QA with Michael Koresky about Films of Endearment: A Mother, a Son and the 80s Films That Defined Us

How I loved Michael Koresky’s book about watching movies with his mother, the movies she showed him as a child, the “glue” of movies in their relationship. He grew up in the ’80s, in the first wave of family VCRs, where watching movies at home became a “thing”. He was a lonely child, a closeted child, and he found refuge in the great movies of the 80s, as seen with his mother – who comes to life in these pages. Koresky’s book is also an important re-evaluation of 80s movies, often remembered as white-bread teen comedies and/or testosterone-fueled action … but he resurrects the memory of those years, when all these great ACTRESSES stalked the land – giving astonishing performances year after year. Michelle Pfeiffer! Sissy Spacek! Jessica Lange! WOMEN, too, not girls. We didn’t know how good we had it while it was happening! Koresky uses the movies he discusses (one for each year of the decade) to explore how these movies connects to his mother’s experiences of life, as well as his own. It’s beautiful and emotional. I highly recommend it.

I interviewed Koresky about his book for Ebert.

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2 Responses to QA with Michael Koresky about Films of Endearment: A Mother, a Son and the 80s Films That Defined Us

  1. John Vail says:

    Just getting to this now. Wonderful interview, which convinced me to order the book. Thanks

    • sheila says:

      My pleasure! Glad to hear you bought it! Gave me a new perspective on the era, and am planning to re-watch all of the movies he mentions – from 9 to 5 to Country to Baby Boom!

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