The Contrarians

We will always do our best to celebrate big swings and original ideas - even when we can’t make heads or tails of them. So yes, we’re going to cut QUANTUM COWBOYS some slack even though some of our qualms from Contrarians Corner also stand in this Real Talk segment. But even when acknowledging the value of trying new things, we also have to analyze why a well-meaning effort doesn’t work. That’s why we’re all here, isn’t it?

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00:01:26 A Better Starting Point

00:02:16 Real Talk

00:54:11 The Future...

Take a hit of whatever your drug of choice is - that’s your best chance to grasp how QUANTUM COWBOYS scored 100% on the Tomatometer. Yes, universal acclaim is a little easier to attain when the review pool is shallow, but still, it’s weird when a nearly incomprehensible movie gets so much praise. Listen to Alex & Julio as they try to wrap their minds around a trippy plot and even trippier animation — and a lot of multiverse-related nonsense.

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00:01:24 Quantum Cowboys

00:12:38 Contrarians Corner

- Wanna know how we really feel about...

Well, it was The 80s, so maybe we were all a little easier to impress. With that in mind, how does CONAN THE BARBARIAN hold up in a world that’s been inundated with fantasy epics since its release? Can we spot what James Cameron might have seen in young Arnold Schwarzenegger back then? And will anyone think of the original Conan fans? That, and more, in this Real Talk segment!

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00:01:26 Always Passed By

00:02:22 Real Talk

00:54:46 The Future & Patreon Stuff

- Interested in more Contrarians goodness? Join THE CO...

There’s such a thing as Pre-Terminator Arnold Schwarzenegger and, oh boy, it’s a tough experience to sit through. Exhibit A? CONAN THE BARBARIAN, which was appreciated by critics and audiences enough to get a sequel, despite featuring a wooden performance from Arnie and excessive slow-mo that would make Zack Snyder proud. Listen to Alex & Julio marvel at the T-800’s humble beginnings!

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00:01:24 Conan The Barbarian

00:14:28 Contrarians Corner

- Wanna know how we really feel about CONAN THE BARBARIAN? Check out the Real Talk (RT) episode, on your feed RIGHT...

The third installment of Fresh Immigrants, Rotten Fascists focuses on The Sullivans - an Irish family trying to start anew in America. So, of course, the movie is called IN AMERICA! Directed by Jim Sheridan, with Oscar-nominated performances from Samantha Morton and Djimon Hounsou, it’s the kind of film that’s determined to make you cry, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

Thank you for checking this new project out, whether you are a long-time Contrarians fan or someone who’s just trying to listen to people talking positively about immigrants and negatively about fascism...

Is there still room in modern society for the man-child R-rated comedy? Can bros still be funny, or are they mostly cringe these days? Either way, it certainly helps your movie when you have a stacked cast, populated by incredibly charismatic performers poised to take over Hollywood. THAT AWKWARD MOMENT would triple its budget today, but it could also get a more charitable read from critics. Find out how we really feel about it in this Real Talk segment!

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00:01:26 Smart Enough

00:02:25 Real Talk

00:43:46 The Future & Patreon Stuff

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Ah, yes, that awkward moment when you find out one of the funniest R-rated romcoms of the new millennium is rotten on the Tomatometer. Joke’s on critics, however, as the cast of THAT AWKWARD MOMENT went on to be major power players in Hollywood, despite that 23% green splotch: Efron, Jordan, Teller, Poots, Davis, come on! Listen to Alex & Julio as they make a desperate plea for more movies about bad boys learning to be sensitive good boyfriends.

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00:01:24 That Awkward Moment

00:12:01 Contrarians Corner

- Wanna know how we really feel ab...

Here’s a bonus treat for you, Contrarians Listeners! As discussed at the end of our The Matrix episode, the Patreon After Hours for that recording is a two-parter. We’ve decided to make Part One, which deals with Rocky III and Alex’s conflicted feelings about Hulk Hogan, available on the show’s main feed. Enjoy!

And if you like this type of conversation, there’s plenty more on our Patreon channel - found at patreon.com/contrarianprime - including Part Two of this After Hours, which tackles our final MTV Banger of the Summer: the celebrated...

