Watch This With Rick Ramos
Comedian Rick Ramos and Writer Ibrahim Chavez sit down each week to talk current theatrical releases, suggestions for additional movie watching choices, and - most importantly - the meaning, power, and purpose of entertainment in our world. A film fans dream come true with a philosopher's angle, WatchThis is about the art, beauty, and possibilities of cinema. Each week Ramos & Chavez discuss the greatest films ever made (including those that you may have missed) as well as the artists that have created these films. They also go further into the subject matter, discussing how much these films mean to each of them and how much they will - hopefully - mean to you. Enjoy!
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#613 - Fetishes (1996): Dungeon Documentary - WatchThis W/RickRamos
08/04/2026
#613 - Fetishes (1996): Dungeon Documentary - WatchThis W/RickRamos
Nick Bromfield's Fetishes This week we dive into the world of High-End S&M/Bondage through the lens of provocateur director Nick Bromfield - Fetishes. A 1996 HBO documentary in the American Undercover series, Bromfield's camera walks into New York's exclusive, expensive, and fascinating world of dominatrixes, fantasy, race-play, whipping, humiliation, and dungeons. Lorded over by Mistress Raven and a small staff of women who engage in and fulfill the fantasies of New York's elite through bondage, humiliation, wrestling, fetishizing, feminization, suffocation, and wrestling among others. There's a great deal to experience and Bromfield's camera exposes the acts and many of the participants. Join our discussion as we atttempt to understand this world and decide whether Bromfield captures fully the complexities of this subculture. As always, we can be reached at - 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 - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.
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#612 - The Last Seduction (1994): Fiorentino's Femme Fatale - WatchThis W/RickRamos
07/29/2026
#612 - The Last Seduction (1994): Fiorentino's Femme Fatale - WatchThis W/RickRamos
John Dahl's The Last Seduction Continuing with an idea that we started a few episodes back focusing on Lena Olin in Romeo is Bleeding, this week Mr. Chavez & I take a look at an overlooked neo-noir, erotic thriller from 1994 featuring a stand-out performance from Linda Fiorentino. Our basic idea is the difficulty of casting "dangerous and strong" female characters with intimidating and daring actresses. So, why was Linda Fiorentino - an intelligentl and overpowering actor - not given the opportunities to break big? In John Dahl's cult classic, The Last Seduction, audiences were never given the chance to watch a performance that defied the narrative conventions of redemption, nurturing, or karmic comeuppance that is standard in Hollywood films. Fiorentino gives a performance that ranks with the great femme fatales of cinema including: Barbara Stanwyck (Double Indemnity), Johan Bennet (The Woman in the Window), Marie Windsor (The Killing) and Ann Savage (Detour). As Bridget Gregory/Wendy Kroy, Fiorentino is a sexual force without any apologies or sense of regret. It's a performance Fiorentino fully dives into with equal parts sex appeal, intelligence, and danger. Featuring Peter Berg, Bill Pullman, and classic character villain, J.T. Walsh, Fiorentino is a lesson in femme fatale manipulation. Take a listen and let us know if you agree. As always we can be reached at - 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 - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.
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#611 - Dogs Don't Wear Pants: Finnish Fetish - WatchThis W/RickRamos
07/22/2026
#611 - Dogs Don't Wear Pants: Finnish Fetish - WatchThis W/RickRamos
J-P Valkeapää's Dogs Don't Wear Pants This week Mr. Chavez & I explore Finnish Cinema with a look at J-P Valkeapää's Dogs Don't Wear Pants. A brave and troubling look at emotional trauma, BDSM, and auto-ertotic asphyxiation, Valkeapää's 2019 erotic black comedy is an exploration of the erotic underground subculture of dominance and submission. There's a great deal to admire in this film including the lead performances of Pekka Strang as a widowed single father struggling with death of his wife seven years earlier, and Krista Kosonen as the woman he meets and whose dominatrix skills he becomes consumed by. A film that is not for the squeamish or prudish, but one that gives insight into - some of - the workings of this sexual subculture. Not all of the film works, but what is there speaks louder than the majority of American films that claim to tackle sexuality. Take a listen, give the movie a watch, and let us know what you think. As always, we appreciate the continued love and support. We continue to be available to you at . Many, 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 - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.
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#610 - Romeo is Bleeding (1993): Under-Watched 90s Neo Noir - WatchThis W/RickRamos
07/15/2026
#610 - Romeo is Bleeding (1993): Under-Watched 90s Neo Noir - WatchThis W/RickRamos
Peter Medak's Romeo is Bleeding In the 1990s low-budget studio films on the periphery (in this case Polygram Filmed Entertainment) were being made with casts that - in some cases - would become mainstream stars throughtout the decade and the upcoming milennium. 1993s Peter Medak directed Romeo is Bleeding, is an under-watched, hidden gem with a cast that almost defines the 1990s - Gary Oldman, Annabella Sciorra, Roy Schreider, Juliette Lewis, Michael Wincott, and the brilliant, Lena Olin. A New York set Neo-Noir that explodes beyond the Hayes Code limits of the genre, Medak's film is a platform for a darkness of material that is rarely seen in mainstream Hollwyood. Building on a violent and highly sexualized narrative that reminds today's viewer and expands on the memories of late 80s/early 90s Cinemax Erotic Thrillers (as well as Sharon Stone and Basic Instinct), Romeo is Bleeding is a showcase for Oldman's burnt-out, self-destructive cop, Jack Grimaldi, and Lena Olin's daring, highly sexualized, and dangerous, femme fatale, Mona Demarkov. This week Mr. Chavez and I discuss the brilliance of these two performances and the film that underserves their talents. We dive into what the film gets right and how a better director (in our opinions, Paul Schrader) may have produced a masterpiece. Take a listen and let us know what you think. As always we can be reached at - Our Continued Love & Thanks. For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.
