Movie Madness

Some great titles to put into your physical media library this week and Peter Sobczynski is here with Erik Childress to help guide you through them. It all begins with one of the great films of the 1980s that put Tom Cruise on the path to stardom. Tom Hanks missed an Oscar nom but delivered one of his best performances for Paul Greengrass and Ang Lee did get the Oscar but the Academy went for another film in 2005. There are also vehicles for Burt Reynolds, Dirk Benedict and the film that Ben Affleck was the bomb in. Other underground dwellers can be found at bikini bottom and Criterion also has a pair of Wim Wenders films. Finally there are new 4K editions of one of the great sci-fi classics and the entire series that carries the name of the beloved character created by Sylvester Stallone. 0:00 - Intro 1:07 - Criterion (Risky Business, Perfect Days, Anselm) 24:52 – Kino (Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) 4K, Underground Aces, Paternity, Columbo: The Return, Brokeback Mountain 4K) 1:03:39 – Paramount (

Before each of them take their respective vacations, Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy have nine movies for you to check out or throw away. They include Guy Pearce in a Lee Tamahori film about warring Maori tribes (The Convert) and Baltasar Kormákur decades-spanning romantic saga (Touch). Documentaries cover the range of the career of one of our great actresses (Faye) and the horrible behavior that derailed Louis C.K.’s, at least temporarily (Sorry/Not Sorry). Things get strange when Ewan McGregor’s mother won’t leave a furniture store (Mother, Couch) and things get even stranger in a film so baffling it may become a midnight staple (Lumina). KiKi Layn is a musician trying to be heard (Dandelion). Scarlett Johansson tries to sell America’s space race with Channing Tatum (Fly Me to the Moon) and Ozgood Perkins tries to have Nicolas Cage freak us out (Longlegs). 0:00 - Intro 1:50 – The Convert 7:51 - Faye 16:32 - Touch 23:59 - Sorry/Not Sorry 39:29 - Mother, Couch 46:30 - Lumina 1:00:09 - Dandelion 1:08:18 - Fly

Peter Sobczynski has the rundown on this week’s physical media with Erik Childress. Leading the way are French classics by Jean-Pierre Melville and Patrice Leconte. They talk about the controversies surrounding Todd Solondz third feature and the strange hiatus of director Robert Butler. 4K tries to clean-up a second helping of the Ghoulies and a Thailand based creature feature “not to be confused with Alligator.” Finally they go back and forth on the 1996 mega-hit that finally spawned a sequel 28 years later. 0:00 - Intro 0:55 – Criterion (Le Samourai 4K) 7:44 – Shout Factory (Storytelling) 20:29 – Synapse (Crocodile 4K) 29:05 – MVD (Ghoulies II 4K) 35:22 – Kino (The Hairdresser’s Husband, Turbulence 4K) 51:56 – Warner Bros. (Twister 4K) 1:05:03 – New TV & Theatrical Titles On Blu-ray 1:14:22 – New Blu-ray Announcements & Outro 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 do not skimp this week serving up 11 new reviews for you. Erik looks at Paul Raci as a spiritual guru who may have achieved a new kind of grief transcendence (The Secret Art of Human Flight) while Emma Roberts does Legally Blonde Goes To NASA (Space Cadet). Steve has a film about the Eichmann trial (June Zero) and that of a different kind of bloodsucker (Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person) which also partially sums up his review of Despicable Me 4. They look at different sides of altruism in the true story of a community and their collective adoptions (Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot) and the fantastic documentarian Penny Lane on her personal journey of donating a kidney (Confessions of a Good Samaritan). Yorgos Lanthimos takes on a three-pronged tale of abusive relationships (Kinds of Kindness) and Eddie Murphy returns to his most iconic role (Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F). Finally, choose your warrior – the commando at the center of a bandit-filled trai

