Proletarian Contrarian
107 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 3 years ago - ★★★★ - 7 ratingsJoin Lewis and Nick as they analyze, from a leftist perspective, some of the most under-performing and underappreciated films they can find, and honor those workers whose contributions would otherwise go unnoticed.
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Episodes
Episode 56: You Down With B.D.P. ("Domino," 2019)
January 27, 2020 14:04 - 1 hour - 89.4 MBDirector Brian De Palma makes his big Pro/Con debut with "Domino" (2019). Lewis and Nick express their enthusiasm for the work of the notorious BDP in between their plot breakdown of this Eurotrash banger. A haunting soundtrack, a searing performance from Eriq Ebouaney, and a handful of memorable action set pieces give this lazy Sunday afternoon flick some staying power. Our Patreon: www.patreon.com/pro_con Music- "when the struggle itself becomes identified with a series of defeats" by 红山...
Episode 55: Snyder's Court of Owls ("Legend of the Guardians," 2010)
January 20, 2020 14:57 - 1 hour - 70 MBPro/Con is officially a Zack Snyder stan podcast (third Snyder film!), apparently. Lewis and Nick examine "Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole" (2010) like an ornithologist prodding a fresh pellet. A visually stunning and earnest adaptation of the titular YA book series, the film nevertheless falls prey to all of the common issues that shadow every would-be Harry Potter. Our Patreon: www.patreon.com/pro_con Music- "when the struggle itself becomes identified with a series of defe...
Episode 54: Apoopos of the Wet Snow (“Out Cold," 2001)
January 13, 2020 15:02 - 1 hour - 56.5 MBHow often can Lewis and Nick deflect from discussing the plot of "Out Cold" (2001)? Very often, turns out! Analyzing regurgitated Casablanca references, prodding the cultural detritus of the aughts, and dumping on Weezer is more interesting than anything in this stinker. Except for a truly inspired visual poop gag. Our Patreon: www.patreon.com/pro_con Music- "when the struggle itself becomes identified with a series of defeats" by 红山郡 (hongshanjun.bandcamp.com/album/-) "Anytime" by Eve 6
Episode 53: Enter Sandman ("Spider-Man 3," 2007)
January 06, 2020 20:14 - 1 hour - 79.5 MBNew year, new decade, old Spidey, baby! That's right, Lewis and Nick kick off 2020 by revisiting "Spider-Man 3" (2007), a wonderful, heartfelt depiction of the beloved Marvel Comics icon that is objectively more faithful than the MCU's Spider-Tech Intern. A sprinkle of some messy Twitter drama adds a spicy note to the full body of this hearty review. Excelsior! Our Patreon: www.patreon.com/pro_con Music- "when the struggle itself becomes identified with a series of defeats" by 红山郡 (hongsha...
UNLOCKED: 2019 Pro/Con Intro Outtakes
December 30, 2019 17:36 - 3 minutes - 2.9 MBLovely outtakes from Lewis and Nick's weekly ritual of garbling the same damn intro. Subscribe to our Patreon for more of our charming chemistry. https://www.patreon.com/pro_con Music- "when the struggle itself becomes identified with a series of defeats" by 红山郡 (hongshanjun.bandcamp.com/album/-)
Episode 52: Deez, A Pro/Con Christmas Miracle ("Mixed Nuts," 1994)
December 23, 2019 13:15 - 1 hour - 70 MBA whole year of Pro/Con! We love to see it. That's why Lewis and Nick chose to close out the year with a strange little holiday film, "Mixed Nuts" (1994). It's chock-full of 90's comedy personas--woke short king Adam Sandler is a standout--and lazy Christmas humor. Come for Liev Schriber's problematic, yet memorable and affecting, first film role as a trans woman, and stay for Sandler's ukulele-backed crooning. Happy Holidays everyone! CW: Discussion of suicide Our Patreon: www.patreon.com...
Episode 51: Hellworld in the UK ("Hellboy," 2019)
December 16, 2019 15:34 - 1 hour - 72.4 MBTake some big dumb guy energy with you into the new Brexit decade--that's right, it's time for "Hellboy" (2019). Startlingly different from the del Toro films, the 2019 entry is overflowing with wonky CGI, horrific demon imagery, and shouting. Overambitious to a fault, "Hellboy" makes the case that some stories are best left in comics. Our Patreon: www.patreon.com/pro_con Music- "when the struggle itself becomes identified with a series of defeats" by 红山郡 (hongshanjun.bandcamp.com/album/-)...