Come on. It’s CASABLANCA. Who doesn’t love Casablanca? Not The Contrarians! But actually, there are people in the darkest corners of Letterboxd who find it boring and reprehensible. So you know this Real Talk segment will start with a bit of a rant before we give in to a full lovefest!

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00:01:26 Bad timing

00:02:12 Real Talk

00:50:08 The Future & Patreon Stuff

- Interested in more Contrarians goodness? Join THE CONTRARIANS SUPPLEMENTS on our Patreon Page! Deleted clips, extended plugs, bonus episodes free from the Tomatometer shackles… It’s everythi...

You know why, as of this recording, CASABLANCA still doesn’t have a Criterion edition? Probably because The Powers That Be know that 99% Tomatometer score is a hollow accolade. The Rick/Ilsa/Lazlo love triangle was captivating back when we were in the throes of WW2 but, watching it today, it’s a silly distraction from serious international issues. Listen to Alex & Julio as they do their best not to sing La Marseillaise on this episode!

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00:01:24 Casablanca

00:08:00 Contrarians Corner

- Wanna know how we really feel about CASABLANCA? Check out the...

Are we ending The Summer of the (MTV) Bangers with a bang or with a whimper? The only way to answer that is by having a real discussion about BIG DADDY and reckoning with the different types of movies Adam Sandler makes and why some work for us better than others. Plus: Alex tells a Scuba Steve story that instantly becomes a Top Tier Contrarians Classic.

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00:01:26 Do you wear diapers?

00:01:40 Real Talk

00:53:37 The Future & Patreon Stuff

- Interested in more Contrarians goodness? Join THE CONTRARIANS SUPPLEMENTS on our...

What’s most irresistible than a 90s slacker finding his inner father figure and (sort of) adopting an orphan? Adam Sandler’s off-kilter take on Annie charmed audiences everywhere - even as it turned critics off. And so BIG DADDY’s 39% Tomatometer score is offset by Adam Sandler’s MTV Movie Awards win for Best Comedic Performance. Listen to Alex & Julio as they close The Summer of the (MTV) Bangers in style!

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00:01:24 Big Daddy

00:14:49 Contrarians Corner

- Wanna know how we really feel about BIG DADDY? Check out the Real Talk (RT...

The second installment of Fresh Immigrants, Rotten Fascists focuses on Adenoid Hynkel - the familiar looking authoritarian played by Charlie Chaplin in THE GREAT DICTATOR. Of course, there’s more to Chaplin’s masterpiece than Hynkle’s fascist antics, including a showstopper of an ending that remains as relevant today as it was in the middle of World War II.

Thank you for checking this new project out, whether you are a long-time Contrarians fan or someone who’s just trying to listen to people talking positively about immigrants and negatively about fascism. If you have any recommen...

We had our fun in Contrarians Corner, but anyone who has listened to the show for a while knows we hold The Matrix (and only The Matrix, no sequels) in high regard. So expect this Real Talk to be a bit of a lovefest, featuring personal stories while also failing to stop talking about where the franchise went and how it disappointed us. And yes, this movie did really well at the MTV Movie Awards!

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00:01:26 The Rabbit Hole

00:02:12 Real Talk

00:56:56 The Future & Patreon Stuff

- Interested in more...

It’s not that THE MATRIX wasn’t overrated back in 1999, but it’s more that its brand lost value with every sequel The Wachowskis threw at us over the following years. So it’s impossible to keep a straight face while experiencing Neo, Trinity, and Morpheus’ adventures today - despite what an 83% Tomatometer score may say. Listen to Alex & Julio as they battle nostalgia and roll their eyes at Hollywood’s idea of Artificial Intelligence at the turn of the millennium!

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00:01:24 The Matrix

00:10:37 Contrarians Corner

- Wanna know how we really fe...

There’s an alternate timeline where Katie Holmes never meets Tom Cruise and then, decades later, her filmography rivals those of her old Dawson’s Creek co-stars - at least in quantity, and probably also in quality. As it is though, we live in the timeline where she’s still mainly known as Joey Potter, despite winning the MTV Movie Award for 1998 Breakthrough Performance. We talk about this, and other DISTURBING BEHAVIOR matters, in this Real Talk segment!

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00:01:26 My Name is Steve

00:02:18 Real Talk

00:46:30 The Future & Patreon Stuff

- Inte...