There is not a lot to add to your physical media collection this week. But what there is you will want to get your hands on. Peter Sobczynski joins Erik Childress to talk about the tortured history of one of Sam Peckinpah’s greatest westerns. Music stars in movies gets a little sillier with Weird Al Yankovic and Madonna. Silliness gets raised to an artform with the first of the Will Ferrell/Adam McKay collaborations. Though maybe not as silly as the accents from Jeff Bridges and Tommy Lee Jones in the second of 1994’s summer bomber movies. Peter Hyams gets another shout-out and one of Martin Scorsese’s masterpieces finally gets a standalone release in 4K. 0:00 - Intro 0:50 - Criterion (Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid 4K) 23:13 - Shout Factory (Who’s That Girl, UHF 4K) 54:36 - Paramount (Anchorman 4K) 1:04:03 - Kino (Narrow Margin 4K, Blown Away 4K) 1:22:28 - Sony (Taxi Driver 4K) 1:35:44 – New Theatrical Titles On Blu-ray & Announcements This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this w

Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy have eight movie reviews for you this week. They include a new film about religious fanaticism from the filmmakers behind Goodnight Mommy and The Lodge (The Devil’s Bath) plus a documentary about the horrific legacy of a questionable John Wayne film (The Conqueror: Hollywood Fallout). A Sundance film from 2023 with Lily Gladstone finally sees the light (Fancy Dance) and we get the second younger man/older woman rom-com in just a few months now with Nicole Kidman and Zac Efron (A Family Affair). A pre-Dracula vampire is revealed in a new horror film (The Vourdalak) and Dakota Johnson has a long cab ride conversation with driver Sean Penn (Daddio). Then we watch the blind aliens attack New York (A Quiet Place: Day One) and Kevin Costner directs the first of his four-part epic western (Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1) 0:00 - Intro 1:10 - The Devil's Bath 9:31 - The Conqueror: Hollywood Fallout 17:06 - Fancy Dance 26:04 - A Family Affair 39:41 - The Vourdalek 48:01 -

A pretty solid week for new Blu-ray and 4K arrivals that Erik Childress and Peter Sobczynski talk you through. They include, arguably, David Lynch’s best film and the consequences if you choose an ice dancing show over it. Orson Welles’ first foray into cinematic Shakespeare as well as a special collection of the cavalcade of films released in the wake of Bruce Lee’s untimely passing. Joe Dante’s loving tribute to the movies of our youth gets the 4K upgrade as do the works of Trey Parker and Matt Stone. Finally, is the film that truly launched Prince one of the best bad movies ever made or one of the worst great movies? You make the call, now in 4K! 0:00 - Intro 1:59 – Criterion (Blue Velvet 4K) 20:02 – Kino (MacBeth) 26:10 – Severin (The Game of Clones Bruceploitation Collection) 35:43 - Fun City (Strangers Kiss) 39:27 – Shout Factory (Matinee 4K) 48:26 – Paramount (When Worlds Collide, South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut 4K, Team America: World Police 4K) 1:10:10 – Warner Bros. (Purple Rain 4K)

Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy have seven films for you to hear about this week. Two you heard about before when June Squibb went into action mode on a phishing scam at Sundance (Thelma) and Rachel Sennott nannies a teenage girl (I Used To Be Funny). Still funny are the queer comedians featured in a new Netflix doc (Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution). Less funny is seeing Abbie Cornish in a twisty con game (Detained). Maybe a but funnier is Jessica Alba as a ”skilled special forces commando” (Trigger Warning) and certainly less funny is watching Russell Crowe in a second possession film in two years from the son of the star Jason Miller (The Exorcism). Finally Jeff Nichols puts Tom Hardy and Austin Butler on motorcycles and Jodie Comer tells us all about it. (The Bikeriders).   0:00 - Intro 1:47 - Thelma 12:37 - I Used To Be Funny 17:31 - Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution 25:46 - Detained 31:11 - Trigger Warning 43:11 – The Exorcism 57:30 – The Bikeriders 1:09:58 - Outro This is a public episode. If

