The Backlot

Thanks for stopping by The Backlot! Put more respect on John Cusack’s name! I love Cusack; look at the guys flicks - he’s an underrated talent! Diving into the watchlist this week; I went to see the new Darren Aronofsky film “Caught Stealing” which I thoroughly enjoyed. I would like Austin Butler to just be hot or good at acting - you can’t have both man! The film world lost icon Robert Redford wh...

Thanks for stopping by The Backlot! Diving into the watchlist this week; I caught The Naked Gun finally but also saw Nobody 2 and The Toxic Avenger. I’ll give you my thoughts on the Macon Blair film that struggled to get distribution for two years, take a look at the latest movie news and preview SXSW Sydney.  You can follow me here: Instagram: ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/mitchgarling/?hl=en⁠...

Thanks for stopping by The Backlot! This week I am diving into quite possibly my favourite movie of the year so far in “Splitsville” starring Kyle Marvin, Dakota Johnson and Adria Arjona. Directed by Michael Angelo Covino; this absurd relationship comedy had so many highlights and honestly shocked me with how much I loved it! It’s out in cinemas on September 11th - I have five double passes to giv...

Thanks for stopping by The Backlot! I have been an unwell boy so apologies for no episode for a few weeks! But what that means is that I have been watching lots of fillums and tellevish!  Let’s dive into my watchlist! Weapons. Together. Sorry,Baby. Shrinking and the Dale Earnhardt doco on Amazon Prime. I introduce a new segment called “Wanna Feel Old” and assess the best eras of comedy films!  You...

Thanks for stopping by The Backlot! It was my birthday and I spent it the only way I know how; alone in the cinema. I watched Friendship with Tim Robinson and Paul Rudd by myself; is this a comment on male friendship? Probably!  I chat about Happy Gilmore 2 and my thoughts on long time sequels, go through the latest film news and chat about the newly announced Bend It Like Beckham sequel.  Natural...

Thanks for stopping by The Backlot! I went to the movies and I saw some flicks. I saw Materialists. I like Dakota Johnson alot. I saw Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning. I feel nothing about this film.  I chat about my thoughts around the MI series, dive into the Emmy Nominations and rebuild a previously panned movie.  Naturally; I continue the Best Birthday in Cinema list for the greatest co...

Thanks for stopping by The Backlot! I was lucky enough to get to see the new I Know What You Did Last Summer the other evening at the media screening and here's a quick review pod! I chat about my love for the first film, my thoughts on the new one and give props to the king of 90's/00's TV and Movies; Kevin Williamson. You can follow me here: Instagram: ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.co...

Thanks for stopping by The Backlot! I went to the movies and I saw some flicks. I saw Superman. I saw Jurassic World: Rebirth. There were too many shots in these films that made me think someone was gonna be hit by a bus; I'm part of the Scary Movie generation of film goers. I chat about the brilliant cast of Superman, the work that Gareth Edwards has done before and I give some love to an und...

Thanks for stopping by The Backlot! I’m off to the racetrack this week; I went to see the new F1 fillum with Brad Pitt and the cinema was packed on a Monday night so I’m asking; is cinema back? I’m talking my favourite racing movies, my love for Kerry Condon and ask the big questions about Fast and the Furious.  I’m looking at the trailers that got me pumped and naturally; I continue the Best Birt...

Thanks for stopping by The Backlot! This week I caught up with writer and director James Robert Woods to chat about his new film “Moonrise Over Knights Hill” coming out later in the year. We chat about making the film, producing films in Australia and working with the brilliant cast including comedian David Quirk and Aussie favourite Luke Jacobz.   You can follow me here: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ww...

Thanks for stopping by The Backlot! I went to the Justin Kurzel Q&A at Sydney Film Festival and I’m feeling invigorated about film!! I wanna make films; I wanna talk films! I’m having a crisis about Ben Stiller being older now than Robert De Niro was in Meet the Parents, I make a list of my favourite actresses born after 1990 and I look at the rise of Tom Green.  Naturally; I continue the Best...

Thanks for stopping by The Backlot! This week I am joined by the brilliant Adam Dunn who people may know as Bill Black in Baz Luhrmann's Elvis or Nigel in The Fall Guy with Emily Blunt and Ryan Gosling. Adam is a masterful actor whose comedic timing is something to be insanely jealous of. In this episode we chat about the audition process for Baz, learning the double bass for the Bill Black ro...