When it comes to the 1998 thriller DISTURBING BEHAVIOR, there’s no behavior more disturbing than that of critics stamping a 35% rotten Tomatometer score on it. Only the MTV Movie Awards recognized the brilliance of Scott Rosenberg’s screenplay, David Nutter’s direction, and, specifically, Katie Holmes’ breakthrough performance. Listen to Alex and Julio celebrate Joey Potter’s escape from The Creek!

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00:01:24 Disturbing Behavior

00:11:36 Contrarians Corner

- Wanna know how we really feel about DISTURBING BEHAVIOR? Check out the Real Talk (RT) episode, on your feed RIGHT NOW! (or pretty soon — Spotify can...

Everybody’s gotta start somewhere, and that applies to Curtis Hanson as much as it applies to anyone else. Still, it’s weird to think of the man behind L.A. Confidential and 8 Mile as the director of THE HAND THAT ROCKS THE CRADLE - a movie that, to be charitable, is not quite on the same league as his other work. But can we at least agree that Rebecca De Mornay deserved her MTV Movie Award? Listen to this Real Talk segment to find out!

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00:01:26 The Hand With The Baby

00:02:25 Real Talk...

If you ever wondered what caused the Great Nanny Unemployment Crisis of the early 90s, wonder no more. THE HAND THAT ROCK THE CRADLE is the worst kind of schlock: schlock that uses shock-value to fool audiences and critics into thinking it’s profound cinema. Nannies were suddenly seen as Public Enemies #1 while Rebecca De Mornay laughed all the way to an MTV Movie Award for Best Villain. Listen to Alex & Julio set the record straight on this unlikely Curtis Hanson film!

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00:01:24 The Hand That Rocks The Cradle

00:13:09 Contrarians Corner

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Our Fresh Immigrants, Rotten Fascists journey begins here: with a movie that earned Richard Jenkins his first Academy Awards nomination. THE VISITOR is a story set in the midst of post 9/11 paranoia, where a man befriends a couple of refugees whose future is about to be upended. Yes, the question “why is this better than Green Book” is addressed.

Thank you for checking this new project out, whether you are a long-time Contrarians fan or someone who’s just trying to listen to people talking positively about immigrants and negatively about fascism. If you have any recommendations for fu...

Much like The Bodyguard, ARMAGEDDON’s primary legacy is its MTV-Movie-Award-Winning song, a little Aerosmith ditty called I Don’t Want To Miss a Thing. What does that say about the movie, and would it be different if Bay’s film didn’t live under the shadow of Independence Day? Could the Criterion Collection be wrong, or are they ahead of the curve on this one? All that and more in this Real Talk segment!

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00:01:26 Straws

00:02:22 Real Talk

01:06:18 The Future & Patreon Stuff

- Interested in more Contrarians goodness? Join THE...

America to the rescue once again! Unfortunately, critics were a little harder to wow only two years after Independence Day had been the talk of the town and ARMAGEDDON got stamped with a 43% rotten Tomatometer score. But are we really so jaded that we can’t appreciate the awesomeness of Bruce Willis drilling into an asteroid? Listed to Alex & Julio defend Michael Bay’s first true masterpiece!

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00:01:24 Armageddon

00:15:36 Contrarians Corner

- Wanna know how we really feel about ARMAGEDDON? Check out the Real Talk (RT) episode, on your feed RIGHT NOW...

There’s a new Contrarians Series to be embedded within the main feed. This is us letting you know all about it!

Tough times for America as we publish this (at least if you care for your fellow men and women). Does that affect how you experience INDEPENDENCE DAY, a movie that was incredibly silly to begin with? A movie where The United States seems to have above-average leadership and countries all over the world look up to it? How much can nostalgia help or harm when watching Will Smith and the gang save the world? We talk about it all in this Real Talk segment!

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00:01:26 You knew

00:02:24 Real Talk

00:57:57 The Future...

There was a glorious time when you could watch The United States of America save the world in a movie without snickering. INDEPENDENCE DAY is a relic from America’s golden days as Earth’s protectors - a relic that, when inspected with modern eyes, falls ridiculously short of everything a sci-fi adventure should be. Perhaps that’s why it’s only MTV Movie Award in 1997 was for Best Kiss? Listen to Alex & Julio dissect Roland Emmerich’s love letter to The US and its 68% Tomatometer score!

