Celebrating a Genius - Martin Scorsese's 80th Birthday

This week a bonus episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos drops as I go solo to celebrate - in my opinion - The Greatest Living Director (and easily one of the greatest filmmakers in the history of the medium) - Mr. Martin Scorsese. Since my partner is not joining me for this episode, I am choosing to look at Mr. Scorsese more from a fan's vantage than from a critic's. Martin Scorsese has made some of the greatest films in the medium - Mean Streets, Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, The King of Comedy, Goodfellas, Casino, Bringing Out the Dead, The Departed, Gangs of New York, and Hugo.  I don't want to go into detail here . . . you're going to have to just sit down and listen to the episode. It's a good one. 

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

Franchising Heroes & Fools: The Films of the 2000s

On this week's episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos continue our look at the films that defined their decades. This week we look at the films of the new millennium. The 2000s saw a shift in the cinematic mentality. It was the beginning of the franchise era focusing on literary properties, remakes, reboots, and a continuous slip in artistic quality. There's alot going on in this week's episode and the sunuvabitch is a beast, so sit back and lean into the magic of cynicism and dissapointment. It's a fun time. Take a listen and let us know what you think - gondoramos@yahoo.com - Our Continued Love & Thanks. 

The Billy Picture: Vincent Gallo's Buffalo '66

On this week's episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos, Mr. Chavez & I sit down with an incredibly underseen and underappreciated independent film from 1998, Vincent Gallo's Buffalo '66. Some films are difficult to define . . . they are problematic in their narratives and politics. Vincent Gallo's directorial effort from 1998 is a film that few people have seen and which was - most likely - never intended for a mass audience. But there is great beauty in this film. There's an anger, strange character study, and sadness to this film. Featuring great performances lead by Gallo (as a recently paroled loser, struggling to impress . . . who knows!?!), Anjelica Huston, Ben Gazzarra, Mickey Rourke, Jan Michael Vincent, Kevin Corrigan, and a beautiful and brilliant Christina Ricci. This is certainly not a film for eveyone, but for those audiences that are fans of WatchThis, it certainly is a worthy investment of time and cinematic enjoyment. Take a listen and let us know what you think. Questions, Comments, Complaints, & Suggestions can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com. Our Continued Thanks. 

Blood Brothers: Phil Joanou's State of Grace 

On this week's episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos, Mr. Chavez & I sit down to discuss a forgotten gem from 1990 - Phil Joanou's tale of Hell's Kitchen Irish-American Brotherhood, State of Grace. We are thrilled to discuss this neglected classic showcasing Sean Penn, Robin Wright, (a frightening) Ed Harris, and a brilliant early stateside performance from one of the great actors of any generation, Gary Oldman. There's so much to dig into with this one. We hope you take a listen and it drives you into the arms of a film that you may have missed. For those who have seen it, you should have a great time joining in as Ibrahim and I do what we love to do. Questions, Comments, Complaints, & Suggestions can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com. Many Thanks for Your Continued Love & Support. 

Undergound Leather: William Friedkin's Cruising 

On this week's episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos, Ibrahim & I sit down to talk one of the most controversial films of the 1980s - Al Pacino in William Friedkin's Cruising (1980). During its production and early 80s release, few films had suffered comparable controversy. An murder mystery set in the Underground, S & M, Leather Bars of Late 70s/Early 80s New York, Cruising was lambasted almost immediately. Forty-plus years later, the film continues to stir up controversy, however it has also gone on to become embraced as a cult classic for its depiction of the Gay Underworld of that time. It is a strange and disturbing film that fails and offends in a number of ways and still fascinates in others. For this episode (recorded nearly a month earlier), Ibrahim & I are thrilled to finally sit down and tackle this cult classic.

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