There’s a reason why most prisoners fear solitary confinement.) We were built for community. We were made to be with other people.
The problem is that eventually we’ll disagree with other people and maybe even fight. We’ve seen more than enough of that during the past few years, small-scale and large-scale. A book club is just one way you can bring people together and exchange ideas without coming to blows. Yes, we’re going to disagree, but it’s also likely we’re going to hear something that will challenge the way we think.
That idea should not be threatening. Such a situation may be challenging, and it may make you uncomfortable, but it could be a sign that maybe you should consider another viewpoint. That doesn’t mean you have to embrace that viewpoint, just consider it and respect the person presenting it.
In just a couple of days, the Guys Book Club at the Severna Park Library will meet to discuss the book Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom by David W. Blight. It’s a long but tremendous book with plenty of opportunities for discussion. I’m sure not every member of the group will agree with every statement presented in the discussion, but I am sure that we’ll all (me included) walk away from the meeting richer, and maybe even have something to dwell on that will expand our thinking.
Plus we’ll also be building community.
You can read more about building community in Men Don’t Read. Your local library may already have it, but if not, you could ask them to purchase it. Even if you don’t, we can all do our part in building community where we are. It only takes a little effort, but it’s so worth it.
October 16, 2022
Getting Intimate at Noir City DC
No, I’m not talking about the kind of intimacy you may be thinking about, but rather a sense of community among film noir fans. The Noir City festivals are wonderful events, allowing fans the opportunity not only to see great films and support the Film Noir Foundation, but also to share in each other’s lives.
I was delighted to catch up with some old friends and people I hadn’t seen in awhile: Casey (Noir Girl) and her lovely mom Sylvia, Dave from New Jersey, Margaret from Chicago, Stefan, Haggai, Jacki, Catherine (who never seems to age!) at the Noir City Booth of Wonders, and many others. (I know Michael Kronenberg was there, but I’m sorry I missed him. Hope to see him next week.) And what a delight it is to have people introduce themselves, telling me how much they enjoy my YouTube channel or my writing in The Dark Pages. Although we’re meeting for the first time, we have so much to talk about relating to film noir, theaters, shared experiences, and just plain life.
And of course there’s Eddie Muller, celebrating his birthday with us yesterday. It’s always a pleasure to see you, Eddie.
Oddly enough, this morning I was reading about the Cooperative and Anonymous Society of Painters, Sculptors, and Engravers, an 1874 group that included artists Monet, Degas, Renoir, Pissarro, and others. This organization was formed not only as an independent group of creators shunned by the Salon in Paris, it was also a community, a support system for those who did not understand the Impressionistic works these artists were creating. The image above is of Jean Frédéric Bazille’s Studio; 9 Rue de la Condamine (1870), which depicts this fellowship, a group of people “at ease with one another…” with “no apparent hierarchy...”*
Many of the people at Noir City are creators, others supporters of film noir, and all of us are fans. It is an important and thriving community, one that we want to see grow and flourish.
One of the greatest pleasures of Noir City comes from seeing the torch passed to younger audiences who are just discovering film noir or classic movies in general. One of my friends brought his teenage niece to see The Argyle Secrets (1948). I saw other people there in their teens and 20s. Such moments are thrilling, and I hope we see more of it.
That’s what the film noir community (or any arts community) is all about: sharing, celebrating what we have in common rather than fighting over what divides us. The Noir City festivals create opportunities for building a thriving supportive community. I hope you’ll consider celebrating that community with us. The Noir City DC festival runs from October 14-27. Find out more here.
“Art Stories: Jean Frédéric Bazille’s Bazille’s Studio; 9 Rue de la Condamine - Wondering About Uninterrupted Potential” by Russ Ramsey
September 25, 2022
September 17, 2022
August 1, 2022
Film Noir New Releases for August 2022
Here are the new releases for August 2022, mostly region B releases. Plus...
https://youtu.be/I39f2GqrG2cI believe I neglected to post the July releases last month. Sorry 'bout that...
Enjoy!
