The History of Rock N Roll Part XII - Troubled Harmony: Brian Wilson & The Beach Boys

This week Mr. Chavez & I continue our exploration into The History of Rock N Roll with a look at one of the seminal bands in the history of Southern California music . . . The Beach Boys. We take a look at the history with a focused look at band co-founder and principal songwriter Brian Wilson. Long heralded as a musical genius, it has been an interesting and compelling look into his life. This week we focus on four documentaries: Malcolm Leo's  hagiography The Beach Boys: An American Band (1985), Don Was's Brian Wilson: I Just Wasn't Made for These Times (1995), Brent Wilson's Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road (2021), and Bill Pohlad's 2014 Bio-Pic Love & Mercy featuring Paul Giamatti as psychologist, Dr. Eugene Landy, Elizabeth Banks as Wilson's second wife, Melinda Ledbetter, and as Wilson, Paul Giamatti (as the young Brian Wilson) and John Cusack as the older 1980s Brian Wilson. With the exception of Leon's doc, the films are interesting and thought-provoking regarding artistry, mental illness, and the combination of the two. It's a good talk and we're thrilled to go - a bit - outside of our comfort zone. Thanks for listening. Questions, Comments, Complaints, & Suggestions can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com. 

The History of Rock N Roll Part XI - Frank Zappa: Absolutely Free

Ibrahim and I keep moving through the artists, recordings, songs, and magic that have defined The History of Rock N Roll. This week we take a look at censorship, independence, artistic integrity and their coming together in the work of Frank Zappa. A polarizing figure both artistically and politically, there has never truly been an artist comparable to Zappa, before or since.  Neither of us is completely sold on Zappa's music, however we feel it important to dedicate an episode to this powerful figure, and three documentaries that profile his career and life: Salvo Cuccia's Summer 82: When Zappa Came to Sicily (2013), Thorsten Schütte's Eat That Question: Frank Zappa in His Own Words (2016), and Alex Winter's Zappa (2020).

It's a good talk; we hope you enjoy it.

Questions, Comments, Complaints, and Suggestions can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com. Our Continued Thanks.

Like a Thread Throughout the World: Andrei Tarkovsky's Mirror

On this week's episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos, Ibrahim & I are thrilled to discuss one of the truly great artists of the medium, Andrei Tarkovsky. In the short span of seven films, Tarkovsky expanded and re-defined the possibilities for Cinema. For this episode we look at a Tarkovsky masterpiece, 1975s Mirror; a hazy and dream-like examination of the filmmaker's life and the life of The Soviet Union in the 20th Century. This is a film that has baffeled, confused, enthralled, and captivated untold numbers of viewers for nearly a half century. Take a listen as Ibrahim & I discuss why this is the case.

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

The History of Rock N Roll Part X - Soundtrack of the Century: 20 Feet from Stardom/Standing in the Shadows of Motown/Muscle Shoals

On this week's episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos, Mr. Chavez & I continue our exploration of The World of Rock N Roll with a look at the foundation of any song . . . the bands and the background singers that give every song structure, power, and drive. This week we look at Morgan Neville's 20 Feet From Stardom (2019) - profiling Tata Vega, Judith Hill, Jo Lawry, Merry Clayton, Lisa Fischer, and the great Darlene Love - Paul Justman's Standing in the Shadows of Motown (2002) - profiling the great Motown backing band The Funk Brothers. composed of: Jack Ashford (percussion), Bob Babbitt (bass), Uriel Jones (drums), Joe Hunter (keyboards), Joe Messina (guitar), Richard "Pistol" Allen (drums), Benny "Papa Zita" Benjamin (drums), Eddie "Bongo" Brown (percussion), Johnny Griffith (keyboards), Earl Van Dyke (keyboards), and Robert White (guitar). Finally, we close out the show with an incredible film showcasing The Birth of the Deep South Soul & Rock N Roll Sound birthed by the great Alabama Producer Rick Hall and FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals Alabama . . . I'm talking about Greg "Freddy" Camalier's Muscle Shoals (2013). An incredible film that showcases the legacy of Hall and the Swampers including: Barry Beckett (keyboards), Roger Hawkins (drums), David Hood (bass), Jimmy Johnson (guitar), Chips Moman (guitar), Junior Lowe (guitar), Dan Penn, Tommy Cogbill, Pete Carr (guitar), and Spooner Oldham (organ and piano). This is a fun episode that will - hopefully - introduce three great films and a host of music that you owe it to yourself to embrace. Take a listen and let us know what you think. Questions, Comments, Complaints, & Suggestions can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com. Many Thanks. 

The Films that Defined Their Decades - The 1910s: A Southern Gentlemen Re-Writes History With a Lightning Bolt - D.W. Griffith's The Birth of a Nation

On this week's episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos, Ibrahim & I, begin a new series examining a film from each cinematic decade; A film that defines the era and changes the way we look at the movies. This week we take a look at D.W. Griffith's controversial, problematic, and ground-breaking depiction of The Civil War, The Reconstruction, and The Birth of the Ku Klux Klan - The Birth of a Nation. This is not an easy film to talk about, but it's one of the most important films in The History of Cinema. From its controversial release in 1915 through continued attempts to screen Birth in public, the film remains a lightning rod for anger, resentment, and censorship. We hope that we are able to add intelligence and thought-provoking criticism to this argument.

