Movie Madness
Movie Madness is a weekly podcast hosted by Chicago film critic Erik Childress presenting movie reviews, interviews, film festival coverage, DVDs, awards, box office and much more!
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Episode 471: Once Upon a Time From The Huh?
05/13/2024
Episode 471: Once Upon a Time From The Huh?
This week certainly has the latest and the greatest in Blu-rays. Depending on who you ask of course. If you inquire with Erik Childress and Peter Sobczynski you will certainly here about one of the greatest westerns of all-time (Erik’s favorite) as well as a film that deserves to be among the very best of Sidney Lumet’s career. Michael Powell directs a creepy film about voyeurism and murder and the pair look again at the film where Brandon Lee lost his life. Shout Factory has a trio of horror oddities and there is also lament for the goofy sex comedies of the ‘80s. Clint Eastwood’s most successful film gets a 4K release and a number of Francis Ford Coppola efforts get the upgrade including one that Peter believes to be his finest work. 0:00 - Intro 1:50 - Criterion (Peeping Tom 4K) 10:54 - Arrow (Night Falls on Manhattan) 19:16 - Paramount (Once Upon a Time in the West 4K, The Crow 4K) 36:18 - Shout Factory (Killer Klowns From Outer Space, Dracula 2000, Orphan) 52:03 - MVD (Joysticks) 1:01:14 - WB (American Sniper 4K) 1:08:18 - Warner Archive (You’re a Big Boy Now, The Rain People) 1:15:47 - Lionsgate (One from the Heart 4K) 1:31:57 – New Theatrical Titles On Blu-ray 1:35:17 – New Blu-ray Announcements 1:38:36 – Outro
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Episode 470: The Guys Fall For The Idea Of Pop-Tarts
05/03/2024
Episode 470: The Guys Fall For The Idea Of Pop-Tarts
Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy stick to just four films this week including the acclaimed comedy from Joanna Arnow (The Feeling That The Time For Doing Something Has Passed) and an adaptation into Anne Hathaway scandalously falling for a Boy Band member. The scandal! (The Idea of You). Jerry Seinfeld and a giant cast of comedians tell their version of the Pop-Tarts origin (Unfrosted) while Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt try to bring life to another ‘80s television show (The Fall Guy). But there are still a lot more movies to talk about as they discuss this year’s Chicago Critics Film Festival which they produce and program. May 3-9 at the Music Box Theatre in Chicago and the lineup is stellar. 0:00 - Intro 1:09 - The Feeling That The Time For Doing Something Has Passed 10:42 – The Idea of You 24:03 - Unfrosted 38:52 – The Fall Guy 56:20 – Chicago Critics Film Festival
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Episode 469: There’s An Ocean Between Us
04/29/2024
Episode 469: There’s An Ocean Between Us
This week’s physical media show has a little of everything and a lot of heartbreak. Nancy Savoca provides the latter as the “Savocaissance” continues on Blu-ray this year but there is also early James L. Brooks with Burt Reynolds missing out in a stacked year of Oscar nominees. We have an Anthony Mann western and a Roman Polanski thriller; a double-up of Mean Girls and a remake of a Peckinpah film. Plus a breakdown of Steven Soderbergh’s Ocean’s films now all available on 4K. 0:00 - Intro 1:41 – Criterion (Dogfight) 8:45 - Kino (True Love, Bluebeard, Starting Over) 22:57 - Music Box (Signature Move) 25:38 – Arrow (The Tin Star, Basket Case) 37:48 – Shout Factory (Death and the Maiden, The Getaway) 47:09 – Warner Bros. (Oceans Trilogy 4K) 56:25 - Paramount (Mean Girls 2004 4K, Mean Girls 2024) 1:05:05 – New TV & Theatrical Titles on Blu-ray 1:12:05 – New Blu-ray Announcements 1:15:05 - Outro
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Episode 468: Game. Set. Match.
04/27/2024
Episode 468: Game. Set. Match.
Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy look at a half-dozen movies this week. If fashion design is your thing then Steve has a documentary for you (John Singer Sargent: Fashion and Swagger). He has also been telling Erik about this great big spider movie since last year. Does he share the sentiment? (Infested). Steve catches up a pandemic-era comedy from Sundance (Stress Positions) and the first film from the daughter of David Cronenberg (Humane). Erik reveals what was different about the latest kick-ass extravaganza when he saw it at Toronto (Boy Kills World) and both have a lot to say about Luca Guadagnino’s tennis film (Challengers). 0:00 - Intro 2:00 - John Singer Sargent: Fashion and Swagger 8:43 - Infested 19:17 - Stress Positions 25:39 - Boy Kills World 38:03 - Humane 48:58 - Challengers 1:09:00 - Outro
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Episode 467: Livin’ Like Lovers. Rolling Like Thunder.