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#609 - Wild at Heart (1990) David Lynch's Oz Thriller - WatchThis W/RickRamos
07/09/2026
#609 - Wild at Heart (1990) David Lynch's Oz Thriller - WatchThis W/RickRamos
David Lynch's Wild at Heart This week we return to a World of Dreams and the Land of Oz through the dark and chaotic eyes of David Lynch (January 20, 1946 - January 16, 2025). A Homage/Love Letter to the classic MGM masterpiece, Lynch's 1990 Wild at Heart is a pulsating cinematic shotgun blast. The story of young lovers breaking parole and crossing the country to find a future that is never clear, Lynch's dark romantic comedy is unlike anything seen before, but inspiring to cinema for decades after. With allusions to Fleming's 1939 Technicolor Classic, as well as nods to Elvis, Americana, and the great tradition of cinematic road trips, Wild at Heart cannot be adequately described, it can only be experienced. This week Mr. Chavez & I describe our relationship to this film (his history with it and my first viewing nearly a decade ago). We discuss our history (and dismissa - minel) of Lynch followed by the embracing of this great American filmmaker (also mine). With particular attention paid to the over the top brilliance of all involved in front of the camera, including: Nicolas Cage, Laura Dern, Diane Ladd, Harry Dean Stanton, Isabella Rosellini, J.E. Freeman, Calvin Lockhart, Grace Zabriskie, Crispin Glover, and Willem Dafoe. We are thrilled to dive into a great film from an incredible director. Take a listen and let us know what you think. As always, we can be reached at . Our Continued Love & Thanks. For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.
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#608 - The Wizard of Oz (1939) Judy Garland Production Fantasy Nightmare - WatchThis W/RickRamos
06/30/2026
#608 - The Wizard of Oz (1939) Judy Garland Production Fantasy Nightmare - WatchThis W/RickRamos
Victor Fleming's (w/Directorial Contributions from George Cukor, Richard Thorpe, and King Vidor) The Wizard of Oz A long time coming, this week's episode focuses on the 1939 MGM Technicolor Classic The Wizard of Oz. In the early days of the studio system, each studio focused on a specific genre, Metro Goldwyn Mayer was the home of the musical and The Wizard of Oz is one of the greatest, most remembered, and most loved musicals of all time. Adapted from the L. Frank Baum classic series of novels - The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900) - the film an eagerly antiicipated adaptation that would prove one of the most difficult, problematic, and dangerous productions in the history of cinema. An American Classic, the film is a staple in the memories of film lovers the world over. Nearly as well known as the film itself are the stories of abuse and production difficulties which plagued the film. From the verbal and physical abuse suffered by Garland, as well as her studio forced drug addiction that was born during the making of this film, thru cast changes from life-threatening reactions to make-up (Buddy Ebsen as the original Tin Man) and Margaret Hamilton's near death experience, as well as four different directors, The Wizard of Oz is a miraclulous achievement. With some of the greatest and well known characters in cinema (The Wicked Witch of the West, Dorothy Gale, The Scarecrow, The Tin Man, The Cowardly Oz, Toto, and The Great & Powerful Oz), songs that continue to inspire, as well as a following from children to their parents, grand-parents, and great grandparents, the Gay Community, Pink Floyd and Dark Side of the Moon fans, The Wizard of Oz is a film that over eight decades later continues to captivate, enchant, and inspire. Take a listen as we make a long overdue return to this American Cinematic Classic. Questions, Comments, Complaints, & Suggestions can be directed to - 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 - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.
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#607 - The Never-Ending Story (1984) 80s Dark Fantasy Classic - WatchThis W/RickRamos
06/23/2026
#607 - The Never-Ending Story (1984) 80s Dark Fantasy Classic - WatchThis W/RickRamos
Wolfgang Petersen's The Never Ending Story This week we look into the cinematic psyche of Mr. Ibrahim Chavez. Our path is Wolfgang Petersen's 1984 Childrens' Dark Fantasy, The Never Ending Story. A childrens' adventure/heroes journey of youth battling nihilism (in this case The Nothing), bullies, parental loss, and the power of imagination, self-worth (self-belief), and self-realization. Possibilities abound in this story surrounding a magical book, a young warrior (Atreyu), beautiful, frightening, and troubling settings (The Swamp of Sadness - one of the most depressing and overpowering setttings in The History of Movies), and imaginative puppetry (The Luck Dragon - Falkor, Gmork, Turtle-like Morla, and The Rock-Eater - truly magnificent). The struggle to save the mythical Fantasia of the film presents imaginative and important points for those of us who have always loved reading and literature and the new generations that are understanding the power of literature. Take a listen and let us know what you think. As always, we can be reached at - 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 - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.
