Movie Madness

Seven new movies are available in theaters and on streaming this week. At least the seven reviewed by Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy this week. They include the latest thriller from Kiyoshi Kurosawa (Cloud) and the latest wannabe thriller starring Bella Thorne (Saint Clare). TV pioneer Shari Lewis finally gets her own documentary (Shari & Lamb Chop) while a cinema-loving young woman gets a chance to mingle with the people she thought she dreamt about (Finally Dawn). Embeth Davidtz makes his directorial debut adapting a South African childhood memoir (Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight) while five dum-dums wish they did not have to revisit another season of death (I Know What You Did Last Summer). Finally, Ari Aster adds to his repertoire of anxiety-laden horror by exploring America in the early days of the pandemic (Eddington).4:45 - Cloud11:05 - Saint Clare18:35 - Shari & Lamb Chop30:02 - Finally Dawn40:01 - Don't Let's Go To The Dogs Tonight48:53 - I Know What You Did Last Summer1:07:48 - Eddingto

Physical media serves up some classics as well as some that deserve more modern classic status. Peter Sobczynski may disagree with some of them but he joins Erik Childress again this week to bring you the latest and greatest. They include a restored series from Francois Truffaut as well as some oddities involving Fred MacMurray and the “involvement” of The Three Stooges. There are sequels for Robocop and the Ghoulies as well as some more WWII hijinks for Brad Pitt. One of the great westerns of all-time is up for debate. Though there is nothing but love for one of the better low-budget sci-fi films of its day and Bill Paxton making one of the best directorial debuts ever.3:22 - Criterion (The Adventures of Antoine Doinel (4K))12:30 - Kino (Exclusive, Shane 4K)27:39 - Arrow Films (Crumb Catcher)34:19 - Sony (Stop! Look! and Laugh!, Fury 4K)45:19 - Shout! Factory (Battle Beyond the Stars 4K, Robocop 2 4K Steelbook)1:05:41 - Lions Gate (Ghoulies Go to College , Frailty 4K)1:23:44 - New TV & Theatrical Titles

Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy review nine movies for you this week with four of them coming in a unique bundle. Those include a group of friends sheltering in place when they believe a nuclear missile is coming for them (Nuked), a pregnant woman confined to a house when a mysterious man threatens her safety (Push), an introvert and an extrovert confined to an apartment trying to avoid becoming one with the world (Else) and another couple on the outs stuck in an apartment complex seemingly with no way out (Brick). Beyond that there is the implication that Van Helsing was not the man he said he was (Abraham’s Boys) nor do the lucid dreams of a grieving man reflect the reality of his relationship (Daniela Forever). Steven Spielberg’s immortal masterpiece celebrates a birthday with a new documentary (Jaws@50: The Definitive Inside Story). Jacob Tremblay comes to realize his anti-government father may not be the best role model (Sovereign). Finally, Steve gets to throw in his two cents on this week’s big comic

For years on the Movie Madness Podcast, comic book expert Erik Laws has joined Erik Childress to discuss in-depth the various superhero and graphic novel adaptation to the big screen from Marvel to DC and the heights to the very lows. In this episode they discuss how James Gunn’s long-awaited takeover and reboot of the DC Universe is not just a massive disappointment but may represent a new low. They break it all down from David Corenswet’s portrayal of Superman and Clark, the lack of genuine stakes, the reliance on an overly jokey tone and the way Krypto is utilized throughout. No stone is left unturned from Superman tropes to a screamy Lex Luthor, idiotic plot turns and right back to Gunn’s own statements about the movie that does not exist on the screen. This is not hyperbole. This is not for clicks or yuks. This is how it is from two honest takes.SIGN UP TODAYBe sure to check outChicago Screening Schedule - All the films coming to theaters and streamingPhysical Media Schedule - Click & Buy upcoming ti

