The Branches, The Wind, & The Rain: Florian Zeller's The Father

This week Ibrahim & I discuss a wonderful new film featuring an exceptional performance from the iconic Welsh actor, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Florian Zeller's The Father. Please make time to watch this beautifully told, intricately paced and structured story centering on the slow mental deterioration of a man (Hopkins) brought on by advancing age. At 84 Hopkins continues to surprise, touch, and endear himself to audiences. The Father is a truly magnificent, late-career performance with wonderful supporting performances from Oscar winner Olivia Colman (The Favourite 2018), Olivia Williams, Mark Gatiss, Rufus Sewell and Imogen Poots. This is a painful film to watch, however it is also touching and - finally - affirming. Please give it a chance.

Questions, Comments, Complaints, & Suggestions can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com. Thank you for your continued support.

* Please note: This is a film best experience with as little information as possible. We recommend that you watch the film before listening to this podcast as we give away many plot details in our discussion and critique of the film*

Subtext & DoubleCross in Steven Soderbergh's No Sudden Move

This week Ibrahim & I are thrilled to recommend a new film playing on HBOMax -  Steven Soderbergh's No Sudden Move. For over 30 years, Soderbergh has been an exceptional filmmaker, moving in and out of various genres, styles, and box office returns. From his debut with 1989's Sex, Lies, and Videotapes thru Oscar-winning films - Traffic and Erin Brockovich (both 2000), Box Office Hits - Out of Sight (1998) The Oceans Trilogy (2001-2007) and cult classics Haywire (2012) and The Limey (1999), Soderbergh has proven to be one of the most consistently rewarding filmmakers working today. No Sudden Move is easily one of his bests. Featuring exceptional performances from Don Cheadle, Benicio del Toro, David Harbour, Kieran Culkin, Ray Liotta, Brendan Fraser, Frankie Shaw, Julia Fox, (my good friend) David Mishevitz, and Bill Duke doing his Bill Duke thing. You should make time for this classic in waiting. 

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

"Because we had to remember them." - Paul McCartney

McCartney 3, 2, 1

This week Ibrahim & I continue our exploration of Rock 'N Roll with a look at the new 6-Part HULU docu-series, McCartney 3, 2, 1. For fans there doesn't seem a whole lot left to say about Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison, & Ringo Starr, however the thrill of this documentary comes from an examination by one of the lads who was there from the beginning, as well as a world-renowned producer and fan of the music. It's a thrill to watch the excitement between Paul McCartney and Rick Rubin as they talk about the history of Rock 'N Roll, the band, the songs, and the walk through the cultural landscape of McCartney's 60+ years as a musician and recording artist. This is a fun, fascinating, and incredibly rewarding series. Mr. Chavez & I are thrilled to be digging further into this great music. Enjoy.

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

Get to the Point:         The Problems, Excess, & Failure of        Quentin Tarantino's The Hateful Eight

On this week's episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos, Ibrahim & I go back to a favorite of ours and once again scream into the nothingness in our attempts to challenge the cult of Quentin Tarantino. In 2015 Tarantino gathered an incredible cast including: Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, Walton Goggins, Channing Tatum, Demién Bichir, and Channing Tatum for a film that ultimately stands as Tarantino's weakest effort. The Hateful 8 is a problematic film that was showered with praise from many critics. On this episode, Ibrahim & I go against the praise, discussing our problems with the film and examining how these problems have evolved and overwhelmed the films in Tarantino's nearly 30 years as a filmmaker. You may not agree with us, but it's hard to disagree that our points are not well considered, developed, and argued.

Take a listen and see if you agree. Questions, Comments, Complaints, & Suggestions can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com. Many Thanks.

Waters of Dread: Robert Egger's The Lighthouse

On this week's episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos, Ibrahim & I continue our look into fascinating, challenging, and underseen cinema. On this episode we look at Robert Egger's 2019 sophomore effort, The Lighthouse. This is a truly rare thing in popular cinema, a film of enormous power and challenging stylistic choices. From it's Black & White, 1.19:1 aspect ratio (approximating 19th Century photography), Eggers focuses a story on the insanity that will come from isolation and paranoia. With incredible performances by Wilem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson, this is easily one of the best films of 2019 and the decade itself. Take a listen as we take a look at this insantiy.

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

Doomed Journey of Lost Souls: H.G. Wells'      The Island of Dr. Moreau

On this week's episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos, Ibrahim & I sit down to discuss a Sci-Fi Classic, H.G. Wells' The Island of Dr. Moreau. With three English language productions, Wells' story has proven problematic for numerous filmmakers. This week we take a look at Erle C. Kenton's Island of Lost Souls (1932), featuring Charles Laughton & Bela Lugosi and the Richard Stanley/John Frankenheimer disaster, The Island of Dr. Moreau. With a bizarre, strange, and surprisingly enjoyable performance by Marlon Brando, a lackluster and disengaged Val Kilmer, and a thoroughly disgusted (and possibly suicidal) David Thewlis, this mess of a movie is truly bizarre requiring it's own documentary Lost Soul: The Doomed Journey of Richard Stanley's Island of Dr. Moreau (2014). Take a listen. We continue to have fun doing this. Questions, Comments, Complaints, & Suggestions can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com. Many Thanks!

History of Rock N Roll Part IV: The Beatles - FourHeaded Phenomenon

On this week's episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos, Ibrahim & I continue to wind our legs, ears, and memories through The History of Rock N Roll, with a look at - arguably - The Greatest Band of All Time: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, & Ringo Starr - The Beatles. Looking at 1964's Richard Lester directed A Hard Day's Night and Ron Howard's 2016 documentary The Beatles: Eight Days a Week, my partner and I discuss the history, artistry, influence, and importance of this great band. Take a listen to get another opinion on this great band. Questions, Comments, Complaints, & Suggestions can be sent to gondoramos@yahoo.com. Many Thanks.

Homey Don't Play That!

Remembering Paul Mooney (August 04, 1941 - May 19, 2021)

A walk through memories of stand-up comedy lit by the fire of Paul Mooney's passing at the age of 79. Mooney was one of the greatest - and one of the most divisive - comics to ever pick up a microphone. I don't know when I first heard him, but I know that it was a life-changing experience. On this episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos, I go solo to talk Mooney's influence in the world of stand-up comedy and what he meant to me personally. A lot of great memories. My little tribute to one of the greatest comics of all time.

Parental Advisory:

Explicit Lyrics

I hope I don't offend, but there is no other way to remember a great comic without discussing their material in it's complete and original offensiveness. I hope you understand. Questions, Comments, Complaints, & Suggestions can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com. Many Thanks!

Ignoring the Bear - Ari Aster's Midsommar

This week Ibrahim & I tackle Ari Aster's 2019 "Folk Horror" film, Midsommar . . . a film that takes  extreme chances, challenging its audience like few multi-screen attractions do. This is a great film that is difficult to recommend only because of the limitations of so much of today's movie-going audience (we really need to pick it up). Take a watch and let us know if you agree. Questions, Comments, Complaints, & Suggestions can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com. Thanks for the continued support.

Printing the Legend: John Ford's The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance

On this week's episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos, Ibrahim & I sit down to discuss a classic of Western Cinema - and arguably one of the greatest films ever made - John Ford's The Man Who Shot LIberty Valance. We discuss the Western, Mythology & Legend, and - of course -  Ford Stewart & Wayne. Take a listen . . . it's a fun look into a respected film that is - oftentimes - overshadowed by so much of what Ford and Wayne created. Let us know what you think. Questions, Comments, Complaints, & Suggestions can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com. Thanks!