Aussie and the Scotsman talk movies

Interview with Marty Benson - Director of Content (Melbourne) for Endemol Shine Australia

This week we are in esteemed company as we welcome Marty Benson to the show.
Marty is currently Director of Content for Melbourne for Endemol Shine Australia.
Endemol Shine Australia is a part of Banijay, the world’s largest international TV and media content producer in the Southern Hemisphere. As an individual content producing company - the biggest in the world.
For 7 years prior to this role Marty was executive producer on MasterChef. Responsible for every aspect of bringing the show to air. 
Marty and his team are recipients of 5 consecutive AACTA  awards (Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts) for Best Reality Show for MasterChef and winner of 2 consecutive Logie awards for MasterChef - Best Reality Show .
Marty Started his career in UK television with shows like Pop Idol, Love Island, Soccer Aid, Hell's Kitchen, Dancing on Ice, and then came to Australia with I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here.
He has previously produced WAG Nation, Beauty and The Geek, Dating in The Dark, The Face and much more. His company is responsible for MAFS (Married at first Sight) which we talk about in at length.
Marty takes us behind the scenes of some of the most popular shows and tells us stories about his time on I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here - we find out that Marty was the voice behind the camera for a while.
We discuss the state of the television industry, how it compares to streaming services and what's in store for the future of TV.
Please sit back and enjoy our interview with Marty Benson. 
 
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Rocketman

This week we discuss the 2019 biographical musical drama film Rocketman based on the life, music, and career of British musician Elton John.
The film focuses on the story of Elton in his early days in England as a prodigy at the Royal Academy of Music through his musical partnership with Bernie Taupin.
The story is told through his music and is titled after John's 1972 song "Rocket Man".
Directed by Dexter Fletcher the film stars Taron Egerton as John, with Jamie Bell as Taupin, Richard Madden as John Reid, and Bryce Dallas Howard as Sheila Eileen, John's mother.
This is one of our very first podcasts in 2023 so it is a lot different to what you are used to now. But it's worth uploading but not worth redoing.
The Aussie tears up a few times during this podcast. 
Let us know what you think - maybe we will review it again.
What a guy he is - we all just want to be loved.
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Dog Day Afternoon

This week we review the 1975 American biographical crime drama film Dog Day Afternoon directed by Sidney Lumet and produced by Martin Bregman and Martin Elfand.
The film stars Al Pacino, John Cazale, James Broderick and Charles Durning.
The movie chronicles the 1972 robbery and hostage situation led by John Wojtowicz and Salvatore Naturile at a Chase Manhattan branch in Brooklyn.
The film was nominated for seven Golden Globe Awards and six Academy Awards (including Best Picture) and won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.
"This is a forward thinking plot, you couldn't write this now and get away with it" says the Scotsman. This is a bank robbery gone wrong. The world falls in love with Sonny.
This movie is filled with themes of gender and touches on Stockholm and Lima syndromes.
The Aussie talks himself into one of the best movie ratings he has ever given. Massive call by the Aussie. 
For Pacino fans this is a must watch. 
(EDIT: The Scotsman was correct (again) - with the amount that bank had in their store . They thought there would be over $1m but infact there was only  $29,000 equivalent to $211,200 in 2023. The movie shows them only finding a few thousand $ - the Aussie should never correct the Scotsman at trivia).
 
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An Officer and a Gentleman

This week we review the 1982 American romantic drama film An Officer and a Gentleman directed by Taylor Hackford starring Richard Gere, Debra Winger, and Louis Gossett Jr.
It tells the story of Zack Mayo (Gere), a United States Navy Aviation Officer Candidate who is beginning his training at Aviation Officer Candidate School.
Unsurprisingly this is right up there for the Aussie. He loves his romantic movies - and seeing Richard Gere in his military whites gets him all aflutter!
The Scotsman picks it apart and is told in no uncertain terms "he is sad!"-
If you've seen it you don't need to watch again. But if you are a Richard Gere fan and you love him in Pretty Woman - you will love this.
A pretty fierce debate takes place - we both disagree with each other which is always fun.
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Manchester by the Sea

This week we review the 2016 American drama film Manchester by the Sea written and directed by Kenneth Lonergan that stars Casey Affleck, Michelle Williams, Kyle Chandler, and Lucas Hedges.
Revolving around the themes of depression, guilt, grief, responsibility, dysfunctional families, and post-traumatic stress disorder, the plot follows a depressed and grief-stricken man who becomes the legal guardian of his teenage nephew after the death of his brother.
This is a MUST WATCH BEFORE listening type of movie and another one we can't recommend highly enough.
It is a 5/5 from the Scotsman. Don't read anymore. Just watch. Then listen to the debate we have. We ask difficult questions and we go to places we would never wish on anyone.
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The Social Network