There’s a lot to talk about this week in the world of physical media. Peter Sobczynski joins Erik Childress to talk about a Stanley Kubrick epic finally getting the release it deserves. Oliver Stone revisits a final cut for his own epic and there is also some epic destruction from the ‘70s. Denzel Washington looks for a serial killer, though not the one traipsing through the woods like he was Terrence Malick. They’ve got film noir with Glenn Ford, horror meeting blaxploitation and Peter offering his thoughts on Ryan Coogler’s huge 2025 success. Finally the pair discuss Mike Nichols’ now quaint adaptation of politics leading up to the Clinton years and Amy Heckerling’s teen film from the ‘90s still entertaining generations decades later.2:30 - Criterion (The Big Heat (4K), Barry Lyndon (4K))21:23 – Shout Factory (Primary Colors (4K), Alexander Revisited: The Final Cut (4K), Abigail (4K))50:08 - Kino (Sugar Hill)55:37 - RJLE (In a Violent Nature (4K))1:04:59 - WB (The Little Things (4K))1:12:44 - Universal (Ear

As we head into our mid-summer holiday, Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy have seven movies for you to consider. They revisit their praise of Eva Victor’s Sundance wonder (Sorry, Baby) chosen for their Chicago Critics Film Festival along with Danielle Deadwyler trying to protect her family and farm during another cinematic apocalypse (40 Acres). Alicia Silverstone chooses the wrong sugar daddy (Pretty Thing) while Alex Ross Perry takes us through decades of video stores in movies in a three-hour cinematic essay (Videoheaven). John Cena and Idris Elba are their country’s leaders caught in an assassination plot (Heads of State) and Charlize Theron is back with her band of immortals only without her powers (The Old Guard 2). Finally, Gareth Edwards tries to do what he was called to do for Godzilla and Star Wars for the seventh film in the franchise (Jurassic World: Rebirth).2:16 - Sorry, Baby14:09 - 40 Acres22:02 - Pretty Thing27:58 - Heads of State38:45 - Videoheaven55:22 - The Old Guard 21:07:15 - Jurassic Worl

Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy wade through nine reviews this week to get you to the few standouts. A couple is presented with the possibility their daughter was switched at birth (A Stranger in My Home) while a team of nitwits try to steal a 35mm print from Quentin Tarantino (Stealing Pulp Fiction). Emma Mackey tries to use Vicky Krieps as a distraction from her invalid mother (Hot Milk) while a drug deal goes south for a sex worker (Ponyboi) and Bryan Cranston tries to keep his family and regional theater afloat (Everything Going To Be Great). Mariska Hargitay remembers her mother Jayne Mansfield (My Mom Jayne) while a woman tries not to forget the life she lived as she slides into dementia (Familiar Touch). Finally the killer A.I. robot goes T2 on us (M3GAN 2.0) and Brad Pitt goes fast in a car with other cars (F1: The Movie).1:41 - The Stranger In My Home11:00 - Stealing Pulp Fiction18:53 - My Mom Jayne25:55 - Hot Milk33:34 - Ponyboi41:20 - Everything’s Going To Be Great51:26 - Familiar Touch58:55 - M3G

Physical Media weeks don’t get much more packed this week and there is a lot to get to with Erik Childress and Peter Sobczynski. Titles include a trio of youth tales involving the film that took back cheerleading, a slasher film getting a new updating soon and the infamous creation of the Brat Pack. There’s a Hammer mystery, sci-fi and Peter Cushing as Doctor Who. Peter talks about a somewhat forgotten film noir with Robert Mitchum as well as a musical version of The Philadelphia Story. They look back with a bit of fondness for an innocuous spoof of singing cowboy movies plus the inaugural releases of Dreamworks. All of this is wrapped in a pair of upgrades for two films that played their Chicago Critics Film Festival including the Alex Proyas sci-fi film Roger Ebert called the best film of 1998 and the William Friedkin masterpiece lost for many years but is now immortalized in the Criterion Collection.3:45 - Criterion (Sorcerer (4K), Thirty Two Short Films About Glenn Gould (4K))25:39 - Warner Archive (His K

