Movie Madness

It’s Thanksgiving week and there are movies to see. Some great ones too and seven of them are covered this week by Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy. Shih-Ching Tsou, a producer of Sean Baker’s films, returns behind the camera with a unique family drama on Netflix (Left-Handed Girl) where you can also see a fascinating journalistic mystery about the Vietnam War (The Stringer: The Man Who Took The Photo). Brendan Fraser takes on a unique acting challenge in Japan (Rental Family) while Miles Teller & Elizabeth Olsen die and must figure out if they want to spend the afterlife with each other (Eternity). Chloe Zhao delivers the emotional wringer of the year (Hamnet) while Rian Johnson gives us the third chapter of his fantastic Knives Out series (Wake Up Dead Man). Finally it’s been nine years by Disney takes us back to the animal world for another timely mystery (Zootopia 2).

3:46 - Left-Handed Girl

10:32 - Rental Family

22:23 - The Stringer: The Man Who Took The Photo

31:42 - Eternity

45:43 - Hamnet

58:50 - Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery

1:13:02 - Zootopia 2

CLICK ON THE FILMS TO RENT OR PURCHASE AND HELP OUT THE MOVIE MADNESS PODCAST

SIGN UP FOR AUDIBLE

Be sure to check out

Erik’s Weekly Box Office Column – At Rotten Tomatoes

Critics’ Classics Series – At Elk Grove Cinema in Elk Grove Village, IL

Chicago Screening Schedule - All the films coming to theaters and streaming

Physical Media Schedule - Click & Buy upcoming titles for your library.

(Direct purchases help the Movie Madness podcast with a few pennies.)

Erik’s Linktree - Where you can follow Erik and his work anywhere and everywhere.

The Movie Madness Podcast has been recognized by Million Podcasts as one of the Top 100 Best Movie Review Podcasts as well as in the Top 60 Film Festival Podcasts and Top 100 Cinephile Podcasts. MillionPodcasts is an intelligently curated, all-in-one podcast database for discovering and contacting podcast hosts and producers in your niche perfect for PR pitches and collaborations.

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

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Just in time for Black Friday week, Erik Childress and Peter Sobczynski get you caught up on this week’s collection of physical media. There’s no less than four classic Abbott and Costello titles and five Death Wish films. One of the great Jane Austen adaptation celebrates its 20th anniversary in 4K. Sean Penn battles his criminal father, Christopher Walken, while William Powell and Myrna Loy team up again outside of the Thin Man films. The sword and sandals are represented twice in the ‘80s from The Barbarian Brothers (and Eva LaRue) plus the Don Coscarelli film that may be the living embodiment of the perfect cable movie. Finally, the duo lead off with a deep dive into Stanley Kubrick’s final film, the perfect Christmas movie for everyone.

3:56 - Criterion (Eyes Wide Shut (4K))

25:37 - Warner Archive (I Love You Again)

31:11 - Kino (Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (4K), Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man (4K), Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (4K), Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy (4K), Ilsa, Harem Keeper of the Oil Sheiks (4K), The Death Wish Collection, The Barbarians)

1:15:12 - Shout Factory (The Beastmaster (4K))

1:26:34 - Cinematographe (At Close Range (4K))

1:35:34 - Universal (Pride and Prejudice (4K))

1:44:42 – New Theatrical Titles On Blu-Ray (The Long Walk (4K), The Conjuring: Last Rites (4K), Primitive War (4K), Anemone (4K), Coyotes, The Roses, Bone Lake, Eleanor the Great, Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie)

CLICK ON THE FILMS TO RENT OR PURCHASE AND HELP OUT THE MOVIE MADNESS PODCAST

SIGN UP FOR AUDIBLE

Be sure to check out

Erik’s Weekly Box Office Column – At Rotten Tomatoes

Critics’ Classics Series – At Elk Grove Cinema in Elk Grove Village, IL

Chicago Screening Schedule - All the films coming to theaters and streaming

Physical Media Schedule - Click & Buy upcoming titles for your library.

(Direct purchases help the Movie Madness podcast with a few pennies.)

