Watch This With Rick Ramos

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#441 - Enter the Void - WatchThis W/RickRamos Jun 12, 2023

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Tokyo Book of the Dead: Gaspar Noé's Enter the Void

This week Mr. Chavez and I examine the work of a controversial and polarizing director, Gaspar Noé. Noé made headlines in the early 2000s with Irreversible, a film that continues to upset audiences and challenges filmmaking conventions. With Enter the Void (2009), Noé doubled down and created a film that divided critics calling it both "captivating and innovative" and "tedious and puerile." The argument continues on this week's episode. Watch the film, listen, and agree or disagree. We'd love to hear from you at gondoramos@yahoo.com

If you've listened to us over the years, or if you're new to the podcast, and you'd like to support us you can click on the link below and donate to this long-running labor of love. Simply click on the link below and go to the Buy Me a Coffee website. Anything and Everything is Appreciated.

https://bmc.link/watchrickramos

#440 - Tideland - WatchThis W/RickRamos Jun 05, 2023

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A Little Girl's Dream: Terry Gilliam's Tideland

Troubled throughout his career for circumstances - oftentimes - beyond his control (inadequate budgets - Munchausen, studio interference - Brazil and The Brothers Grimm, flash floods - Quixote, and death - Parnassus), Terry Gilliam has somehow been able to create some of the most incredible images ever committed to the big screen. From the great adventures of Baron Munchausen through an abandoned Philadelphia future overrun by wild animals, into an acid trip vision of 1970s Las Vegas, Gilliam is responsible for creating magic on screen that can only be described by his own adjective - Gilliamesque. With his 2005 look into the life of a nine-year old girl, Jelizah-Rose (Jodelle Ferland), orphaned and left to survive in an abandoned home on the Texas plains, Gilliam began a strange and interesting late career struggle for understanding. The films definitely changed. Pulling strongly from Lewis Carrol's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, at 64 Gilliam created one of the most difficult and polarizing films of his career. (According to Gilliam, fellow Python, Michael Palin, called the film - either the greatest thing he has ever done, or the worst.) The fact is that polarizing and difficult films are the films that need to be looked at, examined, and talked about. That's all we're really trying to do with this (and every one of our) episode(s). Take a listen and let us know what you think. Questions, Comments, Complaints, & Suggestions can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com

Special Note: We're trying something new in this episode. If you've listened to us over the years, or if you're new to the podcast, and you'd like to support us you can click on the link below and donate to this long-running labor of love. Simply click on the link below and go to the Buy Me a Coffee website. Anything and Everything is Appreciated.

https://bmc.link/watchrickramos

#439 - Solaris - WatchThis W/RickRamos May 29, 2023

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Anti-Sci-Fi: Andrei Tarkovsky's Solaris

This week Ibrahim & I sit down to discuss a film widely-heralded as a masterpiece of Science Fiction Cinema, Andrei Tarkovsky's Solaris. In previous episodes, Ibrahim and I have discussed the brilliance of Tarkovsky's Mirrorand Stalker. Here we struggle to understand and critique a film (widely recognized as brilliant) that simply doesn't come together for the two of us.

What is Sci-Fi? Aside of basic story elements, can Tarkovsky's film be considered a true Sci-Fi? This week we discuss this point as well as the role of an entire filmography in terms of understanding and evaluating a filmmaker's career.

Take a listen and let us know what you think. It's definitely an interesting conversation. Questions, Comments, Complaints, and Suggestions can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com. Many Thanks for Your Continued Love and Support.

#438 - The Tree of Life - WatchThis W/RickRamos May 15, 2023

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Way of Nature, Way of Grace: Terrence Malick's The Tree of Life

One of the greatest films ever commited to celluloid . . . Terrence Malick's The Tree of Life. This is simply the greatest film about childhood; beautifully photographed, honestly acted, and briliantly realized, Malick is a true visionary whose five films up to this point (2011) are all considered spiritual, poetic, and beautiful. The Tree of Life is (arguably) a masterpiece that has polarized audiences - some enchanted by the poetic beauty of its images, others put-off by what is considered pretentiousness and a lack of narrative focus. Everyone has a right to their opinion, but simply putting aside a certain expectation of "typical" narrative films, provides a rewarding and life-changing (at least the cinematic equivalent) experience. Take a listen as Mr. Chavez and I dig deeply into this wondrous film-watching experience.

Questions, Comments, Complaints, and Suggestions can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com. Many Thanks for the Continued Love & Support.

#437 - EO - WatchThis W/RickRamos May 08, 2023

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Donkey Variations: Jerzy Skolimowski's EO

This week Mr. Chavez and I travel to Cinematic Poland for Jerzy Skolimowski's EO - a beautiful and touching examination of the world through a donkey's eyes. Pain, Suffering, Beauty, and Resilience inspired by Bresson's Au Hasard Balthazar, but with a modern vision. This is an inspired piece of cinema, one that Ibrahim and I are thrilled to introduce to you and excited to talk about. Take a listen and let us know what you think. For reference, you can find EO streaming on Amazon Prime for a small rental fee. Questions, Comments, Complaints, and Suggestions can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com. Many Thanks.

