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!
info_outline
Episode 519: Would That It Were So Simple
11/19/2024
Episode 519: Would That It Were So Simple
Christmas stockings should be filled with what is on the physical media slate this week. Erik Childress is joined by Peter Sobczynski to take you through everything including Barbra Streisand’s big Oscar win and one of the great adaptations of Louisa May Alcott’s classic novel. Great things come in threes including Clint Eastwood and the works of Zucker/Abrahams/Zucker. They also come in twos with Buster Keaton and the works of Jim Henson. Though speaking of three, Warner Bros. has one of the 4K trifectas of the year with a Mel Brooks classic, one of Hitchcock’s most purely entertaining and James Cameron’s legendary breakthrough. Finally not to dampen the holiday mood but the film that may just be Sam Raimi’s finest achievement with the great Bill Paxton gets a new 4K upgrade as well. 0:00 - Intro 1:24 – Criterion (Funny Girl 4K, Riyuichi Sakamoto: Opus) 10:46 – Sony (Little Women 4K) 15:55 – Kino (Seven Chances & Sherlock Jr, The Visitors, Two Mules for Sister Sara 4K, Play Misty for Me 4K, The Eiger Sanction 4K) 41:26 – Shout (Rush 4K, The Dark Crystal 4K, Labyrinth 4K) 1:04:16 – Paramount (ZAZ Collection 4K) 1:16:41 – Warner Bros. (Blazing Saddles 4K, North by Northwest 4K, The Terminator 4K) 1:48:27 – Arrow (A Simple Plan 4K) 2:03:28 – New TV & Theatrical Titles On Blu-ray 2:10:56 – New Blu-ray Announcements!
/episode/index/show/moviemadness/id/33995212
info_outline
Episode 518: Rock, You’re Getting A Lump Of Coal
11/16/2024
Episode 518: Rock, You’re Getting A Lump Of Coal
Mid-November and kind of a mid-week for releases, but Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy do have five reviews for you including a pair of documentaries on two icons in the film and music world (Bogart: Life Comes in Flashes, Return of the King: The Fall and Rise of Elvis Presley). They look at the latest from Andrea Arnold (Bird) and try to look at the new musical from Jacques Audiard apart from its controversies (Emilia Perez). Finally, Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans team up to rescue Santa Claus from the Christmas Witch. Yes, really (Red One). 0:00 - Intro 1:38 - Bogart: Life Comes in Flashes 8:43 - Return of the King: The Fall and Rise of Elvis Presley 21:37 - Bird 29:54 - Emilia Perez 42:28 - Red One 55:27 – Next Week’s Titles & Outro
/episode/index/show/moviemadness/id/33951707
info_outline
Episode 517: The Beginnings And The Ends
11/12/2024
Episode 517: The Beginnings And The Ends
A lot of good stuff on the physical media beat for those starting to make their Christmas lists. Peter Sobczynski joins Erik Childress to guide you through the lot which includes gangster and samurai classics from Criterion. There’s also a trio of 1980s puberty-starters and a reevaluation of the fourth Body Snatchers adaptation. You can also get new 4K releases of Steven Spielberg’s debut theatrical feature and one of Oliver Stone’s finest achievements. 0:00 - Intro 1:09 - Criterion (Scarface 4K, Seven Samurai 4K) 17:25 - Universal (The Sugarland Express 4K) 29:44 - Fun City (Paradise, Heavenly Bodies) 44:28 - Arrow (Elvira 4K, The Invasion 4K) 1:04:25 - Shout (Born on the Fourth of July) 1:15:16 - Kino (Maniac, Circus of Horrors, One Two Three, Arabesque 4K, Merchant Ivory, Roseland) 1:43:00 – New Blu-Ray Announcements
/episode/index/show/moviemadness/id/33892777
info_outline
Episode 516: If I Ever Lose My Faith In Hugh
11/09/2024
Episode 516: If I Ever Lose My Faith In Hugh
It’s a nine-movie week on the show with Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy looking at a historical atrocity (Stockholm Bloodbath), WWII through the eyes of a boy (Blitz) and Pierce Brosnan as a 92 year-old veteran trying to atone for D-Day (The Last Rifleman). A 70+ year old is sent undercover in a money laundering scam – or is he? – in a documentary chosen for last year’s Chicago Critics Film Festival (Starring Jerry As Himself). Get into the spirit of the holiday season with one film based on a beloved book (The Best Christmas Pageant Ever) and another trying to give you a mood (Christmas Eve In Miller’s Point). Cillian Murphy sees bad nuns in Ireland (Small Things Like These) and Anthony Mackie teams up with Morena Baccarin to battle creatures who don’t like heights (Elevation). Finally, one of year’s best movies pits two Mormon female missionaries against Hugh Grant’s religion buster (Heretic). 0:00 - Intro 1:21 - Stockholm Bloodbath 6:53 – The Last Rifleman 12:14 – The Best Christmas Pageant Ever 21:35 - Christmas Eve In Miller's Point 28:37 - Blitz 33:57 - Starring Jerry As Himself 41:14 - Small Things Like These 51:05 - Elevation 1:02:37 – Heretic 1:17:28 - Outro
/episode/index/show/moviemadness/id/33857642
info_outline
Episode 515: Santa? NO, It’s Godzilla And WAR!
