Associate Attorney Dylan Dam answers six questions about one of his favorite pastimes.
When did your interest in classic movies begin?
It started during my freshman year in college. A few years earlier, the American Film Institute had issued the list of the 100 greatest films of all time, and I thought it would be interesting to watch all these movies. I had already seen some of the newer movies on the list, including Forrest Gump and Shawshank Redemption, but there were a whole lot more I hadn’t heard of, such as Casablanca and Singin’ in the Rain. Once I started watching some of the older films, I was interested in other movies from that era.
So how has your hobby evolved since then?
I'm interested in seeing what different directors do. I like seeing how the actors’ roles have changed over time. I’ve become more interested in the craft, the different styles, the different genres, and the movie business as a whole. For instance, I watched Whatever Happened to Baby Jane last summer and it got me interested in seeing more Bette Davis movies, which led me to The Letter and Jezebel.
How does this interest manifest in your life?
I watch a lot of movies at home, many on the Turner Classic Movies (TCM) channel. I look through their schedule every month to see if there's anything that interests me. Not long ago, I picked Our Town to watch. It’s one of the first movies that William Holden was in. Aaron Copland, who's probably the greatest American composer ever, did the score for it.
What is your favorite movie of all time?
If I had to pick just one, I’d have to say Fargo, the Coen Brothers movie. There’s something about the dialogue and performances that really drew me to this film. The way it captures the idiosyncrasies of small towns and the combination of the mundane and the absurd parts of life. Field of Dreams is another favorite. I love baseball and that movie captures the love of the sport better than any other movie. Casablanca is probably my favorite older classic movie.
Do you watch current releases?
I do. I make it a point to see all the movies nominated for the Best Picture Oscar each year in addition to the other movies that interest me. I still think there are a lot of great movies being made. I don't have an interest in a lot of the franchises like the Marvel movies.
Do you have a dream related to this hobby?
I would love to attend one of the big film festivals in Los Angeles or visit the Academy’s new museum. I enjoy the Oscars, so I'd love to see all the memorabilia and history there. I want to keep seeing as many classic movies as I can.
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