Proletarian Contrarian

Star Wars is dead; long live Star Wars. Friend of the show and subject matter expert Molly (@ mythofmadness) joins Lewis and Nick for an agonizing deep dive into "Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker" (2019). Tune in to learn why Reylo is exactly the ship that this misbegotten trilogy needed; to stan Babu Frik (blessed be his name); and to at long last put to rest our own personal obsessions with this crumbling cultural monolith.

Our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pro_con

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

"Blasterproof" from the Kinect Star Wars soundtrack

Strap in and count down with Lewis and Nick as they review Brian De Palma's "Mission to Mars" (2000), a film that essentially amounts to being the Dudes Rock version of "2001: A Space Odyssey." Packed with a stellar cast and some classic BDP flourishes, it's good enough to make you forget it was based off of a Disney ride.

Our Patreon: www.patreon.com/pro_con

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

"A Martian" by Ennio Morricone

Remember 2008? Lewis and Nick sure do, but if you don't, check out "Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay" (2008). Experience the thrills of low-hanging stoner and sex jokes. Feel the excitement of smug apolitical centrism. Relive the wonder of sir epic bacon himself, Neil Patrick Harris (random!!). A show-stopping performance by James Adomian as George W. Bush (America's Hitler, whose birthday happens to be 04/20 lol) isn't enough to save this musty flick.

Our Patreon: www.patreon.com/pro_con

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

"Gospel Weed Song" by Bizarre

Assistant Professor of German Paul (@ pdobryden) joins Lewis and Nick to discuss one of the most extraordinary figures of the film world, aristocratic failson extraordinaire Florian Maria Georg Christian Graf Henckel von Donnersmarck (real name). The product of a socialist mother and an anti-Communist father, Florian grew to become one of the most fascinating figures of contemporary cinema. We dive into various sources, including an interview in the National Review(!) to suss out the mystery behind this German count of bourgeois sentiment. We also discuss his 2010 film "The Tourist" for a bit, as a treat.

Our Patreon: www.patreon.com/pro_con

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

"Starlight" by Muse

Lewis and Nick jump back to the 80's for a post-mortem on Hal Ashby's final film, the neon-soaked neo-noir "8 Million Ways to Die" (1986). What begins as an awkward genre piece ends up as one of the more singular movies ever featured on the podcast. From a bizarre shootout in an empty warehouse to a nuanced depiction of alcoholism to Andy Garcia's rat tail, this flick does it all.

Our Patreon: www.patreon.com/pro_con

Outro narration by Jeff Bridges and Vyto Ruginis

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

Score by James Newton Howard

Okay, we got to the good non-Milius Conan. Join Lewis and Nick as they lustily gorge themselves on "Conan the Destroyer" (1984), a far more delectable meal than the 2011 reboot. Come for peak Schwarzenegger, stay for Grace Jones, Andre the Giant, Mako Iwamatsu, Wilt Chamberlain, and Tracey Walter all coming together to film a goofy, live-action D&D adventure.

Intro and outro narration by Mako

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

Join your Pro/Con boys as they review the contemporary 2020 documentary "RoboCop 3" (1993) and do everything in their power to talk about comics and shit instead. Truly awful, this entry in the illustrious RoboCop saga is a bonkers mishmash of screenwriter Frank Miller's Japanophile sensibilities and director Fred Dekker ripping off the first two films in the series. Tune in for tons of idiosyncratic Lewis/Nick content!

Our Patreon: www.patreon.com/pro_con

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

"Robocop 3 Theme" by Basil Poledouris

Our 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, for all its crass commercialism, has some real heart if you know where to find it.

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ABC Sunday Night Movie Intro www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGFQVLH-XSE

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

"Ewok Celebration (Yub Nub)" by John Williams and Ben Burtt

Take a backseat with Nick and listen to Lewis fanboying over Joe Dante and his 2003 film "Looney Tunes: Back in Action." A loving homage to all things Looney and Tuney, Dante also takes time to pack in as many references to classic science fiction as possible, and more than a few to the weirdo films of Classic Hollywood as well. Definitely one of the top-tier movies we've reviewed for the show, and one of the very real reasons Pro/Con even exists.

Our Patreon: www.patreon.com/pro_con

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

"The Merry Go Round Broke Down" by Dave Franklin and Cliff Friend, arranged by Jerry Goldsmith

Ripped straight from the sensational pages of Jack London comes 1972's "The Call of the Wild," the classic tale of a dog gone, uh, wild. Director Ken Annakin [sic] adds an interesting stylistic flourish, somewhat reminiscent of a roughly cut nature documentary. The film is a fine adaptation of London's classic, faithful in both depiction and tone. Plus the dogs are cute.

Our Patreon: www.patreon.com/pro_con

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

Score by Carlo Rustichelli