This spooky season, we give you two PSYCHOs for the price of one - and we’ve brought four friends to play along! Rhys, Irena, David and AJ from the Franchise Killer podcast join Alex & Julio in nitpicking Alfred Hitchcock’s original PSYCHO, and then also help them praise Gus Van Sant’s experimental remake. It’s Perkins v. Vaughn, Leigh v. Heche, and Macy v. Common Sense in this massive (and massively fun) special episode! TIMELINE 00:01:16 Psycho 00:17:21 Contrarians Corner (1960) 01:07:14 C...
Oct 11, 2022•1 hr 22 min
If you’ve seen WAKE IN FRIGHT, you’re probably wondering if we’re going to talk about the kangaroo hunt sequence. Of course we are. Real Talk also prompts a discussion about “aggressive hospitality”, a fascinating recount of the time this film was lost, and, of course, whether this Aussie classic hit the Contrarians’ sweet spot! Has Chas Fisher scored a win for his country? Listen and find out! TIMELINE 00:00:38 Now on Patreon 00:08:46 Real Talk 00:58:44 The Future & Perennial Plugs - Intere...
Oct 04, 2022•1 hr 3 min
We can’t seem to escape the Land of Oz here on The Contrarians. Patron Chas Fisher is throwing Aussie classic WAKE IN FRIGHT at us, and its freshness on the Tomatometer is… inexplicable to say the least. Why are Australians proud of a film that depicts their countrymen as alcoholic brutes? Listen to Alex & Julio as they try to analyze a pretentious Englishman’s descent into madness, and have their image of Donald Pleasence shattered forever! TIMELINE 00:01:16 Wake in Fright 00:12:21 Contrari...
Oct 03, 2022•1 hr
We’re doing some really cool stuff on our Patreon channel - some of it a direct offspring from things we do on the main feed. Case in point: the continuation of our Summer Break episode, which started with our Dazed and Confused episode, and here moves on to a discussion about a very different kind of Summer flick: A GOOFY MOVIE. Forget the Tomatometer score as Alex & Julio are once again joined by Lilian to talk about how good Goofy is as a parent and how bad Max is a son. Would you like to...
Sep 25, 2022•1 hr 3 min
We avoided it for years, but it’s time to get acquainted with Taylor Lautner. So let’s be honest: did NEW MOON confirm every negative preconception we had about the third wheel in the Twilight love story? Or were we surprised by how much he added to the saga? And what do we make of Edward’s puzzling disappearance from most of the movie? Are we excited to watch ECLIPSE? The answers are in this Real Talk segment! TIMELINE 00:00:57 Now on Patreon 00:09:15 Real Talk 00:49:39 The Future & Perenni...
Sep 20, 2022•54 min
The Twilight Saga arrives on the main feed! Patrons of the show already heard Alex & Julio express their (surprisingly positive) feelings about the opening salvo, TWILIGHT, but this is where the story really kicks in. Why do people hate Jacob Black so much? Is it the washboard abs? Are critics too jaded for an old-fashioned supernatural love triangle? Listen to The Contrarians set the record straight when it comes to the werewolf/teenage-girl romance of the new millennium! TIMELINE 00:01:16 ...
Sep 20, 2022•1 hr 2 min
There is something to be said for Robert Eggers’ distinctive filmmaking, whether it actually vibes with you or not. But is admiration for a unique voice a sufficient reason to carry The Contrarians to a positive review of The Lighthouse? How much of Contrarians Corner was just slightly puffed up Real Talk? And when it’s all said and done, are we ready for more of Eggers’ work? The answers may (or may not) shock you! HARK! TIMELINE 00:00:54 Now on Patreon 00:10:25 Real Talk 00:55:48 The Future &a...