11/04/2024
Episode 515: Santa? NO, It’s Godzilla And WAR!
Halloween is over, which means Christmas is creepin’ upon us so who better to start making your shopping lists with than Erik Childress and Peter Sobczynski on this week’s physical media show. They include a pair of Christmas films including a perennial classic and a more modern one with a Wham twist. The king of the monsters has its origin upgraded to 4K by Criterion. Samuel L. Jackson goes to Yemen and Mel Gibson goes to Vietnam in a pair of military films just before Veterans Day. One of the original babysitter horror films gets a 4K upgrade and you can also see the first French adaptation remade as a particularly awful Ashley Judd film. Finally, there are a trio of film documentaries ranging from Powell and Pressburger to The Monster Squad to the year 1982 plus one of the all-time classic sitcoms gets the Blu-ray treatment. 0:00 - Intro 0:58 – Criterion (Godzilla 4K) 6:29 – Universal (Last Christmas 4K) 13:23 – Paramount (White Christmas 4K, We Were Soldiers 4K) 26:08 – Kino (Rules of Engagement 4K, Fright 4K, Deadly Circuit, Made in England, Wolfman’s Got Nards) 52:17 - MVD (1982: Greatest Geek Year Ever) 59:22 – Television on Blu-ray 1:06:42 – New Theatrical & Streaming Titles On Blu-ray 1:14:20 – New Blu-ray Announcements
/episode/index/show/moviemadness/id/33779762
info_outline
Episode 514: Here and There and The 2024 Chicago International Film Festival
11/02/2024
Episode 514: Here and There and The 2024 Chicago International Film Festival
Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy return for a little crossover show including new titles this week and a recap of films from this year’s Chicago International Film Festival; some of which you can see right now. Reviews this week include a documentary on a legendary composer (Music By John Williams), one of the best animated films of the year (Memoir of a Snail) and the immigrant experience told through a heated kitchen (La Cocina). There is also the latest film from Clint Eastwood that Warner Bros. is burying (Juror #2) and a Forrest Gump reunion from Robert Zemeckis (Here). Then they look at ten more festival entries ranging from politics to coups and terrorists. Erik sees one of the best baseball films in years and Steve checks out a documentary about one of the great bands of the ‘90s. It’s a great mix of movies giving you something to look forward to both soon and later. 0:00 – Intro 1:50 – Juror #2 12:10 – Music By John Williams 27:10 – Memoir of a Snail 35:34 - La Cocina 46:58 – Here 1:02:13 – Separated 1:11:45 – Apocalypse in the Tropics 1:15:26 – Transplant 1:17:59 – Hard Truths 1:25:01 – Eephus 1:28:52 – September 5 1:37:10 – Vulcanizadora 1:42:58 – Pavements 1:48:48 – The Last Republican 1:56:55 – Armand 2:00:22 - Outro
/episode/index/show/moviemadness/id/33755142
info_outline
Episode #513: Kooky, Spooky, Ooky and Topkapi
10/29/2024
Episode #513: Kooky, Spooky, Ooky and Topkapi
The horror month of physical media closes out Halloween with a couple choice titles, though the horror-adjacent ones may be even better. Peter Sobczynski joins Erik Childress to talk a trio of film noir and a giallo film with Audrey Hepburn and James Mason. One of the great heist movies is here along with an all-timer true crime film from David Fincher. Wes Craven and Sam Raimi get the 4K upgrade as does a cult anthology that almost didn’t see the light of day. But the real joy may be in reminding everyone of a sequel too often left off the discussion of films vastly superior to the original. And that’s altogether ooky. 0:00 - Intro 1:13 – Kino (Dark Side of Cinema XXII, Topkapi) 15:30 - Vinegar Syndrome (Bloodline 4K) 27:05 – Paramount (Addams Family Values 4K, Zodiac 4K) 44:57 - Shout Factory (Shocker 4K, Drag Me to Hell 4K) 1:00:44 – Arrow (Trick or Treat 4K) 1:17:13 – New Blu-ray Announcements
/episode/index/show/moviemadness/id/33655972
info_outline
Episode 512: Well Then, I Guess You’re Really Up Shit Creek
10/22/2024
Episode 512: Well Then, I Guess You’re Really Up Shit Creek
We are still in the month of horror and Peter Sobczynski joins Erik Childress to talk about all the horrific and supernatural offerings getting upgrades this month. Not to mention Harmony Korine and Rob Lowe as a hockey player. But moving on from that the pair discuss the Hellraiser series and their lack of enthusiasm for even M. Night Shyamalan’s better films. They talk about the surprise hit of the summer of 1990, one of the films that established the horror genre and another that took it to such uncomfortable lengths Erik has to dare himself to watch it. There’s also Robert Zemeckis, Joe “3-star” Johnston and even some ‘80s teen shenanigans not involving death and murder. 0:00 - Intro 1:25 – Criterion (Gummo) 6:43 – Kino (Up the Creek, Youngblood, The Cabinet of Dr Caligari) 29:50 – Disney (The Sixth Sense 4K, Signs 4K) 47:29 – Paramount (Ghost 4K) 59:13 - Warner Archive (The Hitcher 4K) 1:12:46 – Arrow (Hellraiser Quartet of Torment 4K ) 1:32:44 - Shout: Death Becomes Her 4K/The Wolfman 4K 1:56:33 – New Theatrical and TV Titles On Blu-ray 2:02:43 – New Blu-ray Announcements
