The Last Video Store

The filmmakers behind the hottest Australian indie directorial debut in years BIRDEATER jump into the Last Video Store to discuss their film and two other favourites with Alexei Toliopoulos. In cinemas now, BIRDEATER explores modern Australian masculinity when a bride-to-be is invited to her fiancé’s bachelor party, but when uncomfortable details of their relationship are exposed, the night takes a feral turn.

Watch the episode on YOUTUBE

Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists. Here’s Jack & Jim’s combo list.

Music & sounds by Rowan Dix

Produced & Edited by Alex Jae and Xanon Murphy 

Art by Hollow Bones Studio 

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Before she was killing it on the new season of Taskmaster Australia, Jenny Tian was already a comedic sensation on stage and online. Just before she jumps off to tour her stand-up comedy show at THE EDINBURGH FRINGE she hopped into the Last Video Store to talk about her favourite films and reminisce on her time at the top of her university’s film society. 

Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists. Jenny’s list on Letterboxd here. 

Music & sounds by Rowan Dix

Produced & Edited by Alex Jae and Xanon Murphy 

Art by Hollow Bones Studio 

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Horror filmmaker Ti West sits down with Alexei for a short sharp bonus chat in the lead up to his new film MaXXXine, the third in a trilogy of horror films starring Mia Goth. One of the key settings of his latest film is a dank 1980s horror/porno video store, so we had to jump over to Ti for a catch-up about it all. Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists. 

Music & sounds by Rowan Dix

Produced & Edited by Alex Jae and Xanon Murphy 

Art by Hollow Bones Studio 

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In an historic meeting of the minds, Walkley-winning journalist and documentary maker Marc Fennell steps into The Last Video Store. With season 2 of Marc’s factual tv show STUFF THE BRITISH STOLE currently airing, we asked him to get back to his roots of film criticism to talk about some of his favourite films with Alexei. 

Watch the full episode on YOUTUBE

Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists. Here’s Marc Fennell’s film combo on Letterboxd. 

Music & sounds by Rowan Dix

Produced & Edited by Alex Jae and Xanon Murphy 

Art by Hollow Bones Studio 

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One of Aotearoa’s most celebrated actors, Rachel House (HEARTBREAK HIGH, MOANA) joins Alexei to talk about her directorial debut THE MOUNTAIN. A heartfelt NZ family adventure about three children on a mission to find healing under the watchful eye of Taranaki Maunga (Mountain), and discover the magic of friendship along the way. Coming-of-age cinema informs the combo today so think about the films that made you fall in love with movies when you pop this in your eyes and ears. 

Watch the FULL EP ON YOUTUBE

Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists. Here’s Rachel’s combo on Letterboxd. 

Music & sounds by Rowan Dix

Produced & Edited by Alex Jae and Xanon Murphy 

Art by Hollow Bones Studio 

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A much-treasured star of the Australian comedy scene, Aaron Gocs is bloody electric on screen. Catch him and a bunch of your favourite Australian comedians in THE EMU WAR, screening all around Australia this weekend (FIND A CINEMA NEAR YOU HERE). The Emu War gave me some of the most fun I’ve ever had in the cinema. Huge and powerful grubby laughs. You have to see it. 

Gocsy is one of Alexei’s oldest mates in comedy, so he knows the fellas taste damn well. Might actually nail the recommendation on this one. 

Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists. Here’s Gocsy’s list. 

Music & sounds by Rowan Dix

Produced & Edited by Alex Jae and Xanon Murphy 

Art by Hollow Bones Studio 

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One of Alexei’s best friends, Mitch Orr jumps in to talk his favourite films. Known as “the Prince of Pasta”, Mitch Orr has built a reputation as one of Australia’s most exciting voices in the culinary world. You can currently savour his flavours at KILN at the Ace Hotel in Sydeny and St Kilda’s Prince Dining Room. He’s also co-hosting a Cuisine on Screen program of the best food movies with Alexei at Golden Age Cinema. 

Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists. Here’s MITCH’s combo on Letterboxd.

Catch Alexei hosting the incredible Sunburnt Screens weekend of screenings at The Sydney Opera House on June 27, 28 and 30 HERE

Watch the full episode on YOUTUBE

Music & sounds by Rowan Dix

Produced & Edited by Alex Jae and Xanon Murphy 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

WAYNE’S WORLD, FOUR ROOMS, GAS FOOD LODGING and SAY ANYTHING… Ione Skye stars in all films that sat on Alexei’s staff picks shelf back in his days at Mondo Movies. Ione is not just an all-timer great actor, she’s also the co-host one of the best podcasts WEIRDER TOGETHER with Ben Lee (hear it on SPOTIFY and APPLE). 