A lot of great titles for your physical media library and Erik Childress and Peter Sobczynski are here to guide you through it. They include the debut films from the Wachowskis and Jeff Nichols. Plenty of noir to go around this week courtesy of Kino, Paul Schrader and a look at the new 4K Chinatown package. They discuss some of the Robocop follow-ups, some early Hitchcock, disagree on The Karate Kid, talk James Woods and cocaine. And speaking of controversy and weirdness, Peter tells you all about the big Bo Derek debacle of the 1980s. 0:00 - Intro 1:19 - Criterion (Bound) 11:08 - Arrow (American Gigolo) 22:11 - MGM (Bolero, The Boost) 43:41 - Warner Archive (Mr and Mrs Smith) 48:47 - Shout (Robocop 2, Robocop (2014)) 57:30 - Sony: (Cat Ballou, The Karate Kid, Beverly Hills Ninja, Shotgun Stories) 1:17:07 - Kino (Film Noir XIX) 1:26:49 - Paramount: (Chinatown 4K, The Two Jakes 4K) 1:45:19 – New Theatrical & TV Titles 1:50:34 – New Blu-ray Announcements This is a public episode. If you would lik

Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy have no anxiety reviewing eight movies this week. Especially when one is a replay of a movie they raved about at Sundance and won the Audience Award at their Chicago Critics Film Festival this year (Ghostlight). But Steve also talks about Jude Law and Alicia Vikander in a story about Henry VIII (Firebrand) as well as Stephen Fry and Lena Dunham as a father and daughter revisiting Poland (Treasure). Erik checks out David Duchovny adapting his own novel (Reverse the Curse) and an animated version of a decades-old Japanese superhero (Ultraman Rising). They look at Julia Louis-Dreyfus in a fantastical story about confronting death (Tuesday) while Andrew McCarthy confronts the reality of the group labeled the “Brat Pack” (Brats). Finally the old emotions meet some new ones in Disney-Pixar’s sequel to one of their very best (Inside Out 2). 0:00 - Intro 1:27 - Firebrand 8:49 - Reverse the Curse 15:27 - Treasure 23:20 - Ultraman Rising 30:10 - Tuesday 44:17 - Brats 1:00:23 - Ghostligh

