The Last Video Store

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 particul...

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 ni...

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 fil...

With Kate Jinx (Melbourne International Film Festival programmer, film critic and co-host of  SEE ALSO podcast), Alexei talk through their favourite films in 2024 in the categories of Australian cinema, factual/documentary films, directorial debuts, honourable mentions and films that kinda came out in 2023 that felt too old for us to put on our lists this year.  Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS...

One of the great modern documentarians, David Farrier explores factual storytelling through his films TICKLED and MR ORGAN, the Netflix series DARK TOURIST and now weekly on his must listen podcast  FLIGHTLESS BIRD . If there was no TICKLED, there’d be no FINDING DRAGO, FINDING DESPERADO or FINDING YEEZUS so you can imagine it was truly an honour for Alexei to host David Farrier at the...

Celebrating some of the best films, movies and cinema of 2024 with Melbourne International Film Festival programmer, film critic and co-host of  SEE ALSO  Kate Jinx. Join us again next week for another bonus episode discussing the best documentaries, Australian films, directorial debuts and honourable mentions of 2024. Kate’s top 5 films of 2024: Janet Planet, Hard Truths, Anora, A...

Comedian, Triple J breaky host and ⅓ of the haunted brains behind the fantastic comedic podcast  Oooh, Spooky , LUKA MULLER joins Lex to wander through the hallowed halls of the Last Video Store picking out his favourite movies. Luka’s comedy special Five Top Smells I Smelled Before comes out on December 22, on the  Comedy Republic YouTube. JOIN Alexei for a night of NASTY CHRISTMA...

It is the festive time for  pud  and  panettone  so Mark Bonnano had to swing by to pick up his favourite films. One of the funniest film lovers around. Mark just announced AUNTY DONNA’s 2025 tour  DREM - pick up tickets NOW JOIN Alexei for a night of NASTY CHRISTMAS films at Golden Age Cinema on Dec 20 Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd  for all the rental...

HOW TO MAKE GRAVY, the adaptation of the classic Paul Kelly song is your taste of Australian Christmas melancholy cinema this festive season. Stars of the film and icons of cinema HUGO WEAVING and DANIEL HENSHALL wander into the Last Video Store to pick up a rental combo of their favourite films. A great chat with a couple of dream guests. Between them they've starred in films like The Matrix, Sno...

The most excitingly outrageous act in electro-pop, Sugar Bones from Confidence Man stops by The Last Video Store to chat to Alexei about his favourite films and the cinematic influences on their new album 3AM (La La La). Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd  for all the rental combo lists. Here’s  Sugar Bones’s picks. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You know him for his tremendous performance as Alyn of Hull on HOUSE OF THE DRAGON, Abubakar Salim is a true renaissance man and multitalented creative. Starring in films like NAPOLEON, series like RAISED BY WOLVES and video games like  ASSASSIN’S CREED: ORIGINS. He’s also the creative force and director of Tales of Kenzera: Zau , a metroidvania style adventure game with a focus on poignant emotio...

One of Australia’s most cherished singer/songwriters Paul Kelly steps into the Last Video Store to talk us through some of his favourite films/movies. Paul’s music does that exceedingly rare thing of transcending generations. Paul’s new album FEVER LONGING STILL is out right now. Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd  for all the rental combo lists. Here’s  PK’s list of picks . See omnystudio.co...

The iconic star of video store favourites BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM, VELVET GOLDMINE, MATCH POINT, MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE III, I’LL SLEEP WHEN I’M DEAD, THE TUDORS and so much more joins Alexei in the Last Video Store. Jonathan Rhys Meyers might be the most passionate and exploratory film lover we’ve had through our doors. And I must admit, I was completely starstruck by him… a rare occurrence (this is Al...

The star and director of the brilliantly creepy homegrown horror picture THE MOOGAI wander into The Last Video Store. THE MOOGAI follows a young Aboriginal couple whose joy at bringing home their second baby quickly turns to dread, as the mother becomes convinced that a malevolent spirit is haunting her, intent on taking her child. It’s a great example of real-life fears and historical horrors wov...

