The potential problem with THE MUTATIONS is how heavily it borrows from FREAKS, to the point where comparisons are inevitable. But does it really play much differently to someone who, like Julio, isn’t that well-versed with 70s horror? And does Alex’s passion for the genre get in the way of him enjoying something as derivative as this Donald Pleasence vehicle, or does it enhance the experience? It’s all answered in this Real Talk segment! TIMELINE 00:00:53 Now on Patreon 00:09:01 Real Talk 00:56...
Mar 12, 2023•1 hr 1 min
Donald Pleasence as a mad scientist. Isn’t that more than enough to get you fired up to watch a movie, even before you find out Doctor Loomis is trying to create an army of Plant People? And yet, somehow, THE MUTATIONS has drifted into obscurity, at best being looked down upon as a cheap FREAKS rip-off. Listen to Alex & Julio as they honor the first demand of the Patron Invasion and sing the praises of this underseen 70s acid trip! TIMELINE 00:01:16 The Mutations 00:18:29 Contrarians Corner ...
Mar 12, 2023•1 hr
Can you make a revenge thriller that avoids asking questions about the morality of its premise? More to the point, can you watch a revenge thriller without asking yourself those questions? That discussion cuts to the core of why one of The Contrarians enjoys DEATH SENTENCE more than the other, but it’s not the only thing occupying Alex & Julio’s minds in this Real Talk segment. There’s talk about the logistics of Kevin Bacon’s vigilantism and, of course, an appropriate comparison to another ...
Mar 01, 2023•1 hr 5 min
Back in 2007, James Wan decided it was time for Kevin Bacon to be a badass again. Thus Bacon was put at the center of a brutal revenge thriller, got his head shaved, and set off to remind the world he’s more than just the guy from Tremors and Footloose. Sadly, audiences and critics didn’t take kindly to this. Listen to Alex & Julio as they discuss DEATH SENTENCE and all the awesomeness within it! How can this Wan B-side score a meager 20% on the Tomatometer??? TIMELINE 00:01:16 Death Sentenc...
Mar 01, 2023•1 hr 5 min
Is it possible for two Scorsese fans to say anything fresh about GOODFELLAS? Is it even necessary? Alex & Julio face an unusual challenge in their Contrarians journey, but hopefully one that makes for a fun Real Talk segment. And when they’re done praising everything about Marty’s masterpiece, will Alex be forced to re-evaluate his opinions about CASINO? TIMELINE 00:00:45 Now on Patreon 00:08:58 Real Talk 00:57:44 The Future & Perennial Plugs - Interested in more Contrarians goodness? Jo...
Feb 21, 2023•1 hr 3 min
Hey look, it’s the movie that Martin Scorsese has been remaking through most of his career - perhaps because it wasn’t that great to begin with. Try telling that to all those critics which bestowed an impressive 96% Tomatometer score on GOODFELLAS. Guys, it wasn’t even good enough to beat Dances with Wolves at the Oscars. Listen to Alex & Julio drop some hard truths about Marty’s so-called masterpiece as we close the Mount Rushmore arc! TIMELINE 00:01:16 Goodfellas 00:12:10 Contrarians Corne...
Feb 21, 2023•1 hr 3 min
Okay, seriously, Jason Reitman… what happened? You may like LABOR DAY, you may hate LABOR DAY, but either way you can’t argue that it’s a puzzling career move from the man who brought us Thank You For Smoking, Juno, Up in the Air, and Young Adult. In this Real Talk segment, listen to Alex & Julio try to figure out how Kate Winslet and Josh Brolin ended up in a trashy romance novel and even dare to brainstorm an alternate, more satisfying, version of the story. TIMELINE 00:00:42 Now on Patreo...
Feb 14, 2023•57 min
Kate Winslet specializes in playing women who fall in love truly, madly, deeply, and quickly. That can sometimes turn off critics and audiences, as was the case with the underrated LABOR DAY a.k.a. Jason Reitman’s Most Honest Movie. Listen to Alex & Julio as they allow unfiltered romance to pierce their defenses and discuss Josh Brolin’s raw sex appeal, the aphrodisiac qualities of peach pie, and other things you may learn about in prison. TIMELINE 00:01:16 Labor Day 00:15:17 Contrarians Cor...
