At Night and From a Distance: Thom Andersen's Los Angeles Plays Itself

We're starting the month of December (and ending 2023) with a dive into Los Angeles in a month of programming curated by our own Ibrahim Chavez. Our first episode of December is a look at film critic and teacher, Thom Andersen's "video essay" Los Angeles Plays Itself (2003). A legend in the world of documentary filmmaking, Andersen's film was seen sporadically in screenings set up by Andersen, showings at the American Cinematheque in Los Angeles (Hollywood), and filesharings through film lovers. In 2014 the film film was finally released on DVD through Cinema Guild and can also be seen (for free) on YouTube. 

Examining the city of Los Angeles in three distinctive categories (Background/Character/Subject), Andersen's film is a love letter to the city and cinema itself. Questions are asked and Answers are forwarded. Take a listen and see if you agree with our thoughts on this wonderfully entertaining look at one of the world's great cities. You can reach us at gondoramos@yahoo.com to give us your thoughts.

As always, we continue to look to you good and loyal listeners for support. If you have listened and enjoyed our bantering over these nearly eight years please feel free to support us with a monetary contribution. We're not asking for a whole lot. Whatever you can give is appreciated. The holidays are coming an we could use the help. Stop being cheap bastards and give what you can. Follow the link below to contribute.  Our Continued Thanks.

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos 

Beyond Laughter: Richard Pryor - Live in Concert & Live on the Sunset Strip 

This week Mr. Chavez & I close out November with a look at - arguably - the greatest stand-up comic the craft has ever produced, Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor, Sr. I have been an admirer of Mr. Pryor for nearly five decades now and am unable to remember a time when I was not aware and was not in total awe of him. On this episode, Ibrahim & I look at the legacy of this great artist as well as the brilliance in both his material, delivery, and stage presence. We look at his two greatest artistic achievements, 1979s Richard Pryor: Live in Concert  and 1982s Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip. There is a whole lot to break down and we give it our all. Take a listen and let us know what you think - gondoramos@yahoo.com

As always, we continue to look to you good and loyal listeners for support. If you have listened and enjoyed our bantering over these nearly eight years please feel free to support us with a monetary contribution. We're not asking for a whole lot. Whatever you can give is appreciated. The holidays are coming an we could use the help. Stop being cheap bastards and give what you can. Follow the link below to contribute.  Our Continued Thanks.

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos

When a Promise Meant Something: Sean Penn's The Pledge 

November is the month of Rick Ramos and this week we continue - following Martin Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon and Walter Hill's Hard Times - with a look at Sean Penn's 2001 The Pledge. Featuring an underrated (and I would argue tragically underseen) Jack Nicholson performance that sidesteps all of the Nicholson tropes that we have become used to, Nicholson portrays Jerry Black, a police detective on the eve of his retirement who leaves his retirement party to investigate a young girl's rape and murder. He is quickly sucked into the horror of the crime and finds himself obsessed with discovering the truth and bringing the killer to justice. Penn's film takes all of the labored and tired tropes that have become standard for the genre and manipulates them in ways that make for a fresh directorial take. Featuring an all-star cast (that never screams of stunt casting) including: Sam Shepard, Helen Mirren, Aaron Eckhart, Patricia Clarkson, Michael O'Keefe, Vanessa Redgrave, Robin Wright Penn, Harry Dean Stanton, Benicio del Toro, Tom Noonan, and (an incredible) Mickey Rourke, the 2001 film is one that truly speaks to Penn's power and gifts behind the camera. Take a listen and let us know what you think. You can reach us at gondoramos@yahoo.com. Many Thanks. 

As always, we continue to look to you good and loyal listeners for support. If you have listened and enjoyed our bantering over these nearly eight years please feel free to support us with a monetary contribution. We're not asking for a whole lot. Whatever you can give is appreciated. The holidays are coming an we could use the help. Stop being cheap bastards and give what you can. Follow the link below to contribute.  Our Continued Thanks.

