Watch This With Rick Ramos

On this weeks episode of WatchThis w/RickRamos, Ibrahim returns to The Fortress of Ultimate Darkness to discuss his recent trip to Alaska and the affect it had on his emotions, psyche, and overall attitude. WatchThis is all about relating cinema to life experiences.  This week we couple Ibrahim's vacation with Werner Herzog's GRIZZLY MAN - documenting the life and death of self-appointed Bear Prot...

On this weeks episode of WatchThis w/RickRamos we talk about David Lynch's THE ELEPHANT MAN from 1980 and Tod Browning's infamous 1932 film FREAKS . Two films that have had differing affects on me, but which have stayed with me over the years. I also talk a bit about A MONSTER CALLS and JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 2 .  Take a listen and let me know what you think.  As always, I can be reached at gondoramos...

On this week's episode of WatchThis w/RickRamos, Ibrahim & I take a look at one of the most iconic characters in all of popular cinema,  Lieutenant "Dirty" Harry Callahan. It would be impossible to watch these movies without examining the social and historical impact of this character in the five films Eastwood made with a variety of directors beginning with Don Siegel's 1971 "Fascist Masterpiece"...

On this week's episode of Watch This w/RickRamos, Ibrahim & I continue our discussion of The Vampire subgenera.  Our angle this week . . . ? We talk the pure enjoyment of the Vampire Hunter, showcasing Tom Holland's Fright Night and John Carpenter's Vampires .  We contrast these films with Kathryn Bigelow's Near Dark and the Swedish adolescent vampire film Let the Right One In .  We had a good tim...

On this week's episode of WatchThis w/RickRamos, Ibrahim & I continue our lengthy discussion of the Vampire subgenre.  On this episode we touch on a number of different films, but we focus on Abel Ferrara's THE ADDICTION from 1995, starring Lili Taylor, Edie Falco, Anabella Sciorra, and Christopher Walken.  We continue the theme of metaphorical drug addiction in the vampire film with a look at Ton...

On this weeks episode of WatchThis w/RickRamos I take a look at Abel Ferrara's masterpiece from 1992 - Bad Lieutenant .  A film that has stayed with me for some twenty-five years after first seeing it in Chicago during the fall of 1992. I can speak highly enough about this film. It was an entrance to my understanding of what cinema was capable of portraying. I was and continue to be overwhelmed by...

On this weeks episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos, Ibrahim & I sit down to talk one of the most popular characters in all of cinema - Bram Stoker's Dracula. We start our talk with the iconic Bela Lugosi - the standard to which all vampire portrayals are compared - in Todd Browning's 1931 classic Dracula . We follow this with F.W. Murnau's 1922 masterpiece of German Expressionism, Nosferatu: A Symphon...

The WatchThis train keeps moving forward.  Ibrahim & I return to The Fortress to finish up our 90's themed showcase. This week we talk Alex Proyas' 1998 masterpiece Dark City .  An incredible piece of celluloid that has unjustly been lost in the shadow of The Wachowski's The Matrix , Dark City continues to grow in stature and rewards viewers with a deeper understanding of humanity.  With exception...

On this weeks episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos, Ibrahim & I continue with our examination of the 1990's - looking at Kathryn Bigelow's Strange Days from 1995 and Mike Leigh's 1993 underseen classic, Naked.   Strange Days proves to be a bit of a disappointment, but a fascinating one that plays out in an interesting conversation regarding the the past, present, future and our dealings with all three...

On this weeks episode of Watch This W/RickRamos my good friend Ibrahim Chavez returns to The Fortress of Ultimate Darkness to continue discussing the 1990's.  This week we focus on Oliver Stone's Natural Born Killers.  We discuss the cultural relevance of the film as well as it's impact twenty years later. We also discuss the death of singer/songwriter Leonard Cohen. As always we thank you for lis...

On this weeks episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos, WatchThis fans welcome Mike Black back to The Fortress of Ultimate Darkness to discuss one of the greatest filmmakers of all time, Mr. Martin Scorsese.  Mr. Scorsese turned 74 this past November 17th so Mike & I thought it would be only right to discuss his career, his importance as a filmmaker, and his importance in each of our lives.  As always, ta...

On this weeks episode of WatchThis W/Rick Ramos I welcome good friend - and WatchThis Audience Favorite - Ibrahim Chavez back to The Fortress of Ultimate Darkness. We sit down and talk a decade that (as time has begun to prove) is a time in cinema that is quickly being recognized as the last great period of American filmmaking - The 1990's. We begin with a  brief discussion of the Presidential Ele...

