Tonight, Born to Watch delves deep into the dusty, desolate West Texas badlands to dissect a modern masterpiece: the Coen Brothers’ haunting 2007 thriller, No Country for Old Men. It’s a film that sidesteps genre conventions, delivering existential dread with a bolt gun and cowboy boots. The full Born to Watch crew is in session, and from the moment Whitey’s epic intro begins, you know this episode is going to be as layered and unpredictable as Anton Chigurh himself.

Right from the start, the boys are firing, rattling off 2007’s Oscar lineup, debating Juno’s place in film history, and showering praise on Daniel Day-Lewis’ oil-thirsty turn in There Will Be Blood. But tonight belongs to a different kind of monster: Javier Bardem’s Anton Chigurh. Is he cinema’s most terrifying villain? Whitey thinks he’s second only to Darth Vader, and with that hair, maybe even scarier.

As the team recalls first viewings and rewatch counts (shoutout to G Man’s 15 and counting), the discussion spirals into tales of obsessive fans, including a local surfboard shaper who watched the movie weekly and theorised on every nuanced frame. This isn’t just a movie, it’s a layered riddle that demands attention, multiple viewings, and, apparently, a decent video store rental policy.

Each Born to Watch host brings their own flavour to the conversation. Damo labels it a “one watcher” for its grim tone, while Dan declares it a regular “downtime” favourite on the land, fitting for a film that captures so much dusty silence and moral ambiguity. G Man and Whitey, meanwhile, dig into the deeper layers, noting how every watch reveals something new.

The cast gets a well-deserved spotlight, with special attention paid to Javier Bardem’s quietly horrifying performance. Gow dives into Bardem’s rugby-playing past (yes, really) and his reluctance toward violent roles, ironic, considering Chigurh is basically Death with a pageboy cut. Josh Brolin’s understated turn as Llewelyn Moss also gets love, as does Tommy Lee Jones’ weary, philosophical sheriff. The gang reflects on Woody Harrelson’s all-too-brief but memorable role and Kelly Macdonald’s heartbreaking final scene.

And in true Born to Watch fashion, the episode isn’t just about highbrow film theory; it’s a ride. Expect detours into Aussie weather patterns, rogue toasties, and the quality of Diane Lane’s 2010s filmography. There are tangents on Baywatch, Peter Phelps’ acting career, and even a debate on the New Yorker’s most pretentious film review ever written. Trust us, you won’t want to miss Whitey translating the nonsense of a critic who thinks name-dropping Elmore Leonard makes a hot take.

As always, the team weighs in on whether the film cracks the Rank Bank. But the real joy is in the journey: Gow’s taglines, Dan’s literary deep dives, and Damo’s reluctant respect all add up to a collective conclusion: No Country for Old Men might just be the smartest film to ever feature a cattle gun.

So, if you love Oscar-winning nihilism, coin toss-induced dread, or just want to hear a bunch of Aussie legends unravel one of the Coens’ most unnerving films, this is the episode for you.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION

• Is No Country for Old Men the Coens’ bleakest brilliance or just a beautifully shot nightmare?
• Would you call it heads or tails… or just run for the hills?
• Is Anton Chigurh cinema’s most chilling villain or just a man with a bad haircut and worse manners?

Drop us a voicemail at https://www.borntowatch.com.au and be part of the show!

Listen to the full episode now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your pods.

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#NoCountryForOldMen #BornToWatch #MoviePodcast #CoenBrothers #AntonChigurh #OscarWinner #FilmReview #ModernWestern #JavierBardem #CormacMcCarthy

This week on Born to Watch, we're heading to the desert planet of Arrakis to break down one of the biggest sci-fi epics of recent memory in Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part One Review. Join Whitey and Sir Dimmy of the House Cockburn as they unpack a film that’s equal parts galactic power struggle, political thriller, and interstellar fever dream.

Villeneuve’s Dune had a lot riding on it. Announced in 2017 and delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, it finally arrived in 2021 with both cinema and HBO Max releases. But did it live up to the hype? Was the spice worth the squeeze? Whitey and Sir Dimmy get stuck into the sandstorm of ambition, adaptation, and a whole lot of Zimmer.

From the very start, the duo agree, this film demands the big screen. Whitey confesses to watching it via a sneaky early online drop and instantly regretting not experiencing it in the cinema. For Dimmy, it was love at first IMAX. There’s a reverence for the visuals, the grandeur, and the world-building that marks Dune as a rare modern blockbuster that dares to go deep.

But this isn’t a dry academic analysis. This is Born to Watch, where film critique meets pub banter. That means serious praise for Hans Zimmer’s thunderous, Oscar-winning score, though we do wonder if the music sometimes overshadows the movie. The team marvels at the film's scale: the ornithopters, the wormsign, the sand-soaked vistas. Arrakis feels real. The political scheming feels Shakespearean. The voice feels like Jedi mind tricks on steroids.

Naturally, the cast gets a full once-over. Timothée Chalamet is dubbed a “scrawny action hero” who somehow works as Paul Atreides. Rebecca Ferguson as Lady Jessica earns the nickname “Freckles Ferguson” and delivers the emotional heft of the film, tears, telepathy, and total commitment. Jason Momoa’s Duncan Idaho is everyone’s space-dad crush, and Stellan Skarsgård’s floating, grotesque Baron Harkonnen might just be the scariest slug in cinema history.

