Black Summit 64 - Regina King's    One Night in Miami

On this week's episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos, Mr. Chavez & I sit down to discuss the 2020 critical hit from first-time director, Regina King, One Night in Miami. A fictionalized portrait of a meeting between four of the leading figures of 1960s Black Culture: Soul Singer, Sam Cooke (portrayed by Leslie Odom Jr.)/NFL fullback and soon-to be Hollywood icon, Jim Brown (Aldis Hodge)/Muslim minister and Human Rights activist, Malcolm X (later Malik el-Shabazz - portrayed by Kingsley Ben-Adir), and the 22 year old Heavyweight Boxing Champion, Civil Rights Leader, and Cultural Icon, Cassius Clay - on the cusp of becomming Muhammad Ali (Eli Goree). It goes without saying King's film is one that rarely gets made. A work of subtlety and nuance that looks into the lives of the Black struggle and the roles of leaders in said struggle. It's a film that we walked into unsure of and walked out of excited by the conversation that would ensue. Take a listen and let us know what you think. Questions, Comments, Complaints, & Suggestions can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com. Many Thanks for Your Continued Love &  Support. 

More Than Hardboiled: Defining the 40s

On this week's episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos, my partner, Mr. Chavez & I are continuing our look at the very best films of each decade, culminating with our opinions on the single films that define the decade. This week we look at the 1940s . . . a period of The U.S. coming out of The Great Depression, the beginning and conclusion of World War II, and the opening of cinema as an international movement (although cinema had been viable art throughout the world before this time). For this episode, Mr. Chavez & I discuss our Top 10 films and the honorable mention titles that barely missed the list. As with all titles, we have picked these films after careful consideration and understand that the lists will - probably - change within minutes of our talk. That's the nature of cinema. Take a listen and hopefully, you'll remember some great films and  be introduced to others. We have our opinions and you're going to have yours. Either way, it's a fun talk.

Questions, Comments, Complaints, & Suggestions can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com. Many Thanks for the Continued Love & Support.

"Toons . . . Gets 'Em Every Time!" Robert Zemeckis's Who Framed Roger Rabbit

On this week's episode of WatchThis, Mr. Chavez & I discuss the ground-breaking 1988 Robert Zemeckis Classic Who Framed Roger Rabbit. This is truly a game-changing film that succeeds far beyond any novelty it may appear to be. With a collection of classic fan favorite cartoon characters from Warner Brothers (Bugs, Daffy, Tweety, Yosemite Sam), Disney (Mickey, Donald, Goofy, and many of the cast of Fantasia), Max Fleischer Studios (Betty Boop), Walter Lantz Studios (Woody Woodpecker), and MGM (Droopy), this is a film that is both a nostalgic look back at Classic Animation and a beautifully realized 1940s style Film Noir. Better than it has any right to be, Zemeckis's film is a triumph of animation, technology, and acting led by Bob Hoskins (never better), Joanna Cassidy, the voice talents of Charles Fleischer, Kathleen Turner, Tony Anselmo, June Foray, The Greatest of All - Mel Blanc, and a live-action Christopher Lloyd - in one of his greatest performances - as Judge Doom. This is a fun conversation in which we dig into the film, the history of Animation, Noir, and Los Angeles. Don't miss out.

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

"It's the pictures that got small." - Billy Wilder's Sunset Boulevard

This week, Mr. Chavez & I continue our descent into the ruthlessness, horror, and sadness of Hollywood - Billy Wilder's Sunset Boulevard (1950), a true classic of cinema and a film that continues to astonish audiences over 70 years later. With a young William Holden cementing his stature in cinema, and brilliant performances from Silent Cinema legends, Gloria Swanson as one of the most iconic characters of the silver screen, Norma Desmond, and her broken, loyal, and forgotten manservant and one-time director, the great Erich von Stroheim (both Academy Award nominated), this is a classic of the studio system and a film that only grows in power year after year. Ibrahim & I are thrilled to talk this film and are hoping that we are introducing it to a few new viewers. Take a listen and let us know what you think. Questions, Comments, Complaints, & Suggestions can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com. Many Thanks. 

