Aussie and the Scotsman - Unfiltered Movie Podcast

Aussie and the Scotsman
  • 5.0 (13)
  • Film Reviews
  • Updated Weekly

You couldn’t find two more different people — from opposite sides of the world — with completely different takes on what’s entertaining, serious, heartfelt, or funny. Rohan (the Aussie from Melbourne) loves his romantic comedies. Rob (the Scotsman from Glasgow) loves his action films. Each week, the boys deep dive into a new movie — unpacking the themes, cast, awards, controversies, and a heap of trivia along the way. They don’t hold back. Sometimes they agree, often they don’t — but it’s always honest, hilarious, and a little bit chaotic. New episodes drop every Saturday. Fifteen years of friendship has led to the birth of Aussie and the Scotsman — two mates, two accents, and one shared obsession with great movies. Strap in. It’s not always pretty, but it’s definitely fun.

  1. 6 days ago

    Brett Ratten's career and Seabiscuit review

    This week we are reviewing Seabiscuit, the 2003 drama directed by Gary Ross and starring Tobey Maguire, Jeff Bridges and Chris Cooper — the true story of a small, overlooked, knock-kneed horse who became a symbol of hope for an entire nation during the Great Depression. And we have a very special guest to help us do it. Brett Ratten is in the studio. Carlton premiership player. Club captain. Three-time best and fairest. 255 games. Part of the famous 1995 premiership side and the 1999 grand finalists. Then senior coach at Carlton, St Kilda, caretaker at North Melbourne, and part of the Hawthorn premiership dynasty under Alistair Clarkson. One of the most decorated careers in the history of the game. The Aussie has been looking forward to this for weeks. Brett barely gets a chance to breathe. The first hour covers Carlton history in forensic detail — the 1993 grand final loss to Essendon when Michael Long was unstoppable, the 1994 straight-sets exit at Waverley, Greg Williams picking up his best and fairest that year, putting the trophy aside and telling the younger players they needed to take the next step up, and the galvanising effect that speech had on the group going into 1995. The 1999 prelim win over Essendon — when Quartermain had declared Carlton would lose by 70 — gets full treatment, including why over-celebrating that win may have cost them the grand final the following week. Brett tells us why he vomited before many games, how a miserable 1993 grand final performance became the greatest lesson of his playing life, and why his most profound moments in coaching had nothing to do with trophies. And then, finally, Seabiscuit. Brett chose this film deliberately. A story about broken people finding their way back — an owner carrying the grief of losing a son, a trainer who sees something others dismiss, a jockey nobody believes in, and a horse everyone else has written off. Brett has owned racehorses himself, including Mornington Glory, a Group One winner. He knows this world. And he knows what it means when someone puts their arm around a player — or a horse — that the rest of the world has given up on. The line that lands hardest: "You don't throw a whole life away just because he's banged up a little." Brett says it quietly. He does not need to explain why it resonates. The episode closes with the Scotsman playing the original 1938 radio commentary of Seabiscuit's race against War Admiral. Live. Crackling. Genuinely incredible. Brett hears it for the first time. The goosebumps are not just his. Ratings: 4 from Brett, 4 from the Scotsman, 3.5 from the Aussie. And a thank you to Brett Ratten that the Scotsman struggles to get through. The podcast is out now on YouTube and also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Hit subscribe or follow — it genuinely helps the show keep growing. Thanks for listening.

    1hr 24min

  2. 12 June

    The Founder

    This week on Aussie and the Scotsman, the boys review The Founder (2016), the biographical drama directed by John Lee Hancock. Starring Michael Keaton as salesman-turned-mogul Ray Kroc, the film charts the brutal, calculated rise of McDonald's — and how its original founders were ultimately forced aside. Nick Offerman and John Carroll Lynch co-star as brothers Richard and Maurice McDonald, with Linda Cardellini as Ray Kroc’s third wife Joan Smith, and B. J. Novak as McDonald’s corporate operator Harry J. Sonneborn. Rohan is finally on time — but immediately calls Rob a bully and racist over his accents, which naturally launches a full-blown discussion about accents in general. That conversation leads to India, cricket, and a vivid story from Oval Maidan in Mumbai, where the Scotsman and his son bravely took their lives in their hands for a casual game of cricket under a chorus of “ball, ball, ball, ball, ball…”. WhatsApp etiquette rears its head again. The boys sing Delilah (crediting Tom Jones very loosely). Campbell’s Cash & Carry gets a mention. Things go wildly off-road when the biblical story of Samson enters the chat, followed by impressions of Acropolis Now favourites Con the Fruiterer, Effie, and Franco Cozzo. It becomes clear very quickly that the boys have had far too much coffee. The big debate: was Ray Kroc a good guy or a bad guy? A ruthless businessman or just playing the game?  Rohan Reminisces takes us back to 1954, including the cost of a hamburger at the time — genuinely hilarious — and what might be the most chaotic multiple-choice presentation ever delivered (C, B, A or D… somehow all at once). The episode wraps with a discussion on the ten biggest and most famous brands in the world. The podcast is out now on YouTube and also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Please click subscribe or follow — it really does help us. Thanks for your support.

