Watch This With Rick Ramos

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**Watch This With Rick Ramos**

Comedian Rick Ramos sits down and talks current theatrical releases and offers suggestions for additional movie watching choices. A film fans dream come true, WatchThis is about the art, beauty, and possibilities of cinema. Each week Ramos discusses the greatest films ever made (including those that you may have missed) as well as the artists that have created these films. He also goes further in discussing how much these films mean to him and how much they will – hopefully – mean to you. Enjoy!

Latest Episodes:

#211 - Infernal Affairs & The Departed - WatchThis W/RickRamos Feb 10, 2019

Show notes

The Spectrum of Criminality:

Infernal Affairs &

The Departed

On this week's episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos, Ibrahim & I sit down to discuss and compare Andrew Lau & Alan Mak's 2002 Hong Kong crime thriller Infernal Affairs and it's 2006 American remake The Departed from director Martin Scorsese. With rival casts including Andy Lau Tak-wah, Tony Leung Chiu-wai, Anthony Wong Chau-sang, and Eric Tsang Chi-wai, the Hong Kong film is considered a classic of both the genre and the Hong Kong Film Industry. Martin Scorsese's re-imagining of this film finally brought him the Oscar he had been working nearly 40 years to win. With an all-star cast including Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Vera Farmiga, Mark Wahlberg, Alec Baldwin, and a late era Jack Nicholson, Scorsese's film is an exemplary remake; expanding on the original film and adding nuances that Scorsese has become known for. Ibrahim & I come at it from numerous angles. Our opinions on both films seem to differ wildly from the accepted norm. Film is without a doubt a medium of varied interpretation and these two films do so much to prove that point. Take a listen and let us know if you agree or disagree. Questions, Comments, Compaints, & Suggestions can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com. Thank You for your continued love and support.

#210 - Cape Fear ('62 & '91) - WatchThis W/RickRamos Feb 03, 2019

Show notes

J. Lee Thompson & Martin Scorsese: Cape Fear

On this week's second episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos, Ibrahim & I sit down to discuss a B-Movie masterpiece, J. Lee Thompson's 1961 Noir Classic, Cape Fear. Featuring a wonderful cast including Gregory Peck, Polly Bergen, Barrie Chase, Martin Balsam, and Telly Savalas, Thompson fashions a taut, heart-pounding thriller propelled by an incredible performance by Robert Mitchum as convicted rapist Max Cady. Voted one of the greatest villains of all time, Mitchum is truly extraordinary. Almost thirty years later Martin Scorsese would remake this film as an exercise in genre filmmaking that would reunite him for the seventh time with Academy Award winner, Robert De Niro. Along with Nick Nolte, Jessica Lange, Juliette Lewis, Joe Don Baker, and cameos from the film's original stars - Gregory Peck, Martin Balsam, and Robert Mitchum this is an exceptional remake even if it happens to come up short in comparison to the original. Take a listen. We hope you have as much fun as we had recording. Questions, Comments, Complaints, and Suggestions can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com. As always thank you so much.

#209 - Roma & Bicycle Thieves - WatchThis W/RickRamos Jan 28, 2019

Show notes

Neo-Realism: From De Sica to Cuarón

Bicycle Thieves & Roma

On this week's episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos Ibrahim & I sit down to talk two of the most widely recognized works in Neo-Realism: Vittorio De Sica's 1948 masterpiece Bicycle Thieves (sometimes known as The Bicycle Thief) and Alfonso Cuarón's current critical hit (nominated for 10 Academy Awards) Roma. We discuss the importance, merits, and differences between both films. We argue, coming to agreement on some points and reaffirming our beliefs in other respects. An interesting conversation tackling controversial and polarizing issues, this is easily one of our best episodes in quite some time.

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

#208 - The Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling/Ikiru - WatchThis W/RickRamos Jan 24, 2019

Show notes

The Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling & Kurosawa's Ikiru: Purpose, Regret, & Redemption

On this week's episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos, Ramos goes it solo in The Fortress of Ultimate Darkness to talk Judd Apatow's 2018 HBO Documentary on The Life, Struggles, & Career of Garry Shandling (November 29, 1949 - March 24, 2016). Apatow had incredible access to the comedian's life, having known him for nearly four decades, and The Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling is probably the most in depth understanding of Shandling's art, life, and spiritual self. It's a wonderful examination of the life of one of the greatest stand-up comics of all times . . . his personal, artistic, and spiritual struggles. Ramos pairs this episode with Akira Kurosawa's 1952 Ikiru, featuring a touching and brilliant lead performance from Kurosawa stock player Takashi Shimura as an almost anonymous political bureaucrat who discovers he is dying from stomach cancer and becomes consumed with finding purpose for his life. These are two films that have affected Ramos deeply, an emotional and thoughtful discussion of these two films which he hopes you enjoy.