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00:02:05 Independence Day

00:16:22 Contrarians Corner

- Wanna...

Becoming an enduring part of pop culture doesn’t necessarily mean your movie is good. So what’s the verdict on THE BODYGUARD? Is there anything to it beyond that banger of a song and the undeniable chemistry between Costner and Houston? Did it get shortchanged when it only won one MTV Movie Award, or was it deserving of its multiple Razzie nominations? We hash it out in this Real Talk segment!

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00:01:26 Only If You Want To

00:02:17 Real Talk

00:49:38 The Future & Patreon Stuff

- Interested in more Contrarians good...

You know the song even if you haven’t seen the movie. You know the iconic image too: Kevin Costner carrying Whitney Houston to safety. But did you know THE BODYGUARD is 38% rotten on the Tomatometer? Did you know it was written by the same guy who wrote The Empire Strikes Back and Raiders of the Lost Ark? Did you know it had six nominations at the 1993 MTV Movie Awards? Listen to Alex & Julio go over the ultimate love story for grown-ups!

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00:01:24 The Bodyguard

00:14:54 Contrarians Corner

- Wanna know how we...

You either get on Shakespeare’s wavelength or you don’t. But maybe an extreme approach to The Bard’s stories can help? It’s likely Baz Luhrmann’s ROMEO + JULIET converted many romantics into fans of the play - even if they might not have stuck around for any other Shakespeare pieces. Did this rewatch work its magic on The Contrarians though? Find out in this Real Talk as we discuss the winner of the 1997 MTV Movie Award for Best Female Performance!

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00:01:26 O Romeo

00:02:09 Real Talk

01:00:38 The Future & Patreon Stuff

If you’ve ever wondered why 90s kids are SO dramatic about their love lives, you can put the blame on Baz Luhrmann’s ROMEO + JULIET. The overblown modernization of Willy Shakes’ teeny-bopper romance was a big hit with audiences and critics, with a fresh Tomatometer score of 74% - so that means Alex & Julio will take it down a few notches. Gorgeous people reciting antiquated dialogue? Shouldn’t be difficult to make fun of that!

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00:02:23 Romeo + Juliet

00:17:30 Contrarians Corner

- Wanna know how we really feel about ROMEO + JULIET? Check out the...

Happy 30th anniversary, BATMAN FOREVER! We don’t need The Schumacher Cut to celebrate you - we just need an open mind about where camp sits in the Batman mythos. So, are you Team Carrey or Team Jones? Are you a U2 person or a Seal fan? Where do you place Val Kilmer in the Bruce Wayne rankings? We discuss all that and more in this Real Talk segment!

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00:01:26 Black Rubber

00:02:23 Real Talk

00:56:21 The Future & Patreon Stuff

- Interested in more Contrarians goodness? Join THE CONTRARIANS SUPPLEMENTS on ou...

How can anyone hate on the Batman movie responsible for Kiss From a Rose? BATMAN FOREVER may not have won any of its MTV Movie Awards nominations back in 1996, but its legacy turned out to be its ultimate triumph - regardless of what its rotten Tomatometer score says. Listen to Alex & Julio as they revel in the pure 90s vibe of Joel Schumacher’s bat-masterpiece!

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00:01:24 Batman Forever

00:15:38 Contrarians Corner

- Wanna know how we really feel about BATMAN FOREVER? Check out the Real Talk (RT) episode, on your feed RIGHT NO...

Joe Pesci - comedian. Is that a thing? Or is it telling that Marisa Tomei seems to be the most memorable aspect of MY COUSIN VINNY? But whether you love or hate the movie, how wonderful is Fred Gwynn anyway? And will Austin Pendleton ever put on a performance The Contrarians enjoy? And perhaps the biggest question: if you’ve already won an Oscar, haven’t you already “broken through”? All that and more in this Real Talk segment!