Episode 50: Kaos Reigns ("Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever," 2002)
December 09, 2019 14:49 - 1 hour - 70.1 MBWell folks, we made it all the way to our 50th episode, and we knew we had to pick a special film for this one. That's why Lewis and Nick chose "Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever" (2002), one of the most internet-infamous flicks around. Too bad it kicks ass! Seriously, there's exactly one supremely-hated film that definitely does not deserve its 0% Rotten Tomatoes score, and it's this one. Our Patreon: www.patreon.com/pro_con Music- "when the struggle itself becomes identified with a series of def...
Episode 49: Scopes Monkey Podcast ("Evolution," 2001)
December 02, 2019 14:05 - 1 hour - 64.5 MBIvan Reitman's post-Ghostbusters content is groanworthy enough to turn the most hardened Internet Atheist into an Intelligent Design evangelical. Lewis and Nick review "Evolution" (2001), a painful would-be comedy on the level of midweek Comedy Central afternoon block flicks. Creative creature design and some decent performances aren't enough to elevate this stinker--best to let it sink into the murky depths of the primordial cinematic soup where it belongs. Our Patreon: www.patreon.com/pro_...
Episode 48: Orange You Glad Mobster Month Is Over? ("The Godfather Part III," 1990)
November 25, 2019 21:23 - 1 hour - 102 MBGoing to emphasize the "Contrarian" half of our title and end Mobster Month with a bang: Part III is an excellent finale to "The Godfather" saga. Lewis and Nick firmly believe that every commonly-derided aspect of the film--the politics, the religion, Sofia Coppola--are worthy, essential aspects to the denouement of a masterful series. We've been going along with the critical consensus for most of our recent episodes, but just when we thought we were out...our kneejerk contrarianism pulled us...
Episode 47: What's Cooking? ("The Kitchen," 2019)
November 18, 2019 17:22 - 1 hour - 77.2 MBAs organized crime threatens the fabric of American life, Mobster Month threatens the psyche of your Pro/Con boys. Join Lewis and Nick as they struggle to discuss their struggle to get through "The Kitchen" (2019), a tedious adaptation of a Vertigo comic book series. This flick is a true disservice to the talents of everyone involved, and we can honestly say that our digressive recap is more worthy of your time. Our Patreon: www.patreon.com/pro_con Music- "when the struggle itself becomes ...
Episode 46: Paisan-Managerial Class ("Mobsters," 1991)
November 11, 2019 21:05 - 1 hour - 65.1 MBPro/Con continues its dive into Mobster Month with, uh, "Mobsters" (1991), a smorgasbord of stereotypes that would be reductive and offensive if they were applied to anyone except the Italians. This flick is honestly less of a film and more of a collective fever dream hovering over Staten Island in perpetuity. In true podcast fashion, it serves as a springboard for Lewis and Nick to meander and blather about unrelated topics before focusing on the most important social issue of our era: the n...
Episode 45: I Can't Believe We Didn't Make a "Sleeping with the Fishes" Joke ("Shark Tale," 2004)
November 04, 2019 21:02 - 1 hour - 70.6 MBIt's time for Mobster Month! We're kicking things off with "Shark Tale" (2004), a Dreamworks picture from the early, awkward days of the mainstream CGI era. Elements of note include eerily lifelike character models, dated references, something of a tiny Sopranos reunion, and Martin Scorsese's only voice acting role. Stick around for our post-review sequence which highlights the social value of ironic anti-Italian racism. Our Patreon: www.patreon.com/pro_con Music- "when the struggle itsel...
Episode 44: Don't Call It A Gremlin("Tales from the Darkside: The Movie," 1990)
October 29, 2019 10:13 - 1 hour - 84.4 MBJust in time for Halloween comes the spookiest of genre offerings...a horror anthology film! Starring baby Steve Buscemi, baby Julianne Moore, and baby Christian Slater! Lewis and Nick delve into the depths of terror as they uncover a formative childhood vignette and a galaxy-brained Batman take, respectively. Some tasteful shooting techniques, clever story ideas, and plausible leftist reads make for a fun, scary little collection of frights. Our Patreon: www.patreon.com/pro_con Music- "wh...
