Contra Zoom

The Academy Awards are changing the way their ceremony will be run in three drastic ways over the next two years. Dakota goes over the pros and cons for each of these changes.

First- The date of the ceremony will be changed from the end of February to the beginning of February starting in 2020. What this means for when nominations are announced to what other awards shows will do is still up in the air, but this impact will be felt across the industry.

Second- The show will be capped at a hard three hours, meaning that some things will need to be cut out with the Academy already announcing that some categories (at the moment unnamed) will be handed out during commercial breaks and will be shown in a montage at the end of ceremony. Other changes to ensure the time length have not been announced yet.

Third- There will a Best Popular Film award handed out next to the Best Picture award. As far as the rules surrounding what makes a film “popular” have not been announced but the fall out from this will be felt as it will change the landscape of what the award means, what types of films will be nominated and how it will affect smaller films.

For further reading check out Vulture “The Oscars Made Some Dumb Decisions Today” and Forbes “New Category For Popular Movies Will Help Disney Rule The Oscars”. You can also check out Box Office Mojo and their list of highest grossing films of the year so far to see some potential nominees.

Something new I’ll be asking people to do is to rate and review Contra Zoom on Podchaser, a site that aims to be the IMDb of podcasts. Please rate 5 stars and if possible leave a short review to help grow this show.

Also if you have never given the show a rating on iTunes, that also helps tremendously. Every bit of exposure helps grow the show.

Follow the show @ContraZoomPod and Dakota @Dgapa on Twitter.

The post 68: New Oscar Rules appeared first on LIVE IN LIMBO.

On this week’s episode Dakota Arsenault is joined by Zach Sokol, host of Radio Camp Half Blood a Percy Jackson read-a long podcast. The two talk about director Alfred Hitchcock one of the greatest filmmakers of all time. They talk about his legacy on cinema history and their favourite works by him.

If you were to recommend a Hitchcock film to introduce someone to his work the guys have a few options. Zach rec’s The Birds or Psycho while Dakota suggests Rear Window. 

While breaking down Hitchcock’s films into tiers they try to make a Mount Rushmore of his work. They agree on Psycho and Vertigo while Dakota suggests Rebecca and Rear Window to round it out contrasting with Zach wants Strangers on a Train and The Lady Vanishes.

Zach informs Dakota that a sequel to The Birds exists called The Birds II: Land’s End (“directed” by Alan Smithee like Zach assumed it was). Surprisingly Tippi Hedren, also in this sequel but not as the same character. 

You can watch the original Psycho trailer where Hitchcock gives the audience a tour of the Bates Motel HERE.

In a fun game of over rated/under rated the named some other picks.

Dakota- Over rated: Notorious and The Birds

Under rated: The Wrong Man and I Confess! (honourable mention Rebecca)

Zach- Over rated: Rebecca

Under rated: Rope

Check out Zach’s podcast Radio Camp Half Blood: A Percy Jackson Read-A-Long Podcast. You can also follow Zach on Twitter @suda41. 

Something new I’ll be asking people to do is to rate and review Contra Zoom on Podchaser, a site that aims to be the IMDb of podcasts. Please rate 5 stars and if possible leave a short review to help grow this show.

Follow the show @ContraZoomPod and Dakota @Dgapa on Twitter.

The post 67: Contra Zoom Presents… Hitchcock appeared first on LIVE IN LIMBO.

I’m often asking for movie recommendations both from fellow movie buffs and from people who want to expand their knowledge about cinema. After having a friend ask for a list of important films to watch I decided to put together a curriculum of great films that every budding cinephile should watch. This list is a starting off point for people who want to have a base understanding of cinema’s greatest achievements. All the films follow linear story lines and have one or two specific components that highlight their greatness. I also picked all English language films, not because English films are better or anything but specifically because this guide is intended for native English speakers that might find subtitles daunting when they are getting into film.

The plan is to make this a progressively more intense curriculum, with Film History 102 delving more into complex films, thematically, language wise and what they might excel at.

This is part 2 of a 2 part series featuring 25 total films. The movies in this episode are from 1977-2016. If you missed part 1, listen HERE.

For a full slideshow of the films and what makes them important click HERE.

Music from this episode is from Callahan. We premiered his video for Milk and Honey recently on Live in Limbo. Be sure to check out and buy his music from Bandcamp.

Something new I’ll be asking people to do is to rate and review Contra Zoom on Podchaser, a site that aims to be the IMDb of podcasts. Please rate 5 stars and if possible leave a short review to help grow this show.

Follow the show @ContraZoomPod and Dakota @Dgapa on Twitter.

The post 66: Intro to Film 101: Part 2 appeared first on LIVE IN LIMBO.

I’m often asking for movie recommendations both from fellow movie buffs and from people who want to expand their knowledge about cinema. After having a friend ask for a list of important films to watch I decided to put together a curriculum of great films that every budding cinephile should watch. This list is a starting off point for people who want to have a base understanding of cinema’s greatest achievements. All the films follow linear story lines and have one or two specific components that highlight their greatness. I also picked all English language films, not because English films are better or anything but specifically because this guide is intended for native English speakers that might find subtitles daunting when they are getting into film.

The plan is to make this a progressively more intense curriculum, with Film History 102 delving more into complex films, thematically, language wise and what they might excel at.

This is part 1 of a 2 part series featuring 25 total films. The movies in this episode are from 1934-1975.

For a full slideshow of the films and what makes them important click HERE.

Music from this episode is from Callahan. We premiered his video for Milk and Honey recently on Live in Limbo. Be sure to check out and buy his music from Bandcamp.

