The Countdown

Countdown #511 A long time ago, in a galaxy exactly like this one, three podcasters recorded their regular crossover event in which the American joined the two Australians to talk the best films of the previous calendar year. But the stars were not aligned that day, my friends. For the American had technical difficulties and his end of the conversation was lost to the Dark Movie Overl- sorry, wrong show - to the ether, forever. It took many moons until the Australians felt ready to again scale the mountain that is this massive topic, knowing they would be doing so without their American friend. But here, now, eventually, <i>finally</i>, that episode is yours to enjoy. But while doing so, spare a thought for the American in this story. Maybe go over and give his final season of Binge Movies a listen - one of the Australians did, after all, feature on the most recent ranking episode - the supposedly second last in that show's existence. Or, if you're ready for some blood and gore, hit up that same American-Australian combo with ANOTHER (lovely) American over on the soon to be completed second season of The Slashers. But whatever way you cut it, get ready to hear about the very best films that last year had to offer. In mid-March of the following year (but whatever) ... Want more? Find heaps more Countdowns - all the way back to Episode 40! - on our Podbean site. Join The Countdown Podcast Listener Community on Facebook so you can interact more directly with Paul and Wayne and the great listeners of the show. While you're at it, check out Wayne's new YouTube channel, Waxing & Wayning!

Danny Boyle hands the reigns to Nia DaCosta as the saga of the rage virus and the country it has decimated continues ... But is it a better film than the love it or hate it first film in the proposed new trilogy? Does Wayne overcome his Wayneness to watch this one with Paul? Or will it be Paul doing the heavy lifting on this horror film? And most importantly, can a film released in January be truly good? You know the way to find out and it will encourage us to put more of these reviews out, so ... Time Stamps: The Bone Temple NON-SPOILER Review: 0:00 - 11:04 The Bone Temple SPOILER-FILLED Discussion: 11:04 - 18:58 Final Scores and Thoughts Including Potential Spoilers: 18:58 - 19:23 If you want more Countdowns and reviews - all the way back to Episode 40! - hit up our Podbean site. Check out Wayne's YouTube channel for more Wayne-esque content at Waxing & Wayning. Join The Countdown Podcast Listener Community on Facebook so you can interact more directly with other listeners of the show (as well as the lads themselves!).

Countdown #509 Just in time for the new year of film and television, Paul and Wayne return to begin their wrap up of the year that was 2025. And, as always, they begin with their lists of the best and worst of television! Was it a banner year for TV? Will future generations look back and marvel at what we were able to watch from the comfort of our couches through 2025? Or is this one of those years that will slip into obscurity without anything to truly set it apart from the decades of television that came before it? Does the good outweigh the bad? Or is there more to lambast than there is to praise? There's only one way to find out - at least, if you care about anything Wayne and Paul have to say - and that's to hit the play button and sit back to enjoy The Countdown, as it (intermittently!) continues... Want more? Find heaps more Countdowns - all the way back to Episode 40! - on our Podbean site. Join The Countdown Podcast Listener Community on Facebook so you can interact more directly with Paul and Wayne and the great listeners of the show. While you're at it, check out Wayne's new YouTube channel, Waxing & Wayning!

Wayne has been to TWO advanced screening - kicking Paul to the curb (who may or may not have been busy) in the process - and now he fronts up to tell you, dear listener, which (if either) of One Battle After Another and a A Big Bold Beautiful Journey are worth your time and hard-earned... Will Margot Robbie count for more than Leo and PTA combined? Or does the rest of the critical world have it right and is One Battle the film you should be prioritising for your next night out? (Unless, of course, it's a first date, as the boys will again tell you during this recording.) Find out as The Countdown returns with a new episode! Time Stamps: One Battle After Another NON-SPOILER Review: 0:00 - 10:50 A Big Bold Beautiful Journey NON-SPOILER Review: 10:50 - 18:46 If you want more Countdowns and reviews - all the way back to Episode 40! - hit up our Podbean site. Check out Wayne's YouTube channel for more Wayne-esque content at Waxing & Wayning. Join The Countdown Podcast Listener Community on Facebook so you can interact more directly with other listeners of the show (as well as the lads themselves!).

Frank Drebin (Junior) is back in The Naked Gun sequel/reboot/requel. And this time he's played by Liam Neeson. Can he crack the case involving the Elon-Musk type Danny Huston? And are Liam and Pamela Anderson really in love? But most importantly, is the film funny? Find out by pressing that play button ... Time Stamps: The Naked Gun NON-SPOILER Review: 0:00 - 10:58 The Naked Gun SPOILER-FILLED Discussion: 10:58 - 19:46 Final Scores and Thoughts Including Potential Spoilers: 19:46 - 20:11 If you want more Countdowns and reviews - all the way back to Episode 40! - hit up our Podbean site. Check out Wayne's YouTube channel for more Wayne-esque content at Waxing & Wayning. Join The Countdown Podcast Listener Community on Facebook so you can interact more directly with other listeners of the show (as well as the lads themselves!).

