Willy Wonka is one of the greatest literary characters ever adapted into film so we watched the trailer for WONKA! We talk about the WGA/SAG AFTRA strike (solidarity forever)! We commemorate Jane Birkin with a few recommendations. 
But most importantly, our mission is to lock in the top 5 Thomas Cruise Mapother IV performances. Here's the list on Alexei's Letterboxd.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Top 5 Tom Cruise Performances

The Betoota Advocate presents a chat show about the films you love. Join the movie maestro Alexei Toliopoulos in ‘The Last Video Store’ - located in the outback town of Betoota. Its a special hub of culture and memories with every single movie ever made lining its infinite shelves. Alexei talks with a guest about their most cherished cinematic selections, before he sends them of with a bespoke film recommendation based on their taste.
The rental combo is:
1 x New Release
2 x Weeklies
1 x Staff Pick
 
Follow us on Instagram @lastvideostorebetoota

TV & Film

Comedy

If you haven’t seen Aaron Chen’s YouTube special please remedy this ASAP
Beloved comedian and dearest friend Aaron Chen joins Alexei in the Last Video Store to reminisce and pick up a combo of his favourite films. Aaron selects one of the great martial arts comedies, an iconic masterpiece of dystopian speculative fiction and a newly returned New Release title PLUS Alexei slips in an Ozlpoitation staff pick for him.
Watch the full episode on YOUTUBE
Catch Alexei hosting the incredible Sunburnt Screens weekend of screenings at The Sydney Opera House on June 27, 28 and 30 HERE
Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists. Here’s AARON’s combo on Letterboxd.
Music & sounds by Rowan Dix
Produced & Edited by Alex Jae and Xanon Murphy 
Art by Hollow Bones Studio  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aaron Chen, Star of FISK and Award Winning Comedian

Witness me! Celebrating the release of the decade’s most exciting action spectacle FURIOSA: A MAD MAX SAGA. Filmmaker George Miller + stars Anya Taylor-Joy and Chris Hemsworth have made their way through the wastelands of a post-apocalyptic Australia to find themselves in THE LAST VIDEO STORE. Alexei Toliopoulos sits down with them all to discuss the madness, the Greekness and the fury that goes into making an epic. 
Watch George Miller's interview HERE and Chris & Anya's interview HERE
Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists. 
Music & sounds by Rowan Dix
Produced & Edited by Alex Jae and Xanon Murphy 
Art by Hollow Bones Studio  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

George Miller, Anya Taylor-Joy & Chris Hemsworth - FURIOSA: A MAD MAX SAGA {New Release Special}

One of Australia’s greatest storytellers, Troy Cassar-Daley holds the record for most Golden Guitar Awards cementing the proud Gumbaynggirr and Bundjalung as one of country music’s greatest icons. Troy’s new album BETWEEN THE FIRES is out now, recorded at his late mother’s home, it is a powerfully moving collection of songs and stories. 
Without hyperbolising, this may be one of the best conversations Alexei has ever recorded. Troy has picked some films that resonate deeply with him and those emotional connections prove to be fertile ground for laughs and some top-tier cinematic celebration. Complete with a staff pick of a western that needs to be crystallised into the canon of cinema’s greats, the TCD visit might be the perfect episode of THE LAST VIDEO STORE.
Watch the full episode on YOUTUBE

Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists. Here’s TCD’s list up on Letterboxd. 
Music & sounds by Rowan Dix
Produced & Edited by Alex Jae and Xanon Murphy 
Art by Hollow Bones Studio  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Troy Cassar-Daley, the Country Music Luminary

With his new film HOUSEKEEPING FOR BEGINNERS arriving in cinemas this week, Goran Stolevski has proven himself to be one of the very best contemporary Australian filmmakers. A modern master of the close-up, each of Goran’s films are distinctly textured cinematic works worthy of your exploration. 
A rental combo that includes a screwball classic, a powerful journey through Seoul and one of the best from Pedro Almodóvar. Without a doubt, Goran Stolevski is far and away the biggest cinephile we’ve had in the Last Video Store so Alexei has to work extra fricking hard to find a staff pick rec off the beaten path.
Watch the full ep on YOUTUBE

Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists. Here’s Goran’s list up on Letterboxd. 
Music & sounds by Rowan Dix
Produced & Edited by Alex Jae and Xanon Murphy 
Art by Hollow Bones Studio  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Goran Stolevski, the filmmaker of OF AN AGE, HOUSEKEEPING FOR BEGINNERS and YOU WON’T BE ALONE

BONUS EPISODE! In an attempt to not overstate things, let's just say Alexei is a tremendous fan of all things PLANET OF THE APES… so of course we had to sneak in a quick chat with WES BALL, the filmmaker behind the new film in the franchise Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes ahead of its Australian release this week on May 9th. 
Watch the full episode on YOUTUBE
More from the Last Video Store later this week! 
Music & sounds by Rowan Dix
Produced & Edited by Alex Jae and Xanon Murphy 
Art by Hollow Bones Studio  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Top 5 Tom Cruise Performances

Download our free app to listen on your phone