This website was created on the occasion of Mik’s birthday to celebrate his 50-year passion for Western movies. To learn more about Mik and his team of family and friends who share the love for western cinema, just keep reading!
Mik – the Sheriff
Michelangelo “Mik” Calderoni: pater familias, logistics enthusiast, racing car lover, movie buff, and most importantly: Mik is our guide into the world of Western movies. Despite his unwillingness to be at the center of attention and his reluctance to identify as a Western movie expert, we convinced him to reveal his lists of all-time Western favorites to share with friends and family. We plan to introduce you to them all, so you can prepare for a long, long journey to the West!
His passion for Western movies started when he was a teenager, and never faltered. This website is dedicated to him as a present for his 75th Birthday.
Val – Deputy Sheriff
Valeria Calderoni: Faentina lontana, coordinator of a fantastic SEO Team at Visual Meta, b-movie nerd, Trekkie. Owner, creator and webmaster of Mik’s Best of the West.
THE Team
Sonia – The Lady of the West
Sonia Calderoni: mother, unsung hero, knitting enthusiast, avid reader. She likely watched every Western movie on Mik’s list at least once during their 50-year marriage. Editor and writer for Mik’s Best of the West.
Vanessa – the Saloon Owner
Vanessa Calderoni: Family doctor in Faenza, cat lady, theater actress, force of nature: in the Old West, she would have undoubtedly owned a saloon, busier and smokier than Joan Crawford’s. Vanessa is co-owner of Mik’s Best of the West.
Gau – the School Master
Enrico Gaudenzi: family man, historian, teacher, film expert, author of La grande guerra al cinema. Tra narrazioni e censure, published by Clueb in 2017, Gau is a regular contributor for Mik’s Best of the West. He is the author of our first article, Why should we be watching Western movies today.
Nero – the Mandan Marshal
M. Nero Nava: in his own words, Aesthete/Musician/Artist/Venusian/Movie Maker/Writer. You can have a look at his work as a filmmaker on his page on Vimeo. Nero is a longtime friend of the MBOTW family gang; for Mik’s Best Of The Best, he contributed as editor for the English version of our article on Lonely Are The Brave, and he might soon write one of his own.
Luca – the Half-Blood Gunfighter
Luca Piccolino: painter, writer, poet, author of the book of poems X TRE, with a second poetry book in the works. Vanessa‘s husband, born and raised in Rome, Luca is a huge cinema fan and lover of the Italian spaghetti western tradition. For Mik’s Best Of The West, he curated our list of the best spaghetti western “al pomodoro”.
MANY THANKS TO OUR AdVISERS:
Cri – the Railroad Bandit
Simon – the Lonesome Cowboy
Anna – the Avenging Gunslinger
Sara – the Poker Player
Canna – the Bounty Hunter
Nico – the Preacher
DO YOU Wanna join the GANG?
Write us!
Immagine: Monument Valley seen from historical trading post; Click for photo credit