Feb 14, 2023•59 min
Well, that was quite a minefield to navigate in Contrarians Corner. But now that we are in Real Talk, are we really in sync with Marcos Siega’s vision in PRETTY PERSUASION? We can all agree that Evan Rachel Wood and the rest of the cast are great but… in the service of what, exactly? And yes, there’s more James Woods talk. TIMELINE 00:00:38 Now on Patreon 00:09:57 Real Talk 00:56:03 The Future & Perennial Plugs - Interested in more Contrarians goodness? Join THE CONTRARIANS SUPPLEMENTS on ou...
Feb 03, 2023•1 hr
The best type of filmmaking is that which pushes boundaries. Filmmaking that tells the stories most people are afraid to tell. And, unfortunately, critics and audiences often punish these daring projects - like when they stamped a 33% rotten Tomatometer score on PRETTY PERSUASION. Listen to Alex & Julio as they try to rescue what might be the best Evan Rachel Wood vehicle from obscurity. Also: did 2005 try to warn us about James Woods? TIMELINE 00:01:16 Pretty Persuasion 00:11:01 Contrarians...
Feb 03, 2023•1 hr
It’s fascinating that we can look back at BEING JOHN MALKOVICH and - love it or hate it - we can probably claim it’s Charlie Kaufman’s most accessible movie. But does that make it good? Alex & Julio discuss what works and what doesn’t in Kaufman and Spike Jonze’s first film, while recounting their own past experiences with this 1999 acid trip. And is it Cameron Diaz’s best performance? TIMELINE 00:00:50 Now on Patreon 00:11:25 Real Talk 01:01:25 The Future & Perennial Plugs - Interested ...
Jan 23, 2023•1 hr 6 min
“Malkovich Malkovich Malkovich? Malkovich Malkovich. MALKOVICH!” - Apparently, that was enough to get you a Best Original Screenplay nomination at the 2000 Oscars. But how does BEING JOHN MALKOVICH look more than two decades later, when we are overly familiar with Spike Jonze and Charlie Kaufman’s quirks and mannerisms? Listen to Alex & Julio as they push down on every bit of nonsense in the film, from monkey flashbacks to inexplicable mythology. TIMELINE 00:01:16 Being John Malkovich 00:18:...
Jan 23, 2023•1 hr 10 min
Legend says even director Phillip Noyce isn’t happy with how The Bone Collector turned out. But do we agree with that assessment now that we are in the Real Talk part of the show? Even if you removed Denzel and Angelina from the movie, isn’t this quite an entertaining cast to watch? Or is David Fincher’s shadow too oppressive to allow this type of thriller to blossom? Plus: a nostalgic look back at 90s posters! TIMELINE 00:01:00 Now on Patreon 00:13:08 Real Talk 00:50:07 The Future & Perenni...
Jan 11, 2023•55 min
In a way, David Fincher’s SE7EN ruined it for R-rated thrillers going forward. How else can we explain the negative reception to this early Denzel Washington / Angelina Jolie team-up, but by assuming people felt it wasn’t nihilistic enough? Listen to Alex & Julio as they come to the defense of THE BONE COLLECTOR, a movie that’s not afraid of injecting a little romance in the middle of a horrifying serial killer investigation. Also: Luis Guzman and Ed O’Neill jump in to supply comic relief ch...
Jan 11, 2023•1 hr
Okay, so what was that ending, why is Carrie Coon only in five minutes of the movie, and more importantly, does KIN actually get The Contrarians’ seal of approval? Do we care enough to track down the short that inspired this feature? Are we excited to see what The Baker Bros come up with next? It’s our last Real Talk of 2022 and it’s a good time! TIMELINE 00:00:45 Now on Patreon 00:10:36 Real Talk 00:59:50 The Future & Perennial Plugs - Interested in more Contrarians goodness? Join THE CONTR...