This week we discuss the 2010 American biographical drama film The Social Network directed by David Fincher and written by Aaron Sorkin.
It portrays the founding of social networking website Facebook.
It stars Jesse Eisenberg as Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, with Andrew Garfield as Eduardo Saverin, Justin Timberlake as Sean Parker, Armie Hammer as Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss.
The Scotsman must have woken up on the wrong side of the bed today. He unloads on Jesse Eisenberg - he is no fan and  he makes that pretty clear early on.
It is one of the Aussie's favourites. We know he loves his real life movies.
Stand by as the boys get into the social media empire that is The Social Network. 
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Goodfellas with Pia Miranda

This week we review - for the 2nd time - the 1990 American biographical gangster film Goodfellas directed by Martin Scorsese. Except this time we review it with Australian TV and movie star Pia Miranda.
If you haven't listened check out our interview with Pia here:   https://aussiescot24.podbean.com/e/interview-with-pia-miranda/?token=5f56c4c635af82f0582b218b3012f0c9     where we deep dive into her amazing life.
Goodfellas stars Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, Joe Pesci, Lorraine Bracco, and Paul Sorvino, the film narrates the rise and fall of Mafia associate Henry Hill and his friends and family from 1955 to 1980.
 
@piamiranda
The Scotsman hopes he has found a new podcast host - someone who dislikes romantic movies, loves gangster movies and appreciates the classics.
The Aussie is up against it - there's a reason he is called the Aussie Battler and he tries to put up a good fight against some tough opposition.
We find out that Pia prefers wine to flowers and she gives us some insights through the eyes of an actor .
This is a really fun podcast on one of the all time great movies.
Listen to Pia recite one of the best lines of the film in her beautiful Italian/American mobster accent.
The Scotsman tells an incredibly spooky Godfather related story and there is an audible gasp and sigh from Pia when the Aussie tells her what he thought of The Elephant Man. 
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(Edit: we say that Joe Pesci's character kills Frank Vincents character in Casino and Frank kills Pesci in Goodfellas - that is incorrect, it is the other way around. Also The Godfather was written by Mario Puzo)

War Dogs

This week we discuss the 2016 American black comedy crime film War Dogs directed by Todd Phillips.
The film follows two arms dealers, Efraim Diveroli (Jonah Hill) and David Packouz (Miles Teller), who receive a U.S. Army contract to supply ammunitions for the Afghan National Army worth approximately $300 million.
It's not a classic by any means, but it is an entertaining movie with a great cast.
Good back and forth between the Aussie and the Scotsman in this podcast as they make the most of this fun movie.
We love Jonah Hill and Miles Teller and have a real soft spot for Ana De Armas and Bradley Copper.
Have a listen and let us know what you think. It's light entertainment and if you can't find anything to watch - it's worth a watch.
 
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Hacksaw Ridge

This week we review the 2016 epic biographical war film Hacksaw Ridge directed by Mel Gibson based on the 2004 documentary The Conscientious Objector directed by Terry Benedict.The film focuses on the World War II experiences of Desmond Doss, an American pacifist combat medic who, as a Seventh-day Adventist Christian, refused to carry or use a weapon or firearm of any kind.
Doss became the first conscientious objector to be awarded the Medal of Honor, for service above and beyond the call of duty during the Battle of Okinawa.
Andrew Garfield stars as Doss, with Sam Worthington, Hugo Weaving, Rachel Griffiths and Vince Vaughn in supporting roles.
This is an unbelievable film there is no denying Gibson's talents as a director.
You don't have to watch before you listen because even after you have listened you will want to watch this.
We question whether Andrew Garfield and Vince Vaughn were well cast or not - we would be interested in your opinion.
Why was Dossin the war? Why fight without a gun? The film answers it and we answer it too
Mesmerising and brilliantly acted we can't recommend this highly enough.
We have a huge amount of respect for Desmond Doss. He was a true hero in every sense of the word.
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Invictus with Saul

This week we review the 2009 biographical sports film Invictus directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon, making it the third collaboration between Eastwood and Freeman after Unforgiven (1992) and Million Dollar Baby (2004).
The story is based on the events in South Africa before and during the 1995 Rugby World Cup.
The Springboks were not expected to perform well, the team having only recently returned to high-level international competition following the dismantling of apartheid—the country was hosting the World Cup, thus earning an automatic entry.
Freeman portrays South African President Nelson Mandela while Damon played Francois Pienaar, the captain of the Springboks, the South Africa rugby union team.
We welcome Saul to the studio this week.
Saul won his spot in an auction and he fits in nicely with some sledging right off the bat.
Saul was born in South Africa and he gives us a first hand look at his history and talks us through his memories of growing up in South Africa during Apartheid.
Saul tells us "there's 3 countries were rugby is religion. New Zealand, Wales and South Africa."
South Africa nearly ended up in civil war due to the removal of a public holiday celebrating the 1st rugby game of the world cup.
Mixed opinions on this movie. Tune in to hear the boys and what they think.
The Scotsman bursts in and out of a dodgy South African accent and the Aussie is in sports movie heaven.
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