Movie Madness

Erik Childress Erik Childress

Episode 655: Do You Hear What I Hear?

Ending May on a high note (at least in number of reviews) Erik Childress & Steve Prokopy cover 11 films for you this week. Steve looks at a documentary about an autistic dancer exploring her new diagnosis through her art (Room to Move), as well as a mother haunted by postpartum depression (Nesting). Erik took a little time to see John Travolta’s directing debut adapting his children’s book about airplanes (Propeller One-Way Night Coach). There is also the latest collaboration between Mads Mikkelsen & Anders Thomas Jensen (The Last Viking) and a WWII film about the weather forecast for D-Day (Pressure). Katie Aselton explores grieving a traumatic loss (Magic Hour) while a mother discovers her son sent his assistant to do the same after losing her husband (Miss You, Love You). A gifted pianist-turned-piano-repairman uses his unique talent for crime (Tuner) while Paul Rudd’s songwriter has one stolen by Nick Jonas in the latest from John Carney (Power Ballad). “Clean comic” Nate Bargatze makes his big-screen debut in a Mr. Mom riff (The Breadwinner) and 20 year-old Kane Parsons may have made the next horror film everyone will be talking about (Backrooms).

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Erik Childress Erik Childress

Episode 654: Nice Goin’, Kid!

Physical media fans from the 1980s will have a lot to rejoice upon this week (if you still carry a fondness for certain films of your youth) but Erik Childress and Peter Sobczynski have plenty from various decades to add to your library this week. They include Bob Fosse’s take on a free speech icon and the recent Academy Award winner for Best International Feature. Robert Wise’s legendary haunted house film and a collection of classic cartoons. There is early work from Brian DePalma plus Art Carney as a private eye and Tony Randall in six roles. Plus, Peter finally caught up with Harry Hole. But for the nostalgia fans there is also the complete set of Sylvester Stallone’s troubled war hero and Kevin Costner as the famed robber of the rich. John Lithgow adopts Bigfoot, Dan Aykroyd invades John Candy’s vacation and Ron Howard delivers one of the quintessential comedies about family and parenting. Horror fans can take another New Years train ride with Jamie Lee Curtis or finally watch the “real” scenes of death your parents or video store may not have let you or lent you. Finally, a look at Joe Dante’s Gremlins follow-up that 40+ years later still delights and still seeks a bigger audience.

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Erik Childress Erik Childress

Episode 653: This Is Not The Way

Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy have seven movie reviews for you this week. They include a scientist’s connection to a tree (Silent Friend) and a woman discovering the horrifying truth of a new diet pill (Saccharine). Sacha Baron Cohen wakes up in a world run by women (Ladies First) and Boots Riley puts shoplifters against the fashion industry (I Love Boosters). André Øvredal gives us the horror film version of Lost In America when “van life” meets a demonic entity (Passenger). John Krasinski’s Tom Clancy series returns with a stand-alone film (Jack Ryan: Ghost War) as does the world of Star Wars with its two breakout characters from the small screen (The Mandalorian and Grogu).

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Erik Childress Erik Childress

Episode 652: Life Is On The Wire. Everything Else Is Just Waiting.

Erik Childress and Peter Sobczynski take you through another week of physical media starting with Lawrence Kasdan’s sexy directorial debut getting an upgrade. Peter discovers a 1932 crime drama worthy of a blind buy. Hollywood is front and center in films from Peter Bogdanovich and Martin Ritt. Two of the best teenage films of the 21st century are here ranging from cheerleading to lycanthropy. Provocateurs get in front of a microphone in films from Oliver Stone and Adam Rifkin. They also take a look back at two box office misfires from major filmmakers including Robert Zemeckis’ breathtaking version on Man On Wire and the Wachowski’s Matrix follow-up that has developed quite the following over the years.