Jan 04, 2023•1 hr 5 min
This is the world we live in now: where a sci-fi movie starring Zoë Kravitz and the older brother from Sing Street (A.K.A. the bad boyfriend from Midsommar) can’t make enough of a splash with critics. Not even the venerable presence of Dennis Quaid could save KIN from getting a rotten Tomatometer score, which is why Alex & Julio are going to defend it. Also, it’s a Patron Demand, so it’s not like The Contrarians have a choice. TIMELINE 00:01:16 Kin 00:15:20 Contrarians Corner - Wanna know ho...
Jan 04, 2023•1 hr 5 min
Whether you love it or hate it, NOTHING BUT TROUBLE is sure to spark discussion. How exactly did something like this movie manage to make its way to theatrical screenings across the nation? Is this the reason Dan Aykroyd didn’t direct again? Did any of us actually like it? There may be a lot less disagreement among Alex, Julio, Ryan and Bartek than you’d expect! TIMELINE 00:00:48 Now on Patreon 00:07:23 Real Talk 01:05:46 The Future & Perennial Plugs - Interested in more Contrarians goodness...
Dec 22, 2022•1 hr 9 min
Society doesn’t do enough to celebrate unique voices. In fact, more often than not, they slap a 13% Tomatometer score on them. Listen to Alex & Julio as they welcome Ryan & Bartek (from Spit & Polish) back to the show so they can all defend Dan Aykroyd’s NOTHING BUT TROUBLE - a misunderstood comedy that deserves a second chance. Where else can you find Chevy Chase and Demi Moore entangled in a romance? Or John Candy playing a straight-laced cop AND his silent sister? And wait until y...
Dec 22, 2022•1 hr 15 min
What makes a Star Trek movie a true Trek movie, if such a thing even exists? Did J.J. Abrams sell out the franchise, or did he simply provide a modern entry point for younger audiences? This Real Talk segment features three different levels of Trek fans (you already know that if you listened to Contrarians Corner), and we try to truly figure out what works and what doesn’t when it comes to the Kelvin crew. TIMELINE 00:00:57 Now on Patreon 00:10:49 Real Talk 00:59:10 The Future & Perennial Pl...
Dec 12, 2022•1 hr 4 min
Fire everything!!! That was J.J. Abrams’ strategy when reimagining Star Trek for the Michael Bay generation and it worked. With a 94% Tomatometer score, the 2009 STAR TREK was a hit with critics and audiences alike… but at what cost? The Pint’s John Amenta joins Alex & Julio as they discuss what Trek lost when it became just another action movie where hot people shoot at each other. TIMELINE 00:01:16 Star Trek 00:19:11 Contrarians Corner - Wanna know how we really feel about STAR TREK (2009)...
Dec 12, 2022•1 hr 17 min
Okay, so IO may not be top-shelf sci-fi entertainment. But does that mean there is no value to it? Once we get to Real Talk, there’s worthy conversation to be had about the audience for this type of movie and the role Netflix plays in, perhaps, shaping the next generation of filmmakers. Also, Alex gets another chance to rail against the fading away of physical media, and that’s always fun. TIMELINE 00:00:30 Now on Patreon 00:07:57 Real Talk 00:48:37 The Future & Perennial Plugs - Interested ...
Dec 02, 2022•54 min
Yet another underappreciated gem from the Netflix Sci-Fi Originals factory, IO was met with a massive shrug from critics. Have we really lost the ability to enjoy anything that isn’t part of a billion-dollar franchise? What happened to giving a shot to the little medium-budget movies that could? Why wasn’t anyone more psyched about The Falcon teaming up with Jill Garvey from The Leftovers? Listen to Alex & Julio as they extol the virtues of this Netflix hidden treasure! TIMELINE 00:01:16 IO ...
Dec 02, 2022•44 min
You can’t fully discuss GREASE 2 without going back to the first Grease - a movie tackled in this podcast long ago. It’s clear Em adores the sequel, but how does she feel about the original? And how does the OG Grease experience affect The Contrarians? Can the Verbal Diorama host’s enthusiasm for Michelle Pfeiffer’s musical debut rub off on Alex & Julio, or is it all a lost cause? The answers lie within this Real Talk segment! TIMELINE 00:00:48 Now on Patreon 00:07:47 Real Talk 01:09:30 Verb...