Sep 10, 2022•59 min
HARK! A24 bamboozles critics again with their particular brand of indie pretentiousness. Black & white? Check. 4:3 aspect ratio? You got it. Unnecessarily convoluted dialogue? Of course. Ludicrously big performances? There they are. THE LIGHTHOUSE ticks off every box necessary to climb to the top of the Tomatometer, so it’s on Alex & Julio to bring it down a few notches. Is there anything left when you remove all the gimmicks? TIMELINE 00:01:16 The Lighthouse 00:13:51 Contrarians Corner ...
Sep 10, 2022•59 min
In one corner, someone who’s generally underwhelmed by John Carpenter’s work. In the other, someone who usually thinks very highly of the filmmaker. Can Alex & Julio meet in the middle when it comes to GHOSTS OF MARS? Is there even need for any sort of compromise? What’s the deal with the Martian Matriarchy anyway? The answers to this and more will be revealed during Real Talk! TIMELINE 00:00:14 Now on Patreon 00:08:03 Real Talk 00:44:51 The Future & Perennial Plugs - Interested In more ...
Aug 31, 2022•51 min
John Carpenter isn’t just The Master of Horror - he’s also a low-key Master of Sci-Fi. The Contrarians would like to submit the underrated GHOSTS OF MARS as proof that Carpenter can handle more than low-budget gorefests: this is a true star-studded Hollywood blockbuster, set in Mars to boot! Listen to Alex & Julio as they discuss the implications of a Matriarchal Martian Society, the fate of Pam Grier’s head, and the boldness of one of the best closing shots in modern cinema. TIMELINE 00:01:...
Aug 31, 2022•1 hr
As you’d expect, Alex has some questions about Peru. But can Julio answer them satisfactorily? And how does a non-Peruvian experience a movie designed to make him crave a visit to Peru? Can we draw parallels to other international cinema we’ve covered on the show? Above all else… is this a fair representation of Peruvian filmmaking? This and more in Real Talk! TIMELINE 00:00:41 Now on Patreon 00:09:11 Real Talk 00:48:47 The Future & Perennial Plugs - Interested In more Contrarians goodness? ...
Aug 22, 2022•52 min
It’s taken us almost nine years of podcasting to tackle a Peruvian movie, and it took Peru almost twice that time to produce a Netflix Original Movie. Now the stars have aligned and Alex & Julio are primed to jump to the defense of a love story set in Julio’s homeland. WITHOUT SAYING GOODBYE is rotten by Tomatometer standards, but that only means The Contrarians will do their best to highlight its best qualities: awesome locations, hot people, and a spicy romance between polar opposites! TIM...
Aug 22, 2022•1 hr 1 min
Hey, we’re Austinites here in this podcast. Does that make us more qualified to talk about an Austin-set movie from an Austin filmmaker? Does it even matter if the high school experience is, supposedly, universal? Find out how Alex, Julio, and, more importantly, elementary school teacher Lilian experienced DAZED AND CONFUSED on this rewatch! Is this Richard Linklater’s Contrarians redemption? TIMELINE 00:00:50 Now on Patreon 00:09:18 Real Talk 01:03:26 The Future & Perennial Plugs - Interest...
Aug 13, 2022•1 hr 6 min
School’s out forever! Or so Richard Linklater proclaimed in 1993 when he released DAZED AND CONFUSED and bamboozled critics into confusing nostalgia for quality. Listen to Alex, Julio, and returning guest Lilian - a teacher herself - as they discuss the many ways in which Linklater’s beloved coming-of-age film has aged poorly! TIMELINE 00:01:16 Dazed and Confused 00:15:27 Contrarians Corner - Wanna know how we really feel about Dazed and Confused? Check out the Real Talk (RT) episode, on your fe...
Aug 13, 2022•1 hr 12 min
The stage is set for yet another Contrarians battle. Alex will complain about how it used to be better, Julio will gently point toward streaming releases… but through it all, the main question will be answered: is LAST ACTION HERO a good movie or just a vehicle for nostalgia in the year 2022? And could you remake it today? TIMELINE 00:00:37 Now on Patreon 00:07:35 Real Talk 01:11:21 The Future & Perennial Plugs - Interested In more Contrarians goodness? Join THE CONTRARIANS SUPPLEMENTS on ou...
