Angry White Male: Joel Schumacher's Falling Down

Looking at the world - past, present, and future - this week Mr. Chavez & I sit down to watch and discuss Joel Schumacher's 1993 look at American male angst, disgust, and disspointment, Falling Down. As we "welcome" a return of the Republicans to political power, Schumacher's film is a brutal look at the disspointment of the American Dream. Michael Douglas leads with a powerful performance of a late-30s/mid 40s everyman, laid-off, divorced, and confused by his no longer being "Economicallay Viable". Sharing the screen is a strong, later-career performance by the great Robert Duvall as the Detective who connects the dots. A better film than it deserves to be, Falling Down is a powerful examination of what happens when the Dream falls apart. Take a listen and let us know what you think - [email protected]

For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.

Detective or Pervert: David Lynch's Blue Velvet 

This week Mr. Chavez & I dive into The World of David Lynch. Amazingly, Lynch has been able to survive and thrive in the Hollywood System for over four decades. From his beginnings with a labor of love called Eraserhead (1977) thru critical acclaim and an Oscar nomination for 1980s The Elephant Man, and a colossal failure attempting an adaptation of Frank Herbert's Dune (1984), which could have easily ended his filmmaking career, Lynch bounced back with a truly strange, mesmerizing, and captivating work. Polarizing for critics when first released in 1986, Lynch's Blue Velvet - from his own original script - would confuse, anger, and enthrall audiences. Blue Velvet announced the emergence of a singular voice in filmmaking. It's a thrill for us to sit down and re-watch this masterpiece featuring early performances from Kyle MacLachlan, Isabella Rosellini, Laura Dern, and the re-emergence in a career-defining role as the homicidal and psychotic Frank Booth, Dennis Hopper. Lynch's film examines small town America while painting a dark and pessimistic look at the underbelly of Americana. Take a lesson as we return to this Dark World. Thanks for your continued love and support. As always, we can be reached at [email protected]. Many Thanks. 

For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.

Dracula Done to Death - Robert Egger's Nosferatu

This week Mr. Chavez & I run to our local movie theaters to watch, contemplate, and bring to you Robert Egger's end of the year re-imagining of the F.W. Murnau Classic, Nosferatu. Re-makes are notoriously difficult to pull of and Egger's has his hands full with one of the greatest films in the History of Cinema. There is a great deal to admire in this new rendering of the Horror Classic. Where does it succeed? Where does it fail? There is so much to dig into on this week's episode. Take a listen and let us know your impression of this new "Dracula" Story. As always, we can be reached at [email protected]. Many Thanks. 

For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.

Time Destroys Everything - Gaspar Noé's Irreversible

We're closing in on our two final films in our  "Dark Cinema" showcase. This week we look at Gaspar Noé's 2002 controversial and troubling film, Irreversible. Arguably one of the most difficult viewing experiences ever unleashed on movie-watching audiences, Noé's exploration on storytelling (a backwards playing narrative) could have easily been a gimmick with little to say in the way of exploring themes, however Noé deftly handles the obvious showboating of such a technique to add a true, honest, and enlightening understanding of his story of a brutal rape and  beating, revenge, mistaken identity, and murder. This is not a film for the easily offended, but it's also not for those looking for the extreme violence and blood-lust of a Death Wish 2 or I Spit on Your Grave. With Irreversible, Noé has crafted a truly powerful and beautifully realized look at violence, sexual violence, and the unfolding of time and it's commentary on the aforementioned. Take a listen and let us know what you think. It's a deep and thoughtful conversation. We continue to be reached at [email protected]. 

For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.

Perv with a Pen - Terry Zwigoff's Crumb

This week we race back to 1994 with one of the great documentaries of the modern era, Terry Zwigoff's portrait of underground comic artist, Robert Crumb. A simple profile of the artist and the polarizing reaction to his work alone would have made for an interesting and enjoyable film; Zwigoff's decision to focus on Crumb's extended family (two brothers and mother) forms a more powerful and disturbing work. With an abusive childhood to expand on and two examples of talent overpowered by mental difficulties, Zwigoff highlights how powerful art is in giving voice to the pain and desperation that exists within all of us, but is tempered by an artist who can find the levels of supportive expression that can save him from the insanity of an imbalanced brain. Crumb is truly a powerful and englightening film. However disturbing it may be is worth the rewards the film has to offer. Take a listen as we discuss this beautifully realized and deeply troubling film. As always, we can be reached at [email protected]. Many Thanks. 

For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.