04/24/2024
Episode 467: Livin’ Like Lovers. Rolling Like Thunder.
This week’s physical media show features Peter Sobczynski and Erik Childress talking about a seminal propaganda film from the ‘60s that inspired a ‘70s scene in Boogie Nights plus some science-fiction from the 1980s from Imprint. The ‘80s also across an all-star cast that helped launch Julia Roberts and a Nancy Savoca film from the ‘90s due for a rediscovery. They discuss the film that inspired The Untouchables, plus Paul Schrader writes a religious comedy and then gets the 4K treatment to a project he disavowed. Then his frequent partner in crime, Martin Scorsese, also gets his Oscar-winning effort upgraded. Is it now considered underrated? Come for the discussion. Stay for Peter’s tale of presenting with William Devane at an awards show. 0:00 - Intro 2:14 – Criterion (I Am Cuba) 7:02 – Imprint (Batteries Not Included, Strange Invaders) 21:30 – Sony (Steel Magnolias 4K) 25:20 – Kino (Household Saints) 30:33 – Vinegar Syndrome (Touch) 35:38 – Shout Factory (Rolling Thunder 4K) 51:06 – Arrow (The Scarface Mob) 55:32 – Warner Bros. (The Departed 4K) 1:06:47 – New Theatrical Titles on Blu-ray 1:10:06 – New Blu-ray Announcements 1:12:37 - Outro
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Episode 466: This Is A Rebellion. We Rebel.
04/20/2024
Episode 466: This Is A Rebellion. We Rebel.
Eight movie reviews this week from Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy include both surprises and disappointments. Steve checks out a new crime film with Scoot McNairy and Kit Harington (Blood for Dust) and Erik goes to space briefly with the new IMAX short (Deep Sky). There are some lovely films to find including the latest and possibly last from Ken Loach (The Old Oak) and a tale of childhood set amidst the former Cabrini Green housing project in Chicago (We Grown Now). A pair of part twos are out there but who made out better, Steve (The Three Musketeers – Part 2: Milady) or Erik (Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver). Finally, Guy Ritchie releases his third film in 13 months (The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare) and the Radio Silence duo goes back to mayhem in gothic houses with the vampire tale (Abigail). 0:00 - Intro 1:46 - Blood for Dust 8:51 - Deep Sky 15:09 – The Three Musketeers - Part 2: Milady 20:23 - We Grown Now 28:40 – The Old Oak 36:02 - Rebel Moon - Part Two: The Scargiver 48:08 – The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare 58:49 - Abigail 1:12:02 - Outro
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Episode 465: A Steak Sandwich And A Steak Sandwich
04/17/2024
Episode 465: A Steak Sandwich And A Steak Sandwich
This week in physical media, Peter Sobczynski and Erik Childress look at new releases from Bela Tarr to Luc Besson. Sony finalizes releases one of the best films from John Sayles and Shout Factory puts out an Oscar winning film from Paul Schrader. They discuss the merits of a classic western now in 4K as well as go through the entire Jack Ryan franchise. Finally, it’s all ball bearings nowadays. And if you don’t know what that means, clearly you need to find out and add it to your collection. 0:00 - Intro 1:16 – Criterion (Werckmeister Harmonies) 8:04 – Shout Factory (Affliction) 16:07 – Paramount (Jack Ryan Collection 4K) 38:49 – Sony (You’ll Never Get Rich, City of Hope) 47:10 – Samuel Goldwyn (Taxi) 52:26 – Kino (High Noon 4K, Fletch, Fletch Lives) 1:18:31 – TV & New Blu-ray Announcements 1:23:07 - Outro
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Episode 464: Beasts, Spiders, Werewolves & Other Monsters
04/13/2024
Episode 464: Beasts, Spiders, Werewolves & Other Monsters
Another seven movies on the docket for Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy and a lot of variations on horror. Not so much with the third film from director Goran Stolevski that Steve suggests a look at (Housekeeping for Beginners). But Larry Fessenden crafts a werewolf metaphor for America (Blackout), there is a new giant spider film (Sting), Nicolas Cage’s sons, at least, fighting hairy snapping creatures (Arcadian) for a few minutes plus Lea Seydoux on the lookout from unimaginable dread for over a century (The Beast) and a new Woody Allen film (Coup de Chance). But the biggest discussion lies with the new film from Alex Garland whose title wants to say it all (Civil War). 0:00 - Intro 1:18 – Housekeeping for Beginners 9:47 – Blackout 22:21 – Coup de Chance 30:27 – Sting 41:34 – Arcadian 50:13 – The Beast 1:03:15 – Civil War 1:23:03 - Outro
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Episode 463: Where Are The White Women At?
