Who do you get to play hard-knocks noir gumshoe Phillip Marlowe when Humphrey Bogart is not available? The future Jack Geller, of course! Dale Bridges, author of the hilarious THE MEAN REDS and film noir enthusiast, joins Alex & Julio to try to make sense of Robert Altman’s weird, lackadaisical detective story, THE LONG GOODBYE. Come on, Elliott Gould, really??? And wait until you hear about the movie’s soundtrack…

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!

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!

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.

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. Listen to Alex & Julio as they rave about a film that makes the Polish Tourism Department blush!

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 why)

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 PODCAST, as they wonder if there’s anything in this film that can make up for Jeremy Sisto’s awfulness and Nathan Fillion’s lax morals.

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 nostalgia!

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 directly blamed for Nicholas Hoult’s Hollywood journey and try to wrap their minds around ABOUT A BOY’s anti-bachelor stance!

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!