Episode 43: The Virgin Patience Phillips, the Chad Catwoman ("Catwoman," 2004)
October 21, 2019 19:22 - 1 hour - 72.2 MBPro/Con's resident mascot, Celeste the Cat, was very pleased with this week's episode: "Catwoman" (2004). This weirdo adaptation is the last DC movie from the pre-Nolan era. More interesting is how closely it mirrors 2019's "Joker" in a surprising number of ways. It isn't exactly the most well-developed piece of pop feminist cinema, but it's distinctly more unique than most superhero fare. Our Patreon: www.patreon.com/pro_con Music- "when the struggle itself becomes identified with a serie...
Episode 42: Faye Dunaway's Magical Mystery Minecart Ride ("Supergirl," 1984)
October 16, 2019 23:09 - 1 hour - 84 MBIt's a bomb...it's a flop...it's actually pretty damn great! Lewis and Nick take to the skies to defend "Supergirl" (1984), the unjustly-maligned Kryptonian stepchild of the Donnerverse super-films. The story and cinematography are adequate, but what truly elevates this flick into greatness is the amazingly-campy acting. Faye Dunaway and Peter O'Toole unleash some serious, showstopping performances that are too powerful to be contained in the Hollywood Phantom Zone of early superhero movies. ...
Episode 41: Borecraft ("Warcraft," 2016) feat. Hailey (Little Thief)
October 10, 2019 12:22 - 1 hour - 77.6 MBLewis and Nick summon Hailey (Little Thief) to lend her expertise to the Pro/Con review of "Warcraft" (2016). If nothing else, the big-budget, ill-fated, somewhat-engrossing film is a very faithful adaptation of the source material--this may or may not be an endorsement, depending upon the kind of childhood you had. Does the plight of the orcs present a racist stereotype, a compelling leftist metaphor, or a little of both? The only thing we're giving away at this point is that a guard is tra...
Episode 40: Blunt Testicular Trauma ("Rumor Has It," 2005)
September 30, 2019 20:35 - 1 hour - 64.7 MBRemember that 1967 classic "The Graduate"? Ever think it needed a shitty sequel? Well you're in luck, because Rob Reiner made his very own fanfic sequel, "Rumor Has It" (2005). An agonizingly-indulgent project, the film is preoccupied with the original's superficial drama at the expense of its themes. Lewis and Nick veer wildly off course on this one, folks. We can promise some entertaining tangents at least. Our Patreon: www.patreon.com/pro_con Music- "when the struggle itself becomes ide...
Episode 39: Joker Mindset ("Suicide Squad," 2016)
September 24, 2019 19:48 - 1 hour - 95.9 MBWith the freakin' Joker movie coming out soon, we had to go back to the scene of the crime to determine what made DC so desperate to begin with. Turns out it was Academy-Award-winning(!) "Suicide Squad" (2016), a rather offbeat piece which Lewis and Nick charitably interpret as a critique of the inherently corrupt nature of the contemporary US police state. We deserve 10 years off of our life sentences for this act of heroism, folks. Our Patreon: www.patreon.com/pro_con Music- "when the st...
Episode 38: Niko Bellic Speedrun ("Behind Enemy Lines," 2001) feat. Jose
September 16, 2019 21:23 - 1 hour - 86.3 MBHop in your F/A-18F Super Hornet and plot a course for 2001, because Lewis and Nick have brought in amateur Bosnian War scholar Jose for consultation on "Behind Enemy Lines" (2001). Jose teaches us more about the Bosnian conflict of 1992-95 in 10 minutes than we've learned in 10 years, and he's just as eager to wallop this trash as we are. Starring a horribly miscast Owen Wilson and a sleepwalking Gene Hackman, "Behind Enemy Lines" is most interesting as one of the earliest relics of War on T...
Episode 37: Blackpilled Boomer Bloodlust ("Death Wish," 2018)
September 13, 2019 20:30 - 1 hour - 106 MBLewis and Nick experience strong pangs of thanatos as they suffer through 2018's "Death Wish." Truly an exercise in courting the death drive, this morality fable from Eli Roth re-imagines the 1974 original, depicting vigilante fantasy through a contemporary, smartphone-saturated lens. Curiously enough, the narrative of Bruce Willis taking the law into his own hands presents an inadvertently leftist critique of reactionary violence. "My Son Killed Adolf Hitler" by Sheldon Roth: https://bit.ly...