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos 

Oil & Blood: Martin Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon

Take a listen as Mr. Chavez & I kick off the month of November with a series of films curated by your host and producer, Rick Ramos. We begin with a discussion of Martin Scorsese's newest film - currently in theaters - Killers of the Flower Moon, a beautifully realized adaptation of David Grann's 2017 non-fiction best seller, Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI.  Featuring exceptional performances from Leonardo DiCaprio, new comer Lily Gladstone, Jesse Plemons, John Lithgow, Tantoo Cardinal, Brendan Fraser, and a powerfully restrained Robert DeNiro, Killers of the Flower Moon is a beautifully told and powerfully moving dramatization of the Osage murders of the early 1920s. Scorsese has crafted a nuanced and gripping film that only time will allow the revelation of its complete impact. It was a pleasure to begin November with this film. Comments can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com. 

As always, we continue to look to you good and loyal listeners for support. If you have listened and enjoyed our bantering over these nearly eight years please feel free to support us with a monetary contribution. We're not asking for a whole lot. Whatever you can give is appreciated. The holidays are coming an we could use the help. Stop being cheap bastards and give what you can. Follow the link below to contribute.  Our Continued Thanks.

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos 

1933 . . . Words Didn't Buy Much - Walter Hill's Hard Times 

On this week's episode, Mr. Ramos celebrates his 49th birthday looking at the purpose and drive of WatchThis W/RickRamos, some of his favorite films, why he loves them as he does, and culminating with a look at one of his favorite films, Walter Hill's directorial debut, Hard Times (1975). Why this films is a longstanding favorite is a mystery, however it is one that our illustrious host works to understand. Featuring wonderful performances from Charles Bronson as Chaney, James Coburn as Speed, Strother Martin as Poe, and exceptional supporting performances from Jill Ireland, Nick Dimitri, Robert Tessier, and Michael McGuire Hard Times continues to hold onto Ramos's imagination and soul. This was a fun episode. Hopefully you'll enjoy the reminiscing. If you have something to contribute you can correspond with Rick Ramos at gondoramos@yahoo.com. Many Thanks.

As always, we continue to look to you good and loyal listeners for support. If you have listened and enjoyed our bantering over these nearly eight years please feel free to support us with a monetary contribution. We're not asking for a whole lot. Whatever you can give is appreciated. The holidays are coming an we could use the help. Stop being cheap bastards and give what you can. Follow the link below to contribute.  Our Continued Thanks.

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos

Your #1 Fan: Rob Reiner & Stephen King's Misery

This week Mr. Chavez & I close out October and Halloween with one of the great Horror/Thrillers of the 1990s, Rob Reiner's adaptation of Stephen King's Misery. A tale of King's personal struggles with the writing medium, alcohol and drug abuse, and the perils of fame told through the life of the fictional author Paul Sheldon. With the creation of Annie Wilkes - a seemingly sweet, caring, and psychotic nurse, King gave life to an incredible character that embodied many of his personal demons. Realized through the performances of James Caan as King's alter ego, Paul Sheldon, and (a new discovery at the time) Kathy Bates as Annie Wilkes, King and Reiner created one of the more unsettling, disturbing, and beautifully tense thrillers in the history of the genre. With a wonderful supporting cast including Lauren Bacall, Frances Sternhagen, and - an exceptional - Richard Farnsworth, Misery, was a great film to re-visit. We are thrilled to end the month with this recommendation. Hit us up at gondoramos@yahoo.com if you'd like to let us know what you think. 

As always, we continue to look to you good and loyal listeners for support. If you have listened and enjoyed our bantering over these nearly eight years please feel free to support us with a monetary contribution. We're not asking for a whole lot. Whatever you can give is appreciated. The holidays are coming an we could use the help. Stop being cheap bastards and give what you can. Follow the link below to contribute.  Our Continued Thanks.

