Always The Last to Know: Gene Hackman as Harry Moseby in Arthur Penn's Night Moves (1975)

Take a listen as Rick Ramos flies solo to talk Gene Hackman in Arthur Penn's classic Neo-Noir Thriller Night Moves (1975). A bravado showcase for Gene Hackman's subtlety. It is exactly this type of performance that has flown Hackman under the radar of great actors for so many decades. Never given the recognition of his 70's era colleagues such as DeNiro, Pacino, and Hoffman, Hackman gives a nuanced and subtle performance that lets audiences and film lovers know why he was one of the best actors in the latter half of cinema's history. Take a listen as I discuss this underseen 1970's gem from director Arthur Penn.

As always, Questions, Comments, Complaints, & Suggestions can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com. Thanks for the continued love and support.

My Dark Places - Nicholas Ray's In a Lonely Place (1950)

On this week's episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos, I go solo to give my opinions on Nicholas Ray's touching and tragic In a Lonely Place (1950) with a character-defining performance by the iconic Humprhey Bogart. With a supporting performance from Academy Award winning actress Gloria Grahame (The Bold & the Beautiful - Brilliant!), Ray's film is a telling look into the world of Hollywood and the darkness and (sometimes) hopelessness of the artist. Take a listen. The episode covers what the critics consider a "noir" but I take issue with that categorizing. I also go over how I'm handling the quarantining - books, series, and movies that I'm watching during these trying times. Take a listen . . . It's a lot of fun! 

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

Nineteen-Eighty-Four & A Half:  Terry Gilliam's Brazil 

On this week's episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos, Ibrahim & I sit down to discuss Terry Gilliam's masterful take on Totalitarian Rule and Orwellian Dystopia in 1985's Brazil. Featuring a great lead role by character actor Jonathan Pryce and a wonderful supporting cast including: Katherine Helmond, Jim Broadbent, Charles McKeown, Kim Greist, Ian Holm, Peter Vaughn, Bob Hoskins, Michael Palin, and Robert DeNiro (in one of his earliest cameo performances). From the struggles in getting it made, the brilliance of what was created, and the subsequent attempts by Universal Studios (specifically President & CEO, Sid Sheinberg) to wrestle the film from Gilliam and shape it into a more palatable and audience-friendly product. 

This was a great discussion between someone who loves the film and has seen it numerous times and someone who is viewing it for the very first time. Take a listen and let us know if you have us much fun listening as we had in discussing it. Questions, Comments, Complaints, & Suggestions can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com. Our Continued Love & Thanks. 

Addio Maestro:

Ennio Morricone (November 10, 1928 - July 06, 2020)

On this week's episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos, Ibrahim & I sit down to talk the passing of a giant in the world of cinema - Ennio Morricone. From his genre-defining work with Italian director Sergio Leone in A Fistful of Dollars, A Few Dollars More, The Good, the Bad, & the Ugly, as well as Once Upon a Time in the West and Once Upon a Time in America. Noted for his work with Brian DePalma (Casualties of War and The Untouchables) and his Oscar-winning score for Quentin Tarantino's The Hateful Eight as well, it is with regret that we say goodbye to one of the greats, but it's a hell of a time remembering what he has gifted us over nearly 70 years.

We hope that you enjoy this episode. Thank you for your continued love and support. Questions, Comments, Complaints, & Suggestions can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com.

"We Gotta Eat Away At Ourselves" - Bad Lieutenant & Uncut Gems

This week on WatchThis W/RickRamos, Ibrahim & I jump back into The Darkness with a look at Excess and Addiction in two great performances, Harvey Keitel playing the titular character in Abel Ferrara's Bad Lieutenant (1992) and Adam Sandler in The Safdie Brothers' Uncut Gems (2019). Two of the most powerful depictions of addiction and self-hatred ever committed to celluloid. Each film approaches the subject from a different angle, but the passion, truth, and brutality is there as warning. It was a pleasure to sit down and revisit these honest, ugly, and awe-inspiring performances in two films that are a rarity of truth in modern cinema. Take a listen and let us know what you think. Questions, Comments, Complaints, & Suggestions can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com.

Thanks for the continued love and support.

"If it bleeds . . . we can kill it." - The Predator Saga

On this episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos, Ibrahim & I have a fun time sitting down to discuss one of the great movie monsters in cinema history. - Predator. After a rocky start (replacing Jean Claude Van Damme in a rubber suit) the great Stan Winston was given the opportunity to create a classic of make-up and animatronics. A character that has spanned nearly three decades (sourced from a legendary short story by Richard Connell - The Most Dangerous Game), John McTiernan's original film (1987), it's Stephen Hopkins sequel  (1990), and the Robert Rodriguez produced/Nimród Antal directed re-boot (2010). We skip the Aliens crossovers films as well as Shane Black's 2018 sequel to focus on the three best films (at least we believe) and focus on the mythology of the story as well as the success and importance in modern monster, sci-fi cinema. Take a listen . . . it's a fun discussion.

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