Proletarian Contrarian

New year, new decade, old Spidey, baby! That's right, Lewis and Nick kick off 2020 by revisiting "Spider-Man 3" (2007), a wonderful, heartfelt depiction of the beloved Marvel Comics icon that is objectively more faithful than the MCU's Spider-Tech Intern. A sprinkle of some messy Twitter drama adds a spicy note to the full body of this hearty review. Excelsior!

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/-)

"Spider-Man" (theme song from the 1967 cartoon)composed by Paul Francis Webster and Robert Harris

Lovely outtakes from Lewis and Nick's weekly ritual of garbling the same damn intro. Subscribe to our Patreon for more of our charming chemistry.

https://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/-)

A whole year of Pro/Con! We love to see it. That's why Lewis and Nick chose to close out the year with a strange little holiday film, "Mixed Nuts" (1994). It's chock-full of 90's comedy personas--woke short king Adam Sandler is a standout--and lazy Christmas humor. Come for Liev Schriber's problematic, yet memorable and affecting, first film role as a trans woman, and stay for Sandler's ukulele-backed crooning. Happy Holidays everyone!

CW: Discussion of suicide

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/-)

"The Night Before Christmas" by Carly Simon

"Grape Jelly" by Adam Sandler

Take some big dumb guy energy with you into the new Brexit decade--that's right, it's time for "Hellboy" (2019). Startlingly different from the del Toro films, the 2019 entry is overflowing with wonky CGI, horrific demon imagery, and shouting. Overambitious to a fault, "Hellboy" makes the case that some stories are best left in comics.

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/-)

"Hellboy" by Lil Peep

Well folks, we made it all the way to our 50th episode, and we knew we had to pick a special film for this one. That's why Lewis and Nick chose "Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever" (2002), one of the most internet-infamous flicks around. Too bad it kicks ass! Seriously, there's exactly one supremely-hated film that definitely does not deserve its 0% Rotten Tomatoes score, and it's this one.

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/-)

"Anytime" by Mary Griffin

Ivan Reitman's post-Ghostbusters content is groanworthy enough to turn the most hardened Internet Atheist into an Intelligent Design evangelical. Lewis and Nick review "Evolution" (2001), a painful would-be comedy on the level of midweek Comedy Central afternoon block flicks. Creative creature design and some decent performances aren't enough to elevate this stinker--best to let it sink into the murky depths of the primordial cinematic soup where it belongs.

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/-)

"You Are So Beautiful" by Seann William Scott

Going to emphasize the "Contrarian" half of our title and end Mobster Month with a bang: Part III is an excellent finale to "The Godfather" saga. Lewis and Nick firmly believe that every commonly-derided aspect of the film--the politics, the religion, Sofia Coppola--are worthy, essential aspects to the denouement of a masterful series. We've been going along with the critical consensus for most of our recent episodes, but just when we thought we were out...our kneejerk contrarianism pulled us back in.

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/-)

"Eh, Cumpari!" by Julius La Rosa

As organized crime threatens the fabric of American life, Mobster Month threatens the psyche of your Pro/Con boys. Join Lewis and Nick as they struggle to discuss their struggle to get through "The Kitchen" (2019), a tedious adaptation of a Vertigo comic book series. This flick is a true disservice to the talents of everyone involved, and we can honestly say that our digressive recap is more worthy of your time.

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/-)

"It's a Man's Man's Man's World' by Etta James

Pro/Con continues its dive into Mobster Month with, uh, "Mobsters" (1991), a smorgasbord of stereotypes that would be reductive and offensive if they were applied to anyone except the Italians. This flick is honestly less of a film and more of a collective fever dream hovering over Staten Island in perpetuity. In true podcast fashion, it serves as a springboard for Lewis and Nick to meander and blather about unrelated topics before focusing on the most important social issue of our era: the neoliberalism of organized crime.

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/-)

"Mambo Italiano" by Dean Martin

It's time for Mobster Month! We're kicking things off with "Shark Tale" (2004), a Dreamworks picture from the early, awkward days of the mainstream CGI era. Elements of note include eerily lifelike character models, dated references, something of a tiny Sopranos reunion, and Martin Scorsese's only voice acting role. Stick around for our post-review sequence which highlights the social value of ironic anti-Italian racism.

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/-)

"Car Wash" by Christina Aguilera featuring Missy Elliott