Contra Zoom

Contra Zoom

By Dakota Arsenault, Rachel GordonTV & FilmMusic
Download on the App Store

Contra Zoom episodes

  • 38: Manchester by the Lion

    On this last episode of this year’s breakdown of the Best Picture nominated films Dakota Arsenault talks about Manchester By the Sea and Lion. On last week’s episode of Contra Zoom he discussed Hell or High Water, Fences and Moonlight. 

    These are the nominations for Manchester By the Sea

    • Best Picture 
    • Best Actor- Casey Affleck
    • Best Supporting Actor- Lucas Hedges
    • Best Supporting Actress- Michelle Williams
    • Best Director- Kenneth Lonergan
    • Best Original Screenplay- Kenneth Lonergan
    • These are the nominations for Lion

      • Best Picture 
      • Best Supporting Actor- Dev Patel
      • Best Supporting Actress- Nicole Kidman
      • Best Adapted Screenplay- Luke Davies
      • Best Cinematography- Greig Fraser
      • Best Original Score- Dustin O’Halloran and Volker Bertelmann
      • Make sure you check out this week’s Oscar Primer where Dakota goes over Jackie, Loving, Doctor Strange and Zootopia. These Primers will be posted once a week on Tuesdays. 

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

        The post 38: Manchester by the Lion appeared first on LIVE IN LIMBO.

        24 min
      • 37: Hell or High Fences in Moonlight

        On this second episode of this year’s breakdown of the Best Picture nominated films Dakota Arsenault and Rachel Gordon talks about Moonlight, Fences and Hell or High Water. On last week’s episode of Contra Zoom he discussed Hidden Figures and La La Land.

        These are the nominations for Moonlight

        • Best Picture 
        • Best Supporting Actor- Mahershala Ali 
        • Best Supporting Actress- Naomie Harris 
        • Best Directing- Barry Jenkins 
        • Best Cinematography- James Laxton 
        • Best Film Editing- Joi McMillon and Nat Sanders 
        • Best Original Score- Nicholas Britell 
        • Best Adapted Screenplay- Barry Jenkins (screenplay) and Tarell Alvin McCraney (story)
        • These are the nominations for Fences

          • Best Picture 
          • Best Actor- Denzel Washington 
          • Best Supporting Actress- Viola Davis 
          • Best Adapted Screenplay- August Wilson
          • These are the nominations for Hell or High Water

            • Best Picture 
            • Best Supporting Actor- Jeff Bridges 
            • Best Original Screenplay- Taylor Sheridan 
            • Best Film Editing- Jake Roberts
            • Make sure you check out this week’s Oscar Primer where Dakota goes over Rogue One: A star Wars Story, Captain Fantastic, Hail, Caesar! and Suicide Squad. These Primers will be posted once a week on Tuesdays. 

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

              The post 37: Hell or High Fences in Moonlight appeared first on LIVE IN LIMBO.

              51 min
            • 36: La La Figures

              On this second episode of this year’s breakdown of the Best Picture nominated films Dakota Arsenault talks about Hidden Figures and La La Land. On last week’s episode of Contra Zoom he discussed Hacksaw Ridge and Arrival. 

              These are the nominations for Hidden Figures

              • Best Picture 
              • Best Supporting Actress- Octavia Spencer
              • Best Adapted Screenplay- Allison Schroeder and Theodore Melfi
              • These are the nominations for La La Land

                • Best Picture 
                • Best Actor- Ryan Gosling
                • Best Actress- Emma Stone
                • Best Director- Damien Chazelle
                • Best Original Screenplay- Damien Chazelle
                • Best Cinematography- Linus Sandgren
                • Best Film Editing- Tom Cross
                • Best Production Design- David Wasco and Sandy Reynolds-Wasco
                • Best Costume Design- Mary Zophres
                • Best Original Score- Justin Hurwitz
                • Best Original Song: “Audition (The Fools Who Dream)”- Justin Hurwitz, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul
                • Best Original Song: “City of Stars”- Justin Hurwitz, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul
                • Best Sound Mixing- Andy Nelson, Ai-Ling Lee and Steven Morrow
                • Best Sound Editing- Ai-Ling Lee and Mildred Iatrou
                • Make sure you check out this week’s Oscar Primer where Dakota goes over Florence Foster Jenkins, Kubo and the Two Strings and The Lobster. These Primers will be posted once a week on Tuesdays. 

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

                  The post 36: La La Figures appeared first on LIVE IN LIMBO.

                  25 min
                • 35: The Arrival of Hacksaw Ridge

                  This is the first Oscar Primer podcast for Contra Zoom, continuing the series of Oscar Primer’s Dakota does every year, normally just as written articles. He is flying solo this episode as he talks about Arrival and Hacksaw Ridge.

