This week we review - for the 2nd time - the 1990 American biographical gangster film Goodfellas directed by Martin Scorsese. Except this time we review it with Australian TV and movie star Pia Miranda. If you haven't listened check out our interview with Pia here: https://aussiescot24.podbean.com/e/interview-with-pia-miranda/?token=5f56c4c635af82f…

This week we discuss the 2016 American black comedy crime film War Dogs directed by Todd Phillips. The film follows two arms dealers, Efraim Diveroli (Jonah Hill) and David Packouz (Miles Teller), who receive a U.S. Army contract to supply ammunitions for the Afghan National Army worth approximately $300 million. It's not a classic by any means, bu…

This week we review the 2016 epic biographical war film Hacksaw Ridge directed by Mel Gibson based on the 2004 documentary The Conscientious Objector directed by Terry Benedict. The film focuses on the World War II experiences of Desmond Doss, an American pacifist combat medic who, as a Seventh-day Adventist Christian, refused to carry or use a wea…

This week we review the 2009 biographical sports film Invictus directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon, making it the third collaboration between Eastwood and Freeman after Unforgiven (1992) and Million Dollar Baby (2004). The story is based on the events in South Africa before and during the 1995 Rugby World Cup. The …

This week we review the 2017 American biographical musical drama film The Greatest Showman directed by Michael Gracey. The film stars Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron, Michelle Williams, Rebecca Ferguson, and Zendaya. Featuring nine original songs written by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, and an original musical orchestral score the film is a heavily fictional…

This week we discuss the 1995 epic Vegas mobster film Casino directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone, Joe Pesci, Kevin Pollak and James Woods. The Aussie had not seen this one. He prefers this movie to Goodfellas. It is the 11th collaboration between De Niro and Scorcese. Michael Franzese, an American former mobster, s…

This week we review the 1988 American crime thriller film Mississippi Burning directed by Alan Parker that is loosely based on the 1964 investigation into the deaths of Chaney, Goodman, and Schwerner in Mississippi. It stars Gene Hackman and Willem Dafoe as two FBI agents investigating the disappearance of three civil rights workers in fictional Je…

This week we review the 1986 musical fantasy film Labyrinth directed by Jim Henson with George Lucas as executive producer. The film was written by Terry Jones, and many of its characters are played by puppets produced by Jim Henson's Creature Shop. The film stars Jennifer Connelly as 16-year-old Sarah and David Bowie as Jareth, the Goblin King. In…

Following the furore and backlash from our recent review of Duel we read out some emails and letters received from listeners. Who do you agree with? The Aussie who absolutely detests the move - and thinks it is boring, disgraceful and a waste of time or the Scotsman who appreciates this classic for what it is and what it stands for. Let us know in …

This week we review the 1971 American road action-thriller television film Duel directed by Steven Spielberg. It centers on a traveling salesman David Mann (Dennis Weaver) driving his car through rural California to meet a client. However, he finds himself chased and terrorized by the mostly unseen driver of a semi-truck. This is the podcast that c…

This week we review the 2022 American action drama film Top Gun: Maverick directed by Joseph Kosinski . This is a sequel to the 1986 film Top Gun. Tom Cruise reprises his starring role as the naval aviator Maverick. It also stars Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Glen Powell, Monica Barbaro, Lewis Pullman, Ed Harris and Val Kilmer, who rep…

This week we review the 1986 American action drama film Top Gun directed by Tony Scott and produced by Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer. It stars Tom Cruise as Lieutenant Pete "Maverick" Mitchell, a young naval aviator aboard the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise. He and his radar intercept officer, Lieutenant (junior grade) Nick "Goose" Bradshaw (A…

This week we discuss the 2017 British biographical war drama film Darkest Hour about Winston Churchill in his early days as Prime Minister of the UK during the second world war depicting his refusal to seek a peace treaty with Nazi Germany amid their advance into Western Europe. Starring Gary Oldman as Churchill with Kristen Scott Thomas, Lily Jame…

This week we are delighted to welcome Pia Miranda to the podcast. Pia is a well known Australian actress, writer and presenter. Pia kicked off her career in Neighbours, then had her break out role as Josie in Looking for Alibrandi. Pia played Jodie Spiteri in Wentworth has starred in several short films, was a recurring guest on All Saints, The Sec…

This week we review the 1967 American prison drama film directed by Stuart Rosenberg, starring Paul Newman and featuring George Kennedy in an Oscar-winning performance. Newman stars in the title role as Luke, a prisoner in a Florida prison camp who refuses to submit to the system. Set in the early 1950s, it is based on Donn Pearce's 1965 novel Cool…

This week we review the 2007 American neo-Western crime thriller film No Country for Old Men written, directed, produced and edited by Joel and Ethan Coen. Starring Tommy Lee Jones, Oscar Winner Javier Bardem, and Josh Brolin, the film is set in the desert landscape of 1980 West Texas. The film follows three main characters: Llewelyn Moss (Brolin),…

This week we review the 1980 psychological horror film The Shining produced and directed by Stanley Kubrick. It is based on Stephen King's 1977 novel of the same name and stars Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Danny Lloyd and Scatman Crothers. The film presents the descent into insanity of a recovering alcoholic and aspiring novelist (Nicholson) who…