Blood, Metal, C*m - David Cronenberg's CRASH 

For Darkness in Popular Cinema it's difficult to find a director that reaches deeper and more disturbing images than Canadian auteur, David Cronenberg. 1997s Crash is - arguably - his most divisive, polarizing, and controversial film. Winner of a special Cannes Jury Award (which jury president, Francis Ford Coppola refused to hand to Cronenberg), Crash examines symphorophiliacs  (A paraphilia involving sexual arousal from staging and watching disasters, such as traffic collisions.) as they discover one another and push the limits of their sexual kinks, desires, and passions. This is not an easy film to view, however it is never boring, and the beauty and complexity of the storytelling is almost unknown in popular cinema (or at least films distributed in theaters). There's nothing like Cronenberg's descent into body dysmmporphia, sexual fetishes, and complex human relationships. Take a listen and let us know what you think. It's a damn good conversation. Lovers of Cinema should be excited. As always, we can be reached at [email protected] - Many Thanks. 

For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.

To Neither Have Nor Hold - Tod Browning's The Unknown

On this week's episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos, Mr. Chavez & I look back to 1927 for one of the great Actor/Director collaborations - Lon Chaney & Tod Browning. With The Unknown, Chaney & Browning would create one of the most disturbing and beautifully realized films of The Silent Era. Browning's years spent as a youth in circuses and carnivals would inform two of his most famous films (The Unknown and Freaks [1932]). Chaney's dedication to portraying a carnival performer without arms who falls in love with a young Joan Crawford, is a marvel of early cinema. It's a thrill to sit down and discuss this classic and dive into it's strange and troubling elements. It's a fun discussion. We hope you'll enjoy it. Take a listen and let us know what you think - [email protected]. Many Thanks. 

For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.

Wall Street Chainsaw Massacre - Mary Harron's American Psycho

On this week's episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos, Mr. Chavez & I take a look at director Mary Harron's 2000 adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis's American Psycho. A controversial and polarizing film that has gained cultural and critical praise in the nearly quarter century since the film's release (and the 1991 publication of the novel), we are thrilled to discuss the pros (Christian Bales's performance as Patrick Bateman) and cons (a limited scope in portraying and commenting on the society it was showcasing and influencing) of this cult classic. As always, our discussion takes us on a journey into American Culture and a greater understanding in how the culture is both portrayed and influenced by images traveling at 24 frames per second. Take a listen . . . it's a pretty intersting conversation. As always, we can be reached at [email protected]. Many Thanks. 

For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.

Rage for Ratings: Paddy Chayefsky & Sidney Lumet Present NETWORK

What was once considered a satire by all (save the two men who made it - they considered it a reflection of what was happening), Paddy Chayefsky and Sidney Lumet's 1976 masterpiece exists as a fifty year harbinger of a media, social, and political reality that has reached its culmination with the current state of American culture. Once considered a blistering social comedy Network has lost a great deal of of its humor in the absurd realities of the third decade of the 21st Century. Mr. Chavez & I are thrilled, excited, depressed, and disgusted . . . all of it coming out in this timely discussion. Take a listen as we look to Faye Dunaway, William Holden, Robert Duvall, Ned Beatty, Beatrice Straight, and (posthumous Oscar winner - the first ever) Peter Finch in this briliant look at the American Media System - Nearly Fifty Years before its Horrible, Horrible Culmination. Take a listen . . . it's a fun talk. As always, we can be reached at [email protected] - Many Thanks. 

For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.

Sun-Soaked Rape-sploitation: Coralie Fargeat's Revenge

Sometimes a film fails, but the conversation it inspires is worth the viewing; That appears to be the case with this week's discussion of Coralie Fargeat's 2017 beautifully shot, thinly plotted, obvious and disappointing exploitation film, Revenge. Fargeat (director of last week's episode, The Substance) proves a capable, but limited story-teller. Mr. Chavez and I use Fargeat's film as a jumping off point to understand the rape and revenge genre with comparisons to I Spit on Your Grave, Death Wish (I & 2), and Kill Bill Vol. I & II. What was an unsatisfying and critically disappointing movie watching experience proved to be an interesting and challenging (for us, at least) discussion. We're hoping you share in our enthusiasm. Take a listen . . . we don't think you'll be disappointed. Many Thanks. We can be reached at [email protected] 

For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.

Young, Hot, Horrible - Coralie Fargeat's The Substance

November brings with it a return to the theaters as I venture into the multiplex (and Mr. Chavez grabs up a streaming subscription) for Coralie Fargeat's critically acclaimed attack on Womens' Aging in Tinsel Town, the Male Gaze, Vanity, with a Twilight Zone-like look at an industry that both makes stars and disposes of them in the most cruel and emotionless of ways. There's a whole lot to admire in Coralie Fargeat's sophomore effort, however how much of it is successful, and how much of it is obvious and labored, is what will drive this discussion. Take a listen and see if you agree with our assessments of this art-house effort that is garnering a great deal of attention for its audacity and the performances of Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley. As always we can be reached at [email protected]. Our Continued Thanks. 

For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.