#436 - Her - WatchThis W/RickRamos May 01, 2023

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Virtual Girl & Sad Boy: Spike Jonez's Her

On this week's episode, Mr. Chavez & I sit down to discuss Spike Jonez's Her, a film particularly important and reflective of these times. With beautiful cinematography from Dutch/Swedish cinematographer, Hoyte van Hoytema, and featuring touching performances from Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams, Rooney Mara, and the voice of Samantha - Scarlett Johansson, Jonez's look at love, loneliness, heartache, and artificial intelligence, Her is an interesting examination however a problematic and (for one of us, at least) highly unsatisfactory film. The discussion goes into this. We hope that you join us and formulate your taste. Take a listen and let us know what you think. Questions, Comments, Complaints, & Suggestions can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com. Many Thanks.

#435 - Robert Bresson's Au Hasard Balthazar - WatchThis W/RickRamos Apr 24, 2023

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Beast of Burden: Robert Bresson's Au Hasard Balthazar - WatchThis W/RickRamos

This week finds Mr. Chavez and myself continuing our dive into films with great reputations and few viewings. Bresson's 1966 French Classic, Au Hasard Balthazar, looks at life through the eyes of a donkey as it moves through the world being loved, abused, championed, worked, and - finally - sacrificed. A touching and beautifully story about humanity told in a profoundly emotional manner. As Mr. Chavez says, "I challenge someone to watch this movie and to be like, 'Well It's just about a f****** stupid donkey.'" There's so much more to unwrap, and for true fans of Cinema (and World Cinema in particular), Bresson's story is about the struggle found in purpose, love, and suffering. This is a truly beautiful film that has found legions of fans since its release over sixty years ago. We are proud to present Au Hasard Balthazar on this week's episode. Questions, Comments, Complaints, & Suggestions can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com. Many & Continued Thanks.

#434 - The Quick & the Dead - WatchThis W/RickRamos Apr 17, 2023

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A New Kind of Forgotten Western - Sam Raimi's The Quick & the Dead

This week Mr. Chavez continues to travel and I continue my exploration into the vast number of films that I've somehow missed in this lifetime. There are quite a few films on this list and this podcast allows me the opportunity to watch them and assess their value. This week's choice is the 1995 Sam Raimi-directed, Sharon Stone lead (a rarity in the Western genre) The Quick & the Dead. This is by far not a great film or a forgotten masterpiece, however it is somewhat fascinating in its snapshot look at mid-90s Hollywood filmmaking. The beginning of an independent filmmakers dive into studio filmmaking (at this point, Raimi had directed The Evil Dead series and Darkman but was yet to take on the Spiderman series) and Sharon Stone's emergence as a powerhouse star and producer after Basic Instinct. With supporting performances from a nasty, vile, and dangerous Gene Hackman, and early appearances from Russell Crowe and Leonardo DiCaprio, Raimi's film is filled wtih beautiful cinematography (Dante Spinotti) and exceptionally strange and compelling production design. It's a good time and I'm thrilled that I had the opportunity to watch it for this show. I hope you enjoy it. Questions, Comments, Complaints, & Suggestions can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com. Many Thanks.

#433 - David Mamet's American Buffalo - WatchThis W/RickRamos Apr 09, 2023

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Loser Row - David Mamet's American Buffalo

This week I go it alone to ramble on about losers, warped friendships, bad ideas, and hopelessness in David Mamet's 1975 play to 1996 film adaptation, American Buffalo. A three man showcase for Dennis Franz (Donny), Dustin Hoffman (Teach), and Sean Nelson (Bobby) in an angry portrait of loses who have no idea how desperate and ridiculous their ideas are. Not a great film, but a hell of a good time for those of us who love simple stories about hopelessness. Take a listen there's a pretty good amount to unpack. Thanks for listening; Thanks for the continued support. Questions, Comments, Complaints, & Suggestions can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com.

#432 - Wings of Desire - WatchThis W/RickRamos Apr 03, 2023

Show notes

"I Know You're There . . . " - Wim Wenders's Wings of Desire

Ibrahim and I continue our dive into foreign, arthouse, and obscure films with this examination of Wim Wenders's 1987 cinematic elegy to angels, poetry, sacrifice, and love. With beautiful performances from Bruno Ganz, Otto Sander, Solveig Dommartin, and Peter Falk, Wings of Desire is a powerful, romantic, and inspiring film that leaves viewers feeling hopeful and enlightened. It's a beautiful film that we are thrilled to look at. Take a listen; It's a fun conversation. Let us know what you think. Questions, Comments, Complaints, and Suggestions can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com.

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