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#606 - Big Trouble in Little China (1986) John Carpenter Martial Arts Comedy - Watch This W/RickRamos
06/16/2026
#606 - Big Trouble in Little China (1986) John Carpenter Martial Arts Comedy - Watch This W/RickRamos
John Carpenter's Big Trouble in Little China When I first saw John Carpenter's Big Trouble in Little China, it was a Pan & Scan VHS copy from my local video store. I immediately fell in love with one of the strangest and most imaginative films of the 1980s. The fourth collaboration between Horror icon, John Carpenter, and Disney legend Kurt Russell (doing an over the top and ridiculous parody of John Wayne), Big Trouble in Little China is a love letter to the Hong Kong Sword and Sorcery epics of the 60s, 70s, and 80s. With admitted and obvious inspiration from Tsui Hark's Zu Warriors from the Magic Mountain, Carpenter's fantasy swordplay epic would employ an almost entirely Asian-American cast led by Denis Dun as Wang Chi, Victor Wong as Egg Shen, and the great James Hong as David Lo Pan. This week Mr. Chavez & I discuss this movie with a focus on how the film stands up to charges of appropriation (lovingly created), Orientalism (questionable), and the White-Saviour trope (mislabeled). An American set, San Francisco and Chinatown comedy that lovingly and respectfully dives into the mythology of culture, history, and hero-making, John Carpenter's Big Trouble in Little China is a comedy, that 40 years later, is as thrilling, funny, and exciting as it was when it premiered in the summer of 1986. Take a listen and see if we give this film a fair and balancecd review or if I'm simply too in love with my memories to be objective. As always, we can be reached at - Many, 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 - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.
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#605 - Cop Land (1997): Stallone's Police Crime Drama - WatchThis W/RickRamos
06/09/2026
#605 - Cop Land (1997): Stallone's Police Crime Drama - WatchThis W/RickRamos
James Mangold's Cop Land Harvey Keitel, Ray Liotta, Robert DeNiro, and Sylvester Stallone in one of the most highly-anticipated films of the 1990s . . . Springing from the headlines of the 80s, 90s, 00s, 10s, and today, James Mangold's 1997 police corruption drama was released to critical acclaim and tepid box-office. In an era of 90s Independent filmmaking, focusing on newspaper/magazine headlines and evening newscasts, Mangold would write and pitch a story (ostensibly a Western) set in modern day life. The reluctant hero, Sheriff Freddy Heflin (an overweight, tired, and sad Stallone), who is neither the Rocky or Rambo hero Stallone is known for, fighting the corruption of an all-star cast of big-city police living outside of the city in a mob financed town. Stallone versus Keitel, Robert Patrick, Peter Berg and John Spencer, with a cocaine-addled Ray Liotta as back-up, and a disheveled, angry, and calculating Internal Affairs officer played by DeNiro manipulating the scene, Mangold's second film - with obvious comparisons to Scorsese - stands out as an brutal and honest look at police corruption and those wiling to stand up against it. As always, we can be reached at - Our Continued Thanks and Appreciation. For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.
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#604 - Dazed & Confused: 70s Soundtrack - WatchThis W/RickRamos
06/02/2026
#604 - Dazed & Confused: 70s Soundtrack - WatchThis W/RickRamos
Richard Linklater's Dazed & Confused (70s Soundtrack) This week Mr. Chavez & I return to Richard Linklater's 1993 "Hang-Out" Masterpiece, Dazed & Confused, focusing on the importance and use of its soundtrack. Featuring Aerosmith, KISS, Alice Cooper, Ted Nugent, WAR, ZZ Top, Edgar Winter Group, and Deep Purple, among others, Linklater's "Cinematic Soundtrack" would establish nostalgia, youth, freedom, aimless wandering, and a musical foundation inspired by previous films and inspiring others to come. Take a listen as we retrun to a great film and unwrap the music that would ground it in its time and establish a mood rarely equaled. As always, we can be reached at - Many, 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 - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.
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#603 - Killing Them Softly: Blue Collar Crime Drama - WatchThis W/RickRamos
05/26/2026
#603 - Killing Them Softly: Blue Collar Crime Drama - WatchThis W/RickRamos
Andrew Dominik's Killing Them Softly It's becoming increasingly difficult to find straight-forward, honest, and personal stories at the movie theater. The low to medium budget films that populated the 1970s have cast a shadow that continues to excite and inspire modern audiences. In the wasteland of re-vamps, sequels, action and comic book dreg, a handful of pictures crawl out of the monotony. In 2012, one of these films was released and quickly disappeared from theaters. With the star power of Ray Liotta and James Gandolfini, supporting players Richard Jenkins, Scoot McNairy, and Ben Mendelsohn, and executive producer and star, Bradd Pitt, Andrew Dominik's Killing Them Softly should have been a box office hit and a critical darling. However, a film as bleak as this one - profiling the economic problems leading to the 2008 financial crisis, a difficult and racially contested presidential election, and a bleak social atmosphere focusing on blue collar criminals and hitmen versus corporate criminal bosses - Dominik's third film would be dismissed and buried by a public and studio system that would prefer leaving the pasat as it was. This week we look back at it with a decades perspective. Take a listen and let us know what you think. As always, we can be reached at - Many, 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 - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.
