Movie Madness

The first batch of movie reviews for 2023 from Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy arrives with quite the show. 14 reviews in all ranging from some late acclaimed 2022 catch-ups from the international scene (Broker, Saint Omer) and another mystery with Edgar Allan Poe as a participant (The Pale Blue Eye). Erik describes what could be the nuttiest plotline of the new year (The Devil Conspiracy) and Steve looks at a new horror film drawing both ecstatic praise and hatred (Skinamarink). Speaking of the Blair Witch, Joshua Leonard co-writes and co-stars in a comedy about baby mishandling (The Drop) and Gillian Jacobs takes on multiple roles in an anthology from various filmmakers (The Seven Faces of Jane). Stephen Dorff and Emile Hirsch are thieves who didn’t get the memo about farmhouses in horror movies (The Price We Pay) and Nicolas Cage is out for revenge in his first released western (The Old Way). The horror continues as the duo look at sex workers and religious extremism (Candy Land), the conflicting screenpl

The first Blu-ray show of 2023 with Erik Childress and Peter Sobczynski brings about a variety of age-old classics to films fresh out of theaters. In-between there are films with early work from Joan Crawford, Matt Damon, Brendan Fraser, Diane Lane and Laura Dern. TV episodes are turned into movies, the bullied let their tormentors be setup for murder and Sonny Chiba is an executioner. Brandi Carlile gets an assist in bringing Tanya Tucker back to the mainstream and then there is a trio of exemplary 4K releases including one from Criterion and Terry Gilliam, a modern classic from Bill Murray and Harold Ramis and an upgrade for one of the best science-fiction films from the 1950s.   0:58 - Criterion (Imitation of Life, The Adventures of Baron Munchausen 4K) 12:03 - Arrow (The Dunwich Horror, The Executioner Collection) 18:23 - Magnolia (Piggy) 21:58 - Cohen Media (The Gang of Four) 24:35 - Imprint (City of God, School Ties, Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains) 40:54 - Kino (Sergeant Ryker, Warning Shot)

For the year-end show spotlighting their choices for the best films of 2022, Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy are joined by Collin Souter from the Christmas Movies Actually podcast to offer his selections as well. It was a year where the funny often came with the sad. A transition period through the pandemic where filmmakers were forced to adjust or find new commentary on a society that has drifted into disharmony where friends are lost and accountability is right around the corner. Only a few films made all three of their top 15 lists and there was only a single direct match in placement between any of them, so get out your writing pads and warm up those streaming queues because the trio are here to help you fill them up. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit erikthemovieman.substack.com

Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy have done one final review show for 2022 and close it out with some biggies. It was quite a year for documentaries and they finish with four new ones including the story of a natural disaster tragedy (The Volcano: Rescue From Whakaari), the face of the Psychic Readers Network (Call Me Miss Cleo), a relationship between author and editor (Turn Every Page – The Adventures of Robert Caro and Robert Gottlieb) and Laura Poitras’ new film on artist and activist Nan Goldin (All The Beauty and the Bloodshed). The pair revisit their Sundance review of the remake of Ikiru with Bill Nighy (Living) and Olivia Colman takes an unexpected trip with a kid (Joyride). Rebel Wilson deals with a traumatic brain injury (The Almond And The Seahorse), Hugh Jackman deals with a depressed teenager (The Son) and director Alejandro G. Inarritu deals with his own career (Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths). Antonio Banderas returns as the swashbuckling kitty (Puss in Boots: The Last Wish), Dam

Peter Sobczynski joins Erik Childress to close out the Blu-ray & DVD book for 2022 with a number of new titles for your Christmas lists. They include Criterion editions of a Todd Haynes music doc and the Chicago-set inspiration for a memorable TV show. A lot of horror for the holidays recently in theaters along with women warriors and a singing crocodile. Peter looks at a misguided gang film starring, well, you’ll find out. Sony releases a David Cronenberg film in time for its 20th anniversary along with a 4K edition of a terrific Julia Roberts anti-rom-com. There is more 4K involving immortals, a subway robbery, Bruce Dern in space, Laika, a great Paul Newman title, the film that scared the hell out of Erik in the ‘80s and the classic from the ‘70s that continues to shock people to this day. That along with one of the best films of the year, HBO titles you should grab before they are removed from their streaming service and a lot more to keep you busy until 2023. 0:00 - Intro 1:30 - Criterion (Velvet Und

