Watch This With Rick Ramos

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#251 - Citizen Kane & Rashomon - WatchThis W/RickRamos Jan 08, 2020

Show notes

The Falsity of Truth - Orson Welle's Citizen Kane and Akira Kurosawa's Rashomon

On this week's episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos, Ibrahim & I sit down to discuss the paradox of truth focusing on two of the most important films in the history of cinema, Orson Welle's 1941 RKO Classic Citizen Kane and Akira Kurosawa's 1950 Venice Film Festival Golden Bear Winner Rashomon. Each film examines the uncertainty of perception, memory, and truth.

Kane has often been heralded as the greatest film of all time and Rashomon is credited with recognizing the viability of Japanese Cinema (and this critic would argue, World Cinema in general). These are two incredibly important films in the history of filmmaking. Ibrahim & I are excited to sit down for this discussion. We hope you enjoy listening to it as we enjoyed preparing and recording it. Thanks for the continued Love & Support. We're still enjoying the hell out of this show.

Questions, Comments, Complaints, & Suggestions can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com. A Million Thanks.

#250 - Scorsese's Goodfellas & Casino - WatchThis W/RickRamos Dec 16, 2019

Show notes

The Little Brother's Shadow: Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas & Casino

Yeah Scorsese's Goodfellas is the older film, but Casino is the grander and more far-reaching of the two films. One of the great debates of modern cinema has been Casino's reputation in the shadow of Goodfellas. In a career spanning nearly five decades, Martin Scorsese's critical reputation has ranked - arguably - over every major American filmmaker before, since, and after. He continues to direct exceptional films. Goodfellas and Casino are monumental achievements. It was a pleasure for Ibrahim & I to sit down and discuss two of this filmmaker's greatest successes.

As always, thanks for the continued love and support. Questions, Comments, Complaints, & Suggestions can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com.

#249 - Paul Schrader's Auto Focus - WatchThis W/RickRamos Dec 09, 2019

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Voyeurs' Eye - The Life & Death of Bob Crane

On this week's episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos, Ibrahim & I sit down to discuss Auto Focus, Paul Schrader's 2002 biopic of Hogan's Heroes star, Bob Crane. Crane, a popular television star of the late 1960s, would slowly be eaten away by his sexual addiction. Paul Schrader continues his examination of controversial and contradictory men in one of his best films to date. Auto Focus has unjustly been ignored by audiences. Ibrahim & I were thrilled to look at this examination of his life, profiling Crane's sexual addiction, pornography, and voyeurism. As always, we talk film in order to better understand humanity and an ever changing society. It's an interesting talk. We hope you enjoy it.

Questions, Comments, Complaints, & Suggestions can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com. Many Thanks.

#248 - Remembering Roger Ebert - WatchThis W/RickRamos Nov 28, 2019

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The Filmmaker's Friend - Remembering Roger Ebert (June 18, 1942 - April 04, 2013)

It's been six years since Cinema lost one of it's greatest champions - Roger Ebert. On this week's episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos, Ibrahim & I sit down to remember this great critic, journalist, Pulitzer Prize winner. He would become the film critic for The Chicago Sun Times in 1967 and continued in this capacity until his death from complications stemming from papillary thyroid cancer in 2013. However in his 70 years Ebert revolutionized the world of film criticism, and with his partner - Chicago Tribune film critic - Gene Siskel would emerge as the two most important, powerful, and influential critics the world of cinema has ever known.

Take a listen and let us know what you think. Questions, Comments, Complaints, & Suggestions can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com.Thanks for your continued support.

#247 - Remembering Robert Evans - WatchThis W/RickRamos Nov 25, 2019

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The Kid Stayed in the Picture: Robert Evans - A Remembrance (06/29/30 - 10/26/19)

On this week's episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos, Ibrahim & I sit down to pay tribute to Robert Evans, one-time head of Paramount Pictures (1967-1974) and arguably the most popular producer of the 1970's. Evans would make a name for himself with The Odd Couple and Rosemary's Baby (both 1968), playing an instrumental part in introducing Roman Polanski to American audiences. Bringing back Paramount Studios from the brink of financial disaster with Love Story (1970) and The Godfather (1972), Evans cemented his importance in Hollywood bringing Paramount Studios from the ninth of the nine major studios to first place. Every great ascent brings with it an equally tragic fall and such is the case with Evans. With a conviction for cocaine trafficking and rumors of his involvement with a murder during the making of one of his biggest failures, The Cotton Club, the 1980's proved a volatile and damaging blow to his career. Evans would recover and return to Paramount finding success later in his career, however he would never reach the heights of his 70's heydays. It was a great time to talking about this over the top character (lampooned mercilessly, but with great heart and admiration by Dustin Hoffman in Barry Levinson's Wag the Dog) this was a wonderful time discussing Evans, the 70's, and the continuing evolution of the industry. Take a listen and let us know what you think. As always, Questions, Comments, Complaints, and Suggestions can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com. Many Thanks.