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#602 - Clerks (1994): 90s Sh!t Job Comedy - WatchThisW/RickRamos
05/20/2026
#602 - Clerks (1994): 90s Sh!t Job Comedy - WatchThisW/RickRamos
Kevin Smith's Clerks The 1990s were a strange, wondrous, and hopeful decade for Cinema. Three decades later we look back on those mid 90s attitudes, trends, screams, and shouts. With the emergence of Sundance, The Weinsteins, and voices such as Tarantino, Fincher, Rodriguez, and others, Independent Cinema was flexing in a way that threatened the studios in much the same way the 70s thrilled, excited, and - most importantly - challenged that audience. This week we look at one of the loudest and unlikliest voices to emerge from this decade; A Coming of Age, Adulthood focused story following the lives of convenience store workers, Kevin Smith's 1994 classic Clerks. Thirty-two years later the anger, frustration, and hopelessness of our collective futures remain. Smith (working as a convenience store clerk while supporting his passion for writing and filmmaking) would give purpose to that anger with a foul-mouthed, pessimistic, and hopeless look at blue-collar jobs and the people who are swallowed by them. Through the lives of two best friends, Dante & Randall (with a couple of pot-dealing morons names Jay & Silent Bob singing the chorus), Smith gave voice to the fears, inhibitions, and cynicism of the 90s and the working mans' struggle. Most importantly, how does all of this relate to us? Well, we are all mired in the aimlessness and calcification of the 40 hour work week. Clerks spoke volumes to a generation unsure of itself. Thirty-two years later that volume has not dimmed. Take a listen and let us know what you think. As always we can be reached at - Many, 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 - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.
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#601 - Dazed & Confused (1993): Linklater's 70s High School Film - WatchThis W/RickRamos
05/11/2026
#601 - Dazed & Confused (1993): Linklater's 70s High School Film - WatchThis W/RickRamos
Richard Linklater's Dazed & Confused On this week's episode we explore 1976 through the eyes of 1993, with Richard Linklater's slacker/high-school masterpiece, Dazed & Confused. Linklater's love letter to high school coming-of-age films is one of the stand-out productions of early 90s independent cinema; a film that blends aimless storytelling with a pounding and nostalgic 70s soundtrack, to reminisce on the good, bad, boring, and character forming experiences of growing up. Juniors becoming Seniors, Middle-Schoolers transitioning to High School, Dazed & Confused is much more than a re-creation of Texas in 1976. Linklater's film is a funny, touching, and - surprisingly - heart-warming story of finding ones' way, selling out, peaking in high school, and imagining the future and ones' place in it. It's about the friendships we make and how so much of that plays a part in building our individual characters. Dazed & Confused is a cult classic which began the careers of Jason London, Adam Goldberg, Joey Lauren Adams, Cole Hauser, Nicky Katt, Parker Posey, and Matthew McConaughey. It's a thrill for Mr. Chavez & I to return to this classic and examine how so much of it mirrors our own lives. Take a listen and let us know what you think. As always, we can be reached at - Many, 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 - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.
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#600 - Heat (1995) Michael Mann's L.A. Crime Thriller - WatchThisW/RickRamos
05/05/2026
#600 - Heat (1995) Michael Mann's L.A. Crime Thriller - WatchThisW/RickRamos
Michael Mann's Heat On this week's episode we celebrate our 600th episode with a look at one of the most important films of our generation, Michael Mann's Crime-Thriller, Heist Film, Masterpiece . . . the coming together of two of the greatest and most important actors of their generation, Al Pacino as Lieutenant Vincent Hannah and Robert DeNiro as Professional Criminal Neil McCauley in 1995s Heat. This week we talk the film, but as always the film is simply a jumping off point for a greater undestanding, in the case an understanding of 1990s culture, the crime genre, brilliant acting and direction, and our own personal growth and attachment to the ideas, warnings, and lessons of this exceptional film. A modern day criminal tragedy which re-invents a story that has been told thousands of times and somehow manages to make all things fresh and unique. With a brilliant cast including the aforementioned DeNiro and Pacino, but also Wes Studi, Ted Levine, Mykelti Williamson, Diane Verona, Tom Sizemore, Danny Trejo, Amy Brenneman, William Fichtner, Ashley Judd, Hank Azaria, Natalie Portman, Henry Rollins, John Voight, Kevin Gage, Bud Cort, a heartbreaking Dennis Haysbert, and a brilliant Val Kilmer, Michael Mann's Heat is a beautifully rendered, heartbreaking crime tragedy that feels real, lived in, and timeless. And yeah . . . we spend a good amount of time on that scene - one of the greatest ever filmed. Take a listen and let us know what you think. As always we can be reached at . Many, 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 - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.