On the penultimate review episode of 2022, Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy look at nine new movies. They include documentaries about the theater after Covid (Broadway Rising) and the life of Al Sharpton (Loudmouth). Someone made a bloody horror film about The Grinch (The Mean One) and another Oscar-winning director again tries to turn a wooden boy into a good boy (Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio). Lea Seydoux has to juggle an affair and her ailing father (One Fine Morning) while Jim Parsons must tend to his dying partner (Spoiler Alert). Sam Mendes takes us into the life of a movie theater employee (Empire of Light), a donkey sees the good and bad in people (EO) as does Brendan Fraser in Darren Aronofsky’s divisive new film (The Whale). 0:00 – Intro 1:37 - Broadway Rising 9:24 – Loudmouth 16:41 – One Fine Morning 25:23 – Spoiler Alert 32:15 – Empire of Light 41:40 – The Mean One 48:06 – Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio 1:03:31 – EO 1:09:23 - The Whale 1:25:23 - Outro This is a public episode. If you would like

Things get weird on the show this week with a vast array of new Blu-rays to talk about. Peter Sobczynski joins Erik Childress again to talk perfect films for the holiday by Bob Clark and Michael Haneke? Things get meta with both Kevin Smith and Nicolas Cage. New Tarantino in 4K and Walter Hill as well gives Peter an opportunity to talk about how he first encountered Roger Ebert. Erik gets to discuss his connection to Dawson’s Creek and you also get a pair of cult comedy classics and a pair of box office bombs in 4K; one of which Peter goes to bat for. Nick Nolte pops up a couple of times, Jack Lemmon wins an Oscar, a family tries to survive a nuclear holocaust and we go from a 50 foot woman to a 12 year old Brooke Shields living in a brothel. 1:17 - Criterion (Haneke Trilogy) 5:05 - Shout Factory (Black Christmas 4K) 12:14 - Paramount (48 Hrs/Another 48 Hrs 4K, The Warriors Steelbook, Pulp Fiction 4K, Better Off Dead Steelbook, Tommy Boy Steelbook) 36:28 - Warner Archive (Attack of the 50 ft Woman, Night of t

Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy have eight reviews for you to kick off the final month of 2022. They begin with an author recalling his activist patriarch (Memories Of My Father) and Robert Downey Jr. paying tribute to the indie cinema legend that he grew up with as well (Sr.) The director of Jakob’s Wife is back with a twisted serial killer trip (A Wounded Fawn) and there is a new adaptation of the infamous D.H. Lawrence novel (Lady Chatterley’s Lover). Can Will Smith find an audience on Apple+ with an Antoine Fuqua slave drama (Emancipation) and will Tilda Swinton find answers from the past as mother and daughter in a ghost story from Joanna Hogg (The Eternal Daughter). Noah Baumbach attempts to film the unfilmable Don DeLillo novel (White Noise) and the director of the Dead Snow movies tries to thrust Santa Claus into the Die Hard universe (Violent Night) 0:00 - Intro 3:20 - Memories Of My Father 8:38 - Sr. 20:39 – A Wounded Fawn 32:25 - Lady Chatterley's Lover 40:19 - Emancipation 53:43 – The Eternal Dau

Peter Sobczynski returns to look at this week’s editions to the physical media calendar with Erik Childress. There’s a film that played at their Chicago Critics Film Festival this year and the one that beat out Reservoir Dogs at Sundance. Kirk Douglas as a detective and Esther Williams out of water. A pair of gory horror entries from Vinegar Syndrome about a guy killing Santa Clauses and a new 4K edition of an infamous horror sequel. Not even a Train To Busan is more horrific than the Charles Bronson film they take a look at. But there are also brand new editions of an often overlooked Jeff Bridges film and one starring Isabelle Huppert. Finally, Peter weighs in on Don’t Worry Darling and has an offer for a new idea for Paramount Plus that they really should not refuse. 0:00 - Intro 1:15 - Cohen Media Group (Entre Nous) 3:22 - Kino (Detective Story, The Unguarded Moment) 12:21 - Vertical (Emily the Criminal) 17:09 - Fun City (Cutters Way) 23:19 - Shout Factory (The Evil that Men Do, R Xmas) 36:50 - Vinegar (D

On this holiday week edition, Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy look at the films in theaters (if briefly) for Thanksgiving. One that you can catch on Shudder is Noan Segan’s Paper Moon-like vampire tale (Blood Relatives), then you can go to theaters if you choose to see Luca Guadagino’s tale of young love and cannibalism (Bones and All). If you don’t want to wait for Amazon Prime, check out this year’s Sundance Grand Jury Prize Winner (Nanny) and if you can’t wait a month for Netflix, get out to see the exclusive one-week release of Rian Johnson’s sequel to Knives Out (Glass Onion). Elegance Bratton tells an autobiographical tale of a gay black man joining the Marines (The Inspection) and J.D. Dillard has the story of the first black pilot during the Korean War (Devotion). Steve takes a look at Disney’s animated sci-fi offering for families (Strange World) and the pair conclude with a dive into Steven Spielberg’s long-awaited origin story (The Fabelmans). 0:00 - Intro 1:50 - Blood Relatives 8:55 - The Inspect

