Watch This With Rick Ramos

Pilot Going Down: Robert Zemeckis's Flight This week we close out our Denzel Washington Love Fest with - arguably - one of his best performances. In 2012 Mr. Washington would team with Director Robert Zemeckis for Flight, a film that is rarely discussed, but that has powerfully affected this film watcher. For this episode, Mr. Chavez & I sit down to watch, examine, and discuss this incredible performance that touches on the fraility of humanity and the dangers of addiction. Denzel Washington with supporting performances from Don Cheadle, Bruce Greenwood, John Goodman, Melissa Leo, an early star-making turn from Yellowstone's, Kelly Reilly, and Director Robert Zemeckis, the elements for brilliance are obvious. Take a listen and decide for yourself if the praise is deserved. As always we can be reached at gondoramos@yahoo.com - Many Thanks.  For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and

Battle for the Conn: Tony Scott's Crimson Tide You can never get enough Denzel Washington. This week Mr. Chavez & I sit down to talk the first of five collaborations with director Tony Scott, 1995s Crimson Tide. This first collaboration of Washington and Scott would fall almost directly in the middle of Scott's career and would be the fourth collaboration between Scott and the Don Simpson/Jerry Bruckheimer producing behemoth. This episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos takes a look at the relationship between Scott and his producing partners; the creation of the look and style that would come to define a great deal of 80s and 90s action films, as well as the relationship betwen Scott's style and what would later be adopted and expanded on by Michael Bay. We also take a look at the tremendous star power in pitting Denzel Washington and Gene Hackman against one another in a film that makes palpable argument for both of their characters. Two of the greatest actors of the last quarter of the 20th Century elevating

Denzel Wandering the Wasteland: The Hughes Brothers' The Book of Eli There are few great actors who can also be considered movie stars. Denzel Washington is certainly on that short list. A few weeks back we discussed his crowning achievement, Malcolm X. In 2010 he would produce and star in the Hughes Bros. directed, The Book of Eli. The rare instance of an action film with a purpose beyond mere entertainment, The Hughes Bros. brought to the screen one of the great "neglected" films of the 21st Century. In a post-apocalyptic world, Washington plays Eli, a man wandering the desolate remanants of America on a mission. For those who have seen the movie there is very little to say in this blurb, except that the film is far greater than the attention it has received. For those who have not seen it, you're in for a treat. Take a listen as we look at this neglected film and the performances of Washington, Gary Oldman, Mila Kunis, Malcolm McDowell, and Jennifer Beals. Truly an Underrated Film. Take a listen and let us

Neo-Nazi Family Drama: Tony Kaye's American History X Some films simply don't age well. With the passing years the problems of a narrative can become glaring. Such is the case with Tony Kaye's American History X (1998). A difficult subject that would have been better served with a revised script and a stronger director, American History X  suffers from a forced and simplistic narrative. Good performances and interesting cinematography (by director Kaye) are simply not enough to overcome a story that my partner dismsses as "after-school special". Although this film is widely admired in some circles, your favorite movie podcasters are less than impressed. Take a listen as we break down the problems this film carries. It's an interesting conversation; continuing our look at a collapsing and disintegrating America. As always we can be reached at gondoramos@yahoo.com - Many, Many Thanks.  For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buyme

A Time for Martyrs: Spike Lee's Malcolm X  Last Week Spike Lee, Ernest Dickerson, and Denzel Washington started Mr. Chavez & Myself on an artistic, political, and introspective journey. We originally intended to discuss this masterpiece in one episode, however art, life, and the conversation often dictate a different outcome. Last week was the "making" of Malcolm X, this week WatchThis W/RickRamos dives into the beauty, power, and ground-breaking nature of this labor of love/passion project/grand cinematic statement. It is rare when so many of the cinematic elements come together to make a powerful and important statement of this type. In 1992 Malcolm X did just that. This week we sit down to remember and praise a truly great film. Take a listen and let us know what you think - gondoramos@yahoo.com - Many, Many Thanks.  For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appre