    44 min

  3. 5 June ·  Bonus

    Musical Theme Quiz with The Doc

    Welcome back to Doctor Andrew for our third music quiz episode — and this time, we’re diving into the world of musicals. Now, fair warning: it takes a while for the Aussie to warm up… and to be honest, he never really gets there. If musicals were a sport, he’s on the bench, in the wrong uniform, holding a cricket bat. Meanwhile, Doctor Andrew is absolutely on fire. The moment a track starts, he’s shouting out the answer before the Scotsman’s even found the play button. Lightning fast. No hesitation. Just musical theatre dominance. From Phantom of the Opera to Singin’ in the Rain, Les Misérables, Grease, The Greatest Showman and more — we cover all the big hitters. Some classics. Some curveballs. And plenty of opportunities for you to yell at us when we miss an obvious one. Tune in, play along, and see if you can outscore The Doc (spoiler: probably not). And let us know how many you got right — or if you, like the Aussie, barely made it past “Greased Lightning”. Please hit the subscribe or follow button — it really helps others find the show. Thanks for your support

    17 min

  4. 5 June

    Oceans Eleven

    This week on Aussie and the Scotsman, the lads review Ocean’s Eleven (2001), the American heist comedy directed by Steven Soderbergh. The first instalment in the Ocean’s trilogy, the film is a remake of the 1960 Rat Pack classic and boasts one of the most stacked casts of the early 2000s — George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Julia Roberts, Andy García, Don Cheadle, Casey Affleck, Scott Caan, Elliott Gould, Bernie Mac, and Carl Reiner. The story follows Danny Ocean and Rusty Ryan as they plan an audacious $160 million heist targeting three Las Vegas casinos owned by Terry Benedict — who also happens to be dating Danny’s ex-wife. Slick, stylish, and very much of its time. The episode opens with the Scotsman genuinely upset — not performative, not exaggerated — properly rattled. What’s caused it? You’ll have to listen. That mood doesn’t last long though, thanks to a recent movie moderation where the podcast was repeatedly referred to as “The Someone and the Scotsman.” Twice. The Scotsman lifts instantly. The Aussie is mortified. Balance is restored. A detour into the Scotsman’s deep hatred of shopping follows, which is then over-analysed in forensic detail. Lunch chat appears — specifically a roast beef roll — and a firm declaration that the MCG does a very strong version. Once again, the Aussie arrives with no story. Not acceptable. Worse still, the Scotsman believes Ocean’s Eleven itself is not worthy of the podcast. “We’re only doing it because of the cast,” argues the Aussie. The Scotsman tears it apart regardless — dated, coasting on charm, and no longer good enough for a modern audience. The Aussie struggles to defend it, made worse by some “rubbish” film knowledge, including confusing the Rat Pack with the “Brat Pack.” I mean seriously! Rohan Reminisces takes us back to 2001 — Oscar winners, major pop-culture moments, the launch of Wikipedia, the first iPod, and the release of Shrek, which inevitably triggers the Scotsman’s Shrek impression.  The podcast is out now on YouTube and also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Please click subscribe or follow — it genuinely helps us stand out among the noise. Thanks for your support.