#246 - Errol Morris - American Dharma - WatchThis W/RickRamos Nov 19, 2019

Show notes

On this week's episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos, Ibrahim & I sit down to discuss the new film from documentarian Errol Morris, American Dharma. In a career that has spanned nearly forty years, Errol Morris has proven to be one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed documentary filmmakers in cinema history. From his early championing by Roger Ebert for his debut feature Gates of Heaven (1981) through critical notoriety for his examination of the case of Death Row inmate Randall Dale Adams, 1988's The Thin Blue Line (ultimately leading to Adams exoneration and release from prison), Morris has been one of the continuous shining lights of cinema. In 2003 he premiered what would become the first of what many critics would call his trilogy profiling controversial world leaders, first with Secretary of Defense (1961-1968) Robert S. McNamara in The Fog of War (2003), followed by The Unknown Known in which Morris profiled former Secretary of Defense (1975-1977 & 2001-2006) Donald Rumsfeld. Rounding out this unofficial "trilogy" is Morris' newest film, American Dharma (completed in 2018 but held up because of distribution struggles until 2019) which looks at the work of Former Executive Chairman of Breitbart News and White House Chief of Strategist for Donald Trump's 2016 run and subsequent win of the presidency. Dharma may be a controversial film, however it is powerful, important, and never boring. This is a spirited conversation that examines a great deal of what's going on in today's society. We may not be on point about everything, but our discussion is fueled by passion and a very real concern. Take a listen and let us know what you think. Questions, Comments, Complaints, & Suggestions can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com. As always, many thanks.

#245 - The Irishman: A Martin Scorsese Picture - WatchThis W/RickRamos Nov 11, 2019

Show notes

Pride Goeth Before the Fall:

The Life of James Riddle Hoffa in Martin Scorsese's I Heard You Paint Houses and Danny DeVito's Hoffa

On this week's episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos, Mr. Chavez & I sit down to discuss one of the most highly anticipated films of the year, Martin Scorsese's I Heard You Paint Houses (The Irishman). A major cinematic event that has been inundated with controversy regarding story as well as Netflix's limited release, Martin Scorsese's new film is a definite high point in his career as well as a game-changer for the industry. The disappearance and (highly probable) murder of International Brotherhood of Teamsters President James R. Hoffa has been a subject that has fascinated the public for decades and is beautifully examined by one of cinema's greatest artists. On this week's episode of WatchThis, Ibrahim & I discuss this film as well as Danny DeVito's 1992 epic biopic Hoffa featuring a magnificent performance by Jack Nicholson as the labor leader and DeVito as his loyal right hand man. It was a great opportunity to return to DeVito's film and discuss it in a historical and artistic context.

Take a listen and let us know what you think. Questions, Comments, Complaints, & Suggestions can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com. As Always, Our Deepest Thanks & Appreciation.

#244 - Three by Jules Dassin - WatchThis W/RickRamos Oct 31, 2019

Show notes

The Director's Lens: Three Early Noirs by Jules Dassin - Night & the City/The Naked City/Brute Force

On this solo episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos, Ramos continues his look at one of his favorite cinematic genres - Film Noir. Taking advantage of the chance to watch so many great films, this week week Ramos looks at the early career of Jules Dassin, a director who refused to name names during the McCarthy Era WitchHunts and was forced to emigrate to France where he became an even more successful director. On this episode we take a look at 1950's Night & the City featuring Richard Widmark, Gene Tierney, and Herbert Lom, as well as 1948's The Naked City starring Barry Fitzgerald, and - finally - 1947's Brute Force with commanding performances from Burt Lancaster and Hume Cronyn. Basically one guy sitting her bullshitting with himself about something he loves.

Questions, Comments, Complaints, & Suggestions can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com. Continued Thanks.

#243 - Dolemite Is My Name/Ed Wood - WatchThis W/RickRamos Oct 29, 2019

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High Art, Low Art, & The Need To Get It On Screen:

Dolemite Is My Name & Ed Wood

Twenty-Five Years in the making. On this week's episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos, Ibrahim & I sit down to discuss the struggles of High Art, Low Art, and Recognizing the Difference between the Two. Looking at two great film biopics chronicling the lives and work of artists of questionable talent, this week we discuss the new Netflix biopic of 70s Blaxploitation Legend Rudy Ray Moore - portrayed in a great return to form performance by Eddie Murphy, Dolemite Is My Name (directed by Hustle & Flow's Craig Brewer) and Tim Burton's 1994 look at the director widely credited as "The Worst of All Time," Ed Wood starring Johnny Depp in the title role. Ibrahim & I go deeper than some may expect in profiling these two immensely entertaining films, however we both agree that both films present interesting questions regarding the definition of Art.

Maybe we're on point, maybe we're missing it . . . either way we hope you enjoy the conversation.

Questions, Comments, Complaints, & Suggestions can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com. As always, Thanks for Your Continued Love & Support.

#242 - Scorsese & Schrader - WatchThis W/RickRamos Oct 22, 2019

Show notes

God's Lonely Men: The Collaborations of Martin Scorsese & Paul Schrader (Taxi Driver & Bringing Out the Dead)

On this week's episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos, Ibrahim & I sit down to discuss the artistic collaborations between Martin Scorsese & Paul Schrader. Over a 23 year span these two filmmakers have created some of the most powerful stories put on film. This week we take a look at their first film 1976's ground-breaking masterpiece Taxi Driver and their final collaboration, 1999's criminally underseen Bringing Out the Dead. We realize that Taxi Driver has been discussed almost to death, however a film of it's power can always be looked at again. Bringing Out the Dead has never received the recognition or examination that it has deserved. We are proud to do our small part to fix this. Take a listen as we discuss the cultural and artistic importance (as well as legacies) of these two films.

Remember, Questions, Comments, Complaints, & Suggestions can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com. Thank You for your continued Love & Support.

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