By Any Means Necessary: Spike Lee & The Making of Malcolm X  Cinema can change attitudes, englighten ignorance, strengthen understanding and faith. In 1992 director Spike Lee would partner with star Denzel Washington and long-time cinematographer (and NYU schoolmate) Ernest Dickerson to bring to the big screen the life of one of the most important firgures of the 20th Century, Malcolm Little to become "Red" to become Malcolm X, to become el-Hajj Malik el-Shabazz. In an expansive narrative that covers over four decades and - could be argued - encapsulates the experience of Black life in the history of the United States, Spike Lee's Academy Award ignored film (save Denzel Washington's Best Actor Nomination that was lost to Al Pacino for Scent of a Woman) is certainly one of the great artistic, social, and political achievements of the 20th Century. What started out as a reflection on this thirty-three year old film quickly revealed itself as a subject that would demand two episodes to truly understand Lee,

Chaos, Frame by Frame: Alex Garland's Civil War We're on top of it. The podcast continues to look into the possible disintegration of this country. We've discussed dystopias, comical and deadly serious looks at atomic annhilation, immigration abuse, fascism, paranoia, and now the full-on dissolution of the country. Last year Alex Garland directed Civil War a well-acted, interesting look at the fracturing of the United States. It's a problematic film that - probably - bit off far more than it could possibly chew. There's a great deal to admire in this film, including an exceptional Kirsten Dunst, however the film itself falls short of capturing a realistic and compelling scenario that would inhabit this story. Take a listen and let us know if you agree, disagree, or are unsure. As always, we can be reached at gondoramos@yahoo.com. - Our Continued Thanks.  For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - A

Total Massacre - Takashi Miike's 13 Assassins  Not a whole lot is better this week, so Mr. Chavez & I find ourselves digging deeper into an examination, coping, and understanding of Fascism, Cruelty, and Troubling Political Rule with this week's film, Takashi Miike's 2010 13 Assassins. Miike's vision is typically brutal, violent, and magnificent. 13 Assassins exceeds the critical constraints of your "Typical Action Film" with a look at Samurai Culture during the Edo Period (1603-1868 - in this case, 1844). With a strong debt to Akira Kurosawa and Seven Samurai, Miike's film is an action-packed drama that holds a mirror to society and the abuses of power seen throughout history. A fifteen year old film, set nearly 200 years in the past, 13 Assassins has a great deal to teach, if we are willing to learn. Take a listen and let us know what you think - gondoramos@yahoo.com - This is a damn good talk - Many Thanks.  For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a c

Operation Wetback: Richard "Cheech" Marin's Born in East L.A.  Somethings refuse to change and what was true three and a half decades ago continues to be true today. With a nation struggling under the hand of an adminstration refusing to look at human beings as anything more than numbers, "Cheech" Marin's Born in East L.A. seems even more relevant today than it did when it premiered in the summer of 1987. Marin's film (the first of his projects after the end of his partnership as the ground-breaking comedy troupe, Cheech & Chong) is a - at points a silly and slapdash - look at immigration, deportation, and the struggle for the American Dream. I would argue that it's the "Most Chicano" film ever made; the one that most accurately depicts the experience of being Mexican-American, working and living in the United States. Marin's film is silly and - at times - sloppy, but it has true heart and a point of view rarely seen in cinema before and since. As always, the film is a stepping stone to the conversation t

Mutual Doomsday: Stanley Kubrick's Dr. Strangelove/Sidney Lumet's Fail Safe  Recording a mere two days before Donald Trump fired on Iran, Mr. Chavez & I sit down to discuss nuclear war and the incredible self-destructiveness of humankind. In 1963 Stanley Kubrick would direct one of his earliest masterpieces. With a ridiculous and hilarious George C. Scott, frighteningly honest Sterling Hayden, and a briliant Peter Sellars in a trio of roles that stands as one of the (three) greatest comic performances in cinema. There is a great deal going on in this film, however much of it's power has been dismissed as mere comedy. Surprisingly, a second film from 63 would provide an even more powerful statement of the danger of nuclear war. Sidney Lumet's film would die in the shadow of Kubrick's great comedy. On this episode Mr. Chavez & I are thrilled to do our part to bring light to this criminally neglected film. Take a lesson and let us know what you think - gondoramos@yahoo.com. Many, Many Thanks.  For those

