Aussie and the Scotsman talk movies

Coach Carter

This week we discuss the 2005 American biographical sports drama film Coach Carter starring Samuel L Jackson and Channing Tatum (in his film debut).
This is a 98.5% accurate representation of basketball coach Ken Carter who made deadlines in 1999 for suspending his undefeated high school basketball team due to poor academic results.
This is not a predictable film - it's a great story and all the better because it's true.
A feel-good, important movie. Definitely worth a watch.
The Scotsman is not into his sports movies, particularly American sports movies - he says it every time.
This week is different, this is more than a sports movie, this is a story about believing in yourself and wanting more for others.
It is about being a teacher. About standing up for what is right and what is wrong. Wanting the best for your students in defiance of the community and others that should know better.
You don't have to watch before you listen but we do tell you exactly what happens.
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Rambo

This week we review the 1982 American action film Rambo directed by Ted Kotcheff and co-written by and starring Sylvester Stallone as Vietnam War veteran John Rambo.
It co-stars Richard Crenna as Rambo's mentor Sam Trautman and Brian Dennehy as Sheriff Will Teasle.
Rambo is a troubled and misunderstood Vietnam veteran who must rely on his combat and survival skills when a series of brutal events results in him having to survive a massive manhunt by police and government troops near the small town of Hope, Washington.
It is the first installment in the Rambo franchise and the excitement this week is palpable.
You either love it or hate it and we both love it. The Scotsman starts to delve too deep into the nuances of the story before the Aussie reminds him "it's just Rambo mate - don't do that".
And he is quite right.
Enjoy this movie for what it is.
The Aussie was playing the Rambo music score on the way to the studio and he is ramped up, pumped up and ready to "kick arse". He runs this show like clockwork delving into the minutia.
He is so excited, see if you can count how many times he says Rocky instead of Rambo. Although In fairness Sly has made this week very difficult for podcasters......Rocky, Rambo, Rob and Rohan....the big 4! 
If you are our age you are going to love this podcast and reminiscing about all things Rambo!
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Braveheart

This week we discuss the 1995 epic historical movie Braveheart directed by Mel Gibson.
It stars Mel Gibson as William Wallace with a great supporting cast.
As you can imagine the Scotsman is in his element. He is fired up. Riffing monologues. Telling stories about Glasgow and how he ended up in Australia.
There's goosebumps and tingles galore as the boys (well the Scotsman) abuses the English and shouts "Freeeeeedoooooom" as often as he can. 
He tells us about the famous Battle of Bannockburn when the Scots beat the English decisively which resulted in Scottish independence.......come on Scotland!!!!!!
The Aussie gets philosophical early on and asks which is worse .....losing your life or losing your freedom and he tells us, in his opinion, what really makes a good leader.
We ask what makes an epic movie and which epic movie is better.....Gladiator or Braveheart?
Does the Scotsman's accent gets stronger in this podcast, we think so.
 
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Erin Brockovich with Emma

This week we review the 2000 American biographical legal drama film Erin Brockovich directed by Steven Soderbergh.
The film is a dramatisation of the true story of Erin Brockovich, portrayed by Julia Roberts, who initiated a legal case against the Pacific Gas and Electric Company over its culpability for the Hinkley groundwater contamination incident. 
We are honoured to have in the studio with us today our very own Erin Brockovich - our close friend Emma who picked this movie to review with us.
The Scotsman gets himself into hot water now and again with comments like "Erin reminds me of you" and "have you ever used your femininity to get what you want?"
The Aussie has a dig at our guest too. But not to worry Emma has the boys under control. She is more than a match for us and welcome any time.
Smart, tough and determined both Emma and Erin teach the Aussie and the Scotsman a thing or two about life.
We discuss Erin's character and how she changes over the course of the movie.
We discuss the relationship between her boss Ed and Erin - it becomes "a relationship of mutual respect" says Emma.
A true story - and Julia Roberts is well deserving of her oscar win.
Let us know what you think.
 