Episode 36: Media Mass - Worldbuilding
September 06, 2019 20:17 - 35 minutes - 32.5 MBPro/Con's first Media Mass episode! This series explores the tension between audiences, art, and the influence of capital in storytelling across all media. Our inaugural sermon discusses the concept of worldbuilding, a term and approach that has garnered something of a contentious reputation. Lewis and Nick explain their problems with the concept, and discuss positive and negative instances of "building worlds." "Against Worldbuilding" by Lincoln Michel - https://bit.ly/2ltuyi4 "In Defense...
Episode 35: CHOAM Nomsky ("Dune," 1984) feat. Cooper Cherry (@podcastcocooper)
August 30, 2019 12:40 - 1 hour - 64.1 MB"The pod must post." Welcome, Fremen, to the Pro/Con review of "Dune" (1984), featuring guest host Cooper (@ Podcastcocooper). This infamous Lynchian feature is an odd beast, interminable and byzantine--which isn't necessarily a knock against it!--yet buckles beneath the scope of its source material. Nevertheless, there's plenty here for the Herbert neophyte and disciple alike. Prepare your soul for a spicy one, folks. Cooper's Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/podcastcocoopercherry Our Patr...
Episode 34: Hey, We're Barkin' Here! ("Look Who's Talking Now," 1993) feat. Molly (@socialistdogmom)
August 24, 2019 19:51 - 1 hour - 68.9 MBMerry Christmas in August! Molly (@ socialistdogmom) joins Lewis and Nick to tackle the first Pro/Con holiday film, "Look Who's Talking Now" (1993). The disastrous third entry of a quirky, ADR-laden trilogy, the film features strong voiceover performances from Danny DeVito and Diane Keaton as a couple of lovable mutts. John Travolta and Kirstie Alley also appear. Molly's Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/socialistdogmom Our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pro_con "Why Look At Animals" essa...
Episode 33: Bringing Sexy Time Back ("In Time," 2011) feat. Mark (@Rhea_Wept)
August 16, 2019 19:11 - 1 hour - 96.1 MBThe neoliberal hellscape we live in was brought to life right before our eyes...just in time for the end of the summer. Mark (@ Rhea_Wept) brought one of his favorite movies to Pro/Con: "In Time" (2011). A horrifyingly accurate vision of the present, "In Time" strips away all pretense, eradicating any perceived boundaries between time and capital. Such an archetypal sci-fi premise demands strong performances and writing, which the cast and crew, led by one Justin Timberlake, somewhat shocking...
Episode 32: The Minions Meme Master ("Minions," 2015) feat. Lucas (@OofMadonn)
August 06, 2019 22:38 - 1 hour - 64.9 MBCALLING ALL MINIONS--CALLING ALL MINIONS: Pro/Con has devoted an entire episode to cracking the code behind "Minions" (2015), and they've recruited their own minion to do so. Lucas (@ OofMadonn) joins Lewis and Nick to lend his expert Minion Opinion, gleaned from exhaustive posting across various Minions Memes Facebook pages. The film is a late capitalist masterpiece, uncomfortably representative of the state of labor today. The Minions themselves are perfect as farcical representations of th...
Episode 31: Zack Snyder's Bechdel Test Scantron ("Sucker Punch," 2011)
August 01, 2019 22:13 - 1 hour - 69.2 MBTake a bunch of up-and-coming young actresses, a slew of guns and katanas, and a few tabs of acid. Drop everything in the blender of a 14-year-old boy's mind and you get "Sucker Punch" (2011), Zack Snyder's homage to fantasy ultraviolence, surviving the toxic patriarchy of the U.S. mental health system, and independent female characters. A very weird film, "Sucker Punch" devotes too much of its run time to its convoluted frame story structure at the expense of the emotional development of its...
Episode 30: Snipes Was Right ("Blade: Trinity," 2004)
July 25, 2019 23:36 - 1 hour - 62.2 MBPop on those shades, strap on your knives, and step into the daylight with Lewis and Nick as they take the fight to this week's target: "Blade: Trinity" (2004). Following the groundbreaking "Blade" and the spirited "Blade II," Trinity is a disappointing finisher to say the least. Wesley Snipes knew the score, nevertheless putting in admirable effort to this bloodless finale, elevating certain sequences and infusing the flick with enough zest to keep it stumbling until it reaches its demise. H...