It’s the Blu-ray time of the week and Peter Sobczynski joins Erik Childress again to talk a whole bunch of 4Ks for your Black Friday shopping. Take advantage of the Barnes and Noble Criterion sale to grab one of the best films from Pixar and one of the best from Spike Lee. Shout Factory has new editions of genre cult classics from Neil Jordan and Norman Jewison while Vinegar syndrome delivers a 4K of maybe the ultimate cult film. Kino has another Eastwood in 4K and a comic book parody before the Marvel onslaught. Erik goes to bat for James Gunn’s spinoff from The Suicide Squad and talks of the curse that prevented his dad from seeing Pearl Harbor prevented in a movie. They talk more Bob Clark, an immense set from Sony Classics and the origins of Martin & Lewis. Finally they discuss one of the best comedies of the year and a new 4K of one of the best comedies of the 1980s. 0:00 - Intro 1:22 - Criterion (Wall E 4K, Malcolm X 4K) 13:27 - Vinegar (RoadHouse 4K) 19:01 - Shout Factory (The Company of Wolves 4K.

Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy are back on the movie review beat with nine new titles this week. On the Disney Plus front Steve looks at a new doc on an animated icon (Mickey: The Story of a Mouse) and Erik checks out a sequel 15 years in the making (Disenchanted). Russell Crowe directs a film not about poker (Poker Face) and Frank Grillo stars in a film that is barely about a car (Lamborghini: The Man Behind The Legend). Steve looks at the new pandemic-era film from Andrew Bujalski (There There) and the pair have a lot to say about Jonah Hill’s documentary about his therapist (Stutz). Florence Pugh tries to solve the mystery of a girl who doesn’t want to eat (The Wonder) and Ralph Fiennes serves a full course of terror to a group of foodies (The Menu). Finally, Erik and Steve conclude with a vehement disagreement over the merits of a film detailing the uncovering of Harvey Weinstein’s crimes (She Said). 0:00 - Intro 1:36 - Mickey: The Story of a Mouse 10:43 - Disenchanted 21:37 - There There 27:19 - Poker

Sergio Mims and Erik Childress discussed DVDs and Blu-rays for two decades on the radio and on this podcast. To honor his recent untimely passing, we wanted to continue this tradition and shine a light on the world of physical media that he was so passionate in preserving. For that, Erik is joined by Peter Sobczynski of RogerEbert.com to once again bring you all the latest and greatest for your home collection and holiday shopping needs. They talk a number of new 4K releases including an early film from Robert Zemeckis with possibly the greatest commentary track ever, Quentin Tarantino’s debut, late Don Siegel, Elvis’ return from the Army, one of the greatest films ever made and a foursome from Warner Bros. modern Christmas archive. There is also a colorful alien musical, new films from George Miller, Ti West and Claire Denis and the inspiration for a film that teamed Keanu Reeves and Ana De Armas 0:00 - Intro 3:05 - Shout Factory (Used Cars) 7:50 - Lionsgate (Reservoir Dogs, Pearl, Earth Girls Are Easy (Vest

Erik Childress & Steve Prokopy have five movie reviews for you this week. A little calm before the end-of-the-year storm. They include one with a pair of acting legends, Dustin Hoffman and Sissy Spacek, paired with their acting children (Sam & Kate) and a documentary from Elvis Mitchell on the history of black film (Is That Black Enough For You?)  Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds team up for a new musical take on Dickens’ A Christmas Carol (Spirited) and a feature debut from filmmaker Charlotte Wells has been blowing away critics left and right. That continues with Erik & Steve (Aftersun). Finally, Erik chimed in on a lot of thoughts with Erik Laws on the previous episode but Steve gets his chance to weigh in on Marvel’s attempt to carry on without their fallen star (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever). 0:00 - Intro 1:33 – Sam & Kate 10:51 – Is That Black Enough For You? 25:15 – Spirited 41:18 - Aftersun 52:50 - Black Panther: Wakanda Forever 1:11:42 - Outro This is a public episode. If you would li

Comic book expert Erik Laws is back with Erik Childress to discuss the bittersweet return to the land of Wakanda. Unfortunately, that return is more bitter than sweet as they talk about the numerous missed opportunities in trying to eulogize its fallen star, Chadwick Boseman, and the scurry of Shuri to ultimately replace him. Marvel may have finally found themselves with the opportunity to elevate its female heroes to the forefront only to see them pulling their gut-punches and losing ground to its new male villain and a real questionable decision in the T’Challa line of succession. All this after setting audiences on just the right path and then getting lost in one anti-climactic narrative after another. Hear more about the origins of Namor and thoughts on what genre Marvel could have used to honor this sequel and end this Phase on a high note rather than a sour one. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit erikthemovieman.subst

