Welcome back to a fun challenge with a goofy name.

I had kicked around the idea of doing something around Black film for a while. I would make some notes here and there but hadn't settled on something that I liked.

Over the Summer of '21 I thought about doing something with Westerns but I wasn't sure what. Although he is best know for his films about the west, my point of entry to Anthony Mann was his Noir work. I slowly watched most of his major work and fell in love. So now I wanted to do something around him.

Sadly, when Melvin Van Peebles passed, I started kicking the former around again. Then a film came out that kind of made something click in my head: The Harder They Fall. I could just combine them both. The fact that THTF seemed to be viewed a lot on this site gave me some confidence.

I knew I wanted to do it in January and realized that I could make a horrible title using both names that would work for that month.

So why these things?

Films by Black artists are woefully underseen and often under-appreciated, and Westerns are relegated to a time of 'old movies' by a lot of folks. Despite how prominent they once were, we don't see them made that often anymore. There is a month for Noir already but Manns inclusion kind of opens up the breath of things for this a bit, so why leave it out.

Hooptober was made to highlight the quality that can be found everywhere in that wonderful genre. A genre that some people shy away from. A genre that is dear to me. This is meant to do the same thing.

I did not grow up watching westerns, nor would I have called myself a fan. I have become one as I have gotten older and have enjoyed the journey through its diverse filmscape.

Black Cinema and artists have been around me since I was very young. You guys have seen me write about some of these artists over a few Hooptobers.

I was asked this question a few years back for a magazine and it is accompanied by my answer:

Would you say you see value in pushing people to explore things beyond the scope of what they usually watch, or do you think it’s just fun to add a slight game-ification or competitive edge to something that’s somewhat passive in nature?

'I am a firm believer generally that the more context that you have to put anything in begets more meaningful and enriching experiences.'

I believe that.

I didn't expect as enthusiastic reaction that Hooptober had received, but I hoped that some of you come along. Some of you did.

Anyway, nothing crazy. 24 films and 2 bonus. What is listed below are the minimums. Use the 'categories' to get to 24, but hit those minimums. Use tag 'mannvanuary2'

1 Anthony Mann Film
1 Melvin or Mario Film
1 Black Western
5 decades (western)
7 films from Black directors
1 Aussie Western
4 westerns from the following: Andre de Toth, Eastwood, Walter Hill, Peckinpah or Boetticher.
7 decades (noir)
4 noir films from: Siodmark, Dmytryk, Lang, Dassin, Aldrich, Melville, Foley.

BONUS - 1 Michael Schultz film and Set it Off

We'll start Jan 1 and end Jan 31. See you on the other side.

'You have to not let yourself believe you can't. Do what you can do within the framework of what you have, and don't look outside - look inside.' - Melvin Van Peebles

Peeps on board: JR Roughton | Wade McCormick | Slappy McGee | Paul D | Fantome Blue | Jen | Matthias_S | Karen | Nuno Costa | bulletproofQpid | JLoRabbit | Amanda Q | David Robson | Dylan Phillips | November | windycityvegan | shiv roy | Kpower98 | myngve | Xebeche | James Spurrier | pwatersnh | kenobizod | Mara 🦋 | TGI