Episode 29: Hardboiled Bolshevism ("Red Heat," 1988)
July 17, 2019 15:07 - 1 hour - 57.4 MBWho's a more believable badass, Arnold Schwarzenegger or Jim Belushi? Correct answer: Fred Hampton, because all three star in 1988's "Red Heat" (a caricature of Hampton has a strong supporting role, at least). Given that this flick was the first American film with the distinction of being allowed to film in Moscow's Red Square, follow the Pro/Con boys as they travel from the USSR to Chicago, doggedly chronicling the tired Schwarzenegger/Belushi buddy cop energy. Shockingly enough, "Red Heat" ...
Episode 28: Hulk SMASH Military Industrial Complex ("Hulk," 2003)
July 10, 2019 03:19 - 1 hour - 70.4 MBYou wouldn't like us when we're angry....you also probably wouldn't like us when we're trying to remember D-list Marvel character names. Join Lewis and Nick as they tackle "Hulk" (2003), one of the more infamous of the pre-Disney Marvel movies. Directed with admirable aplomb by Ang Lee, "Hulk" is as big and as bold as its titular character. Catholic repression, the War on Terror, nerds being too pedantic to appreciate a good thing before it's gone...this one's got it all. https://www.patreon...
Episode 27: Antifa Buffalo Supersoldiers ("Posse," 1993)
July 01, 2019 01:56 - 1 hour - 72 MBA lean, hardened outlaw rode straight onto the Pro/Con screens from the dry, dusty wasteland of the 90's this weekend: "Posse" (1993), directed by and starring Mario Van Peebles. Join Lewis and Nick as they follow the winding, wayward quest of a group of Buffalo Soldiers on the run from Cuba to New Orleans to the Western US Territories. An uncommonly political film for the 90's, "Posse" captures a bold, revisionist snapshot of a history more fascinating than is commonly remembered. https://w...
Episode 26: PLO Rangers ("Saban's Power Rangers," 2017)
June 22, 2019 20:57 - 1 hour - 74.5 MBComing to you from a team of podcasters with attitude is Pro/Con's review of "Saban's Power Rangers," (2017). This is one of the more unique genre films reviewed on the show in that it's pretty good, based primarily on the strength of the fairly deep characterization of all five leads. This is 90's nostalgia done about as well as it can be done, folks. https://www.patreon.com/pro_con Lil Nas X surprising the kids of Lander Elementary - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yvxqwlENxU Music- "wh...
Episode 25: A Star Is Bored ("Glitter," 2001)
June 15, 2019 19:04 - 56 minutes - 51.4 MBWe picked a real bomb coming off Star Wars Month: 2001's "Glitter," shockingly *not* Mariah Carey's film debut, but certainly the role that cemented her diva reputation. Inversely, of course, this movie is pretty boring, only managing to differentiate itself from the legions of other artist narratives by presenting a surprisingly cynical depiction of show business. Come for Carey's voice, stay for the weird, wonky edits and special effects. https://www.patreon.com/pro_con Music- "when the s...
PREVIEW Episode 24: Ewoks: The Rise of Brimley ("Ewoks: The Battle for Endor," 1985)
June 08, 2019 22:12 - 42 seconds - 657 KBOur very first Patreon-exclusive episode demands an exceptional film, and "Ewoks: The Battle of Endor" (1985) certainly delivers. A direct sequel to 1984's "Caravan of Courage," "The Battle for Endor" is the more uneven film, yet the one that achieves greater emotional extremes--from camp to whimsy to sincere grief. Featuring space orcs, a sweet castle, and Wilford Brimley, you couldn't in good conscience ask for much more from a 1980's TV film. "The Battle for Endor" proves that Star Wars, f...
Episode 23: There and Back Again: An Ewok's Tale ("Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure," 1984)
June 08, 2019 21:50 - 47 minutes - 43.3 MBThe description to Episode 22 stated that it was the final film of Star Wars month. Well, as Obi-Wan said, "Your eyes can deceive you; don't trust them." Anyway, there's an argument to be made that "Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure" (1984) technically isn't a Star Wars film because it doesn't have the term "Star Wars" in its title, and because it's a straight-up fairy tale in the mold of an Amblin Entertainment flick or a poor man's Tolkien/Lewis mashup. And for all of that...this film a...
