Movie Madness

Erik Childress Erik Childress

Episode 660: You Ever Feel Like A Can Full Of Smashed Assholes?

Another full week in physical media captured by Erik Childress and Peter Sobczynski. Within they discuss the debut of director Lisa Cholodenko and the history of one of Erich von Stroheim’s final works as a filmmaker. Sidney Poitier plays a militant revolutionary and Lin Manuel Miranda’s historical musical are here. In the wake of Steven Spielberg’s Disclosure Day might we recommend Charlie Sheen solving an alien conspiracy. They talk about the film which may have been part of the last hurrah of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s run as a box office megastar. Finally one of the great atomic age monster movies and the third in George Romero’s zombie films round out the week.

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Erik Childress Erik Childress

Episode 659: The New Spielberg Is Out There

It may be a light week in quantity for Erik Childress & Steve Prokopy but it’s a heavy one in quality. Maybe not so much with the tale of young women encountering bad dudes on vacation (Find Your Friends). But there is also a documentary on a very notable band from the ‘80s (Boy George & Culture Club). If you want to get your action on, someone on the show believes it may be one of the best martial arts films you will ever see (The Furious). Finally, Steven Spielberg returns for his latest masterwork about otherworldly visitors and whether or not we’re ready (Disclosure Day).

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Erik Childress Erik Childress

Episode 658: Chubby Rain II: Neighbors & Aliens

Physical media has some upgraded gems this week so Erik Childress and Peter Sobczynski get into some appreciative conversation. They include a James Garner detective tale that may have been the precursor to The Rockford Files. The final film of Wes Craven’s career gets relitigated over its decade-long reevaluation. Christopher Walken delivers maybe the nuttiest performance of his career. Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant close out ‘90s rom-coms in style. Joe Dante and Tom Hanks take a skewer to suburban placation that may be even more relevant today. Steve Martin and Eddie Murphy are one of the great comic pairings ever in an all-timer Hollywood satire. Finally, on the eve of Disclosure Day, Steven Spielberg gets an 8-film box set. What would be in yours?

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Erik Childress Erik Childress

Episode 657: Good Journeys And Bad Ones To Remember In September

Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy dive into seven movies this week. They begin with the latest music documentary from Questlove (Earth, Wind & Fire: To Be Celestial vs. That's The Weight of the World). Creatures attack from the water this water including sharks (Chum) and hippos (Hungry). Jennifer Lopez stars with Brett Goldstein in a Netflix rom-com that may not be what you are expecting (Office Romance). Samara Weaving and Kyle Gallner are lovers and con artists on the road (Carolina Caroline). The Wayans return to their most successful franchise (Scary Movie). Finally, another Mattel toy line gets the modern big screen treatment and fans are in for a treat (Masters of the Universe)

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Erik Childress Erik Childress

Episode 656: Who Goes There?

The beginning of any month now seems like a light week for physical media, so Erik Childress and Peter Sobczynski only have a few titles to talk about. They include the magnificent starpower of Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn in a comically Hitchcockian caper. Jack Nicholson does much more than order in a diner. There’s an early LBGTQ film from William Friedkin and the financially successful but creatively bankrupt attempt at a live-action cartoon. Plus a new extensive documentary on John Carpenter’s 1982 horror masterpiece tells you everything you wanted to know and then some.

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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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