Movie Madness

Erik Childress & Steve Prokopy may tell you they are slacking this week with only eight movie reviews for you, but the swings are no less big. It’s an apocalyptic kind of week involving the third in an alien-bound series (Skylines), creatures from the world of gaming (Monster Hunter), a comet trying to bring an end to Gerard Butler and his family (Greenland) and a climate event that plagues poor George Clooney (The Midnight Sky). Perhaps most cataclysmic of all is the loss left by Chadwick Boseman as they look at his final on-screen appearance in an August Wilson adaptation (Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom). Then they conclude with a documentary following the connections between Islam and terrorism (The Last Sermon), watching Alicia Silverstone try to stop a wedding (Sister of the Groom) and the final chapter in Steve McQueen’s Small Axe series (Education). 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

The movie reviews continue with Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy and true to form they are reviewing another dozen new movies on this show. Included are documentaries covering the first wife of Johnny Cash (My Darling Vivian) and the women accused of a prominent North Korean murder (Assassins). Rachel Brosnahan is on the run in Julia Hart’s latest (I’m Your Woman) and everyone is in hiding in a COVID-23 thriller (Songbird). Jamie Dornan believes he is cursed to never be with Emily Blunt in John Patrick Shanley’s latest (Wild Mountain Thyme) and Joe Mangianello is a superhero cursed with a funny name (Archenemy). Steve takes a look at the fourth entry in Steve McQueen’s Small Axe series (Alex Wheatle) and the immigrant drama (Farewell Amor). Sienna Miller thinks she is dead (Wander Darkly) and, after five years, two Drew Barrymores return (The Stand-In). There are also two Meryl Streep films this week including the latest from Steven Soderbergh (Let Them All Talk) and Ryan Murphy’s adaptation of a short-lived

Before the pandemic began, Erik Childress and Sergio Mims recorded the first of their bi-annual Not-On-Blu-Ray shows for 2020. Well it is finally here which is more than we can say about all but one of the 20 films that have still not been released in the format some nine months later. Where are they? What is taking so long? Tune in and find out which fantasies and mysteries from the 1970s and ‘80s they have chosen. Which lauded film from Sundance is still not available? Oscar nominees, musicals, westerns and much more are still languishing on DVD while others are already moving on to 4K. Join the demand for these titles and stay tuned for another edition coming much sooner than later. 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

Two more glorious hours with Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy as they review another dozen movies for your consideration. They look at the latest in Steve McQueen’s Small Axe series (Red, White and Blue). Senses are diminished in a pair of films (Sound of Metal, Another Round) and wish they could have been dulled with the melodramatic horror of matrimony preparation (All My Life; Love, Weddings and Other Disasters). There is traditional horror in a remake (Castle Freak) and personal horror for Aubrey Plaza (Black Bear). Steve looks at the latest work with Andrea Riseborough (Luxor) and Erik checks out the documentary, Museum Town. They have a lot to say about the new Disney+ family film (Godmothered) and one (or both) may get actively choked up over Dear Santa. Finally, they offer their thoughts on the lauded Chloe Zhao/Frances McDormand collaboration, Nomadland. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit erikthemovieman.substack.c

We may not have a traditional holiday movie season post-Thanksgiving, but Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy still have reviews of ten new films you can see on streaming services. For families still venturing out into theaters they take a look at “The Croods: A New Age”. Another reluctant return to family is explored in Alan Ball’s “Uncle Frank” as well as the Bella Thorne starrer, “Girl.” We revisit a turning point in video games (“Insert Coin”), a period in the life, if not music (any music) of David Bowie (“Stardust”) and the entire life of another musician (“Zappa”). Steve delves into the corruption of Illinois politics (“Lincoln is Crying”) and Erik looks at the next chapter in Steve McQueen’s Small Axe series (“Lovers Rock”). Then there is also the Santa vs. Hitman action-comedy “Hitman” and they have some strong words for the latest collaboration of Melissa McCarthy and husband, Ben Falcone, in “Superintelligence.” This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get

As Black Friday approaches, Erik Childress & Sergio Mims return to offer some great Blu-rays to consider for your holiday shopping. Erik previews a brand new transfer of The Last Starfighter as well as a commentary he contributed for it. Pasts and presents collide with the original Mission: Impossible series and the updating of Robert Wise’s The Haunting for the ‘90s. The Flintstones and Bill & Ted may seem like relics but which have stood the test of time. Finally they have a blast talking about the early years of Saturday Night Live and why a pair of SCTV legends are finally getting their due.   Paramount (The Haunting, Roman Holiday, Mission Impossible: The Complete Series) Arrow (The Last Starfighter) Warner Bros. (The Libeled Lady, Pat and Mike. The Pirate, Drop Dead Gorgeous, The Flintstones: The Complete Series, Bill & Ted Face the Music) Time-Life (Saturday Night Live: The Best of the Early Years) Lions Gate (Schitt’s Creek: The Complete Series) This is a public episode. If you would like