Comedian, horror movie lover and all 'round freak Demi Lardner joins Alexei in the Last Video Store for this special All Hallow's Eve bonus episode to discuss three of her favourite spooky films. From the classic Saw to the less classic Blood Hook, Demi is a true twisted sister. Book tickets to see Alexei & Zachary Ruane (Aunty Donna) in their play REFUSED CLASSIFICATION in  Melbourne Follow ...

With his new series, THOU SHALT NOT STEAL , Dylan River cements himself as one of the country’s most exciting voices in moving image. THOU SHALT NOT STEAL is a limited series that captures all the tones and textures a great road movie should, with all the vibrant spirit and humor of Tarantino or Coen Brothers crime cinema. Book tickets to see Alexei & Zachary Ruane (Aunty Donna) in their play...

When his film HARVIE KRUMPET won an Academy Award, it felt like the entirety of Australia won alongside him. One of the great auteurs of animated cinema Adam Elliot (MARY AND MAX) stops by to talk about his latest masterpiece MEMOIR OF A SNAIL and his style of filmmaking called “clayography”, weaving together clay animation and biographical elements. A true cinephile with impeccable taste, Adam is...

Just in time for the spooky season, we wander through the horror section with one of the true icons of Australian Podcasting, Charlie Clausen. Who also got his start working in a humble video store. With Wil Anderson, he’s hanging out in your ears with  EVERYONE RELAX  (TOFOP / 2 Guys 1 Cup) - and just kicking off a new season of paranormal phenomena exploration in THE UNEXPLAINED: EXPLAINED. Not...

RETURN CHUTE SPECIAL! Cameron James drops his staff pick back through the return chute and we find out his thoughts and reactions to STREET OF FIRE.  SEE CAMERON JAMES tape his new half-hour comedy special in MELBOURNE @ Stupid Old Studios Book tickets to see Alexei & Zachary Ruane (Aunty Donna) in their play REFUSED CLASSIFICATION in  Melbourne Follow  ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all...

One of the most beautiful voices of Aus indie rock Dave Novak stops by ahead of POLISH CLUB’s national album tour. Go  see them live in your town from next week ! And their new album  HEAVY WEIGHT HEART  is a stunner! Book tickets to see Alexei & Zachary Ruane (Aunty Donna) in their play REFUSED CLASSIFICATION in  Melbourne Follow  ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd  for all the rental combo lis...

Multitalented comedic sensation Michelle Brasier (Aunty Donna Big Ol House of Fun, Koala Man, Thank God You’re Here) drops by The Last Video Store in Betoota to chat to Alexei Toliopoulos and select a stack of movies, and her picks do not disappoint. From the unexpected tenderness of FURIOUS 7 to the expected horniness of CRUEL INTENTIONS, Michelle is a true film lover. You can read or listen to h...

As he travels through Betoota, the legendary country music superstar Keith Urban stops by the Last Video Store to chat to Alexei Toliopoulos about his favourite films. Truly, what a fricking treat to chat to Keith about Nicole Kidman’s breakout Aussie classic BMX BANDITS and get deep on the gentle hold of Robbie Robertson’s score for KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON. Keith’s new album  HIGH is out this...

Pop culture podcast royalty, Nick "Maso" Mason and James "Mr. Sunday Movies" Clement of the Weekly Planet take an esteemed tour of THE LAST VIDEO STORE. A journey through cinema that is less a Caravan of Garbage and more like a Battle for Endorphins because this episode is a pleasurable experience for the brain. Follow  ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd  for all the rental combo lists. Here’s their...

It can’t be fricking denied, Missy Higgins is one of Australia’s most cherished singer/songwriters. Her new album  The Second Act  – “a kind of sequel” to her hugely influential debut The Sound Of White which is also celebrating its 20th anniversary. Missy jumps into the Last Video Store and guides Alexei Toliopoulos through her weirdly perfect trilogy of films. Follow  ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Lette...

“Every word of Irish spoken is a bullet for Irish freedom” are the resonant words found in the unlikely indie crowd-pleaser of the year KNEECAP. Based on the origin story of the riotous and ground-breaking Irish-language rap trio Kneecap, the film stars the band’s Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí in their acting debuts alongside Michael Fassbender. The film’s director Rich Peppiatt jumps into th...