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

#207 - Vice & W. - WatchThis W/RickRamos Jan 15, 2019

Show notes

Vice & W. - Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld: Power & War

On this week's episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos, Ibrahim & I sit down to discuss Christian Bale (Golden Globe Winner for Best Actor) in Adam McCay's Vice. A decisive movie between the two of us, Vice has a great deal to debate. Featuring Bale, Amy Adams, Steve Carrel, and Tyler Perry this was an interesting discussion for the two of us. We couple this screening with W. - Oliver Stone's 2008 biopic on the 43rd President, George W. Bush. With a lead performance from Josh Brolin, again we find ourselves with differing opinions. Take a listen as we discuss eight years of The Bush Dynasty led by George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, and Donald Rumsfeld.

Questions, Comments, Complaints, and Suggestions can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com.

Thanks for the continued love and support.

#206 - Reservoir Dogs & City on Fire - WatchThis W/RickRamos Jan 06, 2019

Show notes

Reservoir Dogs & City on Fire - Tarantino and the late Ringo Lam

On this week's episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos, Ibrahim & I sit down to look back on Quentin Tarantino's debut, the Classic Reservoir Dogs. We look at the film, but also it's importance as a game-changer in the early 90s. We discuss the performances of Lawrence Tierney, Michael Madsen, Tim Roth, Chris Penn, Edward Bunker, and - of course - Harvey Keitel. We also take a look at Ringo Lam's 1987 Hong Kong classic, City on Fire starring the great Chow Yun-Fat. Basically two friends remembering a great and highly influential film while going back and forth regarding it's importance. This was a fun time on the mics. Take a listen and let us know what you think - gondoramos@yahoo.com.

Thanks for your continued love and support.

#205 - The Ballad of Buster Scruggs - WatchThis W/RickRamos Dec 28, 2018

Show notes

The Ballad of Buster Scruggs

The Coen Bros. Re-Imagine The West & How Netflix is Changing the Face of Cinema

On this week's episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos Ramos goes it alone to talk The Coen Brothers new film, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, a film that is the culmination of nearly everything the Brothers have produced over the past 30-plus years. Ramos was overwhelmed by this film and was thrilled to finally sit down and talk about it . . . although it did take him three viewings before he was able to fully put together his feelings and attitude regarding this new classic. On this episode he talks the film itself, but also the changing world of movie-watching. Netflix is definitely changing the world of movies. 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 Love & Support.

#204 - Psycho: Hitchcock & Van Sant - WatchThis W/RickRamos Dec 21, 2018

Show notes

Psycho - Hitchcock & Van Sant

On this week's episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos, Ibrahim & I sit down to discuss Hitchcock's masterpiece Psycho (1960) and Gus Van Sant's shot-for-shot re-imagining from 1998. We discuss the brilliance and importance of Hitchcock's original and the pointlessness of Van Sant's remake. An interesting conversation that forces both of us to understand the films better, we are proud to put out an episode that we hope captures the quality of the first film and understanding of the purpose of the second.

As always, we appreciate your continued love and support. Questions, Comments, Complaints, and Suggestions can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com

#203 - To Be Or Not To Be (Ernst Lubitsch) - WatchThis w/RickRamos Dec 13, 2018

Show notes

Catching Up On The Classics:

To Be or Not To Be (1942)

Director: Ernst Lubitsch

On this week's episode of WatchThis w/RickRamos, I go solo to talk Ernst Lubitsch's 1942 Classic To Be or Not to Be, starring the great Jack Benny, Carole Lombard (in her last role), and - a very young - Robert Stack. A profile of a Jewish acting company in war torn Poland, Lubitsch's film was one of the earliest films to tackle the Nazis on screen (in a comedy, nonetheless!) and was not considered entirely "respectable" when first-released, however it has grown in its importance over the years.

We're trying something a bit different with the podcast this week . . . a new angle that we hope to implement throughout the life of the show. Focusing on individual films in my collection, I'm looking forward to finding and talking about the great films that I have somehow missed. Take a listen as I discuss #607 in the Criterion Collection with hopes to get through everything that I own and have not watched. Thanks for listening. Questions, Comments, Complaints, & Suggestions should be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com.

#202 - Dead Man's Hand: Goodbye to Ricky Jay & Others in 2018 - WatchThis W/RickRamos Dec 03, 2018

Show notes

The Dead Man's Hand: A Goodbye to Ricky Jay & Others in 2018

On this week's episode of WatchThis w/RickRamos, Ibrahim & I sit down to mourn the passing of the great sleight of hand artist, magician, writer, actor, and historian Ricky Jay (June 26, 1946 - November 24, 2018). Focusing heavily on directors Molly Bernstein & Alan Edelstein's Deceptive Practices: The Mysteries and Mentors of Ricky Jay (2012) - a fascinating study of the great sleight of hand magician, this is an examination of - probably - the greatest practitioner of magic the 20th & 21st Centuries have ever known. We round this episode out with a discussion of others who have passed this year including: Mitzi Shore (Owner and Co-Founder of The Comedy Store), Stan Lee, and former president George H.W. Bush. We look back on what these lives have meant to us as well as the lessons learned from them. As always, we appreciate your continued Love & Support. Questions, Comments, Complaints, and Suggestions can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com. Many Thanks!

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