    37 min

  5. 29 May

    Fargo

    This week the boys review the 1996 black comedy crime classic Fargo, written, directed, produced and edited by Joel and Ethan Coen. Starring Frances McDormand, William H. Macy, Steve Buscemi, Harve Presnell and Peter Stormare, the film follows pregnant police chief Marge Gunderson as she investigates a botched kidnapping plot hatched by a desperate car salesman that spirals wildly out of control. The podcast kicks off with a discussion on neighbour etiquette, before quickly descending into the realisation that the Aussie may not actually like children or animals. He’s officially become the grumpy one. Barking dogs, screaming kids and inconsiderate neighbours all get a serve, before the Aussie tells a genuinely distressing story about a dog left home alone for a week — which no one enjoys hearing. It’s only the second Coen Brothers film the podcast has covered (after No Country for Old Men), and for the Scotsman, Fargo sits right at the top of their catalogue. The Aussie, watching it for the first time, is pleasantly surprised and thoroughly entertained. Trouble brews when the Scotsman suggests the Aussie bears an uncomfortable resemblance to William H. Macy’s sleazy car salesman — a comparison that does not go down well. That accusation opens the door to an unbelievable Repo Man story from the Aussie’s younger years: a two-year pursuit of a car and its owner that ends in a full-blown standoff. The Scotsman is horrified by how much joy this still brings him. Rohan Reminisces takes the show back to 1987, with Wall Street, Fatal Attraction and The Untouchables dominating the year, alongside The Joshua Tree, Rick Astley, peak MTV and a shared childhood love of Dallas. Trivia Time promptly derails things further, dragging Cagney & Lacey, Columbo and a badly mangled Murder, She Wrote reference into the mix. Another chaotic serving from the Aussie and the Scotsman. The podcast is out now on YouTube, and also available on Spotify or Apple. Please hit subscribe or follow — it genuinely helps the show keep growing. Thanks for your support.

    42 min

  6. 22 May

    ET - The Extra Terrestrial

    This week the Aussie and the Scotsman review the 1982 American science-fiction classic E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, produced and directed by Steven Spielberg and written by Melissa Mathison. The film follows Elliott, a young boy who befriends a stranded alien and, with the help of his family and friends, tries to get E.T. home. The cast includes Dee Wallace, Henry Thomas, Peter Coyote, Robert MacNaughton and a very young Drew Barrymore. The podcast opens with tension. The Scotsman senses something’s off and pushes the Aussie until he finally admits he’s been quietly salty over the blood-pressure saga — despite it not being the Scotsman’s fault. This somehow escalates into “do you want me to kiss you or something?” and a public demand for 10,000 likes if the lads are to kiss on air. The conversation then veers into road rage, with the Scotsman sharing a couple of stories that don’t exactly flatter him. There’s some undignified behaviour, strong language, and a clear warning: the C-word makes several appearances. As for the film, cards are firmly on the table. The Scotsman gives E.T. a full 5/5, declaring it essential viewing for "every human alive". The Aussie, watching through the eyes of a 51-year-old grumpy, cynical adult, is far less impressed. The argument rages until Rohan Reminisces, where the chat jumps to Sexy Beast, a Ben Kingsley impression, the Commodore 64, the arrival of CDs, Pac-Man dominance, and a fairly underwhelming delivery of the segment itself. The episode closes with both hosts attempting their best “E.T. phone home” impressions — with mixed results. The podcast is out now on YouTube, and also available on Spotify or Apple. Please hit subscribe or follow — it helps us out. Thanks for your support.

    34 min

  7. 20 May

    Michael (2026)