Episode 22: Execute Order 69 ("Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith," 2005)
May 26, 2019 20:22 - 1 hour - 80.4 MBThe final film of our Star Wars Month, is, of course "Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith" (2005). By far the biggest disappointment of the saga, RotS is audacious in its tedium. Fittingly enough, however, turns out the story of the prequels parallels that of Anakin himself: a stumbling, awkward mess, whose precious few bright spots only serve to highlight the manifold missed opportunities. https://www.patreon.com/pro_con Music- "when the struggle itself becomes identified with a s...
Episode 21: Mr. Binks Goes to Coruscant ("Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones," 2002)
May 17, 2019 15:31 - 1 hour - 88.5 MBComing off their Phantom Menace high, Lewis and Nick nosedive faster than a LAAT/i Republic Gunship divebombing a platoon of IG-227 Hailfire-class droid tanks. That's right, it's time for "Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones" (2002). This one is pretty much exactly what you remember; despite continuing with the (largely unintentional) criticism of neoliberal technocracy, Episode II proves to be inferior in virtually every aspect to its predecessor. https://www.patreon.com/pro_con M...
Episode 20: Phantom Menace II Society ("Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace," 1999)
May 10, 2019 21:29 - 1 hour - 92.6 MBContinuing our Star Wars month retrospective, Lewis and Nick finally arrive at the reason they pretty much started this podcast and review "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace" (1999). It's good! Its flaws aren't as awful you remember! And not just because we have a bone to pick with Jar Jar Abrams! Episode I is not only better crafted than Episode VII, but also offers a much sharper and more timely political perspective. https://www.patreon.com/pro_con Music- "when the struggle itsel...
Episode 19: Pan Solo ("Solo: A Star Wars Story," 2018)
May 04, 2019 17:34 - 1 hour - 94.3 MBTime to kick off Pro/Con's very first Star Wars Month! It's only fitting that the first Star Wars film to be a true box office bomb is also the most dirtbag lefty of the bunch. Join a rogues' gallery of failchildren as they bumble across the gritty underbelly of the galaxy in a mad dash to pay the bills. An exasperated Lewis and an overenthusiastic Nick agree: we stan "Solo" (2018) -- Han Solo. https://www.patreon.com/pro_con Music- "when the struggle itself becomes identified with a series...
Episode 18: Failchester ("Winchester," 2018)
April 26, 2019 17:31 - 1 hour - 59.8 MBEarning $41.3 million against a $3.5 million budget while failing to net any of the four Golden Raspberries for which it was nominated, "Winchester" (2018) very much embodies its central theme: money trumps all. Helen Mirren plays heiress Sarah Winchester at the center of a promising, yet inadequate, haunted house story set in the real world Winchester Mystery House. Lewis and Nick keep this episode alive by attempting an anti-colonialist read of the film that tracks surprisingly well. https...
Episode 17: Spirit of St. Miller ("The Spirit," 2008)
April 19, 2019 19:45 - 1 hour - 60.1 MBFrank Miller: comic book legend, polarizing artist, uncompromising auteur, and absolute hack film director. Lewis and Nick plunge into Miller's solo directorial debut "The Spirit" (2008), an overstylized, oversexualized, and overdramatized mess that really emphasizes the importance of Robert Rodriguez's co-directing credit on "Sin City" (2005). Gabriel Macht and Samuel L. Jackson duke it out alongside a bevy of objectified actresses in thankless roles and a whole bunch of adorable cats. http...
Episode 16: Evidently Elizabethtown ("Elizabethtown," 2005)
April 10, 2019 21:09 - 1 hour - 66.6 MBYou'd be hard-pressed to whip up a more perfect Pro/Con checklist: an actor from the Jackson LotR films at the top of his game cast as a failson of preternatural stature -- supplemented by a singularly kickass indie/classic rock and bluegrass soundtrack, and backed up by a heartfelt Susan Sarandon -- exploring themes of catastrophe, loss, and the struggles of family. Too bad it's terrible! "Elizabethtown" (2005) has all the raw material of greatness, but only manages to impress as a truly spe...
Episode 15: You'll Always Be a Jonnie Goodboy to Me ("Battlefield Earth," 2000)
April 05, 2019 23:05 - 1 hour - 59.6 MBHow's the state of your thetan these days? Before you go running off to check yourselves on your E-meters, load up this latest Pro/Con episode and get the straight facts on "Battlefield Earth" (2000). This space opera classic made an indelible impact on the film discourse of the early internet. You couldn't swing a Bat'leth without decapitating some nerd whining about this crappy movie back in those halcyon days and...they weren't wrong! This thing's a piece of Scientology propaganda, but as ...