                  These are the nominations for Arrival

                  – Best Picture 

                  – Best Director

                  Denis Villeneuve 

                  – Best Adapted Screenplay

                  Eric Heisserer 

                  – Best Cinematography

                  Bradford Young 

                  – Best Film Editing

                  Joe Walker 

                  – Best Production Design

                  Patrice Vermette 

                  Paul Hotte 

                  – Best Sound Mixing

                  Bernard Gariépy Strobl 

                  Claude La Haye 

                  – Best Sound Editing

                  Sylvain Bellemare 

                  These are the nominations for Hacksaw Ridge

                  – Best Picture 

                  – Best Actor 

                  Andrew Garfield 

                  – Best Director

                  Mel Gibson 

                  – Best Film Editing

                  John Gilbert 

                  – Best Sound Mixing

                  Kevin O’Connell 

                  Andy Wright 

                  Robert Mackenzie 

                  Peter Grace 

                  – Best Sound Editing

                  Robert Mackenzie 

                  Andy Wright

                  Make sure you check out the first written Oscar Primer where Dakota goes over some first thoughts on the nominations for this year. These Primers will be posted once a week. 

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

                  The post 35: The Arrival of Hacksaw Ridge appeared first on LIVE IN LIMBO.

                  23 min
                • 34: Best Moments of 2016

                  Dakota Arsenault is proud to announce that Rachel Gordon will join Contra Zoom as the permanent co-host along with her new role as Associate Film Editor!

                  – You can check out Andreas Babiolakis’ Top 25 Films of 2016 and Top 25 Performances of 2016.

                  – You can find the top grossing films of 2016 HERE. 

                  – Dakota’s thoughts on trends: Great child acting this year (Sing Street, Hunt for the Wilderpeople, etc), DC movies suck but Marvel movies are still great, obsession with Letterboxd (Dakota’s profile), Jeff Nichols dominates 2016 with Midnight Special and Loving. 

                  Rachel’s thoughts on trends: Hidden Fences mistakes at The Golden Globes, adult superhero films (Deadpool, Logan), Netflix series are better than movies.

                  – Read Dakota’s review of Patriots Day if you want a good laugh.

                  – Movie watching goals for 2017: Dakota wants to watch more female directed films and Rachel is starting a personal film journal.

                  – Old movies that Dakota watched for the time and loved included The Killing, The Asphalt Jungle and Frankenstein while Rachel loved The Long Good Friday.

                  – Most disappointing films of 2016 for Dakota it was Triple 9 and American Pastoral for Rachel it was The Bad Batch.

                  – Movies we are excited for in 2017 (click for trailers)

                  Dakota: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Thor: Ragnarok, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Blade Runner 2049, War for the Planet of the Apes, Baby Driver (no trailer or teaser)

                  Rachel: Get Out, Wonder Woman, Logan, The Dark Tower (no trailer or teaser)

                  Follow Dakota @Dgapa on Twitter and Rachel on Instagram.

                   Ways to Subscribe to Contra Zoom Podcast:

                  • Subscribe via iTunes 
                  • Subscribe via RSS
                  • The post 34: Best Moments of 2016 appeared first on LIVE IN LIMBO.

                    1 hr 3 min
                  • 33: Divine Brown and Passing Strange

                    On this mini-episode Dakota Arsenault talks to the lovely and talented Divine Brown, who is most well known for her music career but she is about to star in the musical Passing Strange. 

                    Passing Strange is having its Toronto premiere later this month and it is a rock and roll epic that features a live band on stage accompanying the actors. It is being produced by Acting Up Stage Productions and Obsidian Theatre Company and it will be performed at The Opera House.

                    The show runs from January 24th-February 5th tickets can be purchased HERE.

                    Check out Divine Brown’s latest single Love Alibi.

                    Special thanks to penelopePR for setting the interview up and everyone at Acting Up and Obsidian.

                    Follow Dakota @Dgapa on Twitter.

                     Ways to Subscribe to Contra Zoom Podcast:

                    • Subscribe via iTunes 
                    • Subscribe via RSS
                    • The post 33: Divine Brown and Passing Strange appeared first on LIVE IN LIMBO.

                      13 min
                    • 32: In Memory of Bill Marshall and Praise of TIFF

                      This week Dakota is joined by Rachel Gordon to talk about the passing of TIFF founder Bill Marshall, who sadly passed away at the age of 77 on January 1st, 2017. 

                      Dakota and Rachel share some great quotes and stories that emerged in a fantastic obituary from TIFF, which include stories from the people who knew him best. 

                      TIFF while a massive film festival also celebrates Canadian film like no other including every ten years naming the best Canadian made films of all time. 

                      The People’s Choice Award has also gone to 5 eventual Best Picture Winners and an additional 9 nominees showing that Toronto is the first spot in awards contention.

                      Follow Dakota @Dgapa on Twitter and Rachel on Instagram.

                       Ways to Subscribe to Contra Zoom Podcast:

                      • Subscribe via iTunes 
                      • Subscribe via RSS
                      • The post 32: In Memory of Bill Marshall and Praise of TIFF appeared first on LIVE IN LIMBO.

