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Contra Zoom Pod
Contra Zoom Pod episodes
- 315: 2025 Vancouver International Film Festival
The 44th edition of the Vancouver International Film Festival just concluded and we are here to talk about some of our favourite films that played! Joining Dakota and Matthew is Darren Zakus from Movie Scene Canada.
The guys talk about Deathstalker and A Welcome Distraction (Dakota's picks), Wrong Husband and Blue Heron (Matthew's picks) and Blue Moon and Is This Thing On? (Darren's picks).
Read Dakota's reviews of Blue Moon and A Welcome Distraction.
Read Matthew's reviews of Wrong Husband and Blue Heron.
Read Darren's review of Blue Moon.
Read Jeff Bulmer's review of Wrong Husband and listen to his interview with Zacharias Kunuk.
For more of Matthew's work check out his personal portfolio. Follow him on Bluesky and Threads.
Follow Darren Zakus on Twitter and Instagram.
Follow Contra Zoom on Instagram, Threads and Bluesky.
Check out more great Contra Zoom content on That Shelf!
Listen to Contra Zoom on Anchor, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play, Overcast, Breaker and more!
Please rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. For more information, visit contrazoompod.com.
Create your podcast today! #madeonzencastr
1 hr 1 min - 314: TIFF Interview with Zacharias Kunuk
Even though the Toronto International Film Festival is over, we have a very special interview for listeners. Zacharias Kunuk, best known for his 2001 film Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner, sat down with Jeff Bulmer to discuss his latest film Wrong Husband (Uiksaringitara).
Check out Jeff's review of Wrong Husband (Uiksaringitara).
If you haven't listened to our TIFF wrap up podcast, check out episode 313.
Follow Jeff's podcast Classic Movies Live on Twitter and Instagram and listen to his episode recapping TIFF.
Follow Contra Zoom on Instagram, Threads and Bluesky.
Check out more great Contra Zoom content on That Shelf!
Listen to Contra Zoom on Anchor, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play, Overcast, Breaker and more!
34 min - 313: 2025 Toronto International Film Festival
With the conclusion of the 50th edition of TIFF (TIFFTY), we look back at some of the films we saw, discuss the winners of the People's Choice Awards and name our own top 3 films. Joining Dakota and Jeff is Thomas Stoneham-Judge the owner of For Reel and Darren Zakus the lead critic at Movie Scene Canada.
Movies discussed include The Christophers and Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (Dakota), Dead Man's Wire and The Ugly (Jeff), Hedda and Tuner (Thomas), Carolina Caroline and Obsession (Darren).
Read about Chloe Zhao making history being the first two time PCA winner.
Read Dakota's reviews of Rental Family, The Smashing Machine and Nouvelle Vague.
Read Jeff's reviews of The Testament of Ann Lee, Sacrifice and Dry Leaf.
Read Darren's reviews of John Candy: I Like Me, Modern Whore and Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery.
Read Thomas' 6 Must See Hidden Gems From TIFF.
Follow Darren Zakus on Twitter and Instagram.
Follow For Reel on Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. Follow Thomas on Twitter and Instagram.
Follow Jeff's podcast Classic Movies Live on Twitter and Instagram.
Check out Dakota's Letterboxd list of films watched.
Follow Contra Zoom on Instagram, Threads and Bluesky.
Check out more great Contra Zoom content on That Shelf!
Listen to Contra Zoom on Anchor, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play, Overcast, Breaker and more!
1 hr 49 min - 312: TIFF50 Preview
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Toronto International Film Festival. Dakota and Jeff each pick 3 under the radar choices of movies you should have on your radar. Dakota's choices are Roofman, Steal Away and Modern Whore. Jeff's choices are Eagles of the Republic, Dust Bunny and Kokuho.
Check out Jeff's festival preview over on Classic Movies Live with fellow CZP contributor Pedro Lima.
Check out another festival preview Dakota does over on the All My Friends Are Movie Fans show.