Kill Along to Get Along: Bernardo Bertolucci's The Conformist Does Life Imitate Art or Does Art Predict and Comment on Life?  Regardless of Bernardo Bertolucci's reputation - admitted questionable actions in the realization of art - the Italian filmmaker is regarded as one of the great Auteurs of Cinema. Films from 1900 (1976) thru the Oscar-winning The Last Emperor (1987), and the controversial (artistically and production-wise) Last Tango in Paris (1972), have explored the human eperience through Sexuality, Social Taboos, Class Conflict, and - in his directorial debut 1970s The Conformist, Politics. Lensed by the great Italian cinematographer Vittorio Storaro, The Conformist may have some of the most beautiful images ever captured in Cinema while telling a story of Political Ideology,  Conformity, and the rise of Fascism.  Questions rise in this 1970 film that have surprisingly presented themselves again over fifty years later. This is a difficult film in viewing, however it is incredibly important in what

Citizen Accused: Orson Welle's Film of Franz Kafka's The Trial Few authors can lay claim to creating a genre, however it could be argued that Franz Kafka did just that with stories like The Metamorphosis, In the Penal Colony, and this week's cinematic adaptation, The Trial. The term Kafkaesque , instantly builds a sense of excitement, confusion, and paranoia in readers - many whom are only familiar with the term and not necessarily the author. This week we look at Orson Welle's 1962 adaptation of Kafka's 1925 classic, The Trial.  Set (15 minutes?) in the future, Welle's beautifully realizes the confusion and terror that has made Kafka's unfinished original work a classic. It's a thrill for Mr. Chavez & I to sit down and dive into a bold and daring exploration of a famed and cherished writer, by one of the great masters of the cinema. Take a listen and ask yourself how much you see of Kafka and Welles' visions in today's troubling world. Thanks for listening. As always, we can be reached at gondoramos@yaho

Forest vs Iron Town: Hayao Miyazaki's Princess Mononoke This week Mr. Chavez & I continue our exploration of Japanese anime with a look at 1997s beautiful and breathtaking Princess Mononoke. Mr. Chavez & I are both very new to the world of anime . . . these episodes are our ntroduction to this magnificent world. Featuring story elements of traditional folk tales, the hero's journey, and environment warnings. This is a magnificent motion picture; leading us into deeper and more rewarding viewings. A good beginning and a promising journey. Take a listen and let us know if you agreee. As always we can be reached at gondoramos@yahoo.com - Many Thanks.  For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.

High School Murder Tournament - Kinji Fukasuku's Battle Royale  This week Mr. Chavez & I look back to the beginning of the new millennium and an examination of the paranoia, violence, and uncertainty societies all over the world were facing. In 2000 Japanese director Kinji Fukasuku would bring to the screen one of the most controversial, thought-provoking, and challenging films of the new century. Battle Royale would stun and anger audiences in Japan and - later - throughout the world with its (seemingly) hopelessly dystopian look at a future not very distant from our own. Societies are breaking down and youth violence is running rampant; In the tradition of Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange as well as considerable debt to William Golding's 1954 novel, The Lord of the Flies, Fukasuku combines his influences in a world that resembles "reality television" without the cameras. It's a difficult and challenging movie that rewards its viewer with a sense of purpose that could have easily been overlooked. Take a list

Franchises, Sex Tapes, & The Future of Film On this week's episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos, Mr. Chavez & I dive back into the archives to remember this 10 year journey. A John Turturro working-class musical, a Sean Penn/Gary Oldman/Ed Harris Hell's Kitchen crime drama, Defining Decades, and a Salute to Martin Scorsese . . . This week we look back to episodes #411-416 in this continuing Journey of Self-Indulgence. We hope you're enjoying this look back as much as we are enjoying talking it. Take a listen and let us know what you think - gondoramos@yahoo.com - Many Continued Thanks.  For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.

