Watch This With Rick Ramos

On this week's episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos, Ibrahim & I sit down in The Fortress of Ultimate Darkness to discuss American Journalist Sebastian Junger and British Photojournalist Tim Heatherington's Restrepo and Korengal (which Junger would create on his own after Heatherington's death in 2011 while covering The Libyan Civil War).  Both films examine the experiences of soldiers fighting in the Korengal Valley of Afghanistan - considered "the most dangerous place in the world". Take a listen and - hopefully - you will find some valuable insights in your understanding of this confusing and tragic time in our history.  Thanks for listening.  As always, we can be reached at gondoramos@yahoo.com for questions, comments, suggestions, and arguments.  

Direct download: Restrepo.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 5:25pm EDT

Going solo this week. On this episode I take a look at the career of the great Robert Mitchum who would have been 100 years old on August 6th. A great actor who has been eclipsed by the likes of George C. Scott, James Dean, and Marlon Brando, Mitchum was the epitome of cool and hipness. A man of incredible natural talent, Mitchum exhibited this throughout his nearly 60 year career. On this week's episode of WatchThis w/RickRamos we talk Out of the Past, Pursued, Cape FearThe Friends of Eddie Coyle, The Yakuza, and - possibly his greatest achievement - Night of the Hunter.  Take a listen and let us know what you think . . . even if it is to give me hell for getting it out so late.  As always you can reach me at gondoramos@yahoo.com. A Million Thanks.  

Direct download: RobertMitchum.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:19am EDT

On this week's episode of WatchThis w/RickRamos, Ibrahim & I sit down in The Fortress of Ultimate Darkness to discuss the passing of an American Original, The Playwright Sam Shepard who passed away July 27th just a few months short of his 74th birthday.  I have to admit that I had been an admirer of Shepard's for quite some time without knowing a great deal about him. His passing led me on a tour of his work in front of the camera and behind the typewriter.  With that in mind we discuss his work as an actor (The Right Stuff, Fool For Love, BlackHawk Down, and many more) as well as his written work (Fool For Love, True West, Paris, Texas,) as well as his iconic stature as a symbol of The American Male.

Through looking at these films, plays, and the touching and - ultimately - heartbreaking documentary Shepard & Dark, we get an intense and sometimes frustrating examination of this man. The documentary Shepard & Dark is particularly enlightening in it's profile of a nearly five decade long friendship between Shepard the playwright and his best friend Johnny Dark, a hermetic writer who seems to be the polar opposite of Shepard in both attitude and professional desire. 

This was a bit of a look into the darkness for both of us.  We thank you for continuing on our journey. As always we can be reached at gondoramos@yahoo.com.  Many Thanks & All Of Our Love.   

Direct download: SamShepardEpisode.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:48am EDT

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