The Last Video Store

A short and sharp visit to the Last Video Store from one of the greats of Australian cinema, David Wenham. His new film SPIT sees Wenham return to perhaps his most iconic role of ex-junkie Johnny Spitieri from GETTIN SQUARE. SPIT is out now in cinemas.  BOOK TICKETS for Alexei’s comedy fest show REFUSED CLASSIFICATION with Zach Ruane in MELBOURNE, SYDNEY, PERTH and BRISBANE Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Celebrating a year into the pod with our original first customer and best mate… it’s the return of Cameron James! Cam has just released his new half hour special on Grouse House (the home of Finding Yeezus).  See Cam at your local comedy festival in Australia  BOOK TICKETS for Alexei’s comedy fest show REFUSED CLASSIFICATION with Zach Ruane in MELBOURNE, SYDNEY, ADELAIDE, PERTH and BRISBANEFollow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists. Here’s Cam’s list.  GUEST PICKS: ONE FLASE MOVE (crime), SUNSET BOULEVARD (crime) STAFF PICKS: TWILIGHT (crime), CUTTER’S WAY (crime), ELEVATOR TO THE GALLOWS (crime)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Their film THE LAST JOURNEY just became the highest grossing Swedish documentary ever and was selected as the Swedish entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards. The duo Filip och Fredrik are responsible for some of Sweden’s best-loved comedic journalistic innovations, THE LAST JOURNEY is no exception. A touching and hilarious comedy documentary road movie as they take Hammar’s retired father on a nostalgic trip to France to help him get back his joie de vivre! BOOK TICKETS for Alexei’s comedy fest show REFUSED CLASSIFICATION with Zach Ruane in MELBOURNE, SYDNEY, ADELAIDE, PERTH and BRISBANE Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists. Here’s Filip & Fredrik’s list. GUEST PICKS: THE LAST JOURNEY (Documentary), THE ACT OF KILLING (Documentary), SIDEWAYS (Comedy)ALEXEI’S STAFF PICK: HANDS ON A HARD BODY (Documentary), OTTO BY OTTO (Documentary)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Filmmaker Charles Williams won the Short Film Palme d'Or at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival for his his short ALL THESE CREATURES. His feature directorial debut INSIDE is in cinemas now. A superb crime thriller starring Oscar nominee Guy Pearce, Cosmo Jarvis (Shogun) and newcomer Vincent Miller is in Aus cinemas now. He’s also a former video store clerk so you know it is a banger! BOOK TICKETS for Alexei’s comedy fest show REFUSED CLASSIFICATION with Zach Ruane in MELBOURNE, SYDNEY, ADELAIDE, PERTH and BRISBANE Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists. Here’s Charles’ list. GUEST PICKS: INSIDE, FAT CITY and THE EARRINGS OF MADAM DE…STAFF PICK: PRIME CUT, THE FUNERAL (1996)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aunty Donna legend and film obsessive Zachary Ruane returns to the Last Video Store to reveal if Alexei’s recommendation of Brian De Palma’s BODY DOUBLE really was the perfect staff pick and to talk through a pair of the best new horror movies. BOOK TICKETS for Zach and Alexei’s comedy fest show REFUSED CLASSIFICATION in MELBOURNE, SYDNEY, ADELAIDE , PERTH and BRISBANE Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists. Here’s ZACH’s return list AND his original pick-up list (and also his actual letterboxd account) GUEST PICKS: BODY DOUBLE, THE SUBSTANCE and I SAW THE TV GLOWSTAFF PICK: DEF BY TEMPTATIONSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sometimes known as the sketch duo FREUDIAN NIP, Jenna and Vic are now the creators and stars of OPTICS on ABC and the Christmas movie NUGGET IS DEAD (featuring little old Alexei Toliopoulos). They join their mate little Alexei Toliopoulos to pick up some of their favourite films and biggest comedy touchstones while they visit the Last Video Store. Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists. Here’s Jenna and Vic’s list (and also here is Vic’s letterboxd). VIC AND JENNA’S PICKS: BABYGIRL, RAT RACE, THE OTHER GUYSTAFF PICK: PARTY GIRL BOOK TICKETS for Alexei’s comedy fest show REFUSED CLASSIFICATION in MELBOURNE, SYDNEY, ADELAIDE , PERTH and BRISBANE SOONSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Star of APPLE CIDER VINEGAR (on NETFLIX), THE BOLD TYPE and one of the best new Australian horror films SISSY, Aisha Dee joins Alexei on THE LAST VIDEO STORE. And almost instantly is the guest with the biggest impact on the show so far by picking the coolest fricking movie anyone has picked up in the first year of the pod and then immediately picking up the film that Alexei hates more than any other. Dream guest, fantastic episode. Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists. Here’s Aisha’s list. AISHA’S PICKS: OFFICIAL COMPETITION, COFFY, HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMASSTAFF PICK: WILD TALES BOOK TICKETS for Alexei’s comedy fest show REFUSED CLASSIFICATION in MELBOURNE, SYDNEY, ADELAIDE and BRISBANE SOONSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wandering into the Last Video Store to pick up some of their favourite films is one of Alexei’s new favourite musicians, ratbag. A rising Aotearoa alternative artist, ratbag’s latest track is “look what you're doing to me” and it continues a streak of fun and thoughtful music married with incredibly creative music videos. It’s true ratbag fricking rocks, in particular, Alexei also loves their double EP “pinky girl”/”pinky boy”. Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists. Here’s ratbag’s list. RATBAG’S PICKS: THE BOY AND THE HERON, EDWARD SCISSORHANDS, WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARESTAFF PICK: SON OF THE WHITE MARE BOOK TICKETS for Alexei’s comedy fest show REFUSED CLASSIFICATION in MELBOURNE, SYDNEY, ADELAIDE and BRISBANE SOONSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our special guest in the Last Video Store this week is Leigh Whannell. Breaking into horror co-writing SAW with James Wan, Leigh has built a reputation as one of the modern masters of genre cinema directing the films UPGRADE and THE INVISIBLE MAN. His latest film WOLF MAN is in cinemas now. Starring Christopher Abbott and Julia Garner, WOLF MAN is a tense, thoughtful and horrifying lycanthropic nightmare.Join Leigh Whannell as he chats with Alexei Toliopoulos about some of his favourite films in the style of an old school video store rental combo + a staff pick from Alexei (based on his taste). Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists. Here’s Leigh’s list on LB. LEIGH’S PICKS: WOLF MAN, THE FLY and THE SHININGSTAFF PICK: VAMPIR CUADECUC BOOK TICKETS for Alexei’s comedy fest show REFUSED CLASSIFICATION in MELBOURNE, SYDNEY, ADELAIDE and BRISBANE ON SALE SOONSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Author, playwright, broadcaster and one of the all-time legends of Australian comedy Wendy Harmer stops by the Last Video Store to visit her little mate Alexei and talk cinema. One of the most fun episodes of the podcast so far with the fast and loose riffs, these two have perfect comedic chemistry. Wendy’s one of the most fascinating people in Aus arts and media, of course her favourite films reflect that! Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists. Here’s Wendy’s picks list. WENDY’S PICKS: DUNE, WAKE IN FRIGHT, IN COLD BLOODSTAFF PICK: THE STRANGERSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.