On this weeks episode of Watch This w/Rick Ramos we take a look at one of my favorite films - a film that has resonated through my life - Malcolm Venville's 44 Inch Chest .  This sadly overlooked 2009 British Drama is an incredible showcase for actors Ray Winstone, John Hurt, Tom Wilkinson, and - in a frighteningly good performance - Ian McShane.  Chronicling a man's dealings with the pain of his...

On this weeks episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos, my good friend, Ibrahim Chavez, returns to The Fortress of Ultimate Darkness in our continuing discussion of Pornography in Film. We get back on track from last week's roundabout discussion to focus on specific films including Paul Thomas Anderson's Boogie Nights , James Cox's Wonderland , and A Serbian Film (the director is better left unnamed), as...

On this weeks episode, podcast favorite - and good friend - Ibrahim Chavez stops into The Fortress of Ultimate Darkness to discuss The World of Pornography. We had originally intended this to be an examination of documentaries and narrative films dealing with the matter, however the episode quickly spiraled into a philosophical discussion regarding the history, benefits & dangers, current state of...

On this weeks episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos I say goodbye to one of the great comic minds of Cinema, Mr. Gene Wilder.  Having discussed his work with Richard Pryor in an earlier edition of WatchThis I felt it was necessary to pay closer attention to his two greatest works as an actor 1968's THE PRODUCERS and 1974's YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN (both directed by Mel Brooks).  This one's a bit heartfelt, b...

On this weeks episode of Watch This w/Rick Ramos, your host goes back into his early influences to celebrate the great Charles Bukowski on what would have been his 97th Birthday. We take a look at what makes a great artist and the beauty of staying the course regardless of what the rest of them think. We also discuss Barbet Schroeder's Barfly (1987) and John Dullaghan's exceptional biographical do...

On this week's episode of WatchThis w/Rick Ramos, our illustrious host sits down to talk one of the greatest films in the history cinema, Sergio Leone's 1968 masterpiece Once Upon a Time in the West .  There's not a lot else to say as far as a description so sit back and enjoy. Thanks for the continued support.  

On this weeks episode of WatchThis w/RickRamos I take a look at two films held in high regard, although find myself favoring the undervalued one . . . I'm speaking of Brian DePalma's two collaborations with Al Pacino Scarface and Carlito's Way .  Take a listen and let me know what you think.  As always, your support is greatly appreciated.  

On this weeks episode of WatchThis w/Rick Ramos we take a look at one of the great filmmakers to emerge from the 70's - Brian DePalma. Profiled in a new documentary (currently playing in theaters), Noah Baumbach and Jake Paltrow's DePalma , positions the camera on the great director and allows him to talk for close to two hours. A great time for film fans, DePalma is a documentary essential to the...

On this weeks episode of WatchThis w/RickRamos I welcome my good friend Ibrahim Chavez to The Fortress of Ultimate Darkness to discuss the passing of The Greatest Figure in Sports History (and perhaps The World as a Whole) - Muhammad Ali. We discuss his Life and Career, the Achievements and Controversies, and the two greatest documentaries to profile his life, Leon Gast and Taylor Hackford's When...

Not a whole lot of description necessary for this week's episode of WatchThis w/Rick Ramos. This week I take a look at Martin Scorsese's masterpiece (one of so many) Taxi Driver . Focusing on the theme of loneliness, this week's episode delves into the fears, demons, and struggles of dealing with the alienation of "God's Lonely Man". Take a listen and let me know what you think. So Many Thanks.

On this weeks episode of WatchThis w/Rick Ramos I take a look at Cheech Marin's classic 1987 solo directorial deburt, Born In East L.A. This film has meant a great deal to me over the years and I'm thrilled to talk about. I also take a look at Chris Weitz's 2011 drama A Better Life . With an Oscar nominated performance from Demian Belchir. These are both exceptional films that I had a wonderful ti...

Getting two episodes of WatchThis w/RickRamos out. This week I welcome Mike Black back to The Fortress of Ultimate Darkness to discuss 20th Century Fox's celebration of James Cameron's 1986 masterpiece Aliens .  With screenings across the country and numerous tie-ins including - artwork, Reebok Ripley shoes, comic books, as well as Black's fascination with the Alien: Isolation video game.  It's al...

On this week's episode of WatchThis w/RickRamos I take a look at the Prince cinematic classic Purple Rain . Acknowledging a musical genius through an examination of his film debut, I remember what this film meant to me, society, and our collective childhoods. After saying our goodbyes I take a look at Jeremy Saulnier's Green Room , Robert Budreau's Chett Baker bio-pic, Born To Be Blue starring Eth...