Movie Madness

It was Erik Childress’ 17th year attending the Sundance Film Festival and he saw 30 films Tune in to hear him tell you about the best, the worst and a bunch in-between. Along the way he reveals a favorite encounter he had with one of the fest volunteers and discusses with Sergio Mims the controversy over a certain banned blogger and his failed attempts to get reinstated. Plus, a special interview by Sergio Mims of Academy Award winning director, Barry Jenkins, about his latest work, the great If Beale Street Could Talk. 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 Sergio Mims bring you the first NEW Blu-ray show of 2019 as they take you through the inspiration for Martin Scorsese’s Hugo, some icky obsessions courtesy of Shout Factory and catch up on some titles from Twilight Time. They also discuss the 25th Anniversary of Schindler’s List, their muted thoughts on a Billy Wilder classic and then get into angry detail at how Damien Chazelle’s First Man was screwed by its studio, audiences, awards and politicians alike. But first, the box office returns to Movie Madness and Erik takes you through the beginning of some new angles on how to look at the numbers.   Indicator (RPM) Flicker Alley (Georges Melies: Fairy Tales In Color) Warner Archive (The Prize) Criterion (Some Like It Hot) Shout Factory (The Plague of the Zombies, 10 To Midnight, Obsession) Twilight Time (Oklahoma Crude, The True Story of Jesse James, Anne of a Thousand Days) Universal (Schindler’s List 4K, Halloween, First Man)   This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this wi

Before Erik Childress and Sergio Mims get to films you CAN get on Blu-ray FOR 2019 they continue their ongoing crusade to get films out that are still not available yet in the format. Sergio has some classic releases you may not be aware of. Erik has some more modern titles from major filmmakers that are yet to be released in the format they deserve including one major television title. They also call out studios for choosing not to release Blu-ray versions of recent critically-acclaimed award winners. They run down nearly 20 titles and throw out some others for good measure. Will we see them finally in 2019? Previous Chapters: http://www.nowplayingnetwork.net/moviemadness/episode80 http://www.nowplayingnetwork.net/moviemadness/episodes108109 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 podcast of 2019 is an overview of the awards season with Erik Childress. He takes you back to the pre-Thanksgiving conversation with Sergio Mims as they did some extremely early prognostication. Then he brings you back to the days before the Oscar nominations to present analysis of who is still in the running and who is likely to get nominated. Tune in for his full predictions for this year’s Oscars. 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

On the final show of 2018 Erik Childress and Sergio Mims want to make sure you have not overlooked anything on your cinematic shopping list for Christmas (and after.) A bunch of great cult titles and TV shows from Mill Creek, THE best action film of the year, an overlooked gem from the Chicago Critics Film Festival and Sergio’s candidate for one of the Blu-ray releases of the year. Plus we talk some Criterion, a little Kino including a derided film they believe is worth another look, and what would a Blu-ray show be without some classic comedy, sci-fi and horror from the great Shout Factory.   Mill Creek (Happy Birthday to Me, Krull, Last Action Hero, Silent Rage, Who’s Harry Crumb?, Hardbodies, Nightwing, Shadow of the Hawk, Age of Consent, Cactus Flower, Benji’s Very Own Christmas Story, Benji: Off the Leash) Paramount (Mission Impossible Fallout 4K) Magnolia (Support the Girls) Criterion (A Dry White Season, Forty Guns) Redwind (Sunshine) Shout Factory (The Jerk, Starman, Dracula Prince of Darkness, The Ma

Just two episodes ago Erik Childress and comic book expert Erik Laws were delighted talking about the surprise that Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse was. Now it is DC’s turn in the spotlight and, boy, things are not nearly as delightful. More like disappointment and disgust as you will hear as their discussion goes from dismay to shock to outright anger. Everything from its Arthurian roots to ‘80s film homages get the business here as they breakdown how DC got it so very wrong once again. 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

We’re clearing out the year-end releases and telling you about a lot of our favorites if you’re still stuck for Christmas ideas for the movie lovers in your family. There’s a little Capra and a lot of critters, creepy roommates and creepier moms, a racist congressman, Spike Lee’s KKK and a Coen Bros. 4K. Plus we have a title we can scratch off our Not-On-Blu-Ray show, an underrated remake and a really special release paying full tribute to a comic legend.   Kino (D.O.A.) Arbelos Films (The Last Movie) Indicator (The Wrong Box) Olive (Mr. Capra Goes To War) Time-Life (Robin Williams: Comic Genius) Disney (Incredibles 2, Pixar Shorts Collection Vol. 3) Universal (Papillon, BlacKkKlansman, The Big Lebowski 4K. Christmas Classics) Shout Factory (Single White Female, Sleepwalkers, Valley Girl, Candyman, Urban Legend, Urban Legends: Final Cut, The Critters Collection) Parramount (MacGyver, Who Is America) Grindhouse Releasing (The Big Gundown)   This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other

Did we really need another version of the Spider-Man story? The skepticism was high with host Erik Childress but he is joined by comic book expert Erik Laws to discuss what turns out to be one of the biggest surprises of the year. They discuss the various incarnations of the Spider-Man mythos on display in the film, the array of animation styles employed and are generally giddy about its place the current comic book film evolution. 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