/episode/index/show/moviemadness/id/33569387
info_outline
Episode 511: Chainsaws, Zombies and Videotape
10/15/2024
Episode 511: Chainsaws, Zombies and Videotape
Peter Sobczynski joins Erik Childress to get you caught up on all the upgraded (not elevated) horror that you can add to your physical media library this week. But first there is some Jackie Chan, Rian Johnson, Jon Favreau and Sidney Lumet. Oh yes and some Hitchcock and Borchardt. But for your Halloween parties you can get probably the best J-horror remake from Gore Verbinski. Wes Craven delivers one of the most iconic horror characters of all-time. George Romero returns to the Land of the Dead and Tobe Hooper’s landmark cinematic achievement celebrates its 50th Anniversary. 0:00 - Intro 1:07 - 88 Films (Project A Collection 4K) 9:27 - Kino (Garbo Talks, Brick 4K, Cowboys and Aliens 4K) 25:09 - Sony (American Movie 4K) 34:21 - Paramount (To Catch a Thief 4K, The Ring 4K) 46:36 - WB (A Nightmare on Elm Street 4K) 1:06:04 - Shout (Land of the Dead 4K) 1:19:32 - Dark Sky (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 4K) 1:35:01 – New Blu-ray Announcements
/episode/index/show/moviemadness/id/33473232
info_outline
Episode 510: Choose Your Evil Clown – Art Or Trump
10/12/2024
Episode 510: Choose Your Evil Clown – Art Or Trump
Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy dive into 11 films this week including a documentary that debuted three years ago at SXSW about a unique theatrical production (Alien On Stage). There is also a documentary about Pharrell Williams told through Legos (Piece By Piece) and another chronicling the week John & Yoko took over the Mike Douglas show (Daytime Revolution). A dysfunctional family tries to get through the weekend in Chicago (All Happy Families) and another has a loss in theirs exploited by an evil entity (Daddy’s Head). A high school student devises an elaborate cheating scheme (Bad Genius) while a missing child sets off a mysterious manhunt (Caddo Lake). Laura Dern hooks up with a Hemsworth (Lonely Planet) while Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh’s relationship is presented in a fractured timeline (We Live In Time). Finally you have your choice of evil this week in the third chapter of Art the Clown (Terrifier 3) or the beginning of Donald Trump (The Apprentice) 0:00 - Intro 1:09 - Alien On Stage 13:45 - All Happy Families 21:29 - Daddy's Head 29:07 - Bad Genius 37:17 - Piece by Piece 45:41 - Caddo Lake 53:02 - Daytime Revolution 1:05:58 - Lonely Planet 1:15:33 - We Live In Time 1:26:43 – The Apprentice 1:40:04 - Terrifier 3
/episode/index/show/moviemadness/id/33428172
info_outline
Episode 509: Heads Will Roll And Boyle Will Fly
10/08/2024
Episode 509: Heads Will Roll And Boyle Will Fly
While there is not much on the physical media side this week there are definitely some choice titles to upgrade into your collection. It is also October and that means horror. Peter Sobczynski joins Erik Childress to talk about a must-own double feature from Criterion from the genre’s yesteryear as well as Tim Burton’s solid tribute to Hammer horror. Not to mention Lara Flynn Boyle getting blown off a roof. Alas though there is also some solid new theatrical horror titles on disc now as well as Peter Berg’s finest directorial effort getting an upgrade. 0:00 - Intro 1:49 – Criterion (I Walked with a Zombie, The Seventh Victim 4K) 16:03 – Kino (Riot in a Women’s Prison) 21:04 – Universal (Friday Night Lights 4K) 27:00 - Shout Factory (Devil 4K) 35:42 – Paramount (Sleepy Hollow 4K) 45:16 – New TV & Theatrical Titles On Blu-ray 57:02 – New Blu-ray Announcements
/episode/index/show/moviemadness/id/33378302
info_outline
Episode 508: The 2024 Fantastic Fest
10/05/2024
Episode 508: The 2024 Fantastic Fest
Steve Prokopy went to Austin for this year’s annual Fantastic Fest and he talks about a number of the titles he saw along with Erik Childress who caught up with some as well. They range from documentaries about Christopher Lee and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre to the latest from the directors of Bodied and Psycho Goreman. There is action, sexual games along with other body merging and munching. They talk the latest anthology in the V/H/S series and find a real family adventure charmer with Elijah Wood. 0:00 - Intro 4:20 - Ghost Killer 8:22 – Get Away 14:07 – Bone Lake 18:59 – Gazer 22:03 – House of Spoils 29:59 – V/H/S Beyond 38:28 – Else 40:38 – Ick 43:29 – Chain Reactions 49:05 – The Life and Deaths of Christopher Lee 56:35 - Frankie Freako 1:03:58 – Little Bites 1:08:28 – Bookworm 1:16:56 - Outro
/episode/index/show/moviemadness/id/33338702
info_outline
Episode 507: Whoa! Robert Loggia!
