Welcome to the first episode of SPECIAL FEATURES with Cameron James & Alexei Toliopoulos, our revamped pop culture muck-around podcast. In this inaugural episode, Alexei takes us through what he believes in his educated opinion are the best films of the year so far. 

Here's the list of discussed films on Alexei's Letterboxd (ready for you to pop in your watchlist) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Best Films of the 2023 (So Far)

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.
The rental combo is:
1 x New Release
2 x Weeklies
1 x Staff Pick
 
Follow us on Instagram @lastvideostorebetoota

TV & Film

Comedy

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.

Peter Helliar, Iconic Comedian, Writer and Film Buff

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.

Anna Broinowski, the Only Western Filmmaker to Access NORTH KOREA’s Film & Propaganda Industry

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.

Miranda Tapsell, star of TOP END WEDDING, THE SAPPHIRES and Rom-Com Expert

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.

David Dastmalchian, star of LATE NIGHT WITH THE DEVIL + Directors Cameron & Colin Cairnes

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.

The Best Films of the 2023 (So Far)

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