04/08/2024
Episode 463: Where Are The White Women At?
This week’s physical media edition has Peter Sobczynski and Erik Childress looking at films with people getting lost as well as ones with murderers, looters, variations on classic horror and family fare plus a '70s era Kong. They include films by Peter Weir and the writer of Blade Runner plus a film hammered by MST3K and a dog murdered for their inheritance. Admit it, you’re intrigued. 0:00 - Intro 2:24 - Criterion (Picnic at Hanging Rock) 7:25 - Shout (Lost in Space) 12:11 - Film Masters (Tormented 4K) 20:04 - Kino (The Minus Man/The Looters/You Never Can Tell) 31:29 - Paramount (King Kong (1976) 4K) 42:23 – New Theatrical Titles On Blu-ray 44:36 – New Blu-ray Announcements 47:19 - Outro
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Episode 462: Three Sixes And You’re Out!
04/06/2024
Episode 462: Three Sixes And You’re Out!
Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy have eight reviews this week that range from one of the best surprises of the year thus far and a film that could be destined to give Tommy Wiseau’s The Room a run for its money. They begin with a pair of documentaries including the natural follow-up to Boys State (Girls State) and how the rise of memes and conspiracy theories came into modern fold (The Antisocial Network). Erik looks at a mystery thriller starring Elizabeth Hurley and directed by her son (Strictly Confidential). The co-star of Sing Street uses music to travel back in time (The Greatest Hits). Across the pond we get a dramatization of the infamous Prince Andrew interview and his association with Jeffrey Epstein (Scoop) while Olivia Colman thinks she is getting vulgar postages from Jessie Buckley (Wicked Little Letters). Then the origins of little devil Damien are fleshed out (The First Omen) and Dev Patel punches his way through his directorial debut (Monkey Man). 0:00 - Intro 1:31 – The Antisocial Network 7:46 - Girls State 16:12 - Strictly Confidential 23:39 - The Greatest Hits 33:25 - Scoop 44:07 - Wicked Little Letters 51:41 – The First Omen 1:06:46 - Monkey Man 1:17:48 - Outro
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Episode 461: Look At This F*!@ing Guy!
04/01/2024
Episode 461: Look At This F*!@ing Guy!
Do not mistake a light week for physical media as evidence that it is dying. Even they need a break after Easter. Nevertheless Peter Sobczynski and Erik Childress are here to tell you about five titles making the rounds this week. They include a debut from a one-time up-and-coming actor/director plus an early effort from George Lucas’ Huyck friends. There’s an Oscar-nominated documentary from last year and a film that is hardly good for post-Easter or post-anything. Finally, there’s a baseball film celebrating its 35th anniversary and is getting the 4K treatment. (Apologies in advance for work being done around the recording domain.) 0:00 - Intro 1:36 - Criterion (La Haine) 7:39 - Radiance (Messiah of Evil) 16:40 - MPI (Stigmata) 21:20 - Kino (Four Daughters) 26:07 - Paramount (Major League 4K) 39:56 - New Blu-ray Announcements 41:48 - Outro
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Episode 460: Martin & Morricone x Godzilla & Kong
03/30/2024
Episode 460: Martin & Morricone x Godzilla & Kong
Erik Childress & Steve Prokopy review seven new movies over Easter weekend. They include a documentary about an evil son-of-a-bastard-fuck and his attempt to erase the memory of dead children (The Truth vs. Alex Jones) and another doc about one of the most legendary composers (Ennio). David Krumholtz is dying and just going about his deadpan remaining days (Lousy Carter) while Tessa Thompson oversees a chat line for lonely and troubled people (The Listener). The great Steve Martin gets his own documentary. Two of them in fact (Steve!: A Documentary in 2 Pieces) and Liam Neeson is an assassin on the trail of the IRA led by Kerry Condon (In the Land of Saints and Sinners). Finally, another pair of titans return to free stop an uprising in Hollow Earth (Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire) 1:54 – The Truth vs. Alex Jones 9:31 - Ennio 24:44 - Lousy Carter 34:43 – The Listener 43:43 - Steve!: A Documentary in 2 Pieces 1:04:07- In the Land of Saints and Sinners 1:15:47 - Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire 1:35:10 - Outro
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Episode 459: What Brain Donor Asked Eastwood To Sing?
