Movie Madness

James Laczkowski James Laczkowski

Episode 103: History Repeats Itself…Plus Killer Bunnies

Sergio Mims returns to catch everyone up on the latest in Blu-rays in an episode that highlights a special release which reminds us how far we’ve come as a country. Unless we are doomed to repeat it. From Geronimo to D.W. Griffith to Peter Pan and Black Panther, Erik Childress also talks about the little-discussed bombing of A Wrinkle In Time while leaving plenty of time to discuss deadly rabbits and a hot welding aerobic ninja.

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James Laczkowski James Laczkowski

Episode 102: Cinepocalypse Comes To Chicago…Again!

The 2nd Cinepocalypse Film Festival takes place from June 21-28, 2018 at the glorious Music Box Theatre in Chicago. Sergio Mims interviews director and cinematographer, Ernest Dickerson, who is receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award at the fest. Then Erik Childress talks with fest programmer, Steve Prokopy, about some of the noteworthy films playing, special guests and retro screenings including a 70mm print of a film you will not believe.

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James Laczkowski James Laczkowski

Episode 101: Legends, Dinosaurs, Terrorists and Jackasses

Over the hump on the podcast we return to the odds to update you on the latest in Blu-rays and DVDs. Returning champion Sergio Mims is back to discuss a 4K set 65 million years in the making, the latest from Olive Films and Clint Eastwood and his personal recollection of how he forced himself to see ‘70s disco cult classic, Thank God It’s Friday. It’s all wrapped in a tidy bowl that brings us back around to some newly released editions of classic John Landis.

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James Laczkowski James Laczkowski

Episode 100: This One’s For You, Dad

On this very special 100th episode of the Movie Madness Podcast, Erik Childress invites Mark Dujsik, Jim Laczkowski and Sergio Mims on to talk about one of the most important people in their lives. Their dads. It is a Father’s Day conversation for everyone full of memories of who their dads were and the love of movies that formed an everlasting bond that will not be broken even after their passing. It’s an episode full of laughs, tears and a roundup of choices of five films from each of them that they would loved for their dads to have seen.

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James Laczkowski James Laczkowski

Episode 99: These Pleasures Aren’t Guilty

With all the controversies these days, it’s nice to have some old-fashioned debate about movies we like – that you might not. Erik Childress is joined by Ian Simmons of the Kicking the Seat podcast to each run down ten films that are likely to get your eyes rolling, your blood boiling or, just maybe, your head nodding in agreement. They range from simple pleasures to passionate counterpoints. You may not agree with most of their choices, but if it inspires one to take a second look at something or know that there’s a kindred spirit out there for the positive then it will be worth the couple hours. Or you may just think we’re both nuts.

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James Laczkowski James Laczkowski

Episode 98: You’d Do It For 4K

It’s 4K Day on the podcast with Erik Childress and Sergio Mims going over some very memorable modern action films going the way of the latest and greatest format. They shared their complicated feelings for Ridley Scott’s Gladiator along with their unshakable love for Mel Gibson’s Braveheart as well as the everlasting power that makes Die Hard one of the all-time greats. Then Sergio takes us back into the archives with guns, a big rat and his appreciation of a brand new western set from the folks at Indicator/Powerhouse.

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James Laczkowski James Laczkowski

Episode 97: Going Solo: A Star Wars Discussion

It’s the movie event of the summer. The third one at least. And just like with The Last Jedi, Erik Laws and Sergio Mims join Erik Childress to take you all the way through the latest “Star Wars Story.” They talk about its troubled production history, how Sergio was once at a studio when a director was fired and how the film measures up to Rogue One and true fan expectations.

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James Laczkowski James Laczkowski

Episode 96: The Awful Truth of P.T. Barnum (and Hobgoblins)

Catching up on Blu-ray releases, Erik Childress and Sergio Mims go over popular musicals forty years apart and why The Greatest Showman ultimately fails. They also dig into some classic exploitation releases from their youth courtesy of Vinegar Syndrome, Shout Factory and MVD. They also discuss the resume of Jean Claude Van-Damme and what made Cary Grant so great.

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James Laczkowski James Laczkowski

Episode 95: The 2018 Chicago Critics Film Festival

Erik Childress is not only a podcast host, he also produces a film festival every year. Now in its sixth year at the Music Box Theatre, the Chicago Critics Film Festival brings some of the best films on the festival circuit – handpicked by the city’s film critics – to a local audience. Sundance, SXSW, Toronto and more are all represented here during the week of May 4-10 and Erik discusses with Sergio Mims (producer of the city’s Black Harvest Film Festival in August) some of the highlights as well as some of the ins and outs of programming a film festival.

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James Laczkowski James Laczkowski

Episode 94: For Kids And No Kids

Blu-ray time continues as Erik Childress and Sergio Mims take you from the height of giant creature cheesiness over to films for kids that will either make them smile or traumatize them. They also reminisce about those other kids. The ones in the hall and revisit a film that adults are now likely sharing with their own kids. Then they can’t help but knocking down the babies out there somehow upset with The Last Jedi

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