The weekly movie reviews hit the dozen mark again with Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy. They remind you of this year’s Sundance entry from indie sci-fi masters Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead (Something In The Dirt). Eva Green is either going nuts or has a very bad nanny (Nocebo) and Andrea Riseborough stars in a film that may get itself compared to Rocky Horror (Please Baby Please). The pair wade through a couple of thrillers that reset themselves including a noir wannabe (The Minute You Wake Up Dead) and Mel Gibson in a Phone Booth situation in a radio station (On The Line). Steve has words for James Gray’s new film (Armageddon Time) and the duo have lovely words for a documentary about the Mars Rover mission (Good Night Oppy). Funny women headline a pair of comedies including Toni Collette & Anna Faris in a Greedy-esque tale of will hunting (The Estate) and Jillian Bell & Natalie Morales star in a tale about friendship, regret and aliens (I’m Totally Fine). Millie Bobbie Brown returns as the sist

Sergio Mims, our noted film scholar and friend, was well on his way to becoming “King Commentary” with all his official contributions to Blu-rays for Kino, Vinegar Syndrome and others. During the pandemic at the peak of lockdown, Collin Souter of Christmas Movies Actually, suggested that our good friend record one for Disney’s controversial 1940 film, Song of the South. Sergio did not hesitate and delivered something for his friends. Some of them are here to again pay brief tribute to the man who was a regular part of the Movie Madness podcast. Erik Childress is joined by both Collin and the Director’s Club host, Jim Laczkowski, to introduce this track that can now be experienced by everyone. Whether you have a version of the film to sync up with or not it doesn’t matter, because you can just sit back and soak in the words of a film lover who left us way too soon. 0:00 – A Tribute To Sergio Mims by Erik Childress, Jim Laczkowski & Collin Souter 16:43 – Instructions To Cue Up Commentary 17:36 – Song Of The

Erik Childress & Steve Prokopy play a little catch-up this week on some films that have been playing in limited release. One film they suggest you don’t catch up on from Sundance (Call Jane) still gives rise to another that you absolutely should. Among the rest Steve looks at a new documentary on the famous trumpeter (Louis Armstrong’s Black & Blues) and the focus on the mother of an infamously murdered child in Chicago (Till). On Netflix they look at Henry Selick’s stop-motion underworld and his team-up with Key & Peele as Wendell & Wild and another grueling adaptation of a twice-made WWI novel (All Quiet On The Western Front). Finally they discuss two of the best films of the year with Martin McDonagh’s reunion with Colin Farrell & Brendan Gleeson (The Banshees of Inisherin) and Todd Field’s return to directing with Cate Blanchett (Tár)   0:00 - Intro 1:37 - Call Jane 13:41 - Till 23:19 - Wendell & Wild 34:54 - Louis Armstrong’s Black & Blues 40:45 - All Quiet on the Western Fron

After a week off, Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy return to bring you their thoughts on the latest in theaters and on streaming and catch up on at least one film from the break. Another catch up is on their review of another great music doc that they recommended from SXSW this year (The Return of Tanya Tucker – Featuring Brandi Carlile). The horror anthology series returns (V/H/S/99) and Jessica Chastain has to stop Eddie Redmayne’s reign of hospital terror in a true-life tale (The Good Nurse). Ewan McGregor and Ethan Hawke are half-brothers reuniting to bury their terrible father (Raymond & Ray) and Harry Styles tries to ruin another woman’s life (My Policeman). Laurie Strode’s life could not possibly be more ruined except by appearing in one more film (Halloween Ends) and Julia Roberts tries to ruin another wedding, this time with George Clooney (Ticket To Paradise). Finally, DC gives it another go but Dwayne Johnson is no hero (Black Adam). 0:00 - Intro 3:38 - The Return of Tanya Tucker - Featuring Br

October continues with horror both real and imagined this week as Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy review eight new movies. They include a reminder of Andrea Riseborough’s stirring portrayal of the road to alcoholic recovery (To Leslie) and Mila Kunis’ far less stirring turn as a survivor of multiple traumas (Luckiest Girl Alive). Shawn Mendes is the voice of a singing croc (Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile) and Ruben Ostlund skewers the voices of the nouveau riche in his Palme d’or winning satire (Triangle of Sadness). Donald Sutherland and his iPhone grant revenge in a new Stephen King film that is horror adjacent (Mr. Harrigan’s Phone) and Art the Clown is back (yet new to Erik) in a blood-drenched sequel (Terrifier 2). Also returning are the Cenobites in a new reimagining from David Bruckner (Hellraiser) and another David (O. Russell) tries out an ensemble comic mystery to warn of impending worldwide horror (Amsterdam). Erik and Steve also pay tribute to the loss of their friend and Movie Madness regular, Sergio Mim