Seven new movies are reviewed by Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy this week and most of them are documentaries. Steve takes a look at Disney’s stage version of one of their biggest films (Frozen: The Hit Broadway Musical) and a tale of more than two kitties (American Cats: The Good, The Bad and the Cuddly). Erik checks out the story of sexual assault within the sports programs of a major university (Surviving Ohio State) plus a daughter trying to learn more about her photographer mother (A Photographic Memory). As for the narrative features, they warn you of one of the very worst films of the year (Bride Hard). They also go back to Disney and Pixar for their latest sci-fi comedy (Elio) and then go back to the world of the rage virus even if it might not be the world you are expecting (28 Years Later).3:08 - Frozen: The Hit Broadway Musical12:31 - Surviving Ohio State20:08 - American Cats: The Good, The Bad and the Cuddly26:01 - Bride Hard38:28 – A Photographic Memory50:04 - Elio1:00:53 - 28 Years LaterCLICK O

The talk includes a less-talked-about film of the screwball era as well as one of the classic rom-coms of the ‘50s. There’s another Tombstone story and a documentary about Thelonious Monk. A two decade old Charles Burnett film finally comes to light and a beloved Steve Martin comedy finally gets a Blu-ray release. There are Looney Tunes, bicyclists, underwater monsters, a whole lot of Jessica Fletcher and Christopher McQuarrie’s directorial debut all there for your libraries.3:45 - Criterion (Midnight, Thelonious Monk: Straight, No Chaser)16:28 - Kino (Law and Order, Sabrina 4K, Rock Pretty Baby, Promise Her Anything, DeepStar Six 4K, I, Madman)1:02:38 - Mill Creek (Rad)1:08:01 - Milestone (The Annihilation of Fish)1:15:12 - Lionsgate (All of Me, The Way of the Gun 4K)1:36:35 - Warner Bros. (Looney Tunes Collector’s Vault Vol. 1)1:42:51 – New TV on Blu-ray (Murder She Wrote: The Complete Series)1:50:56 – New Blu-ray AnnouncementsCLICK ON THE FILMS TO RENT OR PURCHASE AND HELP OUT THE MOVIE MADNESS PODCASTAlso

Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy have eight movie reviews for you this week. They include a pair of documentaries on a Scottish rock band who were more than their soundtrack contribution (Simple Minds: Everything Is Possible) and about New Zealand’s Jacinda Ardern (Prime Minister). A woman finds some disturbing secrets about her grandparents and society (Best Wishes To All) while Pierce Brosnan and Samuel L. Jackson look for some hidden gold (The Unholy Trinity). A trio of improv performers go undercover for the cops (Deep Cover) while Julianne Moore covers up for daughter Sydney Sweeney (Echo Valley). Finally, Dakota Johnson has to choose between rich Pedro Pascal and poor Chris Evans (Materialists) while the latest in tracer cinema redoes a modern animated classic (How To Train Your Dragon).0:00 – Intro & Upcoming Events3:17 - Deep Cover11:40 - Simple Minds: Everything Is Possible20:53 - Prime Minister32:50 - Best Wishes To All41:48 - The Unholy Trinity50:22 - Echo Valley1:01:03 - Materialists1:17:59 -

Erik Childress and Peter Sobczynski go over the history of Sidney Lumet’s version of The Wiz. They look over the failed attempt to tell the story of Air America and the ridiculous entry into the cyber-thriller canon known for anything but the hacking. Then they go through a new set upgrading the original Sean Connery James Bond films and how they compare to the other versions throughout the years.For more James Bond talk go back to this episode with the great Sergio Mims talking about No Time To Die and his personal relationship to this iconic character.2:00 - Criterion (The Wiz 4K)21:09 - Lionsgate (Air America 4K)31:09 - Arrow (Swordfish 4K)43:56 - WB (Sean Connery 007 4K)1:22:11 New Theatrical & TV Titles on Blu-ray) (A Working Man, Drop, Borderline, In the Lost Lands, The Friend, Dexter - Original Sin: Season One, The Creep Tapes: Season One)1:26:26 - New Blu-ray AnnouncementsCLICK ON THE FILMS TO RENT OR PURCHASE AND HELP OUT THE MOVIE MADNESS PODCASTAnd be sure to check outChicago Screening Schedule

Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy go from the comically violent travails of adoptive parents Nick Kroll and Andrew Rannells (I Don’t Understand You) to yet another exorcism film with Al Pacino and Dan Stevens (The Ritual). The creature that once stalked Schwarzenegger now gets animated (Predator: Killer of Killers) and a shark-loving serial killer leads to a cat-and-mouse battle on a boat (Dangerous Animals). Wes Anderson delivers his latest (The Phoenician Scheme), Mike Flanagan adapts another Stephen King novella (The Life of Chuck) and the World of John Wick gets a little bigger (Ballerina). Find out what is worth your time.1:47 - I Don't Understand You13:20 - The Ritual25:13 - Predator: Killer of Killers35:43 - Dangerous Animals44:39 - The Phoenician Scheme57:00 - The Life of Chuck1:10:29 - BallerinaCLICK ON THE FILMS TO RENT OR PURCHASE AND HELP OUT THE MOVIE MADNESS PODCAST This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit erikthemov

Erik Childress and Peter Sobczynski guide you through another week of physical media. This week you can include masterworks from Paul Schrader, Terry Gilliam and Jonathan Demme on your shelves. There are also underrated works from George Romero and Mel Brooks as well as career work from Nicolas Cage and Elisabeth Shue. They talk about the oddness that ranges from Linda Blair on skates to Dennis Quaid as an infamous singer plus the one Sam Peckinpah film you may want to watch alone first.2:52 - Criterion (Mishima: A Life In Four Chapters 4K, Brazil 4K)22:27 - Cinematographe (Swimming to Cambodia)29:49 - Sandpiper (Roller Boogie, Great Balls of Fire, Malice, Life Stinks, Leaving Las Vegas)1:15:47 - Shout Factory (Monkey Shines 4K, Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia 4K)1:40:54 - New Theatrical Titles & TV on Blu-ray (The Ballad of Wallis Island, Opus, Freaky Tales, When Evil Lurks, Doctor Who - Jon Pertwee: The Complete Season One)1:43:21 - New Blu-ray AnnouncementsCLICK ON THE FILMS TO RENT OR PURCHASE AND

Six films are on the slate this week for Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy. They include a pair of documentaries about the making of The Day After (Television Event) and the frontman for U2 in a filmed version of his stage show (Bono: Stories of Surrender). A puppeteer must transition to samurai in the Old West (Tornado) while a group of billionaires struggle with the dangerous implications of one of their businesses (Mountainhead). The directors of Talk To Me deliver their latest bit of horror (Bring Her Back) while Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio team up for a new protégé (Karate Kid: Legends).1:21 - Television Event10:10 - Bono: Stories of Surrender18:57 - Tornado27:42 - Mountainhead37:46 - Bring Her Back50:25 - Karate Kid: LegendsCLICK ON THE FILMS TO RENT OR PURCHASE AND HELP OUT THE MOVIE MADNESS PODCAST 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 a funny week for physical media. In that there are some tremendously funny movies in the mix but also some landmarks to put in your library. Erik Childress and Peter Sobczynski guide you through the work of Charles Burnett and the singular film by Kerry Conran. They take you through the multiple versions of a Ridley Scott epic, perhaps the best of the Musketeers films and the weird backstory of an SNL sequel. Warner Archive has a couple of biopics named after songs as well as Al Pacino’s Oscar-winning role. A collection of Audie Murphy titles are followed up with a conversation of one of the 1980s’ cable staples re-written by John Hughes. Finally, two of the best comedies of the past 30 years should be a double feature that everyone listening should want to make an evening out of.1:35 - Criterion (Killer of Sheep 4K, The Three Musketeers & The Four Musketeers 4K)18:16 - Disney (Kingdom of Heaven 4K)28:06 - Warner Archive (Lean on Me, La Vie en Rose)40:39 - IFC (Love Crime)44:22 - Shout (Scent of a Wo

