The Last Video Store

Not just the expert on North Korean cinema and hoax authors, Dr Anna Broinowski is one of Australia’s greatest investigative documentarians. Her riveting works include FORBIDDEN LIE$, AIM HIGH IN CREATION and PAULINE HANSON: PLEASE EXPLAIN. Through these and more she’s won a Walkley, 3 AFI/AACTAs, the Al Jazeera Golden Award and even a fricking WGA prize. Anna’s latest work is her memoir DATSUN ANGEL: A true-story adventure inside the savage heart of 1980s Australia - “it’s a feminist Mad Max on really bad 80s speed”.  Alexei’s never had a bigger hero than his mentor Anna Broinowski so it’s an honour to walk her through the shelves to pick out a rental combo of a recent Oscar-winning gothic oddity, a cult classic of experimental Danish documentary cinema and a North Korean Kaiju monster flick with the wildest backstory you’ve never heard + a staff pick recommendation from Alexei for all those looking for a great hoax. Watch the full video on YOUTUBEFollow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists. Here’s Anna’s rental combo list.  Music & sounds by Rowan Dix Produced & Edited by Alex Jae and Xanon Murphy  Art by Hollow Bones Studio See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Announcing Top End Bub, the follow-up to one of the best Australian romantic comedies ever, Miranda Tapsell stops by The Last Video Store. Turning in incredible performances in THE DRY, THE ARTFUL DODGER and so much more Miranda has cemented her reputation as one of Australia’s finest actors. And as you’re about to learn, Miranda Tapsell can even do a dead-on Nicolas Cage impression.  Miranda’s rental combo includes a future holiday classic, an Oscar-winning performance from one of the great music icons, a breakout hit of French cinema that inspired a global bob haircut epidemic and an underseen New York rom-com staff pick from guru Alexei Toliopoulos. Watch the full ep on YOUTUBE Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists. Here’s Miranda’s list on Letterboxd.  Music & sounds by Rowan Dix Produced & Edited by Alex Jae and Xanon Murphy  Art by Hollow Bones Studio See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Celebrating the release of some homegrown horror we’re joined by the directors and star of LATE NIGHT WITH THE DEVIL. With memorable turns in modern classics THE DARK KNIGHT, DUNE, PRISONERS and THE SUICIDE SQUAD, David Dastmalchian has cemented his reputation as one of the great character actors. Now he steps into the shoes of a late night talk show host in the midst of possession horror for his first leading role. Alexei talks to the horror aficionado all about it.  Then, we’re joined by the filmmakers Colin and Cameron Cairnes to talk through 3 weekly film titles that inspired and influenced different aspects of LATE NIGHT WITH THE DEVIL.  GIVEAWAY: Cinema Passes to see Late Night with the Devil in Australia. To go in with a chance to win a double pass give us a 5 star review on Apple pods and send us a screenshot to our instagram @LastVideoStoreBetoota Watch the full ep on YOUTUBE Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists. Here’s the films we talked about on Letterboxd. Music & sounds by Rowan Dix Produced & Edited by Alex Jae and Xanon Murphy  Art by Hollow Bones Studio See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John Leguizamo enthusiast and children’s television antagonist Zachary Ruane steps into the Last Video Store. Even more important than his mind-melting comedy work in the legendary sketch comedy group AUNTY DONNA, Zach is a lover of film presenting cinema with his ​​FUN TIME FILM CLUB at the Lido in Melbourne. So this is a real meeting of the cinematic minds.  Zach’s picks include Alexei’s shared favourite film of 2023, a comedy with style, an Aussie Hitchcockian thriller and a surrealist masterwork from David Lynch. AND of course Lex has cooked up the most fricking weirdly perfect pick of the series so far. Like it’s nuts how he linked them up. Watch this episode on YOUTUBEFollow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists. Here’s Zachary’s list! Music & sounds by Rowan Dix Produced & Edited by Alex Jae and Xanon Murphy  Art by Hollow Bones Studio  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Comedian/actor/writer/director/close personal friend Nina Oyama steps into Betoota Video. Fresh off AACTA nominations for her enthusiastic performance of Abby in Deadloch and Taskmaster Australia, Nina is about to embark on her Comedy Festival tour of her new show Nina Oyama is Coming at Melbourne Comedy Festival, Sydney Comedy Festival, Brisbane Comedy Festival and Perth Comedy Festival. A true lover of cinema, Nina’s picks range from a Norwegian body horror comedy, an indie classic in modern monochrome and one of the greatest revenge thrillers that just celebrated its 20th anniversary with a huge cinematic re-release. Somehow, Alexei weaves these together for the rarest staff pick recommendation. Watch this episode on YOUTUBE Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists. Here’s Nina’s combo on LB. Music & sounds by Rowan Dix Produced & Edited by Alex Jae and Xanon Murphy  Art by Hollow Bones Studio  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A true Renaissance man whose multifaceted career continues to surprise us all. Tony Armstrong kicked things off in AFL playing for the Sydney Swans, then he won 2 Logies back-to-back as a presenter on ABC News Breakfast and now he’s in Betoota for his new foray into story-driven documentary with his upcoming ABC series TONY ARMSTRONG'S EXTRA-ORDINARY THINGS.  With picks like one of the great masterpieces of surrealist anime, a grounded gritty crime epic and an inventive heist film that sits somewhere right in the middle… Alexei Toliopoulos has the perfect staff pick to pop into Tony’s combo. Watch the full video on YOUTUBEFollow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists. Here’s Tony’s picks! Music & sounds by Rowan Dix Produced & edited by Alex Jae and Xanon Murphy  Art by Hollow Bones Studio See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The passionate journalist and Betoota local Clancy Overell welcomes Alexei to the desert town he now calls home. Stopping by to pick up a rental combo and settle some overdue late fees from a bygone era.  