Back-to-back movie review episodes. The last one had a dozen reviews. This one has a dozen reviews courtesy of Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy including Christmas offerings featuring Kurt Russell (“The Christmas Chronicles: Part Two”) and a galaxy far, far away (“The Lego Star Wars Holiday Special”). They look at five documentaries ranging from facial recognition tech (“Coded Bias”), the psychology of murder (“Crazy, Not Insane”), the making of a horror masterpiece (“Leap of Faith: William Friedkin on the Exorcist”) a healthcare mystery (“Collective”) and the one involving John F. Kennedy (“Truth is the Only Client”). They also talk about the beginning of Steve McQueen’s Small Axe series (“Mangrove”), Guy Pearce as a real-life art forger (“The Last Vermeer”), a pair of shuttered theatrical releases finding their home on Hulu (“Happiest Season”, “Run”) and they see if they can survive the Predator/Mortal Kombat mash-up featuring Nicolas Cage (“Jiu Jitsu”) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss

Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy are back for over two hours of uninterrupted conversation on new movies being released in theaters and on streaming this week. They cover documentaries about meteors (“Fireball”), deep sea diving (“Dave Not Coming Back”), climate change activism (“I Am Greta”) and the mystery of a woman searching for her dead child (“Where She Lies”). They go from “Jungleland” to “Dreamland” to Never Never Land (“Come Away”). Things get a little “Freaky” with Vince Vaughn and Kathryn Newton and a lot with Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan (“Ammonite”). Finally they listen to the grievances of “Echo Boomers” and those from Ron Howard’s “Hillbilly Elegy” but also delve into David Fincher’s prologue to one of the finest motion pictures ever made in “Mank.” 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

The film world lost one of its greatest moviestars last week and we have dedicated an entire episode to his career. Erik Childress and Sergio Mims each focus on five films that either cemented his legacy amongst generations or ones that all of them may want to revisit. From James Bond to Marko Ramius as well as Indiana Jones’ father and the iconic Chicago role that won him the Oscar, this is a fun trip down memory lane and will likely have you reaching for the nearest Blu-ray or streaming service searching for the name – Sean Connery. 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

It is movie review time once again and Steve Prokopy is back to join Erik Childress to talk about five new movies together and throws in a couple extra for you. They will discuss the latest theatrical release with Diane Lane and Kevin Costner (Let Him Go), a potential date with awards season for Sophia Loren (The Life Ahead), an emotional astronaut drama starring Eva Green (Proxima) and a pair of horror releases (Kindred, The Dark and the Wicked). Steve also lets you know about the latest from the director of The Autopsy of Jane Doe and Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (Mortal) and doubles down on the love for Frederick Wiseman’s four-and-a-half-hour Boston documentary, City Hall. 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

In the midst of film festivals shifting to online presentations this year, Erik Childress and Sergio Mims delve into Chicago’s addition of their annual October festival. While there are frustrations abound they turn to a good number of documentaries focusing on John Belushi and Stanley Kubrick as well as new ones from Spike Lee and Steve James’ latest on the city itself. Sergio also talks about City Hall, the new epic documentary from Frederick Wiseman, which has played a number of fests this season. 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

Another week of new movies are upon us and Erik Childress & Steve Prokopy reunite once again to bring you the latest for Halloween week. There’s a sequel to a 90’s cult classic and a documentary about one from the ‘80s. Is horror best in theaters this weekend with Come Play or available on streaming with His House and Spell? Then they turn to a couple of documentaries about the strength of school shooting survivors and one about a donut entrepreneur. 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

For over 20 years, Erik Childress joined Nick Digilio on WGN Radio to talk and review movies. After his show was unceremoniously canceled this September, the movie review segment that was a staple on Chicago radio went as well. But now, following up on requests from fans, Erik and Steve Prokopy return to keep its memory alive; a segment once populated with the likes of Christmas Movies Actually host, Collin Souter, for nearly two decades and even the Now Playing Network founder, Jim Laczkowski. It’s a longstanding tradition that the Movie Madness Podcast now hopes to resurrect and they have picked a week that includes the latest from Justin Benson & Aaron Moorhead, Robert Zemeckis, Sofia Coppola and, of course, they talk the return of Borat and get into Rudy Giuliani’s pants. Some great recommendations on this show and we hope to continue to bring you more. 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 & Sergio Mims continue to catch up on Blu-rays both domestic and international, though also find some time to talk about the effect of COVID on the box office. Sergio continues to celebrate Peppard-tober and digs into a collection of Christopher Lee’s Fu Manchu. Erik discusses why he was worried about revisiting Reversal of Fortune but no worries at all for watching Lynda Carter finally in Blu-ray. Then they wrap things up by going into the history of the Chinatown sequel and how it plays today.   Indicator (Britannia Hospital, Fu Manchu Collection) Warner Archive (Sergeant York. Reversal of Fortune, Wonder Woman: The Complete Series) Kino (PJ, The Groundstar Conspiracy, Joe Kidd) Criterion (Claudine) Paramount (The Two Jakes) 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