It is a bit on the lackluster side of physical media releases this week but there are a few gems to get your wallets involved. Peter Sobczynski and Erik Childress talk about the final film from Rainer Werner Fassbinder and the final appearance of Alec Guinness. As series with four entries goes there is more love for Shrek than Species. The T&A teen comedy of the ‘80s gets a double feature and there are also stellar early efforts from Luc Besson and Denzel Washington. 0:00 - Intro 2:00 - Criterion (Querelle) 9:26 - Arrow (Mute Witness 4K) 15:17 – Shout Factory (Species II 4K) 22:30 - Universal (Shrek 4K collection) 25:34 - Unearthed (Homework) 32:15 - MGM (Class, Betrayed, The Mighty Quinn) 56:04 - Sony (La Femme Nikita 4K) 1:05:18 – New Theatrical Titles on Blu-ray 1:09:21 -  New Blu-ray Announcements 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 this six-movie week, Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy go back two years to revisit a Dakota Johnson comedy that debuted at Sundance in 2022 (Am I OK?). Erik goes back a couple of weeks to look at the true story of a Chinese immigrant turned eye surgeon (Sight). There are sharks in the Siene (Under Paris) and young women are getting whacked around a weed farm (Trim Season). The daughter of M. Night Shayamalan makes her feature directorial debut (The Watchers) and Martin Lawrence reteams with Will Smith for a fourth time (Bad Boys: Ride or Die).   0:00 - Intro 1:23 - Am I OK? 13:04 - Sight 22:47 - Under Paris 35:21 - Trim Season 42:33 – The Watchers 54:28 - Bad Boys: Ride or Die 1:08:53 - Outro 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 may be a light week on the physical media front but that’s also less money to spend and there is some choice stuff discussed by Erik Childress and Peter Sobczynski. They include Terry Gilliam’s seemingly impossible adaptation of a Hunter S. Thompson novel, more Johnny Depp in animated form, the tale of the first black regiment in the Civil War and Harvey Keitel in his most disturbing role. All available in 4K. There’s also a great Robert Mitchum western and an opportunity to remember Chicago’s attempt at a new martial arts hero. 0:00 - Intro 1:45 - Criterion (Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas 4K) 11:55 - Paramount (Rango 4K) 17:54 - Sony (Glory 4K) 29:01 - Kino: (Pursued, Saigon, The Chase, The Perfect Weapon, Bad Lieutenant 4K) 1:00:07 – New Theatrical Titles On Blu-ray & Announcements 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 get back into their reviewing ways with 10 new films this week. They include documentaries about an infamous movie app (Moviepass, Moviecrash), a filmmaker and his unfinished projects (Flipside) and the career of a bonafide genius (Jim Henson: Idea Man). Steve looks at a story of a 19th century Jewish boy raised as a Catholic (Kidnapped) and Daisy Ridley as the first woman to swim the English Channel (Young Woman and the Sea). Apart from Flipside, there are three more films chosen as part of this year’s Chicago Critics Film Festival. They include a new western by Viggo Mortensen (The Dead Don’t Hurt), Nick Stahl as a chef on the run (What You Wish For) and you may have heard of (or at least part of) the “what if Gus Van Sant or Terrence Malick made a Friday the 13th film” (In a Violent Nature). Then its all downhill from there with looks at Diane Keaton, Kathy Bates and Alfre Woodard revisiting their childhood (Summer Camp) and Tony Goldwyn trying to do Rain Man (Ezra). 0:00

Peter Sobczynski returns to talk new Blu-rays with Erik Childress. This week includes the debut feature from Karyn Kusama and one of last year’s Oscar winners from Criterion. Arrow has some Guillermo Del Toro in 4K and Severin has a whole slew of Italian horror being upgraded. They talk about one of the films to get the rare “F” from Cinemascore and the film that Kevin Smith turned into a punchline. There are a pair of titles from Abel Ferrara and one of John Waters’ more mainstream efforts. Finally, it is time to rank some Star Trek and discuss the one celebrating its 40th Anniversary this summer. 0:00 - Intro 0:39 - Criterion (Girlfight, Anatomy of a Fall) 7:00 - Arrow (Pandemonium, Crimson Peak 4K) 15:52 - Severin (The Great Alligator 4K, The Devil’s Honey 4K, Cemetery Man 4K) 27:44 - Shout Factory (Darkness/Fear City) 37:09 - Vinegar Syndrome (Dangerous Game 4K, Navy Seals 4K) 45:19 – MPI (Into the Blue) 49:29 - Kino (Revenge of the Ninja, Cry Baby 4K, Sci Fi Chillers) 1:03:30 - Paramount (Star

Six movies in theaters and on streaming are reviewed by Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy this week. They include a pair of documentaries about one of the greatest bands of all-time (The Beach Boys) and the death-defying pilots of the Air Force (The Blue Angels). The Monday-hating cat who loves lasagna gets the animated treatment (The Garfield Movie) and Jennifer Lopez tries to navigate both sides of the A.I. debate (Atlas). Then, quite simply, two of the best most enjoyable films begin their runs this week. In some theaters before it hits Netflix, Glen Powell stars in one of Richard Linklater’s best films (Hit Man) and George Miller returns to the apocalyptic wasteland to provide backstory to one of the greatest heroines of cinema (Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga). Tune in to hear why they are so worthy of your attention. 0:00 - Intro 1:55 - The Blue Angels 7:02 - The Beach Boys 26:04 - The Garfield Movie 35:33 - Atlas 48:22 - Hit Man 59:55 - Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga 1:22:11 - Outro This is a public episode.