03/26/2024
Episode 459: What Brain Donor Asked Eastwood To Sing?
Peter Sobczynski joins Erik Childress to get you (and Carrie Coon) up to date on the latest in physical media. There are crime stories drenched in noir and including Nicole Kidman as a seductive weather lady and Edward Norton in his screen debut. There are all sorts of bizarre westerns including Jack Nicholson behind the camera, John Wayne babysitting and Clint Eastwood singing. There are inspirational teachers, courtroom dramas and ants. Plus one of the great football movies, John Turturro doing the Marx Bros. in an underrated comedy and one of the most delightful romantic charmers of the last 25 years. 0:00 - Intro 1:25 - Criterion (To Die For, Saint Omer) 9:41 - Paramount (Primal Fear) 15:03 - Vinegar Syndrome (Phase IV, Five Card Stud, Goin' South) 29:31 - Kino (Paint Your Wagon, North Dallas Forty, Brain Donors, Film Noir: The Dark Side of Cinema XVIII) 1:02:32 - Warner Archive (They Drive by Night, 3 Godfathers, The Little Drummer Girl, Stand and Deliver, Money Talks) 1:22:07 - Shout (The Crow:Salvation) 1:27:58 - Sony (Amelie) 1:32:53 – New Theatrical Titles and TV On Blu-ray 1:37:46 – New Blu-ray Announcements 1:41:10 - Outro
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Episode 458: Heeeeeeeerrrrreeeee’s David!
03/23/2024
Episode 458: Heeeeeeeerrrrreeeee’s David!
Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy review seven new movies this week, a couple of them even good. Which ones could they be? Is it this week’s killer with amnesia thriller starring Russell Crowe (Sleeping Dogs). Maybe the two-hander horror film from Shudder (You’ll Never Find Me)? Regina King plays the first black woman elected to Congress (Shirley) and Jake Gyllenhaal steps into the shoes of Patrick Swayze (Road House). David Dastmalchian is a 70s talk show host dabbling with forces live on-air (Late Night with the Devil) and Sydney Sweeney is a nun who finds herself in a mysterious convent (Immaculate). Finally, the original cast returns with the new generation in a 40 year-old franchise (Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire). 0:00 – Intro 1:45 - Sleeping Dogs 8:36 - You'll Never Find Me 14:34 - Shirley 28:49 - Road House 42:29 - Late Night with the Devil 53:00 - Immaculate 1:04:04 - Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire 1:17:29 - Outro
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Episode 457: The Abyss Is Staring Right At You
03/21/2024
Episode 457: The Abyss Is Staring Right At You
Catching up on a couple weeks of releases, Peter Sobczynski joins Erik Childress to talk westerns from the end of John Wayne’s career to the middle-ish of Tom Selleck’s. There are documentaries about art, filmmaking plus Harrison Ford with a Russian accent. Remakes of Stephen King, American J-Horror and just American remakes leading into political conspiracies and Liza Minnelli as a sex worker. That is all just a warm-up to the 4K releases everyone has been waiting for from James Cameron. 0:00 - Intro 1:54 - Criterion (All That Money Can Buy, All the Beauty and Bloodshed, Lynch/Oz) 13:49 - Arrow (Dark Water, The Shootist) 24:05 – Shout Factory (Quigley Down Under, K-19, The Shining, Carrie, Ring Collection, Child’s Play 4K) 54:43 - Kino: (The Manchurian Candidate (2004) 4K, The Lincoln Conspiracy, The President’s Analyst, Target, Rent-a-Cop, Changing Lanes 4K) 1:31:34 - Fox (Aliens, The Abyss, True Lies) 2:00:33 – New Theatrical Titles On Blu-ray 2:04:13 – New Blu-ray Announcements 2:06:54 - Outro
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Episode 456: Well That Looks Tasty
03/15/2024
Episode 456: Well That Looks Tasty
Erik Childress is back from SXSW and Steve Prokopy joins him to catch up on nine films released this week. They include a pair of documentaries about one of our most beloved comic actors (Remembering Gene Wilder) and one of the 20th century’s most iconic artists (Frida). Mia Wasikowska tries to teach kids how to eat (Club Zero) and Zach Braff tries to marry a chef who may have eaten someone who does agree with him (French Girl). Steve suggests why Focus has basically buried the satire it brought to Sundance this year? (The American Society of Magical Negroes). In the world of true stories, Anthony Hopkins tries to save children from the Nazis (One Life) while Mark Wahlberg befriends a dog in a race (Arthur the King). Finally, Michael Keaton directs himself as a hitman again (Knox Goes Away) and the director of Saint Maud tells her own dirty little noir about the addiction of romance and hate (Love Lies Bleeding). 0:00 - Intro 1:38 - Remembering Gene Wilder 8:29 - Frida 15:09 – The American Society of Magical Negroes 23:59 - Club Zero 34:56 - One Life 45:23 - French Girl 53:21 - Arthur the King 1:00:53 - Knox Goes Away 1:11:36 - Love Lies Bleeding 1:18:36 - Outro