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#599 - Go: Late 90s Pulp Fiction Style Comedy - WatchThisW/RickRamos
04/28/2026
#599 - Go: Late 90s Pulp Fiction Style Comedy - WatchThisW/RickRamos
Doug Liman's Go (1999) This week, we revisit an underseen/little-discussed comedy from 1999, Doug Liman's Go. In the 1990s cinema was overwhelmed by the influence, financial, and critical success of Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction; any number of copycats and knock-offs would flood theaters. Probably, the very best, would be Liman's three-story, intersecting narrative of young adults, struggling with financial problems, bad choices, casual drug use and sales, and (comid) violence. As always, your WatchThis hosts springboard from Liman's film into a dialogue regarding our memories of the 1990s, the evolution of narrative style, the power and influence of pop-art, and the slow move into the 2000s. It's a fun talk regarding a film that deserves more attention. Take a listen as we reflect on this exciting, inventive, and fun postcard from 1999. With an early 90s "who's who" cast, including: Katie Holmes, Timothy Olyphant, Scott Wolf, Jay Mohr, William Fichtner, Melissa McCarthy (very early), Desmond Askew, Taye Diggs, and (a wonderful ) Sarah Polley. Take a listen and let us know what you think - - Many, 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 - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.
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#598 - The Doom Generation (1995): Araki's Bisexual Teen Movie - WatchThis W/RickRamos
04/21/2026
#598 - The Doom Generation (1995): Araki's Bisexual Teen Movie - WatchThis W/RickRamos
Greg Araki's The Doom Generation This week Mr. Chavez & I explore the 1990s with a cult film that is remembered as an early classic of New Queer Cinema. Greg Araki's The Doom Generation is remembered as a violent and trashy exploration of 1990s alternative cinmea. A Gen X Bisexual Bonnie & Clyde/Badlands profile of alienation and stylized camp, Araki's film is the second edition of his "Teen Apocalypse Trilogy". For Mr. Chavez the episode is a nostalgic look at a film that left an impression; for me, the film is an attempt to understand a genre that was somehow missed. We both dive into a discussion sliding through our memories of the decade and our attitudes on what the genre and respective films would mean to a voice that had only been hinted at and often censored. Take a listen and let us know what you think. As always, we can be reached at - Many, 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 - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.
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#597 - We Were Once Kids: Kids Exploitation Documentary - WatchThis W/RickRamos
04/14/2026
#597 - We Were Once Kids: Kids Exploitation Documentary - WatchThis W/RickRamos
Eddie Martin's We Were Once Kids In a continuation of last week's episode on Larry Clark and Harmony Korine's 1995 Kids, Mr. Chavez & I discovered a documentary peeling back the layers of that problematic and controversial film. Although we continue to believe that the earlier film is - in many ways - exceptional, Eddie Martin's 2021 expose (produced with Kids actor, Hamilton Harris), titled We Were Once Kids, reveals much of the troubling nature behind the making of the 1995 film. Alleged exploitation, real-life drug use, alcoholism, manipulation, and the age-old story of Hollywood's predatory nature are all explored in a film that focuses on the misunderstandings, naiveté, and sadness of a group of teenage non-actors that many would argue were taken advantage of in the creation of Kids. Questionable casting methods, alleged real-life drug use in the film, financial exploitation, betrayal and abandonment, and - finally - the death of two of the stars of the film - Justin Pierce (Casper) and Harold Hunter (Harold). A sad story, but also (another) cautionary tale on the dangers of Hollywood and the exploitation of children. The conversation includes our opinions on the events in front of and behind the camera, as well as our own impressions based on our own experiences in LA over twenty + years. An interesting conversation that we hope you find compelling. Take a listen and let us know what you think. As always, we can be reached at - Many, 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 - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.
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#596 - Kids: Drugs, Sex, 90s Teens - WatchThis W/RickRamos
04/07/2026
#596 - Kids: Drugs, Sex, 90s Teens - WatchThis W/RickRamos
Larry Clark's Kids This week Mr. Chavez & I travel back to the mid-1990s to look at a difficult, troubling, and polarizing film that raises questions concerning good taste, artistic license and victimization, as well as exploitation. Few films have caused the uproar that Larry Clark's Kids did in 1995. A quasi-documentary examination of aimlessness in an alcohol, drug, and sex driven New York of the 1990s, Kids is troubling for its frankness and sexually explicit narrative depicting high school kids discussing and engaging in sex and drug taking in a manner ignorant of their dangers. With a storyline driven by alcohol and drug use, unprotected sex, violence, HIV, and utter hopelessness, the film is a snapshot of a time that feels frighteningly real. We discuss our memories of both the film and our experiences with our own versions of youth culture. Directed by Larry Clark, written by Harmony Korine, and introducing both Chloe Sevigny and Rosario Dawson, Kids is a cinematic time jump that forces an uncomfortable discussion. Take a listen and let us know what you think. As always we can be reached at - Our Continued Heartfelt Thanks. For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.
