Six movies in theaters and on streaming are reviewed by Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy this week. They include a pair of documentaries about one of the greatest bands of all-time (The Beach Boys) and the death-defying pilots of the Air Force (The Blue Angels). The Monday-hating cat who loves lasagna gets the animated treatment (The Garfield Movie) and Jennifer Lopez tries to navigate both sides of the A.I. debate (Atlas). Then, quite simply, two of the best most enjoyable films begin their runs this week. In some theaters before it hits Netflix, Glen Powell stars in one of Richard Linklater’s best films (Hit Man) and George Miller returns to the apocalyptic wasteland to provide backstory to one of the greatest heroines of cinema (Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga). Tune in to hear why they are so worthy of your attention.

The latest and greatest of Blu-rays this week have Erik Childress and Peter Sobczynski disagreeing on the films of Joe Carnahan. There are two Val Kilmer projects; one certainly better than the other (though it did produce a great John Frankenheimer story) as well as some early horror from Bob Clark and a more recent one from Osgood Perkins getting an upgrade. One of David O. Russell’s best films gets the same 4K upgrade plus Peter talks all about Philo Vance, Bettie Page and Peter Bogdanovich reteaming with Cybill Shepherd.

Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy look at seven films this week. They include the latest directorial effort from Ethan Hawke (Wildcat) and the hilarious feature debut from Pamela Adlon (Babes). Horror gets a Danish sequel 30 years later (Nightwatch: Demons Are Forever) and Renny Harlin starts a new trilogy in the home invasion series (The Strangers: Chapter 1). Amy Winehouse gets the biopic treatment from the director of Fifty Shades of Grey (Back to Black). The duo catch up on the latest in the Apes franchise (Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes) and finally have a lot to say about John Krasinski’s baffling family film (IF).

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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).

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.