Something new I’ll be asking people to do is to rate and review Contra Zoom on Podchaser, a site that aims to be the IMDb of podcasts. Please rate 5 stars and if possible leave a short review to help grow this show.

Follow the show @ContraZoomPod and Dakota @Dgapa on Twitter.

The post 65: Intro to Film 101: Part 1 appeared first on LIVE IN LIMBO.

Dakota Arsenault and Sammy Feilchenfeld decide to revisit Sydney Lumet’s landmark debut film, 1957’s 12 Angry Men starring Henry Fonda. 

The idea for this episode stems from Dakota and Sammy who requested a list of their favourite movies for a friend. Dakota mentioned 12 Angry Men as one of his favourite films and called it a drama/thriller, which Sammy had initially rebuked. 

Upon a rewatch, the guys realized just how prescient the subject matter is, especially in the current political climate where xenophobia and racism, especially in privileged white male culture pervades thinking. 

For a “bottle episode” film that takes place entirely in one location the film is remarkable in building tension and fleshing out an ensemble of characters who all get their time to shine.

Follow the show @ContraZoomPod and Dakota @Dgapa on Twitter.

The post 64: A Revisit of 12 Angry Men appeared first on LIVE IN LIMBO.

In the latest edition of make/remake Dakota Arsenault and Stephanie Prior talk about George Orwell’s novel 1984 and two different cinematic adaptations of it. 

In 1949, George Orwell published his landmark novel detailing what the future might look like if we allow our civil liberties to be eroded and for extreme ideologies to take hold so strongly that the very fabric of society would crumble. It only took eight years for the first film adaptation of the book to be made directed by Michael Anderson and staring Edmond O’Brien as Winston Smith. The 1984 version of 1984 directed by Michael Radford and staring John Hurt as Winston, portrays communism just as dangerous as right wing authoritarianism.

Dakota and Steph discuss what similarities both films employ to tell the same story along with what differences the filmmakers decided to diverge from each other. Both contexts are looking at the pros and cons of the director’s choices.

Follow the show @ContraZoomPod and Dakota @Dgapa on Twitter.

The post 63: Make/Remake 1984 appeared first on LIVE IN LIMBO.

Now that 2017 is firmly in the rear view mirror Dakota Arsenault and Mehek Seyid go over their favourite films of last year. 

Dakota’s list:

10. Loveless

9. Logan Lucky

8. Mudbound

7. Columbus

6. Lady Bird

5. Get Out

4. Dunkirk

3. Phantom Thread

2. Call Me By Your Name

1. A Ghost Story

Mehek’s list:

10.  Sheikh Jackson

9. Mom and Dad/The Killing of a Sacred Deer

8. Lady Bird

7. The Shape of Water

6. Thor: Ragnarok

5. Coco

4. What Will People Say

3. I, Tonya

2. Get Out

1. The Florida Project

Sean Chin’s favourite movie was Icarus. 

Sammy Feilchenfeld’s favourite movie was Blade Runner 2049.

Honourable Mentions for Dakota: The Shape of Water, I, Tonya, Loving Vincent, Coco and Thor Ragnarok.

Honourable Mentions for Mehek: The Incredible Jessica James, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Free Fire, Colossal and Logan.

Notable Omissions Not Seen by Dakota: Personal Shopper, Lady Macbeth, The Killing of a Sacred Deer, Beatriz at Dinner, All the Money in the World and A Fantastic Woman.

Notable Omissions Not Seen by Mehek: Logan Lucky, Good Time, Ingrid Goes West, Girl’s Trip and A Ghost Story.

Music from this episode is by Ministry of Interior Spaces and his song Hoyt Arboretum OR. Last week we premiered the music video and you can find out more at his Bandcamp where you can preorder his upcoming album.

The post 62: Top 10 Films of 2017 appeared first on LIVE IN LIMBO.

On this Episode Dakota Arsenault and Sammy Feilchenfeld recap and review the 90th Academy Awards that were handed out on Sunday March 4th, with the Best Picture being awarded to The Shape of Water.

Some thoughts discussed include:

Among many other topics!

If you have any thoughts on the Oscars let Dakota know what you think! Follow Dakota @Dgapa and the show @ContraZoomPod on Twitter.

The post 61: 2018 Oscars Recap appeared first on LIVE IN LIMBO.

Dakota Arsenault is joined by Mehek Seyid to talk about this year’s Oscar’s nominees as they make some bold predictions. They say who they think should win, will win and who was snubbed. Check out Part 1 from earlier this week for the rest of the picks. Look at the images below to see their final picks.

Easy to watch nominated films:

On Netflix- Mudbound, Icarus, Strong Island, On Body and Soul, Heroin(e), Revolting Rhymes, Logan, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Last Men in Aleppo and Beauty and the Beast.

Edith+Eddie and Heaven is a Traffic Jam on the 405.

The post 60: Oscar Predictions 2018 Part 2 appeared first on LIVE IN LIMBO.

Dakota Arsenault is joined by Mehek Seyid to talk about this year’s Oscar’s nominees as they make some bold predictions. They say who they think should win, will win and who was snubbed. Watch out for Part 2 coming later this week with the rest of their picks. Look at the images below to see their final picks.

Easy to watch nominated films:

On Netflix- Mudbound, Icarus, Strong Island, On Body and Soul, Heroin(e), Revolting Rhymes, Logan, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Last Men in Aleppo and Beauty and the Beast.

Edith+Eddie and Heaven is a Traffic Jam on the 405.

The post 59: Oscar Predictions 2018 Part 1 appeared first on LIVE IN LIMBO.