09/30/2024
Episode 507: Whoa! Robert Loggia!
It’s a light week for physical media as we prepare for the onslaught of horror to arrive in October. The month does start off with a couple decent titles in the thrills department including a package Peter Sobczynski and Erik Childress catch-up on featuring the works of Lewis Allen. Paramount has put together the second of their “Scares” package which features at least one title worth getting in 4K that may also be more of a thriller than a horror film. Kino does deliver some witchy fun along with one of the best boxing films as well a young romance that may have you repeating the title of the episode. Finally, they look back on a series receiving numerous celebrations recently for its 25th Anniversary. 0:00 - Intro 1:40 - Kino (Body & Soul, First Love, Burn Witch Burn) 22:13 - Shout Factory (As Above, So Below) 27:20 - Imprint (The Uninvited) 35:00 - Paramount (Paramount Scares Vol. 2 4K) 58:59 – Warner Bros. (The West Wing: The Complete Series) 1:05:50 – New Blu-ray Announcements 1:07:23 - Outro
/episode/index/show/moviemadness/id/33270507
info_outline
Episode 506: All The While Ran Blood, Great Coppola Fell
09/28/2024
Episode 506: All The While Ran Blood, Great Coppola Fell
Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy are back on the review beat this weekend with eight new releases, many of them from the festival circuit. Horror comes in the form of sleepwalking for a couple (Sleep), for the woman that came before Rosemary (Apartment 7A) and creatures after a silent Samara Weaving (Azrael). Joseph Gordon-Levitt investigates a potential murder for Shailene Woodley (Killer Heat). Will Ferrell accompanies his newly transitioned friend on a road trip (Will & Harper) while Kate Winslet is the war photographer who captured the Holocaust (Lee). The director of How To Train Your Dragon has another heartwarming adventure (The Wild Robot) and the one who brought us The Godfather, The Conversation and Apocalypse Now finally delivers his passion project and the duo make no apologies for the final effort. 0:00 - Intro 4:29 - Sleep 12:47 - Apartment 7A 23:08 - Azrael 33:49 - Killer Heat 41:39 - Will & Harper 52:53 - Lee 59:16 - The Wild Robot 1:09:22 – Megalopolis 1:28:06 - Outro
/episode/index/show/moviemadness/id/33240777
info_outline
Episode 505: Drill, Baby, Drill!
09/24/2024
Episode 505: Drill, Baby, Drill!