When the podcast is coming back its going to make time for the latest on Blu-ray and this show has some choice stuff. First, Erik Childress and Sergio Mims begin what is the start of a virtual George Peppard-tober. Some remastered Agatha Christie from Kino gets to the various adaptations of Ten Little Indians. Then there is plenty of new 4K releases including the love/hate relationship with a childhood favorite, one of Tim Burton’s first films and one of Stanley Kubrick’s last. But its all a windup for an extended discussion over Arrow’s incredible new 4K package of the one and only Flash Gordon.   Imprint (The Carpetbaggers, No Way To Treat a Lady) Kino (Breezy, The Raging Moon, Evil Under the Sun, Death on the Nile, Ten Little Indians, Pray for the Wildcats) Warner Bros. (The Goonies 4K, Beetlejuice 4K, Full Metal Jacket 4K) Arrow (Flash Gordon 4K) 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

The world may have stopped but film festivals continue to go on. For the first time since 2004, Erik Childress did not travel into Canada for the Toronto Film Festival, but he did attend at home – virtually. Just one of many festivals he is currently coveing, but as always him and Sergio Mims put this into audio for you discussing the highlights and lowlights of this year’s stay-at-home festival. Hear all about a couple potential award players (Nomadland, One Night in Miami), some interesting documentaries (MLK/FBI, Enemies of the State, The Way I See It) and what happens when Mark Wahlberg makes “a departure.”   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

It’s been a long-time coming through a pandemic and various other obstacles but Erik Childress and Sergio Mims return with to offer their thoughts on the untimely passing of Chadwick Boseman. They also returned to movie theaters momentarily to experience what was supposed to be one of the biggest movies of the year, or at least the summer, or at least the first out of the gate during the 2020 health crisis. Was it any of these things or was this a step backwards for Christopher Nolan? 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

The first of our post-lockdown shows brings some suggestions for your indoor binging. Erik debates Sergio Mims on the awards-season trend that Sam Mendes’ 1917 became the latest victim of. They also talk about a sequel ten years too late and extract the best parts out of the Mr. Rogers film. Sergio talks about how Richard Jewell got him kicked off Twitter and Erik talks about one horror film that really caught him off guard and another that does not deserve the honor of being placed amongst the bad film legends.   Indicator (Night Tide) Universal (1917) Sony (Zombieland: Double Tap, Pain & Glory, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood) Arrow (The Black Angel, Kansas City) Warner Bros. (The Stalking Moon, Doctor Sleep, Motherless Brooklyn, Richard Jewell) Cleopatra (Verotika) 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

Our third guest, Ian Simmons from Kicking the Seat, joins us to offer his ten selection for the time capsule of the past decade. Amongst entering an Oscar winner, a franchise favorite and a film fresh from 2019, choices are made that revive the age-old debate of art vs. the artist and how simply canceling them cancels the discussion. Then Erik Childress adds his own pick for a film that may be even more important today given where the country stands divided. 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

A lot of collections highlight the latest in Blu-rays starting with the release of Tex Avery’s classic cartoons. Erik Childress and Sergio Mims talk about the Beverly Hills Cop trilogy and look at a pair of films featured at last year’s Chicago Critics Film Festival now available from Shout Factory. Erik goes off on the latest Terminator but offers high praise on another new 4K release from Paramount. Then they wrap things up by looking at a stretch of Spike Lee’s career in a bunch of brand new releases from Kino amongst others.   Warner Archive (Tex Avery Screwball Classics Vol. 1) Shout Factory (My Bloody Valentine, Body Parts, Greener Grass, The Nightingale) Paramount (Gemini Man, Terminator: Dark Fate, Shutter Island, The Hunt for Red October, Beverly Hills Cop 3-Film Collection) Kino (Light at the Edge of the World, The Day of the Dolphin, The Oscar, Crooklyn, Mo Better Blues, Jungle Fever, Clockers, Summer of Sam) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get