Aussie and the Scotsman talk movies

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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The Greatest Showman

This week we review  the 2017 American biographical musical drama film The Greatest Showman directed by Michael Gracey.
The film stars Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron, Michelle Williams, Rebecca Ferguson, and Zendaya.
Featuring nine original songs written by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, and an original musical orchestral score the film is a heavily fictionalized depiction of the life of P. T. Barnum, a showman and entertainer who created the Barnum & Bailey Circus, and its star attractions.
The film received nominations for Best Motion Picture and Best Actor – Musical or Comedy for Jackman at the 75th Golden Globe Awards.
The Greatest Showman won the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song for "This Is Me", which was also nominated for Best Original Song at the 90th Academy Awards.
We kick this podcast off with a list of musicals discussing what we have and have not seen. The Scotsman puts out a shoutout for someone to go out with. Well that's a mouthful.......
We ask what 'success' meant in this movie and the Aussie gets offensive when he insults 'thin opera singers'.
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Casino

This week we discuss the 1995 epic Vegas mobster film Casino directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone, Joe Pesci, Kevin Pollak and James Woods.
The Aussie had not seen this one. He prefers this movie to Goodfellas.
It is the 11th collaboration between De Niro and Scorcese. 
Michael Franzese, an American former mobster, says Pesci's portrayal of a mafia member is the most honest he has ever seen. We discuss this and our favourite scenes.
Sharon Stone is an absolute stand-out in this movie - she was nominated and should have won the Oscar.
Let us know what you think.
 
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Mississippi Burning

This week we review the 1988 American crime thriller film Mississippi Burning directed by Alan Parker that is loosely based on the 1964 investigation into the deaths of Chaney, Goodman, and Schwerner in Mississippi.
It stars Gene Hackman and Willem Dafoe as two FBI agents investigating the disappearance of three civil rights workers in fictional Jessup County, Mississippi, who are met with hostility by the town's residents, local police, and the Ku Klux Klan.
Critical reaction was generally positive, with praise aimed towards the cinematography and the performances of Hackman, Dafoe and Frances McDormand.
It received seven Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, and won for Best Cinematography.
We discuss the Oscar winners from last week and we pay tribute to Gene Hackman who passed away recently.  
This is a movie that revs you up, that makes you angry, that stirs your soul. We like to think we are injustice warriors - and like our 12 Years A Slave podcast https://open.spotify.com/episode/26Bj8KeieO4WBGt0NHRrEl?si=4e2d9fa9e5334aae  - the themes in this movie makes our blood boil.
The Aussie deep dives into scenes in the movie and manages to make the Scotsman smile - no mean feat. He is delighted to be chatting about the making of the movie - and some behind the scenes trivia.
This is great podcast until the end when the Aussie ruins it with his rating - it makes no sense! You have to listen to try and make sense of this .
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