It’s a 4K-packed week with classics of the genuine and cult variety with Peter Sobczynski catching you up on the week’s physical media releases. There are titles from the emerging queer cinema of the ‘90s as well as, arguably, the best of the Todd Solondz oeuvre. There will be little argument about the best of British comedies and Peter makes one for what he considers may be the finest final film of any directorial career. Sidney Lumet does Agatha Christie justice and John Carpenter remakes a sci-fi classic. There is Woody Allen, Bob Hope and Elisabeth Shue facing off against a chimpanzee. Finally, Brian DePalma gets an upgrade on one of his most underappreciated, albeit controversial, films. 0:00 - Intro 1:08 – Criterion (Happiness 4K, Gregg Araki Teen Apocalypse Trilogy 4K) 27:08 – Mediabook (Go Fish 4K) 33:42 – Paramount (Stardust 4K) 38:44 – Kino (My Favorite Spy, The Ladykillers 4K, Murder on the Orient Express 4K, Link 4K) 1:11:16 - Warner Archive (Journey Into Fear, Conflict, A Prairie Home Companion) 1:29:51 – Shout Factory (Village of the Damned 4K) 1:37:25 – MGM (A Midsummer’s Night Sex Comedy, September) 1:52:04 – Sony (Body Double 4K) 2:12:43 – New TV & Theatrical Blu-ray Releases 2:19:33 – New Blu-ray Announcements 2:22:09 - Outro
/episode/index/show/moviemadness/id/33189217
info_outline
Episode 504: The 2024 Toronto International Film Festival
09/20/2024
Episode 504: The 2024 Toronto International Film Festival
Erik Childress spent six days at this year’s Toronto Film Festival and is here to dish on a bunch of the films he saw. They include the latest works from Francis Ford Coppola, Pedro Almodovar, Ron Howard and Sean Baker. Films about the aging plight of women in entertainment with Demi Moore, Elisabeth Moss and Pamela Anderson run the gamut from great to dismal. The Vatican and religion have their share of bad guys too. Erik splits his votes on a pair of relationship dramas as well as films about Press Your Luck and Saturday Night Live. Nicole Kidman and Amy Adams handle their unsatisfying home lives in wildly different manners. Plus, the latest Stephen King adaptation from Mike Flanagan wins both the festival’s Audience Award as well as Erik’s heart. All this and more on a recap of this year’s fest. 0:00 - Intro 2:21 – The Luckiest Man In America 8:09 - The Substance 15:24 - The Last Showgirl 19:28 - The Life of Chuck 25:28 - We Live in Time 28:22 - Anora 34:06 - Eden 38:41 - Nightbitch 44:36 - Shell 46:54 - Conclave 50:22 - All of You 53:35 - Heretic 1:00:16 - Friendship 1:02:51 - The Room Next Door 1:05:01 - Relay 1:09:18 - The Assessment 1:13:53 - Saturday Night 1:22:02 - Megalopolis 1:29:20 - Babygirl 1:33:38 - Riff Raff 1:37:05 - Outro
/episode/index/show/moviemadness/id/33142212
info_outline
Episode 503: The Blu-ray Show That Grabs You And Never Lets Go
09/17/2024
Episode 503: The Blu-ray Show That Grabs You And Never Lets Go
Peter Sobczynski returns to catch you up on a couple weeks of physical media releases with Erik Childress. They include one of the great British crime thrillers with Bob Hoskins. They dive into the Friday the 13th and Riddick series while highlighting an even better ‘80s horror film. One of the great stand-up concerts ever filmed gets the 4K upgrade and a new film noir set highlights one of the inspirations for Top Secret. Peter highlights an overlooked Scorsese and goes Doomsday on Neil Marshall. One of the films featured in It Came From Hollywood gets the Blu-ray treatment as does the infamous Caligula whose history is documented this week as well. 0:00 - Intro 1:40 – Criterion (The Long Good Friday 4K) 9:02 - Arrow (Torso 4K, Friday the 13th 4K, The Chronicles of Riddick 4K) 38:01 - Sony (Richard Pryor Live on the Sunset Strip 4K) 47:33 - Shout (The Stepfather 4K, Clockwatchers, Doomsday, The Strangers 4K, Man of the Year) 1:17:33 - Kino (Film Noir XXI, Two Weeks in September, Rolling Vengeance) 1:39:40 – Paramount (Bringing Out the Dead 4K) 1:51:45 - Warner Archive (Black Belt Jones) 1:59:22 – Drafthouse (Caligula 4K) 2:11:16 – New TV & Theatrical Titles On Blu-ray 2:15:20 – New Blu-ray Announcements
/episode/index/show/moviemadness/id/33097287
info_outline
Episode 502: The 2024 Toronto Film Festival Curtain Raiser
09/04/2024
Episode 502: The 2024 Toronto Film Festival Curtain Raiser
Erik Childress returns to the Toronto Film Festival this week and he has some films worthy of putting on your schedule if you are attending or to keep an eye out for the future. He also has a schedule in place that he walks through letting you know what he plans on seeing day-by-day providing a little preview of both the daily grind of a festival and even more films that caught his eye and may catch yours as well. 0:00 - Intro 1:20 – Shook 3:26 – Shepherds 5:29 – Mr. K 10:19 – Matt and Mara 14:38 - Do I Know You From Somewhere 19:18 – Day-by-Day Schedule Plan 38:10 - Outro
/episode/index/show/moviemadness/id/32888972
info_outline
Episode 501: These Women Can (And Don’t) Play
09/04/2024
Episode 501: These Women Can (And Don’t) Play
Peter Sobczynski returns to offer up some of this week’s Blu-ray offerings with Erik Childress. They include Alex Cox’s cult classic debut, the role that Gregory Peck was not crazy about and one of the enduring baseball classics getting an upgrade. There is also Brigitte Bardot, Margot Robbie and a Woman from a Lucky McKee film that you do not want to mess with. Speaking of which there is also a ghostly horror film worth rediscovering and the ‘80s ick fest involving Michael Caine and his best friend’s daughter. 0:00 - Intro 0:54 - Criterion (Repo Man 4K) 10:31 - Sony (A League of their Own 4K) 19:11 - WB (Focus 4K) 24:03 – Kino (Naughty Girl) 28:04 – Sandpiper (Blame It on Rio, Moby Dick (1956), Lady in White) 56:29 – Arrow (The Woman/Offspring 4K) 1:06:12 – Shout (The Amityville Horror (2005) 4K, The Boy 4K) 1:19:56 – New Blu-ray Announcements
/episode/index/show/moviemadness/id/32888567
info_outline
Episode 500: Garden State & Sideways: A Look Back At 20 Years
09/02/2024
Episode 500: Garden State & Sideways: A Look Back At 20 Years
The Movie Madness Podcast is celebrating its 500th episode with a conversation 20 years in the making. Erik Childress has had many conversations with his guest over the years, but this one is a look back at where Nick Digilio and him were in their lives in 2004 when they, respectively, named Sideways and Garden State as their favorite films of that year. They talk about why those films were so personal to them, almost exactly ten years apart in their respective ages, at the time and if revisiting them two decades later is the same experience. The conversation veers into personal struggles, “manic pixie dream girls”, lost opportunities and soundtracks.