Thanks for stopping by The Backlot! This week I am joined by the brilliant Nic Cassim; who people would know as Bruce in Mr Inbetween. An iconic role in one of the best Australian TV shows of all time, Nic and I chat about working on the show with Nash Edgerton and Scott Ryan, finding Bruce’s character and the importance of portraying someone with MND correctly. 2025 has been huge for Nic with rol...

Thanks for stopping by The Backlot! I went to the Sydney Premiere for Bring Her Back; the sophomore film of the Philippou Brothers after Talk To Me. What a great night, I had a free Pepsi Max and I watched a banger of a film. This episode I will give you my thoughts on the film, chat about the potential new James Bond and figure out my favourite movies where the name of the movie is what happens i...

Thanks for stopping by The Backlot! HORNY CINEMA IS BACK! IT’S SO IN! Challengers, Babygirl, Anora and now Sinners. We are all horned up and we are going to the cinema. Reddit has got me chatting so I dive into my Letterbox’d Top 4 if only from 2020 onwards and my Best Alternate Castings for some iconic characters.  Naturally; I continue the Best Birthday in Cinema list for the greatest contributi...

Thanks for stopping by The Backlot! Forgive me father for I have sinned! I finally saw Sinners and I have some thoughts on this genre bending banger from Ryan Coogler. I am dealing with a sick kid at home so I'm chatting starting her education into film with E.T. She taught me about Cat In The Hat which doesn't feel like a fair trade. Naturally; I continue the Best Birthday in Cinema list...

Thanks for stopping by The Backlot; do we live in a world where Dwayne Johnson aka The Rock may win an Oscar? I chat about The Smashing Machine trailer and the very real possibility that this may happen. Also this week I talk about my true crime obsession with the latest watchlist additions being American Manhunt: The Boston Marathon Bombing and Untold: The Air McNair Murder. Naturally; I continue...

Thanks for stopping by The Backlot; this week I talk about doing a Q&A with the one and only Richard Roxburgh, take a look at the Oklahoma City Bombing documentary and chat about escapism in film. Naturally; I continue the Best Birthday in Cinema list for the greatest contribution to film and I make a Top 10 British Films List. You can follow me here: Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/mitc...

Thanks for stopping by The Backlot; this week we mourn the loss of the great Val Kilmer, review some new films in Warfare and Death of a Unicorn and try to figure out which date has given the most to cinema in the Best Birthday List. Episode Topics: Val Kilmer, Warfare, Death of a Unicorn, The Naked Gun, Paul Walter Hauser, Snow White and Best Cinema Birthdays. You can follow me here: Instagram: h...

Welcome to another episode of The Backlot! I have come to the realisation after watching Titanique: The Musical and Adolescence that I am not talented. This week I talk about how untalented I am compared to these powerhouse productions, Black Hawk Down, bad date movies and my affinity for Bridget Jones. You can follow Mitch here: Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/mitchgarling/?hl=en⁠ X: ⁠https...

Welcome to another episode of The Backlot; this week I dive into the new Aussie film The Correspondent starring Richard Roxburgh. I was lucky enough to attend the media screening of the film directed by Kriv Stenders and here are my thoughts! The film is out on the 17th of April and I have some double passes to give away so leave a comment, like, subscribe yada yada yada. You can follow Mitch here...

Joining Mitch on The Backlot this week is closeted film buff and radio producer Charlie Goodsir for a big old fashioned movie nerd out. We chat about all things Steve Martin, take a look at our favourite sportspeople turned actors and bond over our Robert Pattinson love. You can follow Charlie here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charlie_goodsir19/?hl=en You can follow Mitch here: Instagram:...

Join Mitch on The Backlot this week as we dive into the Oscars, Anora taking home the wins and Mitch goes into his Top 10 Movie Duos. You can follow Mitch here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mitchgarling/?hl=en X: https://x.com/SnitchGarling   Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/mitch_garling/

Joining Mitch on The Backlot this week is director Charles Williams. We chat about his debut feature ‘Inside’, working with Guy Pearce and the explosion of young gun Vincent Miller.  You can follow Charles here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_charleswilliams/?hl=en You can follow Mitch here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mitchgarling/?hl=en X: https://x.com/SnitchGarling   Letterboxd...

Joining Mitch on The Backlot this week is the one and only David Wenham and esteemed director Jonathan Teplitzy. I was lucky enough to sit down with the gents to chat all things Gettin’ Square, the freedom in playing comedic roles and revisiting Johnny Spiteri after 20 years in the new film “Spit”.  “Spit” is in cinemas on March 6.  You can follow Mitch here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/m...