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#594 - The Good Shepherd: DeNiro's C.I.A. Spy Film - WatchThis W/rickRamos
03/31/2026
#594 - The Good Shepherd: DeNiro's C.I.A. Spy Film - WatchThis W/rickRamos
Robert DeNiro's The Good Shepherd This week we springboard off of Robert DeNiro's 2006 spy film, The Good Shepherd, profiling the birth of the Central Intelligence Agency and its role throughout the second half of the 20th Century. From its origins during the end of World War II thru The Cold War, The Bay of Pigs, and the early days of the Kennedy administration, DeNiro's passion project is a thought-provoking, detailed, and troubling examination of U.S. Foreign Policy. Mr. Chavez & I - as is our habit and purpose - use this film to examine our own impressions of the C.I.A., American National & Foreign policy, and the Class System that allows all of it to exist and prosper. From the secretive Yale society, Skull & Bones, that has given us at least two presidents, numerous senators and congressman, and untold CEOs, thru secret and illegal actions designed to topple governments, The Good Shepherd is forcing questions that we are eager to answer. Featuring an all-star cast including: Matt Damon, Angelina Jolie, William Hurt, Michael Gambon, Eddie Redmayne, Keir Dullea, John Turturro, Timothy Hutton, Alec Baldwin, and a briliant Joe Pesci. Take a listen and let us know what you think. Questions, Comments, Complaints, & Suggestions can be directed to - Many, Many Thanks for Your Continued Support. For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.
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#595 - Sicario: Day of the Soldado - Cartel C.I.A. Sequel - WatchThis W/RickRamos
03/31/2026
#595 - Sicario: Day of the Soldado - Cartel C.I.A. Sequel - WatchThis W/RickRamos
Stefano Solima's Sicario: Day of the Soldado This week we discuss the struggle between the United States, its neighbors, allies, and enemies depicted in the Taylor Sheridan scripted, Stefano Solima directed, 2018 C.I.A. action thriller detailing border wars, fabricated criminal kidnappings, cartel violence, and the never-ending, never winnable drug wars. Exciting performances from Josn Brolin and Benicio del Toro ignite this story, giving Mr. Chavez & myself a place to begin our own impressions, opinions, and thoughts concerning these matters. As always, there's a great deal to say. Take a listen and let us know what you think - - 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 - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.
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#593 - Ben Affleck's White-Washed Political Spy Thriller Argo (2012 - WatchThis W/RickRamos
03/24/2026
#593 - Ben Affleck's White-Washed Political Spy Thriller Argo (2012 - WatchThis W/RickRamos
Ben Affleck's Argo (2012) In 2012 Ben Affleck would co-write and direct Argo, winning the Best Picture of the Year at at that year's Academy Awards celebration. Although a skillful and professional job it's - quite simply and obviously - a hack job, typical of the US's need to paint itself in the proper light while also giving Hollywood the opportunity to congratulate itself yet again (as well as short-changing the Canadian Government). An obvious and simplistic piece of political propaganda, Affleck's film continues the pattern of white-washing a serious topic while also reinforcing the idea that the US is the guardian, victim, and champion of the free world (whatever the hell that means). Democracy is safe because of the US's continued struggle against dissident elements throughout the world (in this case the Iranian Revolution). This week Mr. Chavez & I discuss the propaganda of this film, the role of the C.I.A. as saviour, dishonesty in storytelling and the note by note moments that make up a rescue mission movie. Take a listen, it's an interesting and relevant talk. Questions, Comments, Complaints & Suggestions: - Many, 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 - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.
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#592 - Wag the Dog (1996) Barry Levinson's Political Black Comedy - WatchThisW/RickRamos
03/17/2026
#592 - Wag the Dog (1996) Barry Levinson's Political Black Comedy - WatchThisW/RickRamos
Barry Levinson's Wag the Dog Nothing's Changed/Nothing's New and we learned that in 1996 with Barry Levinson's Wag the Dog. As important 30 years later as when it was released, this week Mr. Chavez & I sit down to understand a film that predicted its own time (being released a few weeks before The Bill Clinton/Monica Lewinsky White House Scandal would break), but is also a simpler and almost quaint version of Epstein, Donald Trump, and Ol' Billy Jeff returning to relevance. A Sex Scandal covered up by a Manufactured War, revealing the spin doctoring and propaganda that fuels every election, Wag the Dog is the rare film that grows bolder and more prescient as years pass and facts fight to be discovered. Featuring great performances from Robert DeNiro, Dustin Hoffman (hilarious, exaggerated, and on point), and a supporting cast including Anne Heche, Willie Nelson, Denis Leary, William H. Macy, and a ridiculously unhinged Woody Harrelson, Wag the Dog has volumes to say about our government, The White House, political parties, and the lying, cheating bastards that run the machine. Take a listen for a fun and enlightening conversation. As always, we can be reached at - Many, 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 - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.
