Movie Madness

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 Inspection

20:27 - Nanny

27:31 - Bones and All

41:12 - Devotion

52:30 - Glass Onion

1:08:18 - Strange World

1:17:01 - The Fabelmans

1:38:0 - Outro

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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. Rollerball 4K)

29:43 - Warner Bros. (Peacemaker)

35:55 - Kino (Mystery Men 4K, High Plains Drifter 4K, Hold Me Tight)

50:12 - Universal (Bros)

55:58 - Blue Underground (Final Countdown 4K)

1:03:17 - IFC (Hatching)

1:08:25 - VCI (Children Shouldn’t Play with Dead Things 4k)

1:14:21 - Sony (SPC Classics Set)

1:19:01 - Paramount (My Friend Irma, Planes Trains Automobiles 4K)

1:31:01 – New Blu-ray Announcements

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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 Face

38:23 - Lamborghini: The Man Behind The Legend

47:21 - Stutz

1:03:44 - The Wonder

1:14:57 – The Menu

1:28:11 - She Said

1:52:33 - Outro

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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 (Vestron Collector's Series))

30:22 - Paramount (Blue Hawaii)

37:31 - Grindhouse (Death Game)

45:42 - Kino (Escape From Alcatraz (4K), Valachi papers)

59:11 - IFC (Both Sides of the Blade)

1:04:31 - WB (Three Thousand Years of Longing)

1:11:44 - WB 4K (Casablanca, Elf, The Polar Express, A Christmas Story, Christmas Vacation)

1:38:54 – New Blu-ray Announcements

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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

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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.

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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 sister of the famous detective (Enola Holmes 2) and Jennifer Lawrence stars with Brian Tyree Henry in a tale of trauma and friendship (Causeway). Finally, the internet finally got the biopic they wanted with Daniel Radcliffe starring as the world’s renown song parodist (Weird: The Al Yankovic Story).

0:00 - Intro

1:18 - Something In The Dirt

11:05 - Nocebo

18:39 - Please Baby Please

26:13 - On The Line

35:53 - The Minute You Wake Up Dead

49:51 - The Estate

59:52 - Armageddon Time

1:09:07 - I'm Totally Fine

1:22:17 - Enola Holmes 2

1:32:50 - Good Night Oppy

1:48:15 - Causeway

1:57:09 - Weird: The Al Yankovic Story

2:10:34 - Outro

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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 South Commentary By Sergio Mims

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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 Front

56:50 - The Banshees of Inisherin

1:11:57 – Tár

1:30:42 - Outro

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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 Brandi Carlile

16:16 - V/H/S/99

29:24 – The Good Nurse

46:15 - Raymond & Ray

57:29 - My Policeman

1:05:59 - Halloween Ends

1:20:53 - Ticket to Paradise

1:31:37 - Black Adam

1:53:51 - Outro

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