Movie Madness
Episode 410: Bottoms Up, Down and Around A Bat Mitzvah
Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy have nine movies for you to consider this week. They include a powerful documentary about Alzheimer’s (The Eternal Memory) and a less than powerful faith-and-baseball tale (The Hill). A bickering couple goes on the longest hike of their lives (Brightwood) and sisters get into scuba trouble (The Dive). The Yom Kippur War is told through the makeup on Helen Mirren (Golda) and the Sandler family produce a coming-of-age comedy (You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah). Liam Neeson goes for a drive while sitting on a bomb (Retribution) and a gamer-turned-racer is a whole other kind of bomb (Gran Turismo). Finally, they put the must-see “R”-rated comedy of the year thus far on your radar (Bottoms).
Episode 409: Turn It Off Or Turn It Up?
This week in physical media with Peter Sobczynski begins with a little argument over the new 4K release of another John Hughes film. There is no disagreement that the new work from Nicole Holofcener is worth grabbing. Horror fans get works from Lucio Fulci, Jean Rollin and Michael Crichton. Ralph Bakshi finally gets a Blu-ray release for his animated musical ode and you can also see Louis Malle’s controversial film with Brooke Shields and where that George C. Scott meme comes from courtesy of Paul Schrader.
Episode 408: Poop, Pee And The Best Horror Film of 2023
Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy dig into eight new movies this week. They include revisiting a film from Sundance that they still believe to be the best horror film of the year (Birth/Rebirth). An Irish paramilitary seeks revenge for his wife (Dead Shot), an old Chinese tale gets the animated treatment from Netflix (The Monkey King) and Michael Cera stars in a dysfunctional family drama that the film’s publicist apparently did not want us to see. One of the stars of Glow gets to go all Shining at the hotel she inherits (Bad Things) and the director of Thoroughbreds and Bad Education tries out a capitalist satire with aliens (Landscape With Invisible Hand). Finally, DC comics tries again (Blue Beetle) and talking dogs with the voices of Will Ferrell and Jamie Foxx pee, poop and hump their way into laughs (Strays).
Episode 407: Before Gere There Was Shatner
Peter Sobczynski brings us up to date in the world of physical media. They include an early film from Wayne Wang, the latest from Wes Anderson and an anniversary edition of a documentary on David Bowie. There’s a collection of Audie Murphy films and others about World War II not to mention fights against woodland terrorists and staged by the Shaw Brothers. Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn get the 4K treatment in one of the great classic romances. But do not count out the recommendations of a spooky British Halloween special and a crazy vehicle for William Shatner back in the ‘70s.
Episode 406: The Last Voyages of Dracula, Aliens and GA.I. Gadot
After a week off, Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy return with seven new reviews including a documentary about the adaptations of the premier horror novelist (King on Screen) and a murder mystery set in the world of hairstyling (Medusa Deluxe). Emilia Clarke and Chiwetel Elijofor try to have a baby without actually having one (The Pod Generation) and the President’s son hooks up with the Prince of Britain (Red, White and Royal Blue). Gal Gadot tries to carry a film about A.I. basically made by A.I. (Heart of Stone) and Ben Kingsley has a flying saucer crash land in his backyard (Jules). Finally, Erik goes solo on telling you if the latest Dracula fan fiction is worth your time (The Last Voyage of the Demeter).
Episode 405: Chameleons, Dragons and Swamp Things
Erik Childress and Peter Sobczynski take a quick peek into what is available to own on physical media this week. Criterion upgrades one of the late films from a master and Arbelos delivers and Peter looks at one of the first “Sundance caution tales” from the end of the ‘80s. Ida Lupino directs a ‘50s film about sexual assault and Virginie Efira becomes attached to her partner’s child. Then a pair of cult classics get the 4K treatment including Wes Craven’s comic monster movie and the quintessential Bruce Lee film.
Episode 404: May We Have Another Classic On Blu-Ray?
This week in physical media brings some classics to the 4K universe along with other must-owns for your collection. Peter Sobczynski joins Erik Childress to go over new collections spotlighting Walter Hill, Sidney J. Furie and Gene Hackman. One of Disney’s greatest animated titles gets the 4K upgrade as does classics with James Dean and John Wayne. A little seen coming-of-age film with a lot of up-and-comers gets a director’s cut as does a cult film from Clive Barker. Finally, one of the great modern horror films gets its first-ever Blu-ray overhaul; a rightfully deserved one and the duo can’t wait to tell you all about it.
Episode 403: Bakers, Butchers And Scare Makers
This week’s reviews with Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy feature nine reviews for your viewing consideration. Kiersey Clemons is an amateur sleuth trying to solve a kidnapping (Susie Searches) while Ellie Kemper goes on a hike for some reason (Happiness for Beginners). Two films that played the Chicago Critics Film Festival open including the latest from Christian Petzold (Afire) and the comic (and now tragic) story of transgender sex workers (Kokomo City). Nicolas Cage takes Joel Kinneman for a collateral ride (Sympathy for the Devil) and Ron Perlman is trying to avenge his son by making the mob lose their house (The Baker). A great cast tries to add to this year’s product launch cinema (The Beanie Bubble). Hopefully you ain’t afraid of no ghost because they look back at an acclaimed horror film from Sundance (Talk To Me) and Disney takes another shot at bringing their classic ride to the big screen (Haunted Mansion)
Episode 402: One False Move And "Now I Will Kill You"
This week in physical media, Erik Childress and Peter Sobczynski look at some classic genre fare, classics of the cult variety and some films still overlooked. They include films from Douglas Fairbanks, John Wayne and Howard Hughes. Harrison Ford’s screen debut can be found as can one of the better Mike Myers comedies and one of the films chosen for this year’s Chicago Critics Film Festival. For the cult crowd there is a foursome of Chucky films, two versions of a Stephen King adaptation and a cable staple from the late ‘80s. An early MST3K favorite gets a Blu-ray upgrade and even earlier music videos get themselves a collection. The discussion is bookended with a pair of must-own titles though including a sci-fi classic from the 1950s and the film which launched the great Bill Paxton into the next phase of his great career.
Episode 401: Barbie & Oppenheimer: A Weekend Of Celebration
Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy share in a weekend of greatness, even if some movies are not as great. They review seven this week including a look back at a deep dive doc from Sundance (The Deepest Breath) and another from the fest involving an expectant mother and her post-birth choices (Earth Mama). Neil LaBute puts Maggie Q up against some psychos (Fear the Night) while Lizzy Caplan’s son hears noises in the walls (Cobweb) and John Boyega comes to learn some disturbing things about his neighborhood (They Cloned Tyrone). But the weekend belongs to Greta Gerwig and Christopher Nolan whose films have been two of the most hyped releases of the year and they delivered a weekend for the ages. For all ages and everyone else.