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Episode 455: Hey Teacher, Leave Those Kids Alone
03/06/2024
Episode 455: Hey Teacher, Leave Those Kids Alone
Physical media continues to thrive though it is having a slight week this time around as Erik Childress and Peter Sobczynski go over the new releases. Saw fans can grab the whole series in one fell swoop. There is esoteric stuff from Guy Maddin and a western with Vincent Cassel. Traditional Old West fans get a little treat from Walter Hill along with one of Katharine Hepburn’s Oscar-winning roles. Finally, Shout Factory upgrades a cult Jonathan Kaplan teen film starring Matt Dillon in his screen debut. 0:00 - Intro 1:10 - Universal (The 355 4K) 3:50 - Lionsgate (Saw collection) 6:49 - Zeitgeist (Archangel) 9:31 - Kino (Lion in Winter/Death Rides a Horse/the Long Riders) 26:11 - Samuel Goldwyn (Blueberry) 29:45 – Shout! Factory (Over the Edge) 40:41 – New Blu-ray Announcements 42:12 - Outro
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Episode 454: Sand, Sandler and Swinton
03/02/2024
Episode 454: Sand, Sandler and Swinton
Nobody wanted to open against Taylor Swift last fall and since nobody wanted to open against the sandworms, it’s a light week of reviews. Still five movies for Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy to talk about including an animated documentary about a missing pianist (They Shot the Piano Player) and the story of a burn victim seeking love and revenge (Silver Haze). Adam Sandler misses Carey Mulligan and talks to a giant spader (Spaceman). Former SNL writer Julio Torres makes his directorial debut as a toy designer who becomes the assistant to Tilda Swinton’s art-world pariah (Problemista). Finally, the sandworms have awakened and Denis Villeneuve finally completes his adaptation of Frank Herbert’s seminal sci-fi novel (Dune: Part Two). 0:00 - Intro 1:02 - They Shot the Piano Player 5:31 - Silver Haze 10:24 - Spaceman 25:25 - Problemista 39:54 - Dune: Part Two 1:04:58 - Oscar Talk 1:26:18 - Outro
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Episode 453: Calling All Gangsters And Weekend Warriors
02/26/2024
Episode 453: Calling All Gangsters And Weekend Warriors
This week on the latest and greatest in physical media, Peter Sobczynski joins Erik Childress to talk about a wealth of new titles in 4K. But also a film noir package dedicated to Edward G. Robinson, a restored version of the 1970s French giallo picture and a horror film about a necrophiliac doctor. That is mixed in with new upgrades for Stanley Kubrick’s first feature, a classic western with Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas and Steven Soderbergh’s all too-prescient thriller about a pandemic. Peter discusses a 1980s teen comedy he believes deserves some reappraisal. There is also the pairing of James Cagney and Humphrey Bogart as well as one of the great early films from Walter Hill. 0:00 - Intro 1:42 - Criterion (The Roaring Twenties 4K)) 8:00 - Kino (Film Noir XVII/Fear and Desire 4K/Gunfight at the O.K. Corral 4K) 26:23 - Altered Innocence (The Strangler) 30:10 - Vinegar Syndrome (The Horrible Dr Hichcock, Little Darlings 4K, Southern Comfort 4K) 49:45 - Warner Bros. (Contagion) 56:34 - New Theatrical Titles On Blu-ray 1:04:15 – New Blu-ray Announcements 1:06:25 - Outro
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Episode 452: Somebody Take The Wheel, Please
02/23/2024
Episode 452: Somebody Take The Wheel, Please
Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy take on seven new films this week. They include a bored millennial trying to solve a pharmacy robbery (Drugstore June) and Orlando Bloom taking on mob boss Andie MacDowell (Red Right Hand). Steve looks at one of this year’s Oscar nominees (IO Capitano) and U2 getting involved in the war in Sarajevo (Kiss the Future). An animator begins to get lost in her art and mind (Stopmotion) while Ethan Coen loses Joel and takes Margaret Qualley and Geraldine Viswanathan on a nutty road trip. Finally, Hilary Swank helps out the family of Reacher’s Alan Ritchson in a true story about, well, (Ordinary Angels). 0:00 - Intro 1:04 - Drugstore June 6:51 - Red Right Hand 15:32 - Stopmotion 24:02 - IO Capitano 29:05 - Drive-Away Dolls 40:37 - Kiss the Future 46:18 - Ordinary Angels 59:58 - Outro
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Episode 451: Who Is Darkman And What Is That Tainted Mutant Vodka?