Stay tuned for tons of great TIFF coverage including reviews and a wrap up podcast.
Follow Contra Zoom on Instagram, Threads and Bluesky.
Check out more great Contra Zoom content on That Shelf!
Listen to Contra Zoom on Anchor, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play, Overcast, Breaker and more!
40 min - 311: Rashomon at 75 Years
In August of 1950, Akria Kurosawa released his seminal film, Rashomon where a trial of a crime is unfolded through four different perspectives showing us how flimsy "the truth" can be. On it's 75th anniversary we review the film and discuss its ongoing legacy. Martyn Strange from the Filmsplaining podcast joins Dakota and Jeff.
Listen to previous movie milestone episodes like those covering Seven Samurai, The Red Shoes, Halloween and more.
Check out some of Jeff's Fantasia reviews including $POSITIONS, All You Need Is Kill and Juliet and the King. Also listen to his Classic Movies Live episode covering Eddington and The Smurfs, the festivals opening night films.
Check out Dakota's reviews of Every Heavy Thing and Lurker from the festival.
Follow Martyn on YouTube, Instagram and Threads. Check out Dakota's appearance on episode 304: Scott Pilgrim vs. the World & Takes Off of Filmsplaining.
Follow Contra Zoom on Instagram, Threads and Bluesky.
Check out more great Contra Zoom content on That Shelf!
Listen to Contra Zoom on Anchor, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play, Overcast, Breaker and more!
1 hr 24 min - 310: A24 Retrospective - Oasis: Supersonic
We continue our series going through the entire catalog of A24's films. On this episode Dakota and Matthew are looking at 2016's Oasis: Supersonic directed Mat Whitecross. The documentary follows the creation and rise of the Britpop band culminating in their Knebworth Festival headlining performance in front of 250,000 people in 1996. Joining the show is Alex Watson.
Our double bill pairings include Better Man (Dakota's pick), Pulp: A Film About Life, Death and Supermarkets (Matthew's pick) and Dig! (Alex’s pick). See our complete A24 Double Bill Pairings on Letterboxd.
Read Dakota's review Rockfield: The Studio on the Farm as mentioned on the show.
Follow Alex Watson on Twitter and Letterboxd. Buy Alex's book The Pieces We Carry on Amazon!
For more of Matthew's work check out his personal portfolio. Follow him on Bluesky and Threads.
Follow Contra Zoom on Instagram, Threads and Bluesky.
Check out more great Contra Zoom content on That Shelf!
Listen to Contra Zoom on Anchor, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play, Overcast, Breaker and more!
Please rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. For more information, visit contrazoompod.com.
Create your podcast today! #madeonzencastr
1 hr 1 min - 309: Best Films By City
Every year to celebrate Dakota's birthday, he picks a topic and names his favourite films by that category. This year he picked the 10 most popular filming locations in North America, including NYC, Las Vegas, Chicago and more and named the best film by these cities.
Joining Dakota is Bil Antoniou, host of the Bad Gay Movies and Riviera Rats podcasts. Here are their picks, with Dakota's first and Bil's second.
NYC - Midnight Cowboy, Hannah and Her Sisters
Chicago - The Blues Brothers, Return To Me
LA - Singin' in the Rain, Who Framed Roger Rabbit
Boston - The Town, The Bostonians
San Fransisco - Bullitt, Vertigo
DC - All The President's Men, Born Yesterday
Las Vegas - The Hangover, Diamonds Are Forver
Philadelphia - Creed, Blow Out
Toronto - Enemy, Dead Ringers
Montreal - Red Rooms, Jesus of Montreal
Follow Bil on Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. Check out Bad Gay Movies and Riviera Rats on Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Follow Contra Zoom on Instagram, Threads and Bluesky.
Check out more great Contra Zoom content on That Shelf!
Listen to Contra Zoom on Anchor, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play, Overcast, Breaker and more!