It’s up to Betoota’s registered cinephile to form the perfect staff pick from an Australian classic comedy, one of Scorsese’s grandest crime sagas and a warm melancholic hug from contemporary Irish cinema. Watch the full video on YOUTUBE HEREFollow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists. Here’s Clancy’s full list!  Music & sounds by Rowan Dix Produced & Edited by Alex Jae and Xanon Murphy  Art by Hollow Bones Studio See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With perhaps more films in Betoota Video than any other performer (all located behind the beaded curtain), who better to stop by the Last Video Store than the legendary adult film superstar Angela White. The AVN Hall of Famer was the first to win Female Performer of the Year 3 times in a row earner her the honorary moniker the Meryl Streep of porn.  From modern crime masterpieces, a bonafide video store cult classic and a relationship drama with unsimulated sex Alexei weaves the perfect staff pick for Angela.  Watch FULL VIDEOS on YOUTUBE Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists.  Here’s Angela’s full list! Music & sounds by Rowan Dix Produced & Edited by Alex Jae and Xanon Murphy  Art by Hollow Bones Studio See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you need an actor to convincingly play a real-life figure that the whole world is deeply familiar with you get Polly Bennett to teach them exactly how to move like them. Teaching Austin Butler to wiggle his hips like the King in ELVIS, Rami Malek to command the stage like Freddie Mercury in BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY, how to stroll like a royal in THE CROWN and choreographing a murdered dancefloor with Barry Keoghan in SALTBURN - Polly Bennett is the moment.  And here on The Last Video Store she talks with Alexei about some classic female lead comedies, musicals and a genre-defining legend from Australia’s indie cinema boom of the 1990s.  Watch FULL VIDEOS on YOUTUBE Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists. Here’s Polly’s list for you, mate!  Music & sounds by Rowan Dix Produced & Edited by Alex Jae and Xanon Murphy  Art by Hollow Bones Studio  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From the trenches of HACKSAW RIDGE, to the sparkling glitz of ELVIS, and the crude humour of HOLIDATE… Working with some of the biggest directors, Luke Bracey is an actor building up a fascinating resume ranging from hardcore action thrills to Netflix romcom and chills.  From his cinematic selection, it seems like he has a taste for high-pressure international intrigue, espionage, political thrillers with personal stakes and GREAT acting. So what could Alexei possibly pick for him to leave the Last Video Story with?Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists. Here’s Luke Bracey list right here.  Music & sounds by Rowan Dix Produced & Edited by Alex Jae and Xanon Murphy  Art by Hollow Bones Studio  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to the Last Video Store. Joining us as our inaugural guest and customer #0 is Cameron James (FINDING YEEZUS, FINDING DRAGO, TOTAL REBOOT).  His debut single BOYS NIGHT has hit the web and he is about to embark on his most ambitious comedy festival tour to date with MIXTAPE, a show about music, love and the summer in 2009 that he worked as a singing Captain Jack Sparrow impersonator at a suburban dinner theatre restaurant. Music, comedy and the entwining of both are on his mind when it comes to his rental combo at Betoota Video. Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists. Here’s Cameron James’ list of favourites and recommendations.  Youtube Version  Follow us on Instagram @lastvideostorebetoota Music & sounds by Rowan Dix Produced & Edited by Alex Jae and Xanon Murphy  Art by Hollow Bones Studio  Produced by DM Podcasts    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Here are your links to the forever archive of TOTAL REBOOT and SPECIAL FEATURES from Cameron James & Alexei Toliopoulos! AND a sneak peak at The Last Video Store with a little teaser trailer at the end! TOTAL REBOOT ON SPOTIFYTOTAL REBOOT ON APPLE PODCASTS   TOTAL REBOOT WEBSITESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Decade by decade, Cameron & Alexei canonize the very best in films in a century of cinema. From the 1990s all the way back to the 1900s, we discuss a few favourite films from each decade.  And as you'll hear, this is the last Special Features episode (in this form at least for some time). So we had to treat you to our most Special Feature yet. If you're reading this before listening to the episode, we talk about it a bit more frankly and in-depth on the show. But it's all positive! We're trying to make more stuff together. More ambitious larger form projects. More things in the vein of Finding Yeezus and the other Finding shows. We're not breaking up, in fact, we're probably more deeply committed to each other than ever. In the meantime, Cameron is embarking on his biggest stand-up comedy tour yet! (You can pick up tickets here: 2024 COMEDY TOUR) And Alexei is kicking off a brand new podcast in this feed called THE LAST VIDEO STORE. It's a chat show with high-profile guests about the films they love. Basically, the film podcast Alexei's always dreamed about. Cam is even the very first frickin’ guest and will stop by constantly. So please stay subscribed, babies! Old episodes of Total Reboot and Special Features will migrate over to a new feed and be protected in an archive forever.  TOTAL REBOOT ON SPOTIFYTOTAL REBOOT ON APPLE PODCASTS   TOTAL REBOOT WEBSITE Until then, We love you! Thank you! Forever Special Creatures. Forever Jungle Babies. Forever Reboot Rats. Forever Groovy Babies. xoxoxoxSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Betoota Advocate presents a chat show about the films you love. Join the movie maestro Alexei Toliopoulos in ‘The Last Video Store’ - located in the outback town of Betoota. Its a special hub of culture and memories with every single movie ever made lining its infinite shelves. Alexei talks with a guest about their most cherished cinematic selections, before he sends them of with a bespoke film recommendation based on their taste. Coming soon to a Podcast player near youSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.