02/20/2024
Episode 451: Who Is Darkman And What Is That Tainted Mutant Vodka?
Keeping your physical media collection up to date? That is what Erik Childress and Peter Sobczynski are here to do again this week. The latest and greatest in Blu-rays include a female-led martial arts double feature extravaganza as well as a double bill of films from the Civil Rights era. There’s a new film with Isabelle Huppert along and a collection of short parodies from Ernie Fosselius. Then new upgrades to 4K run the gamut from Australian psychic horror to a goofy underwater monster film. There’s also the final feature from anime director Satoshi Kon as well as the entire Beverly Hills Cop series. Share in their disappointment (and PTSD) of that third film and learn of the film that resulted from a radio blind date contest before both of them agree on the release that may just be Sam Raimi’s finest achievement. 0:00 - Intro 1:19 – Criterion (The Heroic Trio, Nothing But a Man, Afire) 12:06 – Powerhouse (Patrick 4K) 17:20 – Sony (Paprika 4K) 19:22 – Kino (King: A Filmed Odyssey, Leviathan 4K, The Last Castle 4K, La Syndicaliste 38:12 – Paramount (Beverly Hills Cop 1-3 4K) 56:45 – MVD (Hardware Wars) 1:04:30 – Shout Factory (Darkman) 1:15:26 – New Blu-ray Announcements 1:16:42 - Outro
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Episode 450: Don’t Let Them Fool Ya
02/17/2024
Episode 450: Don’t Let Them Fool Ya
Eight reviews this week from Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy run the gamut from good documentaries to surprisingly-not-so-bad to shockingly awful. Where do all of these films fit in? How do you feel about an action film from the director of Underwater with this name (Land of Bad) or the rookie secret service agent trying to save the President with this one (Air Force One Down)? Ewan McGregor takes a road trip with his addicted daughter (Bleeding Love) and Lily Sullivan stumbles upon an alien conspiracy (Monolith). Those documentaries include a scary one about Christian Nationalism (God & Country) and a more inspiring one about the history of black astronauts (The Space Race). Finally in theaters this weekend comes another musical biopic (Bob Marley: One Love) and another Sony Spider-Man adjacent comic book tale (Madame Web) that have their own set of problems. 0:00 - Intro 1:37 - Land of Bad 9:20 - Air Force One Down 16:28 - Bleeding Love 22:48 - God & Country 29:35 - Monolith 36:25 – The Space Race 46:30 - Bob Marley: One Love 1:00:47 - Madame Web 1:23:36 - Outro
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Episode 449: Wanna Have A Dance Party?
02/14/2024
Episode 449: Wanna Have A Dance Party?