Memorial Day weekend offers a variety of options, some of them even good both in theaters and at home. Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy are here to talk you through nine of them. They include Cate Blanchett as a nun who may have discovered the second coming (The New Boy) and another film about resurrecting the dead (The Surrender). A musician you may have missed gets the documentary treatment (Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted), Netflix returns to the world of R.L. Stine (Fear Street: Prom Queen) and a writer may or may not find romance on a retreat (Jane Austen Wrecked My Life). Guy Ritchie takes an all-star cast in pursuit of life’s treasure (Fountain of Youth) while Paul Reubens tells the story of his life (Pee-Wee As Himself). Disney tries another live-action remake (Lilo & Stitch) and Tom Cruise puts the last chapter on one of the great action franchises of all-time (Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning).1:16 - The New Boy10:02 - The Surrender19:07 - Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted25:09 - Fear S

Memorial Day weekend offers a variety of options, some of them even good both in theaters and at home. Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy are here to talk you through nine of them. They include Cate Blanchett as a nun who may have discovered the second coming (The New Boy) and another film about resurrecting the dead (The Surrender). A musician you may have missed gets the documentary treatment (Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted), Netflix returns to the world of R.L. Stine (Fear Street: Prom Queen) and a writer may or may not find romance on a retreat (Jane Austen Wrecked My Life). Guy Ritchie takes an all-star cast in pursuit of life’s treasure (Fountain of Youth) while Paul Reubens tells the story of his life (Pee-Wee As Himself). Disney tries another live-action remake (Lilo & Stitch) and Tom Cruise puts the last chapter on one of the great action franchises of all-time (Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning) 1:16 - The New Boy 10:02 - The Surrender 19:07 - Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted 25:09 - Fea

This week in physical media may be appealing to the cults out there. Whichever you belong to, Erik Childress and Peter Sobczynski are here to guide you towards your particular following. Perhaps you are in the Richard E. Grant & Bruce Robinson cult. Or stay on that side of the pond with an Oscar-winning musical and a film that was the Bridgerton of its time in the way it uses music. Maybe you’re in the late Friday the 13th cult and enjoy its post-Paramount days. Or you have a taste for a marathon of Blaxploitation. Whether you love movie doggies or mutated bears, its best to just avoid the sleeping bags this week. 1:38 - Criterion (Withnail & I 4K, How to Get Ahead in Advertising 4K) 14:36 - Sony (Oliver 4K, A Knight’s Tale 4K) 26:29 - Arrow (Jason Goes to Hell 4K, Jason X 4K) 47:09 - Shout (Blaxploitation Classics Vol 1) 1:02:43 - Kino (Wonder Dogs, The Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders, Prophecy 4K) 1:23:01 – New Theatrical Titles On Blu-ray (The Quiet Ones, Presence 4K) 1:24:15 - New Blu-ray Anno

Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy return to the review beat after a couple weeks off at the Chicago Critics Film Festival. Erik looks at a bunch of influencers terrorized by feral dogs (A Breed Apart) and the story that inspired a cult body horror film (The Darkside of Society). Steve looks at an influential moment for the hearing impaired (Deaf President Now) and The Weeknd’s self-indulgent vanity project (Hurry Up Tomorrow). They also offer thoughts on a pair of films chosen for their festival including the strange transformation of a woman in an arranged marriage (Sister Midnight) and Tim Robinson trying to get a little too close to Paul Rudd (Friendship). Finally its been 14 years since Death has come-a-callin’. Could Final Destination: Bloodlines be the best of the franchise? 1:32 – A Breed Apart 9:28 - Deaf President Now! 15:23 – The Darkside of Society 22:58 - Hurry Up Tomorrow 33:37 - Sister Midnight 41:11 - Friendship 54:59 - Final Destination: Bloodlines 1:07:03 - Outro This is a public episode. If y