Nov 23, 2022•1 hr 16 min
So, what, you’re not allowed to make a GREASE movie unless you have John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John as the leads? GREASE 2 superfan Em (from the delightful Verbal Diorama podcast) joins Alex & Julio to extol the virtues of a sequel that’s waaaay better than its predecessor! If you’re looking for a show that celebrates Michelle Pfeiffer, Adrian Zmed and… well, sure, okay, Maxwell Caulfield too… you can stop because you’ve found it! TIMELINE 00:01:16 Grease 2 00:14:05 Contrarians Corner -...
Nov 23, 2022•1 hr 4 min
Can you follow every trope and still achieve transcendence? Or put in simpler terms: is WARRIOR better than ROCKY? We 100% go there, and many other MMA-related places, in this Real Talk installment - including a look at Tom Hardy’s unexpected real-life MMA exploits! Can Alex look past the inaccuracies in the depiction of one of his favorite sports? Can Julio look past the similarities to HERE COMES THE BOOM? The answers are all here! TIMELINE 00:01:00 Now on Patreon 00:09:03 Real Talk 01:11:07 T...
Nov 13, 2022•1 hr 16 min
Is there really no other way for two men to resolve their issues than pure violence? And if they must do so, would it be too much to ask not to have them do it in such a paint-by-the-numbers sports movie? WARRIOR managed to somehow dazzle critics into a fresh Tomatometer score, but does it actually offer anything worth talking about, besides its outdated ideas about masculinity? Listen to Alex & Julio as they pick apart Gavin O’Connor’s bloated celebration of MMA and fractured families! TIME...
Nov 13, 2022•1 hr 19 min
We wrap up our eighth year of podcasting and head into Year Nine by celebrating the good, the bad, the horny, and the super white movies we covered over the past twelve years: it’s THE EMBRIES - 2022 Edition. Don’t worry, it’ll still be fun even if this is your very first Contrarians episode. It might even inspire you to check out some of the awards recipients! TIMELINE 00:01:16 The Embries 2022 00:11:25 Supporting Actress 00:27:53 Supporting Actor 00:42:49 The Ruffalo 00:49:01 The Lancaster Dod...
Oct 31, 2022•2 hr 7 min
Honestly, if a few months ago you’d told us we’d have a serious sustained discussion about the finale to the Twilight Saga, we would’ve rolled our eyes. And yet here we are, debating whether Jacob was redeemed in the final two movies, trying to suss out how we feel about the franchise’s sudden jump onto a pro-life soapbox, and arguing the merits and flaws of the epic climactic battle. Breaking Dawn Real Talk, indeed. TIMELINE 00:00:54 Now on Patreon 00:10:37 Real Talk 01:01:25 The Future & P...
Oct 22, 2022•1 hr 5 min
The Twilight Saga comes to an end and, unlike those greedy studio-heads, The Contrarians will cover the wedding, honeymoon, pregnancy, birth, recruitment of other vampires and final battle against The Volturi all in one sitting! Listen as Alex & Julio geek out over every single development and cameo in BREAKING DAWN, a movie that may be rotten on the Tomatometer, but will forever be fresh in every Twi-hard’s heart. TIMELINE 00:01:16 Breaking Dawn 00:09:25 Contrarians Corner - Interested In m...
Oct 22, 2022•1 hr 1 min
You don’t really need us to talk about the original PSYCHO - though you’ll be surprised by one Franchise Killer opinion - when the remake provides much juicier conversation. With six of us on the panel, surely there must be at least one person who sees merit in Gus Van Sant’s experiment? It’s a far more contentious Real Talk than you’d expect! TIMELINE 00:00:23 Now on Patreon 00:10:09 Real Talk 01:16:45 The Future & Perennial Plugs - Interested In more Contrarians goodness? Join THE CONTRARI...
Oct 11, 2022•1 hr 20 min