Peter Sobczynski again joins Erik Childress to tell you what’s available in physical media this week. You can stock up on your French auteurs, Eric Rohmer and Jean-Luc Godard. There are lions and Cagneys and Willy’s, oh my! They go through the good and mediocre in the pricey new 4K set from Sony and Peter offers his two cents on his choice for the best film of 2023. Plus nobody puts Kevin Bacon in the corner as both recall their experiences with the film that tried to stop him from dancing. 0:00 - Intro 0:59 – Criterion (Eric Rohmer’s Tales of Four Seasons) 6:39 – Kino (Godard Cinema and Trailer of a Film That Will Never Exist: Phony Wars, Madame DuBarry, Blood on the Sun, Man-Eater of Kumaon, Let's Dance) 22:20 – Paramount (Footloose 4K) 32:01 – Shout! Factory (Tenacious D and the Pick of Destiny, Willy’s Wonderland) 40:56 – Sony (Columbia Classics Collection: Volume 4) 54:30 - New Theatrical Titles & TV on Blu-ray 1:02:39 – New Blu-ray Announcements
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Episode 448: It’s Pronounced Frankenshit
02/09/2024
Episode 448: It’s Pronounced Frankenshit
Seven new films get reviews from Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy this week. They include a new mistaken identity rom-com with Camila Mendes (Upgraded) and another story of a novelist plunged into a murderous plot (Ghostwritten). A teenage girl comes of age in the time of Terry Schiavo (Suncoast) while a trio of friends discover the harsher realities of growing up while on vacation in an award-winner from Cannes (How To Have Sex). Also for the second week in a row there is a Wim Wenders film, this time up for an Oscar (Perfect Days). A group of ancient nomads encounter an evil force (Out of Darkness) while our reviews are forced to encounter the latest and, perhaps, worst screenplay from Oscar-winner Diablo Cody (Lisa Frankenstein). 0:00 - Intro 1:49 - Upgraded 14:40 - Ghostwritten 19:48 - Suncoast 30:30 - Perfect Days 39:33 - How To Have Sex 49:46 - Out of Darkness 55:23 - Lisa Frankenstein 1:08:41 - Outro
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Episode 447: Altman, Wilder, Jewison and Boll
02/07/2024
Episode 447: Altman, Wilder, Jewison and Boll
Getting you caught up on the latest and greatest (and sometimes not-so-great) in blu-rays, Peter Sobczynski and Erik Childress run the gamut this week. They include Billy Wilder doing Agatha Christie and George Segal doing Michael Crichton. A film from the late Norman Jewison and a reimagining of the late Adrienne Shelley’s final film. Plus in maybe the biggest swing, going over arguably Robert Altman’s finest film and then diving into the career of Uwe Boll. 0:00 - Intro 1:15 – Criterion (McCabe and Mrs Miller) 8:55 – Kino (The Big Country, Witness for the Prosecution, The Thomas Crown Affair, Burnt Offerings) 29:10 - Massacre Video (Bloodrayne 4K) 41:12 – Shout Factory (Funeral Home, The Terminal Man) 47:29 – Decal (Waitress: The Musical) 54:18 – New Blu-ray Announcements 56:56 - Outro
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Episode 446: But If You Just Believe, There’s No Way We Can Fall
02/04/2024
Episode 446: But If You Just Believe, There’s No Way We Can Fall
Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy return to the weekly beat of reviews with seven new titles this week. They include a new 3-D documentary from Wim Wenders (Anselm) and another with the master of giallo (Dario Argento Panico). Leah McKendrick writes, directs and freezes her eggs (Scrambled) plus you can learn all about the making of We Are The World (The Greatest Night In Pop). A pair of streamers serve up animation with an all-Asian cast (The Tiger’s Apprentice) and Charlie Kaufman adapts an anxiety-driven children’s book (Orion and the Dark). Finally, it is time to learn who the real agent….shhhh….we’re not supposed to say (Argylle). 0:00 - Intro 1:44 - Anselm 7:51 - The Tiger's Apprentice 13:44 - Dario Argento Panico 19:55 – The Greatest Night in Pop 37:21 - Scrambled 46:01 - Orion and the Dark 57:25 – Argylle 1:13:09 - Outro
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Episode 445: The 2024 Sundance Film Festival
02/03/2024
Episode 445: The 2024 Sundance Film Festival
Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy returned to Park City in-person for the first time since 2020 and they brought back a lot of reviews. 18 films are discussed on the show including the latest works from Steven Soderbergh, the Zellner Bros. and the makers of Saint Frances. Jesse Eisenberg delivers his sophomore Sundance effort and it resulted in one of the bigger deals of the fest, though Erik offers his thoughts on the biggest sale. There is praise for Saoirse Ronan, Andre Holland, Carol Kane and Jason Schwartzman and less so for a title that speaks for itself. Documentaries that make you cry were in full effect as were ones that will raise your anxiety. There was something for everyone this fest and hopefully you will get to see them soon. 0:00 - Intro 4:38 - Ghostlight 9:40 - Sasquatch Sunset 16:19 - My Old Ass 22:40 - It’s What’s Inside 26:18 - The Outrun 32:46 - A Real Pain 40:38 - Presence 47:36 - Exhibiting Forgiveness 54:17 – Between the Temples 1:00:44 - Daughters 1:04:11 – Ibelin 1:11:42 – Super/Man: The Chrsitopher Reev Story 1:21:34 - Skywalkers: A Love Story 1:31:35 – War Game 1:38:28 – Good One 1:45:07 - A Different Man 1:52:21 – Handling the Undead 1:57:56 – Thelma 2:07:43 - Outro
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Episode 444: Hear The Lamentations For The Blu-Rays
01/31/2024
Episode 444: Hear The Lamentations For The Blu-Rays
Peter Sobczynski helps Erik Childress get caught up with a few weeks of Blu-ray releases. They include what may be John Sayles’ finest film along with one of the better Nicolas Cage movies that nearly got buried. There are movies with submarines and others with serial killers and stalkers plus a genuine animated gem you may have missed. One of the best film noirs musicals, post-Vietnam films are available this week along with the Marx Bros. and Rodney Dangerfield as an animated dog. (It’s not the gem.) Peter takes you into the world of Chantal Akerman and Coffin Joe while Arnold Schwarzenegger gets the 4K upgrade for both his comedy and one of his most iconic roles. 0:00 - Intro 2:25 – Criterion (Lone Star, Chantal Akerman Masterpieces 1968-1978, Trainspotting) 18:21 – Vinegar Syndrome (Red Rock West) 27:19 – Kino (Scarlet Street, The Russians Are Coming The Russians Are Coming, Run Silent Run Deep, Coming Home, Kindergarten Cop) 51:48 – Arrow (The Conan Chronicles, Murphy’s War, Inside the Mind of Coffin Joe) 1:15:15 – Severin (The Psychic) 1:19:32 – MVD (Cutting Class) 1:26:29 – Shout Factory (Thinner, Jennifer 8, Unlawful Entry) 1:46:51 – Warner Archive (A Day at the Races, Cabin in the Sky, Rover Dangerfield) 1:59:27 – Sony (The Triplets of Belleville) 2:02:45 – New Theatrical Titles On Blu-ray 2:04:06 – New Blu-ray Announcements 2:06:14 - Outro
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Episode 443: WHY IS THIS NOT ON BLU-RAY?! (Chapter 9)
01/16/2024
Episode 443: WHY IS THIS NOT ON BLU-RAY?! (Chapter 9)
A tradition that has gone absent for too long on the podcast has been this show that began with Sergio Mims and Erik Childress on WHPK Radio Chicago and continued on here. Films that has still yet to get the upgrade treatment on physical media and every time a new one emerges you can hear Sergio screaming down “WE GOT ONE!” We are finally continuing what we started, Sergio, with Peter Sobczynski stepping in to offer his half of 20 titles that still remain dormant on DVD or no physical media whatsoever. Erik and Peter serve up their choices which include films about baseball, politics, journalism and murder. There’s a sci-fi musical and a concert film, true-life tragedies and even farces, satires and other films to laugh at. There is truly something here for everyone and it is time these films receive the upgrade they deserve.
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Episode 442: One Word - Plastics
01/13/2024
Episode 442: One Word - Plastics
The first new reviews of 2024 are here, even as a few late 2023 titles sneak into the mix. 13 in all starting with Anthony Hopkins, this time not as C.S. Lewis (Freud’s Last Session) and Renny Harlin dialing up some action with Aaron Eckhart (The Bricklayer). An Elvis, a Spock and a monkey go on a strange journey (He Went That Way) while Kaley Cuoco goes on a familiar one as another domesticated assassin (Role Play). MST3K’s Jonah Ray tries to get ahead of his neighbor (Destroy All Neighbors) and Kevin Hart leads a team through the air on a gold heist (Lift). Steve checks out the scary swimming pool (Night Swim) while J.A. Bayona revisits the real life horror of the Andes plane crash (Society of the Snow). Director Steve McQueen connects WWII to the pandemic (Occupied City) and Jake Johnson is forced to connect with someone or die (Self Reliance). Jason Statham burns phishing scammers (The Beekeeper), LaKeith Stanfield tries to one-up Jesus as the Messiah (The Book of Clarence) and a 20-year-old teen classic gets the musical treatment (Mean Girls) 0:00 - Intro 1:36 - Freud’s Last Session 7:56 - The Bricklayer 13:22 - He Went That Way 21:20 - Role Play 27:41 - Destroy All Neighbors 38:23 - Lift 49:10 - Night Swim 56:28 - Society of the Snow 1:12:35 - Occupied City 1:17:26 – The Beekeeper 1:30:40 - Self Reliance 1:39:39 - Mean Girls 1:55:18 – The Book of Clarence 2:11:00 - Outro
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