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Interstellar

This week we are reviewing the 2014 epic science fiction drama film Interstellar directed and written by Christopher Nolan.
It stars Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Matt Damon, and Michael Caine.
Set in a dystopian future where Earth is suffering from catastrophic blight and famine, the film follows a group of astronauts who travel through a wormhole near Saturn in search of a new home for humankind.
Straight off the bat - the Scotsman tells the Aussie he is full of shit.
Fairly interesting questions posed by both men in this one - the Scotsman tries to explain the ending for our friend Thali.
The Aussie doesn't believe in black holes or time dilation or relativity or any hocussy pocussy science fiction stuff. He thinks Christopher Nolan just makes things up.
The Scotsman is outraged and it gets personal.
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12 Years a Slave

This week we discuss the 2013 biographical drama film 12 Years a Slave directed by Steve McQueen and starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Benedict Cumberbatch, Paul Dano, Paul Giammatti, Lupita Nyongó and many others.
With 9 Oscar nominations this is a must watch true story.
An incredibly important story about inhumanity, injustice, survival, hope and the human spirit.
No stories. We get straight into this one. Tingles all around.
The Aussie had not seen this one.....and the boys are in strong agreement. This has had a deep emotional impact on them both.
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The Whale

This week we review the 2022 American psychological drama film The Whale directed by Darren Aronofsky.
The film stars (Oscar winner) Brendan Fraser, Sadie Sink, (Oscar nominated) Hong Chau, Ty Simpkins, and Samantha Morton.
The plot follows a reclusive, morbidly obese English teacher who tries to restore his relationship with his teenage daughter, whom he had abandoned eight years earlier.
Although not a mainstream film, regardless of the Oscar win by Brendan Fraser and the nomination for Hong Chau, this is a polarising film.
We discuss obesity and why some people allow themselves to get this way. We get serious about wokeness and we give some fairly strong opinions on what we think is acceptable and what is not.
Quite a heavy podcast this one - and we try not to pull any punches.
You don't have to watch this movie - although we do spoil it - but it stands on its own and maybe you will want to watch after and form your own view. 
The Scotsman gets pretty pissed off with the Aussie hallway through this podcast for saying the same thing over and over again. This gets heated......tell us what you think.
 
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The Deer Hunter

This week we discuss the 1978 American epic war drama film The Deer Hunter directed by Michael Cimino.
Nominated for 9 awards and winner of 5 - best picture, best director, best sound, best film editing and best supporting actor for Walken. This is a must see for all movie aficionados. 
This movie is about a trio of Slavic-American steelworkers whose lives are upended after fighting in the Vietnam War.
The three soldiers are played by Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken and John Savage, with John Cazale (in his final role). Meryl Streep and George Dzundza star in supporting roles.
The first half of the story takes place in a working-class town in Pittsburgh, and the second half in Vietnam.
This is a powerful film. A film that will remain with you for a long time.
The intensity of the acting draws you into the pyschological trauma these men suffer.
In the words of the Aussie; "it's an after not a during".
Persevere through the first hour and you will be rewarded in the second.
The russian roulette scenes are some of the most famous in movie history.
The ending is 'divisive' and the boys do not agree on the meaning but they try and articulate it.
This is not a film for the light hearted - and you don't have to watch this movie to listen. 
It is one of the best movies of its generation.
If you have seen this tell us what you think in the comments below.
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Back to the Future

This week we review the 1985 American science fiction film Back to the Future directed by Robert Zemeckis.
Set in 1985, it follows Marty McFly (Michael J Fox), a teenager accidentally sent back to 1955 in a time-traveling DeLorean built by his eccentric scientist friend Emmett "Doc" Brown (Christopher Lloyd), where he inadvertently prevents his future parents from falling in love – threatening his own existence – and is forced to reconcile them and somehow get back to the future.
This is a great family film. We can't believe it is nearly 40 years old.....are we really that old!
The Scotsman gets upset when the Aussie jumps around the timeline of the movie rather than discussing it in order -which quite frankly in a time travel movie - is ok.
The Scotsman needs to chill but he is over-excited again about this movie. Who doesn't love Michael J Fox in the 80's, 90's 2000's, 2010's and 2020's. What a film - what a start - it is hard to fault and the amount of money Michael J Fox has earned for Parkinsons Research is phenomenal - we discuss in the trivia.
 
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Best Sequels of all Time

This week we have one of our specials "the best sequels of all time".
Now there are lots of great movies that have sequels - but are the sequels better than the original?
That is the question we question on a few of our choices.
There are sequels on superheroes, Lethal Weapon, 48 hours, Mission Impossible, Austin Powers, Terminator, Indiana Jones, Rocky, Rambo, Airplane, Batman, Predator and many more. We give some notable mentions and tell you our favourite.
What would your number 1 sequel be?  And have we missed any? Let us know in the comments. 
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