Scarface

This week the podcast revisits Scarface, the 1983 crime epic directed by Brian De Palma and written by Oliver Stone. A remake of the 1932 original, it stars Al Pacino as Cuban refugee Tony Montana, alongside Michelle Pfeiffer as Elvira Hancock and Steven Bauer as Manny Ribera.

Arriving in Miami during the Mariel boatlift, Tony claws his way from dishwasher to cocaine kingpin through ambition, violence and pure ego. As the empire grows, so does the paranoia. Addiction, pride and distrust burn every bridge in sight, building to one of cinema’s most operatic downfalls.

And then the shock.

A 5/5 from the Aussie. Rare air. First one of the year.

Before they get to the film, there’s another travel story. The Aussie meets up with Chris, the independent airport driver again, and appears to be paying way over the odds, but apparently, he can afford it. He also bumps into Stan Wawrinka at the airport, causes mild chaos by acknowledging him publicly, and that opens the floodgates to name-dropping: Tiger Woods, Shane Warne, Nadia Bartel, Clayton Oliver, Eddie Betts and Heather Graham. The debate quickly shifts to whether celebrities are public property.

The Scotsman counters with a far less glamorous update: his heating and cooling unit has died and it’s going to cost a fortune. And he asks if he can borrow some money from the Aussie.

Once the intro dust settles, the Scotsman waits for the verdict on the movie. Drum roll. The Aussie "absolutely loves it" and breaks down why. The discussion goes deep. This film earns the time.

They dissect the final scene and inevitably act out the immortal line "say hello to my little friend". The Scotsman tells the story slightly wrong. The Aussie corrects him. 

Rohan Reminisces takes us back to 1983. The Scotsman demands better questions next week. They touch on Cheers, favourite cast members, Trading Places, Risky Business and the Aussie sings "Flashdance... What a Feeling" from Flashdance. You may need earplugs.

Then the biggest shock in 225 episodes: the Scotsman forgets to prepare trivia. The Aussie goes low with "are you embarrassed and going to have a cry". No tears. Professional recovery. Comes back swinging.

The episode is out now on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts. If you enjoy it, hit subscribe or follow — it genuinely helps the show stand out among the many movie podcasts out there.

Thanks for tuning in.