                        27 min
                      • 31: Wings To Birdman 1968-1977 Part 2

                        On this episode the guys start talk about the forth edition of their Best Picture Winners revisits. The years are 1968-1977 (the 40th-49th Oscar winners).

                        In Part One the guys reveal their bottom five of the decade.

                        10. Oliver! 

                        9. Rocky 

                        8. Patton 

                        7. The French Connection 

                        6. One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest 

                        Here are the top five pictures in our rankings. Dakota’s ratings come first and Andreas’ second next to each film.

                        5. The Sting 8.2/10 9/10

                        4. Midnight Cowboy 8.5/10 9/10

                        3. Annie Hall 8.7/10 10/10

                        2. The Godfather Part 2 9/10 10/10

                        1. The Godfather Part 1 9.5/10 10/10

                        As usual we award the best performances and film with our own version of the Oscar’s!

                        Best Picture- The Godfather Part 1 for Dakota 

                        The Godfather Part 2 for Andreas

                        Best Actor- Jon Voight (Midnight Cowboy) for Dakota 

                        Al Pacino (The Godfather Part 2) for Andreas

                        Best Actress- Louise Fletcher (One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest) is both Dakota and Andreas’ pick

                        Best Supporting Actor- Brad Dourif (One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest) is Dakota’s pick

                        Robert de Nero (The Godfather Part 2) is Andreas’ pick

                        Best Supporting Actress- Talia Shire (The Godfather Part 2) is Dakota’s pick

                        Talia Shire (The Godfather) is Andreas’ pick

                        Music from this week’s episode comes from Silas Fiction an indie pop duo from Indiana. We had premiered their song Bad Company back in July. Their newest album Pairs, which came out on September 27th with a pay what you can formula from Bandcamp where all the proceeds are going to the fantastic organization Teach for America. You can also find the album on Spotify, Tidal and iTunes and where every else you get your music from.

                        Follow Dakota @Dgapa and Andreas @AndreasBabs on Twitter.

                         Ways to Subscribe to Contra Zoom Podcast:

                        • Subscribe via iTunes 
                        • Subscribe via RSS
                        • The post 31: Wings To Birdman 1968-1977 Part 2 appeared first on LIVE IN LIMBO.

                          1 hr 23 min
                        • 30: Halloween Movie Suggestions

                          This week Dakota Arsenault is joined by special guest Rachel Gordon as they talk about their favourite movies you should watch during the Halloween season! 

                          New Horror (1980’s on)- 

                          • Rachel suggests watching The Blair Witch Project
                          • Dakota suggests watching The Thing
                          • Classic Horror-

                            • Rachel suggests watching anything from Alfred Hitchcock specifically Psycho or The Birds
                            • Dakota suggests watching The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
                            • Comedy Horror-

                              • Rachel suggests watching The Rocky Horror Picture Show
                              • Dakota suggests watching Hot Fuzz
                              • Family Friendly-

                                • Rachel suggests watching Halloweentown
                                • Dakota suggests watching ParaNorman
                                • Thrillers-

                                  • Rachel suggests watching Scream
                                  • Dakota suggests watching Zodiac 
                                  • Follow Dakota @Dgapa on Twitter.

                                    Ways to Subscribe to Contra Zoom Podcast:

                                    • Subscribe via iTunes 
                                    • Subscribe via RSS
                                    • The post 30: Halloween Movie Suggestions appeared first on LIVE IN LIMBO.

                                      55 min
                                    • 29: TIFF 2016 Wrap-up

                                      Mehek Seyid joins Dakota and Andreas this week as they discuss the Toronto International Film Festival including the big winners and some other must sees.

                                      Links:

                                      – La La Land was the big winner taking home the People’s Choice award and both Andreas and Mehek are in sync lavishing even more praise on the Oscar front runner.

                                      – Jackie was another film both Mehek and Andreas saw with Natalie Portman getting some serious Oscar buzz for a Best Actress win.

                                      – Lion was the only film that made Mehek actually cry in the theatre, it’s that powerful!

                                      – Moonlight is a film that might sneak up on you and during awards seasons. 

                                      – Birth of a Nation gets some talk, minus the controversy aspect.

                                      – Loving is a film Andreas hopes gets more attention.

                                      – Nocturnal Animals is Tom Ford’s second film and is poised to be an attention grabber. 

                                      Music on this week’s episode is from The Alpacas and their song The Artifact. 

                                      Follow Mehek at @WhatTheMehek and listen to her on the Capsule Podcast. 

                                      Follow Dakota @Dgapa and Andreas @AndreasBabs on Twitter.

                                      Ways to Subscribe to Contra Zoom Podcast:

                                      • Subscribe via iTunes 
                                      • Subscribe via RSS
                                      • The post 29: TIFF 2016 Wrap-up appeared first on LIVE IN LIMBO.

                                        36 min

                                      About Contra Zoom

                                      From the publisher's feed

                                      15+ YEARS OF LIFESTYLE. MUSIC. CULTURE.