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).

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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).

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.