Episode 14: Rack Em, Oh Gee! ("The Emoji Movie," 2017)
March 25, 2019 00:30 - 57 minutes - 52.3 MBLewis and Nick truly did not expect "The Emoji Movie" (2017) to deliver such a transcendent spiritual experience, but, well, here we are. This postmodern, transhumanist fable didn't have to present such a moving depiction of the inherent compassion of a communist society, but Pro/Con didn't have to review this movie, either. Fortunately for our audience, all parties involved ultimately went ahead and realized the aforementioned possibilities. Film and review, subject and object, emoji and tex...
Episode 13: Keep It Simple Stupid ("The Keep," 1983)
March 18, 2019 19:48 - 51 minutes - 47 MBWell, your Pro/Con boys sure are in a pickle now: trapped in an ancient stone citadel tucked away in the crags of the Carpathian Mountains, caught between Nazi soldiers and the undead eldritch sorcerer known as Radu Molasar! A weirdo Jedi failson played by Scott Glenn is running around with a mall-grade quarterstaff, too. See if you can escape "The Keep" (1983), a phantasmagorical fever dream whose pitch-perfect synth soundtrack from Tangerine Dream eclipses the rest of this imposing, but hol...
Episode 12: Moe, Larry, Curly, Nick and Lewis ("The Three Stooges," 2012)
March 09, 2019 03:30 - 1 hour - 67.5 MBHit the gym, stretch out on your tanning bed, and slather on your hair gel, because it's time for..."The Three Stooges" (2012), starring five of the original cast members of the Jersey Shore! Our stars make their big screen debuts roughly an hour into the runtime, after the film meanders about to focus on the slapstick misadventures of a trio of goofuses. Difficult as it was to wait on the Shore castmates' big appearance, the rest of the film zips along well enough, despite a bizarre preoccup...
Episode 11: Punish Us, Daddy Dolph ("The Punisher," 1989)
March 02, 2019 03:36 - 1 hour - 55.5 MBYour Pro/Con boys have to be frank: "The Punisher" (1989) rules! Turns out the very first cinematic adaptation of the most rightwing, libertarian, retrograde gun nut of a superhero is a pretty solid action flick. Lewis and Nick delve deep beneath the mean New York streets to join the titular vigilante, played by a grunged-up Dolph Lundgren, as he imposes his brutal, personal brand of retribution upon the sinful louts of modern superhero adaptations. https://www.patreon.com/pro_con Music - ...
Episode 10: Shitty of Angels ("City of Angels," 1998)
February 23, 2019 01:30 - 43 minutes - 39.7 MBThe first Pro/Con throwback, just in time for our show to hit double digits! Lewis and Nick ascend from the hellish doldrums of episode 3 to the angelic heights of ennui as they review "City of Angels" (1998). Starring Meg Ryan as the world's most insipid heart surgeon and Nic Cage as the world's most lethargic intangible/incorporeal/invisible voyeur. This snoozefest ultimately elects to give up its chance at Pro/Con immortality, and remain in the 90's to die. https://www.patreon.com/pro_con...
Episode 9: Swamp Thing, I Think I Love You ("The Return of the Swamp Thing," 1989)
February 18, 2019 02:58 - 1 hour - 59.3 MBA potent presence bubbles, broils, wriggles beneath the filmy surface of the marsh, separated from the thick air above. The two elements, so similar in composition, are yet divided by a membrane as alive as the discourse-driven lifeblood of Pro/Con itself...the presence buckles, thrashes about, rears up to burst through the heretofore placid swamp waters, a thing as resplendent and throbbing as life itself! "The Return of the Swamp Thing" (1989) terrifies the mind and repulses the body, even ...
Episode 8: #F**KFailJerry ("The Mexican," 2001)
February 09, 2019 01:00 - 49 minutes - 45.1 MBThe strip of cracked blacktop roasts beneath the afternoon sun, stretching between danger far behind and desperate hope too far ahead...no, that's not a description of 2001's "The Mexican," it's the emotional state of Lewis and Nick as they struggled through it. An overambitious misfire of confused tone, mixed acting style, and inconsistent competency, the true redeeming qualities are the secondary characters we met along the way. In conclusion, "The Mexican" is a film of contrasts. https://...