The latest and greatest of Blu-rays this week have Erik Childress and Peter Sobczynski disagreeing on the films of Joe Carnahan. There are two Val Kilmer projects; one certainly better than the other (though it did produce a great John Frankenheimer story) as well as some early horror from Bob Clark and a more recent one from Osgood Perkins getting an upgrade. One of David O. Russell’s best films gets the same 4K upgrade plus Peter talks all about Philo Vance, Bettie Page and Peter Bogdanovich reteaming with Cybill Shepherd. 0:00 - Intro 0:56 - Arrow (Narc) 10:09 – Blue Underground (Deathdream) 18:09 – Shout Factory (Gretel & Hansel, The Island of Dr Moreau) 28:32 - Sony (Thunderheart, American Hustle) 35:12 - Kino: (Philo Vance Collection, Republic Horror Collection, Teaserama, Daisy Miller) 58:31 – MPI (Coup de Chance) 1:05:12 – New Blu-ray Announcements This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit erikthemovieman.subst

Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy look at seven films this week. They include the latest directorial effort from Ethan Hawke (Wildcat) and the hilarious feature debut from Pamela Adlon (Babes). Horror gets a Danish sequel 30 years later (Nightwatch: Demons Are Forever) and Renny Harlin starts a new trilogy in the home invasion series (The Strangers: Chapter 1). Amy Winehouse gets the biopic treatment from the director of Fifty Shades of Grey (Back to Black). The duo catch up on the latest in the Apes franchise (Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes) and finally have a lot to say about John Krasinski’s baffling family film (IF). 0:00 - Intro 1:19 - Wildcat 9:58 - Nightwatch: Demons Are Forever 21:21 – The Strangers: Chapter 1 31:44 - Babes 42:42 - Back to Black 58:50 - Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes 1:16:01 - IF 1:35:25 - Outro 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 week certainly has the latest and the greatest in Blu-rays. Depending on who you ask of course. If you inquire with Erik Childress and Peter Sobczynski you will certainly here about one of the greatest westerns of all-time (Erik’s favorite) as well as a film that deserves to be among the very best of Sidney Lumet’s career. Michael Powell directs a creepy film about voyeurism and murder and the pair look again at the film where Brandon Lee lost his life. Shout Factory has a trio of horror oddities and there is also lament for the goofy sex comedies of the ‘80s. Clint Eastwood’s most successful film gets a 4K release and a number of Francis Ford Coppola efforts get the upgrade including one that Peter believes to be his finest work. 0:00 - Intro 1:50 - Criterion (Peeping Tom 4K) 10:54 - Arrow (Night Falls on Manhattan) 19:16 - Paramount (Once Upon a Time in the West 4K, The Crow 4K) 36:18 - Shout Factory (Killer Klowns From Outer Space, Dracula 2000, Orphan) 52:03 - MVD (Joysticks) 1:01:14 - WB (Ame

Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy stick to just four films this week including the acclaimed comedy from Joanna Arnow (The Feeling That The Time For Doing Something Has Passed) and an adaptation into Anne Hathaway scandalously falling for a Boy Band member. The scandal! (The Idea of You). Jerry Seinfeld and a giant cast of comedians tell their version of the Pop-Tarts origin (Unfrosted) while Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt try to bring life to another ‘80s television show (The Fall Guy). But there are still a lot more movies to talk about as they discuss this year’s Chicago Critics Film Festival which they produce and program. May 3-9 at the Music Box Theatre in Chicago and the lineup is stellar. 0:00 - Intro 1:09 - The Feeling That The Time For Doing Something Has Passed 10:42 – The Idea of You 24:03 - Unfrosted 38:52 – The Fall Guy 56:20 – Chicago Critics Film Festival This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit erikthemovieman.subs