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos

Never Sleep Again: The Horror of Freddy Krueger

This week Ibrahim & i talk one of the iconic Horror figures of the late 20th Century, Wes Craven's pedophile, nightmare murderer Freddy Krueger. Through seven original films, a remake  (which we only touch on), and a Friday the13th crossover, Krueger has taken on a cryptic and overwhelming cult of popularity. Created by Craven and realized through the performance of Robert Englund, Krueger is a character that has captured the cinematic imagination and enjoyment of audiences throughout the world. With the original Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) - directed by Wes Craven, followed by four quality diminishing sequels and a triumpant return to form with the Wes Craven directed Wes Craven's New Nightmare (1994), the combined efforts of Craven, Englund, and actress Heather Langenkamp have created one of the great figures in Horror Cinema. Take a listen and let us know what you think - gondoramos@yahoo.com

 As always, we continue to look to you good and loyal listeners for support. If you have listened and enjoyed our bantering over these nearly eight years please feel free to support us with a monetary contribution. We're not asking for a whole lot. Whatever you can give is appreciated. Follow the link below to contribute.  Our Continued Thanks.

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos

Full Moon Fever: John Landis's An American Werewolf in London

Halloween is around the corner . . . this week Mr. Chavez & I continue our look into the Horror Genre with a screening and discussion of John Landis's 1981 Horror Classic, An American Werewolf in London. There's a whole lot going on in Landis's film (some good, some bad, some exteme), but the great gift - that it continues to deliver on - is the introduction of Special Effects and Make-Up Master, Rick Baker. On this week's episode we discuss what we feel Landis did right, what he did wrong, as well as the film's lasting impact on the entire make-up and special effects industry. Baker won a richly deserved Oscar (an award created specifically for his groundbreaking work) at the '81 Academy Awards. Take a listen and let us know what you think. It's a fun and interesting talk detailing the film, Landis's career, the history of Horror films, and the importance of the genre itself. Let us know what you think . . . gondoramos@yahoo.com. 

As always, we continue to look to you good and loyal listeners for support. If you have listened and enjoyed our bantering over these nearly eight years please feel free to support us with a monetary contribution. We're not asking for a whole lot. Whatever you can give is appreciated. Follow the link below to contribute.  Our Continued Thanks.

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos

The Horror Double: Invasion of the Body Snatchers 

This week Ibrahim & I look at a classic (a standard) of the Horror Genre - Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956 & 1978) and Body Snatchers (1993). Based on the 1954 Jack Finney Sci-Fi Novel, directors Don Siegel, Philip Kaufman, and Abel Ferrara have taken drastically different approaches to this material. Each film is a classic in their own rights. Take a listen and see if you agree with out assessments. As always we'd love to hear your comments and contributions at gondoramos@yahoo.com. Many Thanks. 

As always, we continue to look to you good and loyal listeners for support. If you have listened and enjoyed our bantering over these nearly eight years please feel free to support us with a monetary contribution. We're not asking for a whole lot. Whatever you can give is appreciated. Follow the link below to contribute.  Our Continued Thanks.

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos

Bloody Giallo - Dario Argento's Suspiria

This week Ibrahim & I dive into the world of Italian Giallo Cinema with a look at Dario Argento's 1977 "masterpiece" Suspiria. Combining violence, sexploitation, the supernatural, and vibrant color, Argento's film is one that is considered one of the most influential films in the genre. For those familiar with the podcast it should come as no surprise that one of us dislikes this film and one of us wholeheartedly embraces it. Take a listen for a spirited conversation. . . it's a good time. You can reach us at gondoramos@yahoo.com. 

As always, we continue to look to you good and loyal listeners for support. If you have listened and enjoyed our bantering over these nearly eight years please feel free to support us with a monetary contribution. We're not asking for a whole lot. Whatever you can give is appreciated. Follow the link below to contribute.  Our Continued Thanks.

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos