About this episode

The episode ranks the top 10 films of 2025 with guest Matthew Simpson and features voicemails from listeners sharing their favorite films.

Now that Oscar season has come and gone, it is finally time to put a bow on the films from 2025. We rank our top 10 films of the year. Joining the show is Matthew Simpson . We also feature voicemails from friends of the show who name their favourite film of the year. Dakota's List: 10. The Secret Agent 9. Train Dreams 8. Predator: Badlands 7. The Alabama Solution 6. Is This Thing On? 5. Sentimental Value 4. Nouvelle Vague 3. Black Bag 2. It Was Just An Accident 1. One Battle After Another Matthew's List: 10. Reflection in a Dead Diamond 9. Wrong Husband 8. Warfare 7. Foreigner 6. Weapons 5. Wake Up Dead Man 4. Superman 3. Black Bag 2. 28 Years Later 1. Train Dreams Thank you our special guests for sending in voicemails of their favourite films: Bil Antoniou from Bad Gay Movies and Riviera Rats (Orwell: 2+2=5), Randy Meehan from Cinema Cave Press (Train Dreams), Rachel Ho from Exclaim (Eephus), Marta Djordjevic from Rewind and Revive (No Other Choice), Elysia Brenner from The Lorehounds (28 Years Later) and Martyn Strange from Filmsplaining (One Battle After Another). For more of Matthew's work check out his ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠personal portfolio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ . Follow him on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠ and…

People in this episode

Host: Dakota Arsenault

Guest: Matthew Simpson

Topics covered

• film ranking
• Oscar season
• top films
• guest appearances
• voicemails

Keywords

• best films
• 2025 movies
• film reviews
• Oscar season
• top 10 films

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Bad Gay Movies, Riviera Rats, Cinema Cave Press, Exclaim, Rewind and Revive, The Lorehounds, Filmsplaining

Books & works: The Secret Agent, Train Dreams, Predator: Badlands, The Alabama Solution, Is This Thing On?, Sentimental Value, Nouvelle Vague, Black Bag, It Was Just An Accident, One Battle After Another

More episodes of Contra Zoom Pod

• 335: Interview with Tommy Avallone of MySpace · May 28, 2026 · 42 min
• 334: 2026 Hot Docs · May 19, 2026 · 1h 31m
• 331: 2026 Canadian Screen Award Nominations · March 30, 2026 · 1h 11m
• 330: Interview With Alireza Khatami of The Things You Kill · March 24, 2026 · 26 min
• 329: 2026 Oscar Wrap Up · March 16, 2026 · 1h 7m
• 328: 2026 Oscar Predictions · March 9, 2026 · 1h 17m

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