This week we discuss the 2023 American biographical sports drama film Air directed by Ben Affleck and starring Ben Affleck , Matt Damon, Jason Bateman, Marlon Wayans, Chris Messina, Chris Tucker and Viola Davis. The film is based on true events about the origin of Air Jordan, a basketball shoeline, of which a Nike employee tries to strike a busines…

This week we review the 2023 American biographical romantic drama film Maestro that centers on the relationship between American composer Leonard Bernstein and his wife Felicia Montealegre. It was directed by Bradley Cooper, from a screenplay he wrote with Josh Singer. It was produced by Cooper, Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg. The film stars …

This week we discuss 1989 American epic biographical anti-war drama film Born on the Fourth July directed by Oliver Stone, starring Tom Cruise, Willem Dafoe, Kyra Sedgwick, Tom Berenger, John C McGinley, Vivica Fox and many others. The Aussie had not seen this one and wow this really struck a chord with him. Both the boys are passionate and empathi…

This week we are delighted to welcome Ben King to the studio. Ben King is an on-set photographer. We hear about the good experiences and the not so good experiences within the movie industry. We hear about some of the biggest movies and biggest stars Ben has worked on and with. Ben tell us about his experience working on the Robbie Williams bio - B…

This week review the 1991 American action film Point Break directed by Kathryn Bigelow. It stars Patrick Swayze, Keanu Reeves, Lori Petty and Gary Busey. The film's title refers to the surfing term "point break", where a wave breaks as it hits a point of land jutting out from the coastline. The film features Reeves as an undercover FBI agent who is…

This week we review the 2011 American biographical sports drama film Moneyball written by Aaron Sorkin. This is an account of the Oakland Athletics baseball team's 2002 season and their general manager Billy Beane's attempts to assemble a competitive team. In the film, Beane (Brad Pitt) and assistant general manager Peter Brand (Jonah Hill), faced …

This week we are reviewing the 2024 biographical legal thriller The Correspondent directed by Kriv Stenders. The film stars Richard Roxburgh, Julian Maroun, Rahel Romahn, Yael Stone, and Mojean Aria. The plot focuses on Australian foreign correspondent and journalist Peter Greste, who was arrested in Cairo and held in an Egyptian prison, and is ada…

This week we review the 2023 epic biographical thriller drama film Oppenheimer written, directed, and produced by Christopher Nolan. It follows the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the American theoretical physicist who helped develop the first nuclear weapons during World War II. The film chronicles Oppenheimer's studies, his direction of the Los Al…

This week we review the 2007 American period drama film There Will Be Blood written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, loosely based on the 1927 novel Oil! by Upton Sinclair. It stars Daniel Day-Lewis, Paul Dano, Kevin J. O'Connor, Ciarán Hinds, and Dillon Freasier. The film was nominated for eight awards at the 80th Academy Awards, winning two …

This week we are in esteemed company as we welcome Marty Benson to the show. Marty is currently Director of Content for Melbourne for Endemol Shine Australia. Endemol Shine Australia is a part of Banijay, the world’s largest international TV and media content producer in the Southern Hemisphere. As an individual content producing company - the bigg…

This week we discuss the 2019 biographical musical drama film Rocketman based on the life, music, and career of British musician Elton John. The film focuses on the story of Elton in his early days in England as a prodigy at the Royal Academy of Music through his musical partnership with Bernie Taupin. The story is told through his music and is tit…

This week we review the 1975 American biographical crime drama film Dog Day Afternoon directed by Sidney Lumet and produced by Martin Bregman and Martin Elfand. The film stars Al Pacino, John Cazale, James Broderick and Charles Durning. The movie chronicles the 1972 robbery and hostage situation led by John Wojtowicz and Salvatore Naturile at a Cha…

This week we review the 1982 American romantic drama film An Officer and a Gentleman directed by Taylor Hackford starring Richard Gere, Debra Winger, and Louis Gossett Jr. It tells the story of Zack Mayo (Gere), a United States Navy Aviation Officer Candidate who is beginning his training at Aviation Officer Candidate School. Unsurprisingly this is…

This week we review the 2016 American drama film Manchester by the Sea written and directed by Kenneth Lonergan that stars Casey Affleck, Michelle Williams, Kyle Chandler, and Lucas Hedges. Revolving around the themes of depression, guilt, grief, responsibility, dysfunctional families, and post-traumatic stress disorder, the plot follows a depresse…

This week we discuss the 2010 American biographical drama film The Social Network directed by David Fincher and written by Aaron Sorkin. It portrays the founding of social networking website Facebook. It stars Jesse Eisenberg as Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, with Andrew Garfield as Eduardo Saverin, Justin Timberlake as Sean Parker, Armie Hammer…

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 ScotsmanBy 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…