This week we discuss the 2001 American crime thriller film Training Day directed by Antoine Fuqua. It stars Denzel Washington in his Oscar winning role as Alonzo Harris and Ethan Hawke (who was nominated for best supporting actor) as Jake Hoyt, two LAPD narcotics officers followed over a 24-hour period in the gang-ridden neighborhoods of South Cent…

This week we review the 2018 biographical comedy-drama film directed by Peter Farrelly. Starring Viggo Mortensen and Mahershala Ali, the film is inspired by the true story of a 1962 tour of the Deep South by African American pianist Don Shirley and ItalianAmerican bouncer and later actor Frank "Tony Lip" Vallelonga, who served as Shirley's driver a…

This podcast is dedicated to our great mates Justin (31) and Scott (21) who passed away way too early. This week we review the 1995 American crime film Heat written and directed by Michael Mann. It features an ensemble cast led by Al Pacino and Robert De Niro, with Tom Sizemore, Jon Voight, and Val Kilmer in supporting roles. The film follows the c…

This week we review the 2024 American biographical musical drama film A Complete Unknown directed by James Mangold, who co-wrote the screenplay with Jay Cocks, about American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan. Based on the 2015 book Dylan Goes Electric! by Elijah Wald, the film portrays Dylan through his earliest folk music success until the momentous co…

This week we review the 1974 American thriller film Jaws directed by Steven Spielberg. One of Spielberg early thrillers and wow - if you've seen it you know. This is about a man-eating great white shark terrorising and chomping beachgoers at a summer resort town. And if you're like the Scotsman it might have put you off ocean swimming for life. 10m…

This week we review the 2023 black comedy thriller film Saltburn written, directed, and co-produced by Emerald Fennell, starring Barry Keoghan, Jacob Elordi, Rosamund Pike, Richard E. Grant, Alison Oliver, Archie Madekwe and Carey Mulligan. Set in Oxford and Northamptonshire, it focuses on a student at Oxford who becomes fixated with a popular, ari…

Welcome to Season 2. We discuss some of the movies and guests coming up in what is a short intro to the season. Enjoy. Rohan and Rob The Aussie and the Scotsmanโดย Aussie and The Scotsman

This week for our final show of the year we look back on the year that was. We countdown our top 5 movies, the podcasts we enjoyed and the ones we did not. We give a teaser for some of the upcoming movies we are reviewing and we get a little self-indulgent for a while. Thanks to our guests and you the listeners we are back February 1st 2025 with mo…

This week we review the 2014 American science fiction action film Edge of Tomorrow directed by Doug Liman. Starring Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt. The film takes place in a future where most of Europe is occupied by an alien race. Major William Cage (Cruise), a public relations officer with no combat experience, is forced by his superiors to join a la…

Today, we have an exclusive interview with Australian actor Kick Gurry, right here in our Melbourne studio. Kick has built an impressive career in both Australian and international film and TV, known for his versatility and charismatic screen presence. His breakout role as Jacob Coote in Looking for Alibrandi (2000) brought him critical acclaim, an…

This week we have surprised the Aussie with a Scottish slang word quiz following on from our previous podcast on Trainspotting. Words like "boggin". "numpty", "haver" and "messages". We spell it and put it in a sentence. The Scotsman bursts into song at every given opportunity and Cassie shines. And please, stick around to hear the Aussie do a Scot…

This week we review the 1996 British black comedy drama film Trainspotting directed by Danny Boyle, and starring Ewan McGregor, Ewen Bremner, Jonny Lee Miller, Kevin McKidd, Robert Carlyle and Kelly Macdonald in her film debut. Based on the 1993 novel by Irvine Welsh, the film follows a group of heroin addicts in an economically depressed area of E…

This week we review the 2006 American epic crime thriller film The Departed directed by Martin Scorsese. It is both a remake of the 2002 Hong Kong film Infernal Affairs and also loosely based on the real-life Boston Winter Hill Gang; the character Colin Sullivan is based on the corrupt FBI agent John Connolly, while the character Frank Costello is …

This week we discuss the 1997 American drama film Good Will Hunting directed by Gus Van Sant and written by Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. The movie stars Affleck and Damon as well as Robin Williams, Stellan Skarsgard, Minnie Driver, Casey Afflect and Cole Hauser. The film tells the story of janitor Will Hunting (Matt Damon), whose mathematical genius…

This week we review the 2004 American romantic drama film The Notebook directed by Nick Cassavetes, based on the 1996 novel of the same name by Nicholas Sparks. The film stars Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams as a young couple who fall in love in the 1940s. Their story is read from a notebook in the present day by an elderly man, telling the tale to…

This week we review the 1999 American fantasy crime drama film The Green Mile written and directed by Frank Darabont and based on the 1996 novel of the same name by Stephen King. It stars Tom Hanks as a death row prison guard during the Great Depression who witnesses supernatural events following the arrival of an enigmatic convict (Michael Clarke …

