The Contrarians

Anyone who’s been paying attention for a while knows how Alex really feels about RIDERS OF JUSTICE. Julio’s thoughts about the movie might be a little more obscure - especially after a rewatch. But quality aside, the real question is: is this a Christmas movie? Plus, what is it saying about conflict resolution? It’s a merry Real Talk segment as we come up with answers! TIMELINE 00:00:39 Now on Pat...

This is the world now: we praise a movie that teaches intellectuals the way to effectively solve conflict is with violence. Who cares about morals when we get to see Mads Mikkelsen mow down bad guys with the help of the Danish Big Bang Theory cast? Listen to Alex & Julio pick apart a Tomatometer favorite, as they tackle RIDERS OF JUSTICE! TIMELINE 00:01:16 Riders of Justice 00:17:01 Contrarian...

Trying to make sense of Jim Carrey’s filmography is an exercise in futility, especially when confronted with a movie as puzzling as DARK CRIMES. What made the beloved comedian decide to star in this grimy, unpleasant, sexually violent exploration of the worst Poland has to offer? Has he even watched the finished product? We discuss all this and more in a very sobering edition of Real Talk. TIMELIN...

It’s unlikely anybody expected Jim Carrey to whip out an unofficial new sequel to Ace Ventura, but that’s the easiest way to rationalize the existence of DARK CRIMES. The grim, brutal Polish thriller was met with universal disdain on the Tomatometer, and now it’s The Contrarians’ duty to make sure people reappraise this hidden gem in Carrey’s filmography - courtesy of patron Jason Nerdrovert. List...

Lots of twists and turns in this Real Talk segment, as not all final scores for WAITRESS are what we expected. We also find out why Rachel picked this particular movie, what the musical version of Earl is like, if anyone here was rooting for Nathan Fillion to save the day, and who was all-in when Keri Russell had her climactic turn. It’s a Real Talk that makes Contrarians History! (You’ll find out...

We’ve joked about Keri Russell’s limited role in Mission Impossible III long enough that it’s only fair to bring one of her starring roles to the show. Critics went ga-ga for WAITRESS, an indie darling that romanticizes small-town infidelity and fetishizes pie-making, so that makes it the perfect target for The Contrarians’ gimmick! Listen to Alex, Julio, and special guest Rachel from YUM YUM PODC...

Does Alex really hate Hugh Grant’s romcom persona or was he just putting on a show in Contrarians Corner? Can Julio focus on anything besides Rachel Weisz’ presence in this movie? And what is ABOUT A BOY really saying about… well, anything? Those are just a few of the things we ponder in the Real Talk segment, which also includes patron Jamie’s reasons behind assigning us this bit of early 2000s n...

We couldn’t escape the specter of a bonafide Hugh Grant comedy anymore. The guys behind AMERICAN PIE felt they had what it took to adapt a Nick Hornby book, and the Tomatometer rewarded them with a mind-blowing 93% score. That’s what we call “Prime Contrarians Material” around these parts, and patron Jamie Russell seems to agree! Listen to Alex & Julio as they dissect the movie that can be dir...

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...

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 p...

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 ab...

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...

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:...

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 mas...

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 dar...

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,...

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 &am...

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:...

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? TIMELIN...

“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 f...

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 a...

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 horrif...

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...

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 l...

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...