Woman in Trouble; Audience Perplexed: David Lynch's Inland Empire 

Few filmmakers can live up to the title "auteur" . . . David Lynch almost requires the use of it. From daring soundtracks through troubling narratives and controversial story elements, fascinatingly over the top performances and strange journeys into the subconscious, Lynch has left audiences reeling with confusion and excitement for over forty years. On this week's episode Mr. Chavez and I take a look at his last theatrical release 2006s Inland Empire. It's as if everything that has come before has been building towards this strange and captivating three-hour long journey into the mind, fantasy, fears, reality, and imagination of an actress facing the role of her career . . . But is that what it's really about? Who knows. The fun is in the descent into Lynch's rabbit hole. Take a listen as we take a deep dive into the unknown. As always we can be reached at gondoramos@yahoo.com. Our continued love and thanks. 

For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a donation at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos  - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.

Broken Mirror: Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan

Fun talk . . . This week Mr. Chavez and I continue to look at the films of Darren Aronofsky with this discussion of his 2010, Five Time Oscar Nominated (Including Best Picture and Director, and Winner for Best Actress - Natalie Portman) look at the world of Ballet. Aronofsky's film is a tense and often brutal look at the world of artistic perfection featuring a dynamic and fearless performance from Natalie Portman as Nina Sayers, a young ballerina given the opportunity of a lifetime to lead a production of Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake. Questions of perfection, training, direction, maninpulation, and sexual harassment are tackled in this layered and frightening film. Take a listen as Mr. Chavez and I look at the film, the culture that spawns it, and the history of such art, lies, sacrifice, and abuse. It's a damn good talk. Let us know what you think - gondoramos@yahoo.com

For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a donation at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.

Souls Dead, Eyes Dilated: Darren Aronofsky's Requiem for a Dream

On this week's episode Mr. Chavez & I sit down for a re-watch of Darren Aronofsky's second feature, Requiem for a Dream, based on the 1978 novel by Hubert Selby Jr. Aronofsky's adaptation is a tragic and often times painful viewing of heroin addiction and the victims (Jared Leto, Marlon Wayans, and Jennifer Connelly) it leaves in its wake. Aronofsky and Selby contrast heroin addiction with the more "acceptable" and less recognized addiction of prescription diet pills embodied in the struggles of Ellen Burstyn's Sara Goldfarb character as she struggles to lose weight and slowly slips into madness.

With brutal and traumatizing imagery, Aronofsky's film is a chilling look into the world of addiction. This week Mr. Chavez & I are thrilled to discuss this difficult, painful, and enlightening film. Take a listen and let us know what you think. We continue to be open to messages - gondoramos@yahoo.com. Many Thanks for your continued love and support. 

For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a donation at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos   - Anything and Everything is appreciated from you Cheap Bastards.

Mima's Room: Satoshi Kon's Perfect Blue 

This week we thank long time listener and Buy Me a Coffee supporter, Cornelius Burroughs with a viewing and discussion of Satoshi Kon's Perfect Blue. Mr. Burroughs was kind enough to gift me a blu-ray copy of this Classic Japanese Anime many years ago . . . I have finally made the time to watch it and am eager for listeners to hear our admiring, problematic, and conflicted opinions of this film. This is a great discussion that has forced - at least this moviewatcher - an intense critical and psychological understanding of cinema, genre, format, and expectations. Mr. Chavez and I dive head first into this wonderfully telling and suprising (for us at least) experience. Take a listen and let us know what you think (gondoramos@yahoo.com), and - once again - thank you Mr. Burroughs, You Are Appreciated. 

For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a donation at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated from you Cheap Bastards.