In the midst of writing her memoir, Ione stopped by the Last Video Store. Ione is one of the best people to talk film with so we cover everything from one of the great modern epics, a hard noir and the film that kicked off 90s American Indie cinema. 

Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists. Here’s IONE’s combo on Letterboxd.

Catch Alexei hosting the incredible Sunburnt Screens weekend of screenings at The Sydney Opera House on June 27, 28 and 30 HERE

Watch the full episode on YOUTUBE

Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists. 

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 haven’t seen Aaron Chen’s YouTube special please remedy this ASAP

Beloved comedian and dearest friend Aaron Chen joins Alexei in the Last Video Store to reminisce and pick up a combo of his favourite films. Aaron selects one of the great martial arts comedies, an iconic masterpiece of dystopian speculative fiction and a newly returned New Release title PLUS Alexei slips in an Ozlpoitation staff pick for him.

Watch the full episode on YOUTUBE

Catch Alexei hosting the incredible Sunburnt Screens weekend of screenings at The Sydney Opera House on June 27, 28 and 30 HERE

Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists. Here’s AARON’s combo 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.

Witness me! Celebrating the release of the decade’s most exciting action spectacle FURIOSA: A MAD MAX SAGA. Filmmaker George Miller + stars Anya Taylor-Joy and Chris Hemsworth have made their way through the wastelands of a post-apocalyptic Australia to find themselves in THE LAST VIDEO STORE. Alexei Toliopoulos sits down with them all to discuss the madness, the Greekness and the fury that goes into making an epic. 

Watch George Miller's interview HERE and Chris & Anya's interview HERE

Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists. 

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.

One of Australia’s greatest storytellers, Troy Cassar-Daley holds the record for most Golden Guitar Awards cementing the proud Gumbaynggirr and Bundjalung as one of country music’s greatest icons. Troy’s new album BETWEEN THE FIRES is out now, recorded at his late mother’s home, it is a powerfully moving collection of songs and stories. 

Without hyperbolising, this may be one of the best conversations Alexei has ever recorded. Troy has picked some films that resonate deeply with him and those emotional connections prove to be fertile ground for laughs and some top-tier cinematic celebration. Complete with a staff pick of a western that needs to be crystallised into the canon of cinema’s greats, the TCD visit might be the perfect episode of THE LAST VIDEO STORE.

Watch the full episode on YOUTUBE

Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists. Here’s TCD’s list up 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.

With his new film HOUSEKEEPING FOR BEGINNERS arriving in cinemas this week, Goran Stolevski has proven himself to be one of the very best contemporary Australian filmmakers. A modern master of the close-up, each of Goran’s films are distinctly textured cinematic works worthy of your exploration. 

A rental combo that includes a screwball classic, a powerful journey through Seoul and one of the best from Pedro Almodóvar. Without a doubt, Goran Stolevski is far and away the biggest cinephile we’ve had in the Last Video Store so Alexei has to work extra fricking hard to find a staff pick rec off the beaten path.

Watch the full ep on YOUTUBE

Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists. Here’s Goran’s list up 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.

BONUS EPISODE! In an attempt to not overstate things, let's just say Alexei is a tremendous fan of all things PLANET OF THE APES… so of course we had to sneak in a quick chat with WES BALL, the filmmaker behind the new film in the franchise Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes ahead of its Australian release this week on May 9th. 

Watch the full episode on YOUTUBE

More from the Last Video Store later this week! 

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.

Grab your popcorn and settle in for some scintillating cinematic discussion with the great Peter Helliar. A true lifelong lover of all things film Pete is the perfect guest for The Last Video Store. He’s been on our screens in everything from Rove [Live], Skithouse, The Project and the feature film he wrote I LOVE YOU TOO (2010). Helliar now even contributes to cinema in the most noble way possible… by being a comedian with a great film podcast with YOU AIN’T SEEN NOTHING YET.

Right now, Pete is in Sydney playing the Narrator of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW live on stage.Alexei goes through some of Pete’s favourite films including a future classic romantic drama, the all-timer of hybrid sci-fi comedy cinema and the greatest Thanksgiving road comedy. Alexei of course weaves his magic to find the perfect Staff Pick for Pete… what could it be?

Watch the full episode on YOUTUBE

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.

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 YOUTUBE

Follow 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 YOUTUBE

Follow 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 YOUTUBE

Follow 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 HERE

Follow 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

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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 SPOTIFY

TOTAL REBOOT ON APPLE PODCASTS

TOTAL REBOOT WEBSITE

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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 SPOTIFY

TOTAL 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. xoxoxox

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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 you

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.