    This week we are reviewing Michael, the 2026 biographical drama directed by Antoine Fuqua — the man behind Training Day and The Equalizer — starring Jaafar Jackson, the 27-year-old nephew of Michael Jackson as Michael himself, alongside a powerhouse Colman Domingo as Joe Jackson. The film begins in Gary, Indiana in 1966 and follows Michael from his childhood as the lead singer of the Jackson 5 through the Motown years, the Off the Wall and Thriller era, the Pepsi commercial accident, and up to the Bad World Tour in London in 1988. The allegations, the trials, and his death in 2009 are not depicted. An epilogue card reads: his story continues.   Both hosts went to see this together during the week.  The Scotsman went in not wanting to support the Jackson estate because of the allegations. He came out calling it the greatest film he has seen in a long time. The Aussie was dancing in his seat.    But this episode does something most reviews of this film have not. They give the allegations a dedicated, serious section — both sides of the argument, the Jordan Chandler case, the 2005 criminal trial, the Leaving Neverland accusations, what was found and what was not found, the settlement, and the Robson and Safechuck civil case due in November 2026. The Scotsman presents it without taking a side. The Aussie declares his hand.    The debate underneath all of this is genuinely compelling. Would Michael Jackson have made it without Joe Jackson? The Scotsman says yes — absolutely, inevitably, on his own terms. The Aussie says the father was seventy percent of it. They argue about this for a while.    Jaafar Jackson gets enormous credit from both hosts. The voice, the movement, the sweetness, the vulnerability — trained for years in his uncle's specific choreographic style. Colman Domingo as Joe Jackson — terrifying, cold, never given a redemption arc — is described as the best supporting performance in any biopic of the last decade.   The scene where Michael fires his father by fax. Joe Jackson walking into the room holding the paper. Michael unable to look at him. "He always wins," Michael says. The Scotsman says it was one of the most uncomfortable scenes he has sat through.   There is also a disagreement about Paul McCartney's singing voice — the Scotsman gives him four out of ten — and a moment where the Aussie confidently calls George Harrison the drummer of The Beatles. He is not. .   Rohan Reminisces goes back to 1982 — the year Thriller dropped — and for once, it actually delivers. Gandhi, Ben Kingsley, Meryl Streep in Sophie's Choice, Rocky 3, Rambo, Blade Runner, ET, and the Falklands War. The first test tube baby also makes an appearance in a way that briefly derails the entire segment.   Ratings: 4.7 from the Aussie, 4.5 from the Scotsman. Go and see this at the cinema. Do not wait for streaming.   The podcast is out now on YouTube and also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Hit subscribe or follow — it genuinely helps the show keep growing. Thanks for listening.

    49 min

  8. 15 May

    The Holdovers - with Oliver

    This week we are reviewing the 2023 American Christmas comedy-drama The Holdovers, directed by Alexander Payne, written by David Hemingson, and starring Paul Giamatti, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, and Dominic Sessa. Set in 1970, the story follows a curmudgeonly classics teacher at a New England boarding school who’s roped into chaperoning a small group of students with nowhere to go over the Christmas break. We welcome back Oliver to the pod this week — and we set ourselves a goal: try to reduce the Aussie to tears three times during the episode. We don’t waste any time. The Scotsman opens by asking the Aussie: "What’s your proudest memory of your son?" And boom. Straight to the Kleenex. Emotional scenes. From there, we move into sibling rivalry, before diving into the idea of the “walk of no judgement” — a cleansing or confession-style conversation kids wish they could have without fear or backlash. It’s a surprisingly touching segue into this film. Oliver calls The Holdovers “a beautiful, beautiful film.” The Aussie… disagrees. “Predictable.” “A poor man’s Dead Poets Society.” And then Oliver hits back with one of the best comebacks of the episode. You’ll have to tune in for that one. The Aussie does, however, go full fanboy over Paul Giamatti. Meanwhile, the Scotsman says Giamatti is the only reason he got through the movie. “If he wasn’t in it, I’d have switched it off.” We get into themes of grief, loneliness, and the warmth of unexpected connection — plus a detour on white Christmases, global warming, and where they intersect. Yes, really. Oliver also gives a sharp and insightful explanation of why it’s called The Holdovers — even though there’s only one student left behind. It’s a brilliant observation. Rohan Reminisces returns with the debut of “Guess the Celeb”, which sparks chaos. And just when you think the episode’s wrapping up, the Aussie completely embarrasses himself in the final few minutes — classic ending. The podcast is out now on YouTube and it is also available on Spotify or Apple. Please click the subscribe or follow button – it really does help us be seen amongst all the other podcasts. Thanks for your support

    57 min
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5
out of 5
13 Ratings

About

You couldn’t find two more different people — from opposite sides of the world — with completely different takes on what’s entertaining, serious, heartfelt, or funny. Rohan (the Aussie from Melbourne) loves his romantic comedies. Rob (the Scotsman from Glasgow) loves his action films. Each week, the boys deep dive into a new movie — unpacking the themes, cast, awards, controversies, and a heap of trivia along the way. They don’t hold back. Sometimes they agree, often they don’t — but it’s always honest, hilarious, and a little bit chaotic. New episodes drop every Saturday. Fifteen years of friendship has led to the birth of Aussie and the Scotsman — two mates, two accents, and one shared obsession with great movies. Strap in. It’s not always pretty, but it’s definitely fun.

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