Jul 30, 2022•1 hr 14 min
There wasn’t a bigger action star than Arnold Schwarzenegger in the early 90s. So, in a way, he was the only person who could headline a true spoof of action blockbusters - even though the world wasn’t ready for it. Listen to Alex & Julio extol the virtues of LAST ACTION HERO, a one-of-a-kind beast which was unfairly met with confusion and derision back in the day. Let’s show Arnie we don’t trust that 39% Tomatometer score! TIMELINE 00:01:16 Last Action Hero 00:17:16 Contrarians Corner - Wan...
Jul 30, 2022•1 hr 6 min
Well, well, well. Julio has already admitted Jennifer Aniston is his second favorite Friends Cast Member, and Alex has already confessed to picking HE’S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU only so he could get Ginnifer Goodwin in Contrarians Canon. So where does that leave us? Obviously we still need to talk about Ken Kwapis’ work, what was going on in Friends when this was released, and, more importantly, which character in this movie represents us the most! TIMELINE 00:01:00 Now on Patreon 00:06:18 Real Ta...
Jul 21, 2022•53 min
It’s hard to believe it’s taken us 160 episodes to finally tackle a Ken Kwapis joint. Nevertheless, here we are, having a heated argument over HE’S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU for our 16th Grey Area Episode. Listen to Alex on the defense and Julio on the offense as they debate the merits of one of the first star-studded ensemble romcoms and disagree on the validity of the Cult of Rachel Green in the final chapter of the Friendstravaganza! TIMELINE 00:01:16 He’s Just Not That Into You 00:19:08 Contrar...
Jul 21, 2022•1 hr 7 min
As it’s been established time and again, The Contrarians have a fondness for 90s comedies. Does this feeling extend to bro-medies? Can Doug Ellin’s 1998 sensibilities redeem the ho-hum reception Alex & Julio gave the ENTOURAGE movie years ago? More importantly, where do we really land on the Bizarro Ross Experiment? All this and more in the Real Talk half of the show! TIMELINE 00:00:30 Now on Patreon 00:06:25 Real Talk 00:52:42 The Future & Perennial Plugs - Interested In more Contrarian...
Jul 11, 2022•58 min
By 1998, David Schwimmer was sick and tired of being associated with Ross Geller. The solution? To play the least-Ross-Gellerish character in the underrated romcom KISSING A FOOL. Sadly, critics and audiences refused to embrace the actor’s metamorphosis, which is where The Contrarians come in. Listen to Alex & Julio as they extol the virtues of the Anti-Ross and the merits of bro-comedies! (bromedies?) Did we mention this was directed by Doug “Entourage” Ellin? Yup. TIMELINE 00:01:16 Kissing...
Jul 11, 2022•1 hr 1 min
Oh boy. Patron Paul Meyers really threw us for a loop with this one. Can Alex & Julio even verbalize how they feel about Drop Dead Fred? Did Paul’s pick land better than his previous one, Dead Alive? Is there a British wall keeping Rik Mayall’s brand of humor at bay, or is it just a nostalgia wall? All this in Real Talk! Barry Roskin Blake interviews Rik Mayall (in case you were wondering where those clips came from) TIMELINE 00:00:55 Now on Patreon 00:06:42 Real Talk 00:45:10 The Future &am...
Jul 02, 2022•48 min
What if Peter Pan was actually a good story, one where Wendy was a traumatized adult and Peter was a British comedian? Much like it happened with Spielberg’s Hook, audiences and critics had a hard time appreciating DROP DEAD FRED’s fresh take on the classic story… which means it’s time for The Contrarians to set the record straight. Listen to Alex & Julio as they discuss their discovery of another gem in Phoebe Cates’ filmography! (Oh and Rik Mayall’s cool too.) TIMELINE 00:01:16 Drop Dead F...
