80 - The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013)

Did Ben Stiller ego grow way out of hand, or did he finally evolve into the everyman we always knew he could be? Is his WALTER MITTY a love poem to himself, or an ode to all of us who aren’t major superstars? More importantly: is Kristen Wiig’s rendition of Ground Control to Major Tom more poignant than David Bowie’s? The Contrarians tackle all the angles in their eighth “Grey Area” episode, with Julio playing defense and Alex attacking! It’s a battle as spectacular as Ben Stiller’s imaginary action sequences!

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79 - The King's Speech

Must we mock England so relentlessly? Must we maliciously tell the embellished story of a conman who preyed on royalty and got away with it? Alex and Julio tackle yet another Best Picture Winner that got its Oscar by making fun of foreign customs, one that didn’t even bother to give Helena Bonham Carter anything to do besides looking dashing on some of the posters. Also: more recent Oscars chat in the Real Talk segment!

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78 - Star Trek V: The Final Frontier

Science versus religion! Spock versus his own brother! Shatner versus God!!!! How on Earth is this movie considered the worst Star Trek movie ever made??? Listen to Alex and Julio as they marvel at the talents of William Shatner behind and in front of the camera, the charisma of Laurence Luckinbill as an intergalactic preacher, and the dark disturbing undertones of what this film does to Bones’ soul! Plus: row row row your boat!

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77 - Shakespeare in Love

On today’s episode: a movie that celebrates an artist’s worst tendencies. Adultery, procrastination, irresponsibility, self-centeredness, and an overall lack of a moral center. In other words, Academy Awards catnip! Listen to Alex and Julio as they examine SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE and discuss Gwyneth Paltrow’s coming out party! Joseph Fiennes’ three minutes of fame! And John Madden’s confusingly successful transition from football to filmmaking!

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Bonus! - Cam

Join us for a very special mini live episode! Recorded during Julio’s birthday party, with a little bit of audience participation during Real Talk, listen to The Contrarians tackle the surprise Netflix critical darling CAM! What is the streaming behemoth telling our youth? Is it morally responsible to portray the cam girl industry as a glitzy fun community? And what are the true secret powers of The Vibratron?

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76 - Gigli

Oh my god, you killed Martin Brest’s career!!! You bastards!!!! Awards Season is upon us and what better way to celebrate it than by rescuing an infamous “turkey” (yeah, yeah, we know) and telling the world about how awesome it actually is? Listen to Alex and Julio as they wonder if America simply couldn’t handle two extremely attractive people having frank conversations about sex! Learn just how much we’ve been wasting Justin Bartha’s talent over the past decade! And marvel at Ben Affleck’s unbeatable game when it comes to gay women! It’s a Razzie Winner that should’ve been an Oscar Winner!

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75 - Speed

A room full of coked-up screenwriters and producers shouting WHAT IF over each other. That has to have been the genesis of the Keanu Reeves / Sandra Bullock vehicle SPEED, a movie where Keanu does things with a bus you didn’t think possible, all while Sandy shamelessly flirts with him despite being surrounded by tragedy and death. Why did critics love this film? Was it that it moved too fast for them to pick up on all the plot-holes? Listen to Alex and Julio slow things down in order to tear this thing apart and set the Tomatometer straight once again!

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Christmas Bonus! - Fred Claus

The Tomatometer score for FRED CLAUS is the perfect example of America not knowing how good something is until they lose it. Paul Giamatti as Santa Claus? That only happens once in a lifetime, if you are lucky. And to have him surrounded by a cast of comedic titans: Vince Vaughnn, Rachel Weisz, Christopher Plummer… We had paradise and we stamped a 20% Rotten Score on it. Listen to Alex and Julio give this holiday gem a second chance and rescue it from Rotten Tomatoes Hell!

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74 - Johnny Mnemonic

Guys, we are only three years away from the future portrayed in JOHNNY MNEMONIC, a Keanu Reeves cyber-punk vehicle that confused critics so much, they just had to slap a rotten 16% Tomatometer score on it. Listen to Alex and Julio as they marvel at upcoming technological breakthroughs such as laser whips, expanded storage for your brain and a resurgence in Henry Rollins’ acting career! Spend countless minutes wondering where you know Dina Meyer from! And be blown away by the most profound monologue Keanu has ever been asked to deliver! It’s all coming in three years, but you can enjoy it right this second!

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73 - The Fly (1986)

The 80s: when the dumbest scientist in the universe could develop world-changing technology and the one female journalist in the US couldn’t see the flashing red flags all around him. Oh, and also when all David Cronenberg had to do to wow critics was zoom-in on gross stuff. Listen to Alex and Julio talk about THE FLY, a vehicle for Jeff Goldblum to show off his nerdy sex appeal and for Geena Davis to show off her tolerance for abuse! America has come a long way, hasn’t it?

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