Superficial Sci-Fi: Rupert Sanders' Ghost in the Shell On this week's episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos, Ibrahim & I dive into Rupert Sanders' 2017 live-action re-imagining of Mamoru Oshii's 1995 Anime-Classic, Ghost in the Shell.  There are so many things that can go wrong with an adaptation and Sanders manages to check many of those boxes. From casting Scarlett Johansson  in the lead role through a amateurish handling of theme and purpose - the film is - certainly - beautiful to look at, however it misses out on so much that made the oringal anime both special and important. In an attempt to be all things to all audiences, the film fails to capture the existential ideas and philosophical statements of the original material (manga and anime film). We may be wrong, but you'd have to mount an argument against what we have to say. Feel free to let us know what you think . . . gondoramos@yahoo.com - Many Thanks.  For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a con

Cyborg Awakening: Mamoru Oshii's Ghost in the Shell From time to time this podcast allows Mr. Chavez & Myself the opportunity to explore new genre's. With the encouragement and recommendations of WatchThis listeners, we have had the opportunity to engage in new experiences a number of times. Some of these new viewings have been from The World of Japanese Anime (Thank You, Mr. Burroughs!). This week we dive into one of the very best, Mamoru Oshii's 1995 dystopian masterpiece Ghost in the Shell. It is rare that a film is able to deliver on so many different levels (entertaining/exciting - insightful/thought-provoking), but this is precisely what Oshii's film does. What could have been a simple and obvious look into a bleak and misery-infused Science-Fiction future is, rather, an insightful and compelling examination of Artificial Intelligence, The Soul . . . its relation to the species and culture, and intellectual and emotional awareness. This is an incredible film that mixes Fritz Lang, Blade Runner, mart

Synthetic Sexuality: Alex Garland's Ex Machina AI continues to hold our fascination. This week Mr. Chavez & I dive into Alex Garland's examination of Artificial Intelligence with 2014s Ex Machina. Set, as Garland describes, "Ten minutes from now," Ex Machina is a fascinating film with exceptional performances from Domhnall Gleeson, Oscar Isaac, and Alicia Vikander. Few films are able to capture the subtleties and realities of science fiction paranoia with this level of skill. As these talks have continued over the last few episodes, the paranoia is becoming greater as the realities of our world begin to live up to predictions.  Garland does  creative and powerful work; asking questions and presenting situations that seem to be more likely than simple imagination. Take a listen and let us know what you think . . . gondoramos@yahoo.com - Many Thanks.  For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - An

Bad Bitch, Cyborg, & Liquid Metal: James Cameron's Terminator 2: Judgement Day Go to last week's introduction to James Cameron's The Terminator . . . fast-forward seven years. Sarah Connor is no longer a "damsel in distress". James Cameron has worked his Sigourney Weaver magical transformation on another heroine, creating one of the great female action stars in all of cinema. Once again, Sarah Connor is facing the destruction of the world. However this time she is fully aware of the danger in front, behind, above, and below. Cameron's imagination - coupled with a sheer will and an (at that time) unheard of and unlimited budget, would unleash one of the greatest sequels of all time. Basically a remake of the first film with a series of adjustments to continue the story in a logical manner, Cameron proved that imagination and drive could make up for the simplicity of a plot that had been presented before - Cinema is no stranger to The Apocalypse in its many forms. Take a listen as we reminisce on this incre

Skynet AI 2029: James Cameron's The Terminator  If you grew up in the 1980s, you were living in a decade that would be controlled by raunchy teen sex comedies (Porky's, My Tutor, Private Lessons), John Hughes (The Breakfast Club, 16 Candles, Ferris Bueller's Day Off), and the emergence of straight to video. However there was one genre that stood above all others and would forever alter the output of Hollywood. Action films had always been a part of Hollywood, however the 1980s would unleash the talents of Sylvester Stallone and Bruce Willis, as well as lesser box office talents such as Steven Seagal, Jean Claude Van Damme, and the continuing presence of 70s holdover, Chuck Norris. One name would stand above all others, however. Inhabiting the title role of the 1984 B-Movie, Low-Budget Classic, The Terminator, Director James Cameron would establish Austrian-born, seven-time Mr. Olympia Arnold Schwarzenegger, as - possibly - the greatest Action-Star to ever grace the Big Screen. The Terminator would change cine