The Last Video Store

The Betoota Advocate & Alexei

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 Release2 x Weeklies1 x Staff Pick   Follow us on Instagram @lastvideostorebetoota

  • 52 minutes 44 seconds
    Gracie Otto loves MULHOLLAND DRIVE & CHUNGKING EXPRESS

    Weaving between narrative and documentary features OTTO BY OTTO, SERIOUSLY RED and extensive work directing some of the best television (including DEADLOCH and HEARTBREAK HIGH), Gracie Otto is one of the most skilled and in-demand filmmakers in Australia. With great stories around Wong Kar-wai and David Lynch, Gracie’s visit to the Last Video Store is one of the greats.

    BOOK TICKETS for Alexei’s comedy fest show REFUSED CLASSIFICATION with Zach Ruane in MELBOURNESYDNEYPERTH and BRISBANE

    Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists. Here’s Gracie’s list.

    GUEST PICKS: OTTO BY OTTO (documentary), MULHOLLAND DRIVE (cult), CHUNGKING EXPRESS (cult)
    STAFF PICKS: HIPPO (cult)

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    2 April 2025, 4:00 pm
  • 50 minutes 53 seconds
    Julio Torres loves Nicole Kidman in BIRTH + his surreal comedy PROBLEMISTA

    Just before he lands at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Julio Torres joins Alexei Toliopoulos to explore the Last Video Store. Julio Torres is one of the great modern masters of surrealist comedy. Julio made his bones writing now classic sketches at Saturday Night Live (including PAPYRUS starring Ryan Gosling), he’s also the creative force on tv series LOS ESPOOKYS & FANTASMAS. Now Julio has directed his feature film debut, the brilliant comedy PROBLEMISTA, starring Tilda Swinton.

    JULIO’s comedy festival show link

    PROBLEMISTA screening with Julio & Alexei

    BOOK TICKETS for Alexei’s comedy fest show REFUSED CLASSIFICATION with Zach Ruane in MELBOURNESYDNEYPERTH and BRISBANEFollow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists. Here’s Julio’s list.

    GUEST PICKS: PROBLEMISTA (Comedy), WHERE IS THE FRIEND’S HOUSE (Art House), BIRTH (Cult)
    STAFF PICKS: T BLOCKERS (Horror), LOVE SERENADE (Cult)

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    26 March 2025, 4:00 pm
  • 1 hour 12 minutes
    Michael Hing reveals his list of the top 50 movies of all time (from when he was 19 years old)

    When comedian and podcast host Michael 'Hingers' Hing was 19 and in his 2nd year of uni, he wrote a list of what are, in his opinion, the best 50 movies of all time. And for the first time ever, he's sharing that list exclusively on The Last Video Store podcast.

    From Pulp Fiction to Finding Nemo, Michael and Alexei go through every movie on that list in this very special episode which will have you saying "Are you talkin' to me?" or something equally annoying.

    See Michael at your local comedy festival in Australia

    BOOK TICKETS for Alexei’s comedy fest show REFUSED CLASSIFICATION with Zach Ruane in MELBOURNESYDNEYADELAIDEPERTH and BRISBANE

    Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    19 March 2025, 4:00 pm
  • 26 minutes 27 seconds
    BONUS: David Wenham, an original video store customer

    A short and sharp visit to the Last Video Store from one of the greats of Australian cinema, David Wenham. His new film SPIT sees Wenham return to perhaps his most iconic role of ex-junkie Johnny Spitieri from GETTIN SQUARE. SPIT is out now in cinemas. 

    BOOK TICKETS for Alexei’s comedy fest show REFUSED CLASSIFICATION with Zach Ruane in MELBOURNE, SYDNEY, PERTH and BRISBANE

    Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    14 March 2025, 4:00 pm
  • 50 minutes
    Cameron James returns for some hard neo noir and the classic SUNSET BOULEVARD (Anniversary Spectacular)

    Celebrating a year into the pod with our original first customer and best mate… it’s the return of Cameron James! Cam has just released his new half hour special on Grouse House (the home of Finding Yeezus). 

    See Cam at your local comedy festival in Australia 

    BOOK TICKETS for Alexei’s comedy fest show REFUSED CLASSIFICATION with Zach Ruane in MELBOURNE, SYDNEY, ADELAIDE, PERTH and BRISBANE

    Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists. Here’s Cam’s list

    GUEST PICKS: ONE FLASE MOVE (crime), SUNSET BOULEVARD (crime)

    STAFF PICKS: TWILIGHT (crime), CUTTER’S WAY (crime), ELEVATOR TO THE GALLOWS (crime)

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    12 March 2025, 4:00 pm
  • 57 minutes 10 seconds
    Filip Hammar & Fredrik Wikingsson directors/stars of THE LAST JOURNEY love SIDEWAYS and THE ACT OF KILLING

    Their film THE LAST JOURNEY just became the highest grossing Swedish documentary ever and was selected as the Swedish entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards. The duo Filip och Fredrik are responsible for some of Sweden’s best-loved comedic journalistic innovations, THE LAST JOURNEY is no exception. A touching and hilarious comedy documentary road movie as they take Hammar’s retired father on a nostalgic trip to France to help him get back his joie de vivre!