Please rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. For more information, visit contrazoompod.com.
Create your podcast today! #madeonzencastr
1 hr 32 min - 308: 2025 Canadian Screen Awards
The 2025 Canadian Screen Awards were handed out from May 30-June 1st and the television portion was hosted by Lisa Gilroy. Universal Language and The Apprentice were the big winners. We look at ten categories and discuss the winners and Dakota, Matthew and Jeff pick our own favourites.
Check out our collection of CSA nominated film reviews that cover 22 different movies.
Check out Jeff Bulmer’s Letterboxd list and Matthew Simpson put together where to watch all of the nominees.
For more of Matthew's work check out his personal portfolio. Follow him on Bluesky and Threads.
Follow Jeff's podcast Classic Movies Live on Twitter and Instagram.
Follow Contra Zoom on Instagram, Threads and Bluesky.
Check out more great Contra Zoom content on That Shelf!
Listen to Contra Zoom on Anchor, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play, Overcast, Breaker and more!
Please rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. For more information, visit contrazoompod.com.
Create your podcast today! #madeonzencastr
1 hr 36 min - 307: Mission: Impossible - Ranked
Your mission, should you choose to accept it is to listen to Dakota and Matthew rank the Mission: Impossible films to celebrate the release of the 8th entry (and possibly last film in the series?) , The Final Reckoning. Joining the show is former co-host Rachel Ho the film editor at Exclaim!
Our Rankings
8. Final Reckoning (time stamp for spoilers 9:30 for general discussion and 19:30 for big spoilers)
7. M:I-II
6. Dead Reckoning (spoiler warning for Final Reckoning at 38:35)
5. Mission: Impossible
4. Rogue Nation
3. Ghost Protocol
2. M:I-III
1. Fallout
Back in 2023 Rachel ranked the top 5 Mission: Impossible stunts.
Follow Rachel on Instagram, bookmark The Asian Cut and check out her website for more great reviews.
For more of Matthew's work check out his personal portfolio. Follow him on Bluesky and Threads.
Follow Contra Zoom on Instagram, Threads and Bluesky.
Check out more great Contra Zoom content on That Shelf!
Listen to Contra Zoom on Anchor, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play, Overcast, Breaker and more!
Please rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. For more information, visit contrazoompod.com.
Create your podcast today! #madeonzencastr
1 hr 36 min - 306: 2025 Hot Docs
The 2025 edition of Hot Docs ran from April 24-May 4th, and we recap six of the films we watched including Ultras, Coexistence, My Ass!, The Flamenco Guitar of Yerai Cortés, The Secret Lives of My Three Men, Always and Writing Hawa. Joining Dakota and Jeff is Pedro Lima, a writer for Contra Zoom Pod.
Check out Dakota's reviews of Paul, and The Secret Lives of My Three Men.
Check out Jeff's reviews of I Dreamed His Name, Shamed and Endless Cookie.
Check out Pedro's reviews of The Flamenco Guitar of Yerai Cortés, Yalla Parkour, Khartoum, Mama and My Boyfriend the Fascist.
Watch C. Tangana's music video for the song Oliveira Dos Cen Anos.
Follow Pedro on Threads, Instagram and Letterboxd.
Follow Jeff's podcast Classic Movies Live on Twitter and Instagram.
Follow Contra Zoom on Instagram, Threads and Bluesky.
Check out more great Contra Zoom content on That Shelf!
Listen to Contra Zoom on Anchor, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play, Overcast, Breaker and more!
Please rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. For more information, visit contrazoompod.com.
Create your podcast today! #madeonzencastr
1 hr 22 min
About Contra Zoom Pod
From the publisher's feed
Contra Zoom is a film based podcast going in depth about varying movie related subjects. Dakota Arsenault and guests go over both academic and the fun aspects of enjoying the film medium. Episodes…
feature lists, interviews and comparisons. Visit contrazoompod.com for more details!
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