Proletarian Contrarian

John Frankenheimer apparently predicted the future, because 1982's "The Challenge" is an eerily accurate depiction of the contemporary weeaboo. Scott Glenn plays Nick in another life as he stumbles his way to Japan, joins a secret samurai society, falls in love with the sensei's daughter, storms a brutalist/vaporwave evil stronghold, and wields a katana of destiny. Lewis is standing by to help you make it through Nick's mispronounced Japanese.

Our Patreon: www.patreon.com/pro_con

Outro -

"The Challenge" trailer

Music-

"when the struggle itself becomes identified with a series of defeats" by 红山郡 (hongshanjun.bandcamp.com/album/-)

Lewis and Nick dive deep into their consumerist-driven childhoods by reviewing "Godzilla" (1998) and reminiscing about its associated merchandise. A strange beast of the late 90's, Emmerich's would-be summer blockbuster can't live up to those golden halcyon memories of the Pro/Con boys.

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/-)

"Godzilla" by Blue Öyster Cult

Theme song from the 1978 Hanna-Barbera Godzilla cartoon series

"Come with Me" by Puff Daddy ft. Jimmy Page

In a Pro/Con first, Lewis and Nick interview director Wych "Kaos" Kaosayananda. Wych directed the film "Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever" as covered on Pro/Con in episode 50. After having heard the review, Wych reached out to the boys, and history was made. The trio discuss the trajectory of Wych's career, its highlights and lowlights, and where things stand in a world under quarantine.

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/-)

"Labrea Tar Pit" by Glass Candy (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Glass_Candy)

Pro/Con examines its oldest film to date, 1938's "You and Me" from seminal director Fritz Lang. A dud when released, this genre-bending rom com/musical/crime caper is something truly unique. Power couple George Raft and Sylvia Sidney lead a charming cast of ne'er-do-wells through the old-fashioned (and depressingly relevant) hellscape of retail work. This overlooked classic demands reevaluation.

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/-)

"Song of the Cash Register" by Kurt Weill and Sam Coslow

Lewis and Nick continue their streak of straight-up good movies with returning Pro/Con champion Ang Lee's "Gemini Man" (2019). This flick is best described as "the love child of Brian De Palma and John Woo," making it the best possible version of a third Mission Impossible . Incredible action, solid performances, and a striking thematic undercurrent more than make up for some bad de-aging effects.

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/-)

"Just the Two of Us" by Will Smith

Lewis and Nick continue their unsettling trend of enthusiastically appreciating the movies they recap with "Deacons for Defense" (2003), a retelling of the beginning of the titular organization. Director Bill Duke helms an incredible cast while employing a TV-movie budget to impressive effect. Sincerely moving, it is both regrettable and inspiring that this film continues to be so relevant.

NOTE: Local bail funds and activist organizations are most deserving of financial support at the moment. As mentioned in the episode, it is best to vet any organization before donation.

Official George Floyd Memorial Fund: https://www.gofundme.com/f/georgefloyd

Directory of Community Bail Funds: bit.ly/localbailfunds

Music-

"when the struggle itself becomes identified with a series of defeats" by 红山郡 (hongshanjun.bandcamp.com/album/-)

"The Cities Are Burning" by Jimmy Collier and Frederick Douglass Kirkpatrick (co-founder of the Deacons for Defense and Justice)

As America implodes in real time, Lewis, Nick, and special guest Lucas (@ OofMadonn) take a moment to return to the warm, ska-infused nostalgia of "Digimon: The Movie" (2000). A truly bizarre product, the flick isn't really one solid narrative, it's basically three TV specials stitched together. Some sharply animated sequences, a few truly hilarious moments, and the threat of internet blackout and nuclear annihilation keep this curiosity relevant.

Our Patreon: www.patreon.com/pro_con

Coronamon: https://digimon.fandom.com/wiki/Coronamon

Music-

"when the struggle itself becomes identified with a series of defeats" by 红山郡 (hongshanjun.bandcamp.com/album/-)

"Digi Rap" by MC Pea Pod and Paul Gordon

Lewis and Nick examine the podcast-to-fash pipeline by discussing the biopic "Geronimo: An American Legend" (1993), written by arch-fascist John Milius. While this Revisionist Western exults in the less savory aspects of the Spartan-Zen ethos, it also explores the truly horrendous actions of the U.S. government against Native Americans through a critical lens. This sentiment, Walter Hill's direction, along with a collection of stellar performances from the lead and background actors in some truly gorgeous shooting locations, make for a memorable, tragically true story.

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/-)

"Geronimo: Main Title" by Ry Cooder

Roll up your attributes, fill out your character sheets, and self-select into your chosen races (predicated upon skull shape)--it's time for a session of "Dungeons & Dragons" (2000)! The bane of geeks across the realm, it's nothing if not well suited to its source material. Hovering somewhere between "enthusiastic fan film" and "entertaining dreck," this flick at least has the decency to give Lewis and Nick a springboard to scrutinize the game itself.

Our Patreon: www.patreon.com/pro_con

Outro: D&D animated series opening (1983-1985)

Music-

"when the struggle itself becomes identified with a series of defeats" by 红山郡 (hongshanjun.bandcamp.com/album/-)

Martin Scorsese makes his big Pro/Con debut with "Boxcar Bertha" (1972). As Marty's second feature film, its roughly hewn aesthetic is a perfect match for its subject material. Leftist criminal exploitation film never looked so good, or felt so relevant to what's going on today.

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/-)

Score by Gib Guilbeau and Thad Maxwell