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00:01:26 Livestream Recap

00:09:21 Voir Dire

00:10:22 Real Talk

00:47:41 The Future & Patreon Stuff

What do you do after you win an Oscar for playing a scary bloodthirsty mobster? You try to lead a courtroom comedy, of course! That’s how Joe Pesci ended up headlining MY COUSIN VINNY, and that’s how, unsurprisingly, Marisa Tomei stole the movie from him - winning an Oscar for it and, even better, the MTV Movie Award for Breakthrough Performance of 1992. Listen to Alex & Julio question Pesci’s comedic instincts and wish Bruce McGill had more screen time!

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00:01:24 My Cousin Vinny

00:17:40 Contrarians Corner

- Wanna know how we rea...

Could the third time be the charm for Chris Farley on The Contrarians podcast? Infamously, our episodes on Black Sheep and Almost Heroes featured some serious disagreements regarding the comedic talents of Farley and his co-starts. So what happens when we discuss a Farley/Spade vehicle that shaped Alex’s early years? Can Julio resist an avalanche of TOMMY BOY quotes and references? Find out in this Real Talk segment!

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00:01:26 Are you sure?

00:02:07 Real Talk

00:55:23 The Future & Patreon Stuff

- Interested in more Contrarians goodness? Join THE CONTRARIANS SU...

Chris Farley movies always underperformed with critics - even the beloved TOMMY BOY, which most regular people would deem the best of them all. So, does the winner of the 1996 MTV Movie Award for Best On-Screen Duo deserve its 42% rotten Tomatometer score? Listen to Alex & Julio do their best to defend the first Farley/Spade team-up, while marveling at the high caliber of supporting players in this road trip!

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00:01:24 Tommy Boy

00:13:30 Contrarians Corner

- Wanna know how we really feel about TOMMY BOY? Check out the Real Talk (RT) episode...

Gone are the days when a crowdpleaser like THE FUGITIVE could stand toe-to-toe against films like Schindler’s List and The Piano come awards season but, hey, this is why we love The 90s - arguably Tommy Lee Jones’ decade. However, there’s more to Andrew Davis’ acclaimed thriller than TLJ’s beloved performance, and we’ll discuss it all in this Real Talk segment! A segment led by two people who’ve never watched the original TV show this movie’s based on.

Also, once again: don’t forget to join us during this year’s Livestream for the C...

The Summer of the (MTV) Bangers begins! THE FUGITIVE got Tommy Lee Jones his first and only Oscar but, more importantly, it also took home the Best On-Screen Duo and Best Action Sequence trophies at the 1994 MTV Movie Awards. All that and a 96% Tomatometer score, just for Harrison Ford being chased for two hours? Listen to Alex & Julio pick apart every contrivance in this surprisingly beloved TV-to-film adaptation!

Oh, and join us at this year’s Livestream For The Cure! Our segment will be on 5/17 at 4pm CT.

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00:01:24 The Fugitive

00:13:40 Co...

Look, we’ll do our best not to dwell on the unfortunate parallels to Hereditary, but they need to be addressed (and yes, we know THE BABADOOK came out first). Thankfully, there’s more to Jennifer Kent’s feature debut than the inevitable comparisons to Ari Aster’s own “I am your motherrrrrr” flick - and we’ll get into all of that in this Real Talk segment!

Also, once again: don’t forget to join us during this year’s Livestream for the Cure, 5/17 at 4pm CT!

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00:01:26 I am your mother!

00:02:08...

Most people just say “don’t have kids”. Jennifer Kent shot a whole movie to make her point. And whether THE BABADOOK worked as contraceptive for a whole generation or not, it was certainly effective in boosting Kent’s career and wowing critics and audiences. Listen to Alex & Julio pick apart this brutal tale of pop-up books, senior bingo, and hatred for your own child.

Oh, and join us at this year’s Livestream for the Cure! Our segment will be on 5/17 at 4pm CT.

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00:01:24 The Babadook

00:07:17 Contrarians Corner

- Wanna...

We've reached the end of the road. We find out where our show's main rivals (Josh Koscheck & Chris Leben) ended up as well as discuss the paths our four finalists (Kenny, Diego, Stephan, and Forrest) took following the finale.

We collect our thoughts and experiences from this adventure and ask ourselves "Was this truly the ultimate?"

Want more from the hosts?

- Alex and Julio discuss the freshest and most rotten movies on the Tomatometer in every episode of The Contrarians.

- STEVE! has opinions all over Bluesky.

- J...