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#591 - Arrival (2016) Alien Political Sci-Fi - WatchThis W/RickRamos
03/10/2026
#591 - Arrival (2016) Alien Political Sci-Fi - WatchThis W/RickRamos
Denis Villeneuve's Arrival Since the beginning of this new century Popular Cinema has become increasingly obvious and simplistic. It is rare that a major studio will take a chance with "challenging, thought-provoking" material. In 2016 Denis Villeneuve would adapt Tony Chiang's 1998 novella "Story of Your Life" with a beautifully executed non-linear narrative. A sci-fi drama incorporating alien contact, geopolitics, diplomacy, and the perception of time, Villeneuve's film is a powerful and optimistic take on a genre that is often driven by pessimism and hopelessness. What could have easily been an overly formulaic bore is instead an intellectually demanding and cinematically rewarding experience that was recognized as one of the best pictures of 2016. Featuring Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, and - the always reliable - Forrest Whitaker, Arrival is a gift to the starved cineaste. As always, you can reach us at . Many, 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 - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.
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#590 - Tokyo Story: Ozu's Post-War Family Drama - WatchThis W/RickRamos
03/04/2026
#590 - Tokyo Story: Ozu's Post-War Family Drama - WatchThis W/RickRamos
Yasujiro Ozu's Tokyo Story Recognized as "The Greatest Film of All Time" in the 2012 Sight and Sound Magazine poll, Yasujiro Ozu's 1953 masterpiece is a quiet, contemplative examination of generational conflict, modernization, and aging in Post-War Japan. Masterfully directed and beautifully acted by Ozu's stock company, including Chishū Ryū and Setsuko Hara, Tokyo Story is arguably the greatest film in Ozu's ouvreau and one of the most powerful examples of slow cinema. A minimalist masterpiece that few directors have attempted to emulate, Ozu is a director that all cineastes eventually arrive at and - often. - find themselves unable to forget. This is a beautiful film that we are thrilled to bring to you. Take a listen and let us know what you think. As always we can be reached at . Many, 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 - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.
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#589 - Eyes Wide Shut: Kubrick, Epstein, & Conspiracy - WatchThis W/RickRamos
02/24/2026
#589 - Eyes Wide Shut: Kubrick, Epstein, & Conspiracy - WatchThis W/RickRamos
Stanley Kubrick's Eyes Wide Shut In 1999 filmmaker Stanley Kubrick would shoot his final cinematic statement. Adapting a 1926 Freudian novella, Kubrick would (seemingly) explore the dark mysteries of sexual trafficking, secret societies, infidelity, and the paranoia inherent in all of it. A Psycho-Sexual Drama centered around a Masked Ball Orgy and images that would haunt the minds of popular culture, Kubrick's Final Film is troubling, but not for the reasons one may think. Heralded as his "Final Masterpiece" upon its release, Eyes Wide Shut has become far more relevant in the 27 years since its debut. The controversy surrounding Jeffrey Epstein has forged new relevance for Kubrick's swan song, presenting a narrative that far too many film, political, and social critics have latched onto with a misplaced fervor. Celebrated for the light it shines on the powers that control this world, the depravity of their sexual practices, and the honesty Kubrick is credited with exposing, the film is - in actuality - an obvious and simplistic handling of the material. This week Mr. Chavez & I examine Eyes Wide Shut with a focus on on the reality of Jeffrey Epstein, The Epstein Files, National & International Politics, Wealth, and the Ruling Classes. Take a listen for, yet, another discussion of this troubling narrative. Questions, Comments, Complaints, & Suggestions can be directed to . 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 - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.
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#588 - Saló, or The 120 Days of Sodom (1975) - Italian Fascist Abuse Film - WatchThis W/RickRamos
02/17/2026
#588 - Saló, or The 120 Days of Sodom (1975) - Italian Fascist Abuse Film - WatchThis W/RickRamos
Pier Paolo Pasolini's Saló, or the 120 Days of Sodom (1975) For most serious cineastes, Pier Paolo Pasolini's Saló, or the 120 Days of Sodom is a bridge that we all arive at and struggle with crossing; a cinematic rite of passage that challenges each of our ideas of art. Is Pasolini's final film - an interpretation of the Marquis de Sade's The 120 Days of Sodom - A Political Critique exploring Fascism and Fascist Abuse or simply an opportunistic and transgressive exploitation piece designed to simply shock without artistic merit? Fifty-one years later, audiences continue to be disgusted, angered, confused, excited, and polarized by a film that many consider a masterpiece of Italian Cinema. This week Mr. Chavez & I struggle with these same reactions as we watch this film in the long shadow of a 2026 rife with controversy: ICE, The Epstein Files, Murder, Political Lies & Propaganda and - of course - the heavy and hateful hand of the Trump Administration and its Leader. Take a listen and ask yourself how you truly feel about these issues. As always we can be reached at . Many, 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 - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.