And then there’s Zendaya. Or… is there? While her face is plastered across posters, trailers, and marketing campaigns, she’s in the actual film for about 10 minutes, and that’s being generous. Sir Dimmy and Whitey don't hold back, calling it one of the greatest bait-and-switches in recent memory. She’s Paul’s “blue-eyed wet dream,” more vision than character, and it all but guarantees the necessity of a sequel.

The discussion also gets into the film's legacy. Is Dune the sci-fi blueprint that inspired Star Wars? Without question. From the Force-like Voice to desert-dwelling mystics and chosen one arcs, Herbert’s fingerprints are all over modern sci-fi. Villeneuve’s version just finally gives the novel the serious treatment it deserves, after the messy (but charmingly weird) David Lynch version in 1984 and a forgettable miniseries.

Of course, Born to Watch being Born to Watch, there are plenty of detours. There's debate over whether Duncan Idaho could survive in the Game of Thrones universe. There's talk of Dutch ovens, nose jobs, and the possibility of casting Mr. T as the Reverend Mother. At one point, the podcast veers into a philosophical wormhole involving one-name celebrities like Sting, Prince, and, of course, Zendaya. The House Cockburn coat of arms even gets a shoutout, shielded by fire, flanked by two swords in the shape of appendages. You really had to be there.

Despite a few gripes, underexplained lore, a traitorous doctor’s paper-thin logic, and the slightly sluggish pacing, Whitey and Sir Dimmy are all in on Dune. It’s a film that dares to take itself seriously. No snark, no winks. Just grand, immersive sci-fi storytelling. It may not be everyone's flavour of spice, but it’s a feast for those who want their blockbusters with brains.

As the credits roll and the sand settles, one thing is clear: this is only part one. And Born to Watch will be there when part two drops, with fresher takes, deeper dives, and possibly more Zendaya.

Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts!
Join the conversation:

• Is Dune a sci-fi masterpiece or a high-concept snooze?
• Was Zendaya’s screen time the greatest bait-and-switch ever?
• Would YOU ride a sandworm into battle?

Please drop us a voicemail at BornToWatch.com.au and be part of the show!

#BornToWatch #Dune2021 #DenisVilleneuve #TimotheeChalamet #SpiceMustFlow #MoviePodcast #FilmReview #SciFiCinema #Zendaya #HansZimmer #MovieNerds #FilmTalk #PopCultureBreakdown #HouseCockburn #BlueEyedWetDreams #JasonMomoa #RebeccaFerguson

The heat is back on as the Born to Watch crew heads back to Beverly Hills for some high-octane hijinks, fast-talking cons, and serious shoulder-padded style. In this week’s episode, Whitey, G-Man, and Dan on the Land revisit the 1987 sequel that turned up the dial on Eddie Murphy’s star power with their Beverly Hills Cop II Review, directed by the ever-slick Tony Scott.

From the moment Axel Foley slides behind the wheel of a Ferrari to the final shootout at the oil fields, the team breaks down why this neon-soaked action-comedy remains an ‘80s icon. They revel in Murphy’s unmatched charisma, dissect the film’s bold visual flair, and relive the glory of Harold Faltermeyer’s synth-driven score and Bob Seger’s anthemic “Shakedown.”

Whitey goes deep on Tony Scott’s signature aesthetic, the burnished orange hues, the stylized action, the hyper-stylized masculinity, while G-Man keeps it grounded with sharp takes on the film’s functional but fun villainy and the lovable duo of Rosewood and Taggart. Meanwhile, Dan (pizza in hand) dishes on Eddie’s behind-the-scenes power moves and the rise of “Eddie Murphy Productions,” proving this was the moment Axel Foley became Eddie Murphy’s true alter ego.

The boys aren’t afraid to poke fun, either. From the inexplicable countdown robberies and oddly muscular strippers to baffling wardrobe coincidences (how did that blazer fit Taggart so well?), this episode’s got more questions than an alphabet heist. And don’t get them started on the extra at the Playboy Mansion doing an interpretive dance; he’s earned a permanent spot in the Bad Running Ripley Hall of Fame.

They also tip their hats to the era: the coke-fueled Simpson/Bruckheimer production madness, the bafflingly low Rotten Tomatoes scores despite the film being the second biggest box office hit of 1987, and the sheer power of a good montage scored by Seger. It’s a masterclass in style-over-substance, but sometimes style is the substance.

And of course, it wouldn’t be a Born to Watch episode without diversions into North Shore memories, Magnum P.I. comparisons, and the origin story of Dan’s legendary mustard shirt. If you know, you know.

So, whether you’re an ‘80s kid raised on VHS or just discovering that Beverly Hills had a crime problem solvable only by Detroit’s finest, this episode is a full-throttle celebration of a sequel that doesn’t just play the hits, it cranks them.

Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts!

Join the conversation:

1. Is Beverly Hills Cop II better than the original?
2. Does Tony Scott’s style elevate the film or overshadow it?
3. Which song hits harder: “Shakedown” or “The Heat Is On”?

Leave us a voicemail at BornToWatch.com.au and be part of the show!

#BornToWatch #BeverlyHillsCopII #EddieMurphy #TonyScott #80sMovies #ActionComedy #MoviePodcast #BobSeger #Shakedown #CultClassics #BeverlyHillsCop2