Jul 02, 2022•54 min
Okay, so we know this is the Lisa Kudrow chapter of the Friendstravaganza, but we have to warn you: a good chunk of Real Talk turns into a Mira Sorvino lovefest - and rightly so. But even if Alex, Stew and Julio agree on how great Ms. Sorvino is, can they agree on anything else when it comes to ROMY & MICHELLE’S HIGH SCHOOL REUNION? TIMELINE 00:00:43 Now on Patreon 00:06:24 Real Talk 01:00:55 The Future & Perennial Plugs - Interested In more Contrarians goodness? Join THE CONTRARIANS SUP...
Jun 21, 2022•1 hr 5 min
On paper, the math adds up: if audiences love one Phoebe, then they’ll go nuts for two Phoebes! And it certainly worked that way with critics, as ROMY AND MICHELE’S HIGH SCHOOL REUNION is certified fresh on the Tomatometer - but how does it play today? Listen to Alex & Julio as they welcome Stew from the SWO podcast and travel back to a time when feminism meant letting Alan Cumming save the day! It’s the Lisa Kudrow chapter of the Friendstravaganza! TIMELINE 00:01:16 Romy & Michele’s Hig...
Jun 21, 2022•1 hr 4 min
Ok, so maybe Matthew Perry can only play ( variations of ) Chandler Bing. But is that a bad thing? And how can anyone discuss ALMOST HEROES without talking about Chris Farley’s legacy and how it was cut short? Can Alex come to terms with Julio’s feelings about one of his favorite comedians? Can Julio explain why his favorite FRIENDS cast member didn’t become a movie star? All this and more on the Real Talk half of this episode! TIMELINE 00:01:00 Now on Patreon 00:06:10 Real Talk 00:54:14 The Fut...
Jun 11, 2022•58 min
The Friendstravaganza has reached its Chandler Bing chapter. Could we BE any more excited to celebrate Matthew Perry’s critically panned team-up with Chris Farley? ALMOST HEROES stands at a disastrous 5% on the Tomatometer, but is that simply a reflection of an America that hates it when its movie stars take big swings? Listen to Alex & Julio as they shine the spotlight back on one of those rare Christopher Guest movies that isn’t a mockumentary! TIMELINE 00:01:16 Almost Heroes 00:19:50 Cont...
Jun 11, 2022•1 hr 4 min
Do you need to be familiar with the ins and outs of British soccer in order to appreciate Tom Hooper’s early work? And will THE DAMNED UNITED mark a turning point in this show’s contentious relationship with the acclaimed director’s filmography? Listen to Alex & Julio navigate their feelings about the filmmaker’s second movie with the help of a set of notes from Patron Ben Murray! TIMELINE 00:00:57 Now on Patreon 00:10:45 Real Talk 01:00:45 The Future & Perennial Plugs - Interested In mo...
Jun 01, 2022•1 hr 3 min
The disconnect between British behavior in normal life and British behavior in sports has never been more obvious than when it comes to soccer. So why didn’t THE DAMNED UNITED explore that dichotomy instead of celebrating the career of a dude who couldn’t even last two months on his most high-profile job? Listen to Alex & Julio tackle yet another critical darling in Tom Hooper’s filmography and try to figure out if Michael Sheen is worthy of his legendary last name! TIMELINE 00:01:16 The Dam...
May 31, 2022•1 hr 3 min
Guys, our segment on this year’s Livestream for the Cure was a success. This is just a brief (by our standards) bonus episode where we thank all of you who were there, and fill in some details to those of you who weren’t. Let’s do it again next year!
May 29, 2022•17 min
Regardless of whether they think SCREAM 2 is a good movie (and a good sequel), can Alex forgive the fact that Julio can’t quote the original SCREAM page & verse? That might be the real conflict in this Real Talk segment. But also: is this a Kevin Williamson movie directed by Wes Craven, or a Wes Craven movie written by Kevin Williamson? And can we complain about SCREAM 5 spoilers when we drop SCREAM 3 spoilers in this episode? TIMELINE 00:01:04 Patreon & Livestream for the Cure 00:10:13 ...
May 21, 2022•1 hr 8 min