This week we discuss 1999 American sports drama film Any Given Sunday directed by Oliver Stone depicting a professional American football team. The film stars an incredible ensemble cast including Al Pacino, Cameron Diaz, Dennis Quaid, Jamie Foxx, James Woods, LL Cool J, Ann Margaret, Lauren Holly, Matthew Modine, John C McGinley and Charlton Hesto…

This week we review the 1987 American supernatural black comedy horror film The Lost Boys directed by Joel Schumacher. The film's ensemble cast includes Corey Feldman, Jami Gertz, Corey Haim, Edward Herrmann, Barnard Hughes, Jason Patric, Kiefer Sutherland, and Dianne Wiest. The film follows two teenage brothers (Corey Feldman and Corey Haim) who m…

This week we are reviewing the 2019 South Korean black comedy thriller film Parasite directed by 3 time oscar winning director Bong Joon Ho. Not one for subtitled movies the Aussie was very surprised by how much he enjoyed this. The Scotsman stuffs up the plot explanation multiple times and the Aussie does not let him off "high level" he says This …

This week we review the 2016 American period drama film Fences directed by Denzel Washington. It stars Washington and Viola Davis (who won best supporting actress) in the main roles. It follows a working-class African-American father who tries to raise his family in the 1950s, while coming to terms with the events of his life. If you love good qual…

This week we review the 1997 American epic romantic disaster film directed and written by James Cameron. It is based on the account of the sinking of RMS Titanic in 1912 and stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet as members of different social classes who fall in love during the ship's maiden voyage. Finally, some class comes to the podcast with …

This week we review the 1985 American indie teen coming-of-age comedy-drama film The Breakfast Club written, produced, and directed by John Hughes. It stars Emilio Estevez, Paul Gleason, Anthony Michael Hall, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald, and Ally Sheedy. The film tells the story of five teenagers from different high school cliques who serve a Satur…

This week we review the 2004 American sports drama film Million Dollar Baby directed by and starring Clint Eastwood. Winner of 4 Oscars - best picture, best director, best actress (Hilary Swank) and best supporting actor (for Morgan Freeman), the film follows Margaret "Maggie" Fitzgerald (Swank), an underdog amateur boxer who is helped by a grumpy …

This week we review the 2013 American thriller film Prisoners directed by Denis Villeneuve. The movie stars Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhall, Viola Davis, Paul Dano and Terrence Howard. It's a simple premise. You child is kidnapped. What would you do to get them back? This is a vigorous podcast. The boys are feisty. Tensions are at an all time high. W…

This week we review the 2017 American psychological horror film Get Out written, co-produced, and directed by Jordan Peele in his directorial debut. It stars Daniel Kaluuya as a young black man who uncovers shocking secrets when he meets the family of his white girlfriend. We are delighted to have the Scotsman's eldest son Max making his debut on t…

This week we review the 2019 American biographical film Richard Jewell directed by Clint Eastwood. We promise you - this is the movie you didn't know you had to see. If you have time try and watch before you listen to this podcast. It is one of our favourite movies and reviews of all time - an incredible injustice story. It had us angry, it has us …

This week we review a 1975 American psychological drama film One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest. The film stars Jack Nicholson as a new patient at a mental institution, alongside Louise Fletcher as a sadistic nurse with a great supporting cast. Winner of all 5 Academy Awards it was nominated for including Oscars for Nicholson and Fletcher this is an a…

This week we review the 2023 fantasy comedy film Barbie directed by Greta Gerwig. It is the first live-action Barbie film and it stars Margot Robbie as the title character and Ryan Gosling as Ken, the film follows them on a journey of self-discovery through Barbieland and the real world following an existential crisis. It is also a commentary regar…

This week we discuss the 2013 American biographical black comedy film The Wolf of Wall Street directed by Martin Scorsese. The story is based on Jordan Belfort's 2007 memoir of the same name. It recounts Belfort's career as a stockbroker in New York City and how his firm, Stratton Oakmont, engaged in rampant corruption and fraud on Wall Street, lea…

This week we review the 2019 American drama film Marriage Story written and directed by Noah Baumbach. It stars Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver as a couple going through a bi-coastal divorce complicated by custody issues surrounding their son. Laura Dern, Alan Alda, Ray Liotta, Julie Hagerty, and Merritt Wever appear in supporting roles. Neither…

This week we review and compare the original 1989 Patrick Swayze, American action film Roadhouse directed by Joel Silver and the 2024 remake with Jake Gyllenhaall and Conor McGregor. The Aussie had not seen either of them and the Scotsman interrupts his intro and accuses him of chat GPT-ing his words. It's an up and down ride from there - lots of b…

This week we discuss the 2008 movie Taken starring Liam Neeson and Maggie Grace. Rohan had not seen this one but both boys love it. So much so they recreate the famous "I don't know who you are" monologue. Who does it better? Let's be honest The Aussie butchers it- the Scotsman is mildly better. We discuss parenting along the way - and ask how old …

This week we review the 2012 French action-thriller film Taken 2 starring Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Famke Janssen and Rade Šerbedžija. It follows retired CIA officer Bryan Mills as he takes his family to Istanbul, where he is kidnapped, along with his ex-wife, by the father of one of the men he killed while saving his daughter two years earlier. I…