    BOOK TICKETS for Alexei’s comedy fest show REFUSED CLASSIFICATION with Zach Ruane in MELBOURNESYDNEYADELAIDEPERTH and BRISBANE

    Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists. Here’s Filip & Fredrik’s list.

    GUEST PICKS: THE LAST JOURNEY (Documentary), THE ACT OF KILLING (Documentary), SIDEWAYS (Comedy)
    ALEXEI’S STAFF PICK: HANDS ON A HARD BODY (Documentary), OTTO BY OTTO (Documentary)

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    5 March 2025, 4:00 pm
  • 58 minutes 24 seconds
    Charles Williams, director of INSIDE starring Guy Pearce, loves FAT CITY

    Filmmaker Charles Williams won the Short Film Palme d'Or at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival for his his short ALL THESE CREATURES. His feature directorial debut INSIDE is in cinemas now. A superb crime thriller starring Oscar nominee Guy Pearce, Cosmo Jarvis (Shogun) and newcomer Vincent Miller is in Aus cinemas now. He’s also a former video store clerk so you know it is a banger!

    BOOK TICKETS for Alexei’s comedy fest show REFUSED CLASSIFICATION with Zach Ruane in MELBOURNESYDNEYADELAIDEPERTH and BRISBANE

    Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists. Here’s Charles’ list.

    GUEST PICKS: INSIDE, FAT CITY and THE EARRINGS OF MADAM DE…
    STAFF PICK: PRIME CUT, THE FUNERAL (1996)

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    26 February 2025, 4:00 pm
  • 1 hour 8 minutes
    Zachary Ruane returns for THE SUBSTANCE, I SAW THE TV GLOW and De Palma’s BODY DOUBLE

    Aunty Donna legend and film obsessive Zachary Ruane returns to the Last Video Store to reveal if Alexei’s recommendation of Brian De Palma’s BODY DOUBLE really was the perfect staff pick and to talk through a pair of the best new horror movies.

    BOOK TICKETS for Zach and Alexei’s comedy fest show REFUSED CLASSIFICATION in MELBOURNESYDNEYADELAIDE , PERTH and BRISBANE

    Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists. Here’s ZACH’s return list AND his original pick-up list (and also his actual letterboxd account)

    GUEST PICKS: BODY DOUBLE, THE SUBSTANCE and I SAW THE TV GLOW
    STAFF PICK: DEF BY TEMPTATION

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    19 February 2025, 4:00 pm
  • 1 hour 1 minute
    Jenna Owen & Vic Zerbst love the erotic milk play of BABYGIRL

    Sometimes known as the sketch duo FREUDIAN NIP, Jenna and Vic are now the creators and stars of OPTICS on ABC and the Christmas movie NUGGET IS DEAD (featuring little old Alexei Toliopoulos). They join their mate little Alexei Toliopoulos to pick up some of their favourite films and biggest comedy touchstones while they visit the Last Video Store.

    Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists. Here’s Jenna and Vic’s list (and also here is Vic’s letterboxd).

    VIC AND JENNA’S PICKS: BABYGIRL, RAT RACE, THE OTHER GUY
    STAFF PICK: PARTY GIRL

    BOOK TICKETS for Alexei’s comedy fest show REFUSED CLASSIFICATION in MELBOURNESYDNEYADELAIDE , PERTH and BRISBANE SOON

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    12 February 2025, 4:00 pm
  • 54 minutes 55 seconds
    Aisha Dee loves HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS and the Blaxploitation vengeance of Pam Grier in COFFY

    Star of APPLE CIDER VINEGAR (on NETFLIX), THE BOLD TYPE and one of the best new Australian horror films SISSY, Aisha Dee joins Alexei on THE LAST VIDEO STORE. And almost instantly is the guest with the biggest impact on the show so far by picking the coolest fricking movie anyone has picked up in the first year of the pod and then immediately picking up the film that Alexei hates more than any other. Dream guest, fantastic episode.

    Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists. Here’s Aisha’s list.

    AISHA’S PICKS: OFFICIAL COMPETITION, COFFY, HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS
    STAFF PICK: WILD TALES

    BOOK TICKETS for Alexei’s comedy fest show REFUSED CLASSIFICATION in MELBOURNESYDNEYADELAIDE and BRISBANE SOON

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    5 February 2025, 4:00 pm
  • 52 minutes 40 seconds
    ratbag loves EDWARD SCISSORHANDS, THE BOY AND THE HERON and the portals of fantasy

    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 particular, Alexei also loves their double EP “pinky girl”/”pinky boy”.

    Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists. Here’s ratbag’s list.

    RATBAG’S PICKS: THE BOY AND THE HERON, EDWARD SCISSORHANDS, WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE
    STAFF PICK: SON OF THE WHITE MARE

    BOOK TICKETS for Alexei’s comedy fest show REFUSED CLASSIFICATION in MELBOURNESYDNEYADELAIDE and BRISBANE SOON

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    29 January 2025, 4:00 pm
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