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#587 - Modern Times (1936) Chaplin's Industrial Class Struggle - WatchThis W/RickRamos
02/09/2026
#587 - Modern Times (1936) Chaplin's Industrial Class Struggle - WatchThis W/RickRamos
Charlie Chaplin's Modern Times In 1936 Charlie Chaplin (arguably the most iconic figure of Silent Films) would produce his final (mostly) silent masterpiece, Modern Times. This week Mr. Chavez & I continue our look at Cinema that challenges the status quo, with a film that examines the de-humanizing drive of capitalism to push profit over people and the subsequent endurance of the individual to survive all of it . Modern Times is a beautifully realized film that was born out of the imagination of a filmmaker whose own background ensures the honesty of the narrative. Modern Times is both funny and heartbreaking, honest and thought-provoking. Chaplin's final masterpiece (in this reviewer's opinion) is as relevant today as it has ever been. It's time we take a look at a brutal statement delivered to us in a manner that slowly works its way into our psyche and forces us to see that today's struggles are anything but new. Take a listen and let us know what you think. As always we can be reached at . Many, 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 - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.
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#586 - Metropolis (1927): Silent German Sci-Fi - WatchThis W/RickRamos
02/04/2026
#586 - Metropolis (1927): Silent German Sci-Fi - WatchThis W/RickRamos
Fritz Lang's Metropolis In 1927 Cinema was still in its relative infancy. The great German auteur, Fritz Lang would revolutionize the film industry with his first masterpiece, Metropolis. Nearly eleven years earlier D.W. Griffith had established the "grammar of cinema" with his epic masterpiece, The Birth of a Nation. The subsequent decade would showcase spectacles (Ben-Hur, Intolerance), comedies (The Gold Rush, The General), and dramatic classics (Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans, The Last Laugh). Cinematic Science Fiction would be attempted as early as 1902 with Melie's A Voyage to the Moon, however it would take nearly a quarter of a century for Sci-Fi to reveal its technical brilliance and possibilities with Lang's masterpiece. While an incredibly innovative, beautiful, and groundbreaking film, Lang's narrative (from a treatment and screenplay by his wife and artistic partner, Thea von Harbou), continues - or is the beginning - of the lazy and apologetic "White Savior" cinematic trope that has continued from Lawrence of Arabia thru Dances with Wolves, and most recently, Avatar and Dune. This week Mr. Chavez & I go back to the argument that we have made before and will continue to make regarding this insulting and problemtic cinematic trope. Each generation seems to want to tell its own version of this story without recognizing the inherent hypocrisy of a society and culture victimized by the elite while simultaneously needing to be saved by a blonde-haired, blue-eyed messiah (in this case a billionaire suddenly aware of his "mediator destiny" and responsibility to his "brothers"). Yes, we recognize the technical and production brilliance of this film, while at the same time being unable to ignore (or excuse) the obvious and insulting simplicity of its narrative. It is possible to simultaneoulsy admire and take issue with a work of art. Take a listen and ask yourself if you agree. Let us know what you think. As always, we can be reached at - Many, 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 - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.
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#585 - Manchurian Candidate (2004): Brainwashing Denzel Washington - WatchThis W/RickRamos
01/27/2026
#585 - Manchurian Candidate (2004): Brainwashing Denzel Washington - WatchThis W/RickRamos
Remakes, Re-Imaginings, Expansions. In 2004 Director Jonathan Demme would explore the world of Politics, Espionage, and Cold War Brainwashing with a new and novel take on John Frankenheimer's 1962 Cold War Classic The Manchurian Candidate. Demme would expand and manipulate Richard Condon's source material (a best-selling novel from 1959), replacing the Korean Conflict with an updated Persian Gulf - and a replacement of Soviet and Chinese Communist manipulation with International Global Corporations holding the strings. Demme's update would be both more timely, relevant, frightening, and - somehow - reveal the problems with both films (at least in the mind of one of your hosts). This week Mr. Chavez & I discuss this very important film, its predecessor and its relevance in the current global environment. We discuss great performances from Denzel Washington, Liev Schreiber, and - a criminally underused - Meryl Streep. Take a listen and decide for yourself if we are correct, misguided, missing the point, or if we don't go far enough with our assessments. We'd love to hear from you - - Many, 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 - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.
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#584 - The Manchurian Candidate (1962): Cold War Politics and Mind Control - WatchThis W/RickRamos
01/20/2026
#584 - The Manchurian Candidate (1962): Cold War Politics and Mind Control - WatchThis W/RickRamos
John Frankenheimer's The Manchurian Candidate On this week's episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos, Mr. Chavez & I sit down to discuss a classic of Cold War, Political Cinema, John Frankenheimer's groundbreaking 1962 The Manchurian Candidate. Based on the 1959 novel by Richard Condon, Frankenheimer's film would captivate audiences with a paranoid and chilling story of American soldiers brain-washed by Soviet and North Korean intelligence agencies to act as hypnotized robots. There are aspects of the film that are certainly far-fetched, however the core of the story is very real and a credible warning in its depiction of national and international struggles for power. As always, Mr. Chavez & I look at the film in the broader context of the world it depicts. There is a great deal to discuss here as well as the comparison/contrast that we will undertake when we discuss Jonathan Demme's 2004 re-interpreation in our next episode. It's a fun and exciting talk concerning one of our favorite topics. Take a listen and let us know what you think. As always, we can be reached at - 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 - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.
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