Sergio Mims returns to help guide us through a swath of new Blu-rays. Along with Erik Childress they take sides in the Blindspotting vs. Sorry to Bother You debate. The evolution of the Rambo Trilogy is discussed as well as appreciation for Terry Gilliam and the new 4K edition of Superman. From their appreciation of the awfulness of Maximum Overdrive to the respect of The Day of the Jackal, the duo also get into other films of the 70s and the chicken-and-the-egg factor that drives Hollywood to make films for adults.   Lionsgate (Blindspotting, Rambo Trilogy, Maximum Overdrive, The Spy Who Dumped Me, Juliet Naked, Final Score) Fox (Sorry to Bother You) Twilight Time (Black Widow, Sword of Sherwood Forest) Arrow (Schlock, The Day of the Jackal, Distant Voices Still Lives, 12 Monkeys) Warner Bros. (Superman 4K) Criterion (Shampoo)   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 Holiday Movie Season is upon us so that means one thing – MONEY! Erik Childress and Sergio Mims examine the potential of the final months of 2018 and which films will come out on top? There are sequels, franchises and reimaginings, but will there be a surprise or two – at the top AND at the bottom? They take you through a sometimes impossible season to predict as we get warmed up for the all-encompassing awards season as well. 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

Horror dominates the latest Blu-ray round-up with Erik Childress and Sergio Mims. They dig into a number of William Castle productions from Mill Creek and Indicator, a pair of great releases from the ‘80s, a beautiful new edition of one of the classic science fiction films ever and you can find out what really freaks out both of them out from Creepshow and beyond.   Mill Creek (Strait Jacket, Berserk) Indicator (Homicidal, 13 Ghosts, ???, Mr. Sardonicus, Night of the Demon) Olive (Invasion of the Body Snatchers) Disney (Ant-Man and the Wasp) Lionsgate (Whitney, The Evil Dead 4K, Ash vs. Evil Dead: The Complete Series) Shout Factory (Trick ‘R Treat, House on Haunted Hill, Creepshow)   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

John Boorman’s Exorcist II has been considered for decades to be one of the worst sequels ever made and by some views one of the worst FILMS ever made. Not so says RogerEbert.com’s Peter Sobczynski who for years has been an ardent defender. He joins Erik Childress on the show to discuss Shout Factory’s new Collector’s Edition as well as its rocky history and The Exorcist series in general. You will also hear William Friedkin tell the story of the first time the film ever screened for the public. 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

On what could be considered a bit of a pre-Halloween episode, Erik Childress and Sergio Mims run down a number of new Blu-ray releases ranging from the horror of 9/11 to a less-talked about film with Bill Paxton from 1984. They also get into whether what some consider a new horror classic should be labeled horror at all as well as reevaluate American Psycho in that the more routines change the more they stay the same.   Warner Bros. (Ocean’s 8, Tag, The Looming Tower, Gotham Season Four) Warner Archive (Big Wednesday, Performance) Lions Gate (Hereditary, American Psycho 4K, Punisher: War Zone 4K, Hot Summer Nights) Kino (Grace Jones: Bloodline & Bami, Impulse (1984), The Challenge) Shout Factory (Exorcist II: The Heretic, The Man in the Iron Mask, The [Rec] Collection, The Bride)   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

No fancy names. Just a straight recap of this year’s Toronto Film Festival which Erik Childress has been attending since 2004. A better-than-average fest this year with some genuine surprises and, as always, a few big disappointments. Get the scoop on recent releases like A Star is Born and First Man, David Gordon Green’s Halloween update, the latest from Alfonso Cuaron, Barry Jenkins, Steve McQueen and much 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

The Movie Madness Podcast returns to its regularly scheduled broadcast getting caught up on the latest in Blu-rays and physical media with Sergio Mims. On this episode they cover an array of Criterion as well as the latest from Indicator and Arrow. They delve into the great new Universal Monsters blu-ray set, why Solo: A Star Wars Story failed at the box office and the bizarre circumstances that led Erik to see the infamous Cabin Boy which definitely has one supporter on this show.   Criterion (Andrei Rublev, My Man Godfrey, A Raisin in the Sun, The Tree of Life) Indicator (Absolution, The Collector, The Mind of Mr. Soames) Disney (Solo: A Star Wars Story) Arrow (Deep Red, The Hired Hand) Kino (Bat 21, Cabin Boy) Universal (Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, Won’t You Be My Neighbor?, Universal Monsters Classic Collection)   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 is joined by David Fowlie for a special episode involving movies about the summertime. We probably all remember where we were during our most memorable seasons but how about the films that best represent that warmest of them? Each of them count down five films that feel like the kind of summers that can be universal to all of us from the past and maybe even the future as well. 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 Sergio Mims go over their excitement for this year’s crop of films at the annual 70mm Film Festival at the Music Box Theatre in Chicago. But first it’s Blu-ray time as they examine the history of Jack Ryan, go through a number of choice indies you will want to see, bring an 80s political thriller into the present and finally express some love for a Robert Redford heist film and the first starring vehicle for Brandon Lee.   Paramount (The Jack Ryan Collection) Shout Factory (The Seventh Sign) Lionsgate (Ash vs. Evil Dead Season 3, Lean on Pete, Beast, Damsel) Indicator (Ministry of Fear, Missing) Twilight Time (Rapid Fire, The Virgin Soldiers, Gloria, The Hot Rock)   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

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

Sergio Mims again joins Erik Childress to discuss new Blu-rays and it turns into an argument about baseball. But they regroup after Criterion’s great new contribution to America’s pastime to talk about flying piranha, blind monsters and human ones before bringing the entire episode full circle with some Hamm.   Criterion (Bull Durham, Dragon Inn) Shout Factory (Piranha II: The Spawning) Paramount (A Quiet Place) Arrow (The Last House on the Left) Kino (Irma La Douce) Universal (Beirut)   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 ongoing saga over James Gunn’s abrupt firing from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is a disturbing one that has far-reaching implications beyond our thoughts on the films themselves. Erik Childress and Sergio Mims breakdown the story and why it matters how this all started. They discuss his conduct, Disney’s ultimate reaction to it and how they may have painted themselves into a corner. Who might be shameless enough to step the current empty director’s chair? They can’t help but toss out a few suspects for the position as well if they choose not to rehire him. 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