In Dreams: David Lynch's Mulholland Drive

On this week's episode of Watch This, Mr. Chavez & I are diving into the hazy dreams of David Lynch. A polarizing, controversial, and challenging director, David Lynch has overwhelmed audiences for over four decades. Mulholland Drive (2001) may be his masterpiece. An uneasy and brutally honest look at Los Angeles and Hollywood, Lynch's tale of a young actor (Naomi Watts) arriving in The City of Angels and finding herself lost in a world of mystery, treachery, and deceit. It's a wild ride that leaves its audience guessing and second-guessing what they believe they know. This is an overpowering film with excellent performances from Naomi Watts and Laura Elena Harring. Be sure to watch this film before listening to the podcast. We are talking every aspect of the movie. You owe it to yourself to watch it first. 

Thanks for tuning in. Questions, Comments, Complaints, and Suggestions can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com. Many Thanks. 

 

Cinema Has Something to Say: Defining the 30s
On this week's episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos, Mr. Chavez & I sit down to talk the 1930s and so many of the brilliants films that came out of that generation. This week we take a look at films from a wide variety of directors including: Michael Curtiz, Victor Fleming, Frank Capra, Lewis Milestone, Leni Riefensthal, John Ford, Howard Hawks, and Fritz Lang. It's a good conversation. Take a listen.  Questions, Comments, Complaints, & Suggestions can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com. Many Thanks. 

Beautiful Darkness - A Few Thoughts on Film Noir

On this week's episode, I go solo to talk my favorite genre . . . Film Noir. Take a listen as I ramble and bumble my way through a rudimentary understanding of the (supposed) genre. There's a lot to unpack here and I'm doing the best that I can to get my ideas down. Take a listen and let me know what you think. As always I can be reached at gondoramos@yahoo.com. Many Thanks for your continued love and support. 

Not a Comedian . . . Lenny Bruce

On this week's episode, Ibrahim & I dive into the life of one of the great comics of The Modern Stand-Up Era - a man that it can be argued changed the format of stand-up comedy - Lenny Bruce (October 13, 1925 - August 03, 1966). Often times recognized as a Christ-like martyr "who died for the sins of all future comics" this description may be extreme, however Bruce's status as an innovator and artistic & cultural hero cannot be denied. This week Ibrahim & I are thrilled to discuss one of the greats, including Bob Fosse's 1974 (loosely) biographical look at Bruce's life, Lenny featuring Dustin Hoffman as Bruce and an Academy Award nominated Valeria Perrine as his wife, Honey. We also look at three documentaries of varying quality. 1998's Lenny Bruce: Swear to Tell the Truth (dir. Robert Weide), 1972's Lenny Bruce: Without Tears (dir. Fred & Barbara Baker), and Elan Gale's 2011 documentary Looking for Lenny.  We talk Bruce, his legacy, controversies, and the current state of stand-up comedy and cancel culture. It's a good discussion. Take a listen. Questions, Comments, Complaints, & Suggestions can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com. Many Thanks. 

The Roaring Silents - The 1920s

On this week's episode, Ibrahim & I sit down to continue our look at the cinema of each decade. This week we focus on the 1920s and the great films and directors whose films continue to enthrall us. Whether Chaplin's The Gold Rush (1925), Robert Wiene's The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920), F.W. Murnau's Sunrise - A Song of Two Humans (1927)and The Last Laugh (1924), Buster Keaton's The General (1926) and Steamboat Bill Jr. (1928), Walt Disney's Steamboat Willie (1928) and Fritz Lang's Metropolis (1927). It's a fun and interesting conversation about the history of film and the importance of these great pictures. Take a listen and let us know what you think. Questions, Comments, Complaints, & Suggestions can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com. Many Thanks.