/episode/index/show/moviemadness/id/32852257
info_outline
Episode 499: If You’re Listening Russia, Tear Down This Movie
08/31/2024
Episode 499: If You’re Listening Russia, Tear Down This Movie
As the summer ends with a bit of a whimper, Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy delve into eight films and try to find something worth your time. The director of Backcountry goes back into the woods with Missy Peregrym to face a different threat (Out Come the Wolves) while the filmmakers behind Howards End and The Remains of the Day get a documentary in their honor (Merchant Ivory). Tyrese Gibson gets caught up in a heist during the Rodney King riots (1992) and Lee Daniels takes Andra Day through an exorcism (The Deliverance). Naomie Harris and Natalie Dormer plot a murder (The Wasp) and Casey Affleck tries to keep his sanity in space (Slingshot). Finally, John Cho discovers a new AI is dangerous (AfrAId) and Dennis Quaid and the director of 3 Ninjas: High Noon At Mega Mountain give Republicans a greatest hits tale about their God (Reagan). 0:00 - Intro 1:18 - Out Come the Wolves 13:10 - Merchant Ivory 21:01 - 1992 32:49 – The Deliverance 43:06 – The Wasp 54:05 - Slingshot 1:07:20 - Afraid 1:16:53 – Reagan 1:34:27 - Outro
/episode/index/show/moviemadness/id/32819852
info_outline
Episode 498: That’s A Lot Of Cheese
08/26/2024
Episode 498: That’s A Lot Of Cheese
Pretty big week on the physical media front as Peter Sobczynski joins Erik Childress to spark your blu-ray budget. It’s always a cause for celebration when Albert Brooks can go from DVD straight to 4K and Criterion has a pair of his films for you. Not to mention an upgrade on a film that Brooks should have been nominated for. Robert Rodriguez’s Mariachi films also get the upgrade as does one of Robert Altman’s less-discussed ‘70s crime films. There are arcane French narratives, an early Philip Kaufmann film, one of Jean Claude Van Damme’s better efforts and a barrage of eco-horror the likes of which you have never seen or may even want to see. Yeah, you want to see them. 0:00 - Intro 1:00 – Criterion (Real Life 4K, Mother 4K) 27:21 - Sony (Drive 4K) 34:20 - Vinegar Syndrome (Reptilicus 4K, Thieves Like Us 4K) 48:21 – Arrow (Mexico Trilogy 4K) 1:02:24 – Shout Factory (Poltergeist II 4K) 1:07:57 – Kino (Last Year At Marienbad 4K, Alphaville 4K, The White Dawn, Frogs, Kingdom of the Spiders, Squirm, Food of the Gods, Empire of the Ants, Sudden Death 4K) 1:51:04 – New Theatrical & TV Titles On Blu-ray 1:56:13 – New Blu-ray Announcements
/episode/index/show/moviemadness/id/32750622
info_outline
Episode 497: Tired of Remakes? Me Too!
08/24/2024
Episode 497: Tired of Remakes? Me Too!
Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy have eight movie reviews for you including two from their fest coverage the past year. Jason Schwartzman and Carol Kane star in a Sundance fave (Between the Temples) and a game of cat-and-mouse between a serial killer and their prey that debuted at Fantastic Fest in 2023 (Strange Darling). Also on tap are three lifelong friends and the hardships they endure over a lifetime (The Supremes At Earl’s All-You-Can Eat) while a small town turns to crime over a pile of money (Greedy People). The Adams Family is back with their latest horror offering (Hell Hole) while John Woo remakes one of his all-time classics (The Killer) and Bill Skarsgard steps into the role made infamous by Brandon Lee (The Crow). Finally, Zoe Kravitz makes her directorial debut with an island party that some will want to forget (Blink Twice). 0:00 - Intro 1:27 - Between the Temples 11:00 - Strange Darling 21:28 – The Supremes At Earl's All-You-Can Eat 31:48 - Greedy People 44:01 - Hell Hole 53:49 – The Killer 1:05:42 – The Crow 1:19:00 - Blink Twice 1:33:30 - Outro
/episode/index/show/moviemadness/id/32722147
info_outline
Episode 496: You Eat Guts?
08/19/2024
Episode 496: You Eat Guts?
Peter Sobczynski joins Erik Childress again to talk physical media. This week you can go an early, personal work from Martha Coolidge and the debut western from Robert Benton. They talk thrillers that were ultimately remade with Amber Heard and Josh Hartnett plus the baffling dark comedy from Danny DeVito. Generational favorites range from an animated film from the ‘80s and a teen comedy from the ‘90s, but also don’t forget one of the great conspiracy films of the ’70s with some timely real-world publicity. Wes Craven delivers one of his leanest thrillers and Michael Ritchie has, arguably, the most messed up film of his career with Lee Marvin up against Gene Hackman. 0:00 - Intro 2:30 – Criterion (Not a Pretty Picture) 8:18 - Fun City (Bad Company 4K) 20:50 – Shout Factory (The Last Unicorn 4K, Death to Smoochy) 39:11 – Sony (The China Syndrome, Can’t Hardly Wait 4K) 1:01:26 – Universal (Let Him Go, Tremors 7-Film collection) 1:10:29 - Paramount (Red Eye) 1:19:02 - Kino (And Soon the Darkness/Sudden Terror, The Apartment (1996), Prime Cut 4K) 1:39:20 – New Blu-ray Announcements
/episode/index/show/moviemadness/id/32645452
info_outline
Episode 495: You CAN Go Home Again
08/17/2024
Episode 495: You CAN Go Home Again
Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy have ten reviews this week including going back into the archive to check out a new version of an infamous epic (Caligula: The Ultimate Cut). Jean Reno gets a special visitor (My Penguin Friend) and a mother must protect her child from a creature and Devon Sawa (Consumed). Eliot Page is reluctant to return home after embracing his identity (Close to You) and Neil Marshall keeps making movies with Charlotte Kirk (Duchess). Elizabeth Banks has internet problems in Hollywood (Skincare) while Halle Berry montages Mark Wahlberg into being a secret agent (The Union). One of the best documentaries of the year from Sundance debuts on Netflix (Daughters) while Awkwafina and John Cena are hunted – but in a funny way – after winning the lottery (Jackpot). Finally, has a 45 year old franchise delivered its best film in decades (Alien: Romulus)? Erik and Steve weigh in with their thoughts. 0:00 - Intro 1:16 - Caligula: The Ultimate Cut 11:05 - My Penguin Friend 18:04 - Consumed 25:44 - Close to You 36:59 - Duchess 46:57 - Skincare 56:01 - Daughters 1:07:29 - Jackpot 1:23:18 – The Union 1:36:31 - Alien: Romulus 1:51:48 - Outro
/episode/index/show/moviemadness/id/32620077
info_outline
Episode 494: Moe, Larry, Shemp, Curly – Take ‘Em Down!
08/12/2024
Episode 494: Moe, Larry, Shemp, Curly – Take ‘Em Down!