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

The History of Rock N Roll Part IX - English Blood Runs Hot: The Rolling Stones

This week Ibrahim & I continue our examination of The History of Rock N Roll with a look at one of the greatest of Rock N Roll bands - Mick Jagger,  Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, Ronnie Wood, Brian Jones, Mick Taylor, and Bill Wyman . . . The Rollings Stones. This is a great episode, looking at Oliver Murray's The Quiet One (2019), Mike Figgis's Ronnie Wood - Someone Up There Likes Me (2020), Jean Luc Godard's Sympathy for the Devil (1968), Danny Garcia's Brian Jones - Rolling Stone: Life and Death of Brian Jones (2020), and Martin Scorsese's Shine a Light (2008). A whole lot to watch and a whole lot of talk. Take a listen and enjoy the celebration.

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

Ghosts of the Pale & Shadowy Moon After the Rain: Kenji Mizoguchi's Ugetsu Monogotari

This week Mr. Chavez & I have the pleasure of discussing one of the great films of Cinema, Kenji Mizoguchi's 1953 Masterpiece, Ugetsu Monogotari. A beautiful, touching, and awe-inspiring film that stands as one of the great examples of World Cinema and easily sits among the great films of The Art of Motion Pictures. Featuring a cast including Rashomon's Machiko Kyō and Masayuki Mori, Mizoguchi's tale of Ghostly Temptation, Upward Mobility, and Feudal Class Restraints is both a warning and a morality tale for human greed, desire, and frailty.

It is a true pleasure to continue our exploration into the greatest films of the medium. If you have not seen this film you are walking into one of the great story-telling experiences. You're Welcome.

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

What's the Worst That Could Happen? Ted Demme's Life (1999)

Dropping a bonus episode . . . this week I go solo to discuss Ted Demme's 1999 comic tour de force, Life. Until My Name is Dolemite, nearly twenty years later, this was Eddie Murphy's last R-Rated Comedy. 

Tackling 65-years of racism, imprisonment, scapegoating, and - ultimately - friendship, Demme's film captures the brilliance of Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence with a wonderful supporting cast including: Bernie Mac, Miguel Nuñez Jr., Anthony Anderson, Joe Torry, Nick Cassavetes, R. Lee Ermey, Obba Babatundé, Clarence Williams III, and Ned Beatty. It's a wonderful film that I'm thrilled to talk about and relate to the ridiculous and painful experiences of my own life. A deeply personal and honest episode that I hope you take something from. Thank you for listening. Questions, Comments, Complaints, & Suggestions can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com.

Hot Air & Fantasy: Terry Gilliam's The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988)

Here's a movie that makes it exciting to be a movie lover . . . in the mid-1980's, filmmaker Terry Gilliam - after having won an unbeatable media and artistic war with Universal Pictures over the release of his bleak and dystopian picture, Brazil (1985) - would tackle a film that would nearly prove the end of him and almost everyone involved with it. Based on an 19th Century German storyteller, Terry Gilliam's film had been filmed a number of times before, but never with the vision, excitement, budget, and production problems that would plague this film. Through problems with language (English-speaking director and cast, Italian-speaking crew, shooting in Spain), production overruns, cast changes, a line producer seemingly more interested in the bravado of his role, shutdowns, and - finally - being dumped by ColumbiaPictures without any kind of advertising, The Adventures of Baron Munchausen continues to amaze, intrigue, and baffle audiences. It is truly one of the most visionary and daring productions ever committed to film; from a director that was vilified (continuing to suffer from the films reputation some thirty plus years later) and, only much later, recognized as one of the great fantasy films. The Adventures of Baron Munchausen is a beautiful film gifted to anyone who wants to believe in, "sausage trees, oceans of wine," and the insanity of traveling to the moon on "hot air and fantasy". Featuring an incredible cast including: Eric Idle, Sarah Polley (all of nine years old), Valentina Cortese, Uma Thurman, Oliver Reed, Winston Dennis, Jack Purvis, Johnathan Pryce, Allison Steadman, co-screenwriter Charles McKeowen, Bill Paterson, Peter Jeffrey, Robin Williams (in a cameo as Ray D. Tutto - The King of the Moon), and a lead - an incredible lead - in John Neville as The Baron. This is a beautiful and inspiring film that we are thrilled to be talking about. We hope you enjoy the conversation, and that the conversation makes you seek out the movie. Thanks for the continued love and support.

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

Of Masks & Fantasies:

Stanley  Kubrick's Eyes Wide Shut

The History of Cinema has known many great names. Few have had the success, respect, and influence of Stanley Kubrick (1928-1999). With a filmography of only twelve films (unless you include his hated Fear and Desire), Kubrick stands tall among the great directors: Lang, Murnau, Hitchcock, Ford, etc. and continues to fascinate audiences. This week Ibrahim & I sit down to discuss the late filmmaker's last film, Eyes Wide Shut (1999). This is a difficult film, tackling a troubling subject - marital infidelity, paranoia, and insecurity.  Featuring Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, and a wonderful and troubling Sidney Pollack, Eyes Wide Shut is a problematic and fascinating last film from a great director. Take a listen as Ibrahim and I discuss this final film from a master.

Questions, Comments, Complaints, & Suggestions can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com. Our Thanks for Your Continued Support.