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Erik Childress Erik Childress

Episode 651: Wish In One Hand And OH SHIT In The Other

Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy return from the Chicago Critics Film Festival with nine new reviews this week including a string of documentaries. Steve looks at a partnership designed to bring some care back to healthcare (The Chaplain & The Doctor) and actor Ben Mackenzie laying waste to the scam of crypto (Everyone Is Lying To You for Money). Erik looks at a tragic 2022 accident that may not have been an accident (The Crash) and Steve joins in on the life and career of a comedy legend (Marty, Life Is Short). The guy behind the guy that is Vladimir Putin is examined in a new film by Oliver Assayas (The Wizard of the Kremlin) and a middle-aged mouse believes the corporate-driven world he lives in is not what it seems (Decorado). Two sisters go on a revenge trip against the father who scarred them (Is God Is) and a pair of mercenaries plot to extract a power broker in the latest film from Guy Richie (In the Grey). Finally, a guy tries to get his best friend to love him and it may not go as you might expect (Obsession).

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Erik Childress Erik Childress

Episode 650: Yes Virginia, You Can Loop A Chopper

Erik Childress and Peter Sobczynski were off last week at the Chicago Critics Film Festival but return to catch you up on the world of physical media. There are serial killers played by Matt Dillon and another stopped by Charles Bronson. Criterion puts out more Kurosawa and there’s a documentary on George Stevens as well. A Disney animated film from the ‘50s gets the upgrade as does a sci-fi film from the era. A comedy classic and one of the great baseball films celebrate their 15th anniversaries. The pair look back at the lasting power of David Fincher’s adaptation of male insecurity and culminate with one of the great action films of the 1980s and the TV series it spawned in its wake.

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Erik Childress Erik Childress

Episode 649: You’re Not Writing That, Are You?

Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy will be at the Music Box Theatre handling the Chicago Critics Film Festival this week, but they managed to squeeze in seven reviews for movies you can see (after you attend the fest.) They include the latest from RZA behind the camera (One Spoon of Chocolate). Erik looks at a family on a road trip after behind evicted (Omaha) and another family with a troubled son seen through the eyes of their daughter (Blue Heron). Steve sees Adam Scott haunted by old secrets and possibly a witch (Hokum). Andy Serkis does a new animated adaptation of George Orwell’s other classic (Animal Farm). Renny Harlin returns to planes and sharks (Deep Water) and the whole team returns to the journalistic side of fashion (The Devil Wears Prada 2).

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Episode 648: You See Outlaw Josey Wales? What a Flick!

A lot of collections this week in physical media which Erik Childress & Peter Sobczynski guide you through again. They include a trio of films from John Singleton as well as the works of Jess Franco and the weird legacy of one Andy Milligan. There are also films from Lucio Fulci and Olivier Assayas. Nancy Meyers figures in twice in the conversation including a title from our most recent Why Is This Not On Blu-ray show (WE GOT ONE!). We’ve also got Abbott, Costello and DeVito and how a Paul W.S. Anderson figures into the early part of Erik’s career. But if you haven’t seen this week’s Joe Dante title or shown it to the loved ones in your life, do yourself a favor.

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Erik Childress Erik Childress

Episode 647: If You Believe, Clap Your Hands!

There’s no slowing down this week on the show as Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy have nine reviews for you. They include a documentary on a female punk band (Pretty Ugly: The Story of the Lunachicks) and the Tourettes film that the BAFTAs just loved (I Swear). A woman on holiday decides if she wants to hook up with Charli XCX again (Erupcja), Anthony Mackie fights for the women of Arabia (Desert Warrior) and Aaron Taylor-Johnson must deal with a WWII bomb found in London (Fuze). Charlize Theron is hunted through the wilderness by Taron Egerton (Apex) while Jason Segel & Samara Weaving’s plans to kill each other get interrupted (Over Your Dead Body). Anne Hathaway’s singer needs a dress in the new film from David Lowery (Mother Mary) and the King of Pop gets part of a biopic from Antoine Fuqua and the Jackson estate (Michael).

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Erik Childress Erik Childress

Episode 646: Makin’ Stone Cold Whoopee For $93,000

It’s another week of physical media and Erik Childress is joined again by Peter Sobczynski to take you through a selection of Universal classics featuring W.C. Fields. There is also an all-star cast crime-and-court film, Johnny Depp as a book detective and even some original J-horror. There is also Lee Marvin defining the role of Donald Westlake’s anti-hero Parker, Michelle Pfeiffer, the Bridges brothers and a couple pianos and, of all things, the signature Brian Bosworth action film.

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