Lots on the Blu-ray front this week and Peter Sobczynski joins Erik Childress to talk you through it. Criterion has a clean sweep nine-time Oscar winner in 4K and Arrow has something for the Sam Worthington fans out there. They talk fondly of a dark Seth Rogen effort and a much lighter comedy with violence that has given Rachel McAdams a line delivery for the ages. They’ve got some Mellville, Bava and Elvis. Peter has an early ‘90s horror film you may want to look at again. Dick Tracy gets a collection and they are all-in on a new Stooges collection. (Find out who their favorite Stooges are.) Plus, another week, another Chuck Norris. And this time one of the better ones. 0:00 - Intro 1:12 – Criterion (The Last Emperor 4K) 8:33 – Arrow (When Titans Ruled The Earth 4K) 19:49 – Sony (Three Stooges Collection) 29:15 – Shout Factory (The Delta Force 4K, Observe and Report) 51:20 – VCI (Dick Tracy RKO Pictures Collection) 57:10 – Kino (99 River St., Bob le Flambeur, Le Dolous) 1:08:32 - Warner Archive (Harum Scarum) 1:14:46 – Warner (Game Night 4K) 1:17:48 – Synapse (Demons 4K, Demons 2 4K) 1:23:32 - Dark Force: Mirror Mirror 4K 1:32:01 – New Theatrical Titles On Blu-ray 1:36:24 – New Blu-ray Announcements & Outro
/episode/index/show/moviemadness/id/32533252
info_outline
Episode 493: Bad Dads And Worse Husbands
08/10/2024
Episode 493: Bad Dads And Worse Husbands
After a three-week hiatus involving vacations and other commitments, Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy are back on the weekly movie review stint. Naturally they begin with a film they reviewed at Sundance eight months ago but with good reason for reminder cause the title says it all (Good One). Steve looks at a film about Samuel Beckett (Dance First) and Erik handles a biopic of Milli Vanilli (Girl You Know It’s True). Matt Damon and Casey Affleck try to rob a corrupt politician (The Instigators) and Hunter Schafer tries to solve the weird goings-on at a secluded resort (Cuckoo). Erik offers his thoughts on Blake Lively and the adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s popular novel about abuse (It Ends With Us) and the pair get their eyes on Eli Roth’s three-year-old video game adaptation (Borderlands). 0:00 - Intro 3:53 - Good One 14:17 - Girl You Know It's True 25:42 - Dance First 35:20 – The Instigators 48:11 - Cuckoo 57:16 - It Ends With Us 1:09:37 – Borderlands 1:25:59 - Outro
/episode/index/show/moviemadness/id/32526567
info_outline
Episode 492: Welles, Lola, Norris, Lasso (And San Dimas High School Football) Rules!
08/05/2024
Episode 492: Welles, Lola, Norris, Lasso (And San Dimas High School Football) Rules!
Films are getting the 4K upgrade this week on the physical media show. Peter Sobczynski joins Erik Childress to talk about why Orson Welles made his fourth film along with the great fun of Run Lola Run. Perhaps the craziest tales are reserved for what became and almost became of one of Chuck Norris’ mid-80s Cannon fodder. There’s also a little Gucci, a little Lasso, some Babes and a breakdown of one of the most unlikeliest trilogies ever from its subject matter, its sweet endurance and ingenuity and how all of them seem to have barely gotten released. 0:00 - Intro 1:20 - Sony (The Lady from Shanghai 4K, Run Lola Run 4K) 22:50 - Vinegar Syndrome (Invasion USA 4K) 42:10 - Shout (House of Gucci 4K, Bill and Ted’s Most Triumphant Trilogy 4K) 1:07-12 – New TV & Theatrical Titles 1:10:02 – New Blu-ray Announcements
/episode/index/show/moviemadness/id/32447437
info_outline
Episode #491: Deadpool & Wolverine
08/02/2024
Episode #491: Deadpool & Wolverine
On a special episode of the podcast, comic book expert Erik Laws returns to join Erik Childress to discuss the much ballyhooed release of Marvel’s team-up of Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman meant to correct past sins and hopefully plug the creative and success leak of their recent output. Does the film live up to its promise? Are the stakes there or is it just a service for the fans? How does its cameos and surprises measure up and is it weird to take shots at what is supposed to be an ally now? They also weigh in on the latest news of Robert Downey Jr. returning to the MCU, what his appearance as Victor Von Doom could mean and is it just an act of desperation to combat the comic book fatigue which may finally be real?
/episode/index/show/moviemadness/id/32417912
info_outline
Episode 490: There’s No Way Out, You Can’t Stop The Nuts
07/29/2024
Episode 490: There’s No Way Out, You Can’t Stop The Nuts
This week in physical media expands the gauntlet between masterpieces, greatness, exploitation and outright garbage. In other words, Erik Childress and Peter Sobczynski have a little something for everyone. They include a film from the ‘60s that was lost until the ‘90s, one of the first films from Jonathan Demme, one of the last films of Howard Hawks and hopefully not the last from Philip Kaufmann. There’s a box set of the works of Nico Mastorakis and a director’s cut featuring David Bowie and Rosanna Arquette. Two films from the great runs of Frank Oz and Kevin Costner get 4K upgrades and Peter tells you about one of the sexiest scenes he’s ever seen. Spoiler that it involves neither an infamous 1980 musical with The Village People or any of the Jaws sequels; both of which practically get their own episodes here. 0:00 - Intro 1:00 – Arrow (Red Line 7000, The Nico Mastorakis Collection, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. 4K) 16:09 - The Film Desk (The Plot Against Harry) 24:07 - Media Book (Last Embrace 4K) 29:07 – MVD (The Linguini Incident) 38:07 – Kino (Bwana Devil, Can’t Stop the Music 4K, No Way Out 4K, In and Out 4K, Girl on the Bridge, Twisted) 1:35:15 – Universal (Jaws 3-Film Collection 4K) 2:00:19 – New Theatrical Titles on Blu-ray 2:07:25 – New Blu-ray Announcements
/episode/index/show/moviemadness/id/32339242