It's time for Wayne's most anticipated film of the year! With James Gunn in the driver's seat, can his vision of Superman possibly live up to Wayne's expectations? And what about Paul? How will he go with this ultra comic-booky, positive version of Superman? The results may surprise you! Time Stamps: Superman NON-SPOILER Review: 0:00 - 18:05 Superman SPOILER-FILLED Discussion: 18:05 - 29:12 Final Scores and Thoughts Including Potential Spoilers: 29:12 - 32:17 If you want more Countdowns and reviews - all the way back to Episode 40! - hit up our Podbean site. Check out Wayne's YouTube channel for more Wayne-esque content at Waxing & Wayning. Join The Countdown Podcast Listener Community on Facebook so you can interact more directly with other listeners of the show (as well as the lads themselves!).

Ready for your Pitt stop? (Wayne's joke: full credit.) Racing! Brad Pitt! Joseph Kosinksi! 200 million dollars! Do you need any more reasons to check out this very early review with thanks Warner Brothers Pictures Australia? We didn't think so. Time Stamps: F1 NON-SPOILER Review: 0:00 - 12:45 F1 SPOILER-FILLED Discussion: 15:43 - 21:02 Final Scores and Thoughts Including Potential Spoilers: 21:02 - 22:45 If you want more Countdowns and reviews - all the way back to Episode 40! - hit up our Podbean site. Check out Wayne's YouTube channel for more Wayne-esque content at Waxing & Wayning and the specific video of this review can be found here! Join The Countdown Podcast Listener Community on Facebook so you can interact more directly with other listeners of the show (as well as the lads themselves!).

Two for the price of one this week as the boys check out a film everyone would expect them to (Ballerina) as well as one nobody would think would be their jam (The Phoenician Scheme). Are those assumptions correct or are their some surprisesn in store? Find out but hitting that play button on this ep! Time Stamps: Ballerina NON-SPOILER Review: 0:00 - 9:00 Ballerina SPOILER-FILLED Discussion: 9:00 - 20:05 The Phoenician Scheme NON-SPOILER Review: 20:05 - 29:57 Check out Wayne's YouTube channel for more Wayne-esque content at Waxing & Wayning. Join The Countdown Podcast Listener Community on Facebook so you can interact more directly with other listeners of the show (as well as the lads themselves!).

The final film (maybe?!) in the Mission Impossible franchise dropped EARLY in Australia and with thankls to Paramount Pictuyres Australia, the boys were in attendance at an advanced screening to bring you the early word on whether Tom cruise and Christopher McQuarrie nail the brief. Can Ethan Hunt overcome the entity and save everybody he loves as well as the world? Will Wayne regret seeing a 170 minute films twice in three days? And just how inadequate does Tom Cruise make the guys feel? You know the only way to learn these questions: tune in, damnit! Time Stamps: MI: TFR NON-SPOILER Review: 0:00 - 15:43 MI: TFR SPOILER-FILLED Discussion: 15:43 - 28:51 Final Thoughts Including Potential Spoilers: 28:51 - 30:33 Check out Wayne's YouTube channel for more Wayne-esque content at Waxing & Wayning and the specific video of this review can be found here! Join The Countdown Podcast Listener Community on Facebook so you can interact more directly with other listeners of the show (as well as the lads themselves!).

The boys have headed back to the cinema with thanks to Warner Brothers Australia and Universal Australia to see the sequel which, well, few people expected: The Accountant! The critics seem to be liking and the audience score is high on most-metrics, but what do Paul and Wayne have to say about this apparent crowd-pleaser? Can Ben Affleck, Jon Bernthal and director Gavin O'Connor re-capture the magic of the well-received 2016 original? Or is this a case of tax time at the box office? (Yeah, I know. I was pretty proud of that one.) Time Stamps: The Accountant 2 NON-SPOILER Review: 0:00 - 8:36 The Accountant 2 SPOILER-FILLED Discussion: 8:36 - 19:15 Final Thoughts Including Potential Spoilers: 19:15 - 20:26 Check out Wayne's YouTube channel for more Wayne-esque content at Waxing & Wayning. Join The Countdown Podcast Listener Community on Facebook so you can interact more directly with other listeners of the show (as well as the lads themselves!).

Paul and Wayne return to the land of reviews with the new spy "thriller", Black Bag. Is it everything the critics would have you believe? Or is it a bunch of boring conversations around a dinner table interspersed with a lot of emotion-less dialogue? Either way, you can be sure it's a lively discussion, given this is Wayne's favourite genre and it's directed by Mr Hit-or-MIss, Steven Soderbergh. Time Stamps: Black Bag NON-SPOILER Review: 0:00 - 15:22 Black Bag SPOILER-FILLED Discussion: 15:22 - 19:55 Final Thoughts Including Potential Spoilers: 19:55 - 21:40 Join The Countdown Podcast Listener Community on Facebook so you can interact more directly with other listeners of the show (as well as the lads themselves!).

Countdown #501 There were doubters. There were nay-sayers. And there were the incredulous. But today, Paul and Wayne prove there is life in The Countdown yet. As well as fulfill their promise to (triumphantly) return in 2025 with more episodes. Not weekly; sure. But with new episodes none the less. And it begins with this PSA regarding the very worst of the worst films from 2024 that the lads saw. So, pop in your ear buds or have your car stereo bluetooth from your phone, because The Countdown is back, baby, and there's plenty to say about these abominations of cinema! Want more? Find heaps more Countdowns - all the way back to Episode 40! - on our Podbean site. Join The Countdown Podcast Listener Community on Facebook so you can interact more directly with Paul and Wayne and vote in the weekly poll for who has the best list! While you're at it, check out Wayne's new YouTube channel, Waxing & Wayning!