Erik’s Linktree - Where you can follow Erik and his work anywhere and everywhere.

The Movie Madness Podcast has been recognized by Million Podcasts as one of the Top 100 Best Movie Review Podcasts as well as in the Top 60 Film Festival Podcasts and Top 100 Cinephile Podcasts. MillionPodcasts is an intelligently curated, all-in-one podcast database for discovering and contacting podcast hosts and producers in your niche perfect for PR pitches and collaborations.

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

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Eight movies are reviewed this week with Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy including a little catch-up from our previous week off. Steve checks out a Minka Kelly rom-com (Champagne Problems) and a film that owes a lot to the world of Euro-spy films (Reflection in a Dead Diamond). Speaking of which Mark Wahlberg’s Morgan family is back for their own European intrigue (The Family Plan 2) while a documentary charts the business angle that is thriving from school children being in actual danger (Thoughts & Prayers) and Josh O’Connor tries to pick up the pieces after a wildfire (Rebuilding). There is the invincible hero who fought Nazis now on the run from the Soviets (Sisu: Road to Revenge) while Glen Powell has to survive 30 days to win a billion dollars in the re-adaptation of Stephen King’s novel (The Running Man). Finally, the witches of Oz return to complete their story with a giant thud. (Wicked: For Good)

6:40 - Champagne Problems

13:45 - Thoughts & Prayers

21:06 - Reflection in a Dead Diamond

27:11 - The Family Plan 2

38:50 - Rebuilding

48:19 - Sisu: Road to Revenge

57:11 - The Running Man

1:11:09 - Wicked: For Good

CLICK ON THE FILMS TO RENT OR PURCHASE AND HELP OUT THE MOVIE MADNESS PODCAST

SIGN UP FOR AUDIBLE

Be sure to check out

Erik’s Weekly Box Office Column – At Rotten Tomatoes

Critics’ Classics Series – At Elk Grove Cinema in Elk Grove Village, IL

Chicago Screening Schedule - All the films coming to theaters and streaming

Physical Media Schedule - Click & Buy upcoming titles for your library.

(Direct purchases help the Movie Madness podcast with a few pennies.)

Erik’s Linktree - Where you can follow Erik and his work anywhere and everywhere.

The Movie Madness Podcast has been recognized by Million Podcasts as one of the Top 100 Best Movie Review Podcasts as well as in the Top 60 Film Festival Podcasts and Top 100 Cinephile Podcasts. MillionPodcasts is an intelligently curated, all-in-one podcast database for discovering and contacting podcast hosts and producers in your niche perfect for PR pitches and collaborations.

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

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It’s a week in physical media that would make current Secretary of Transportation, Sean “I can’t guarantee safety” Duffy, blush. Erik Childress and Peter Sobczynski take you through a week that includes the film that sent The Color Purple home empty, one of the Mars movies of 2000-01 and a decade-old adaptation of a Broadway smash. There’s also another prestige Oscar winner from Merchant Ivory, the Marx Brothers go to the circus and Simon Pegg & Nick Frost pay tribute to science fiction. One of John Woo’s most memorable films gets an upgrade in a new set and if you want to see one of the films they were making during Scorsese’s The Aviator, Criterion has you covered.

3:50 - Criterion (Hell’s Angels (4K), El (4K))

18:30 - Warner Archive (At the Circus, The Bride Came C.O.D.)

32:07 - Kino (The Gracie Allen Murder Case, Howards End (4K), Paul (4K))

54:00 - Universal (Out of Africa (4K))

1:02:43 - Arrow (Red Planet (4K))

1:11:54 - Sony (Rent (4K))

1:17:31 - Shout (A Better Tomorrow Trilogy (4K))

1:30:18 – New Theatrical Titles On Blu-ray (Splitsville, Universal Language, I’m ‘George Lucas’: A Connor Ratliff Story, Secret Mall Apartment, Riefenstahl)

1:35:06 - New Blu-ray Announcements

CLICK ON THE FILMS TO RENT OR PURCHASE AND HELP OUT THE MOVIE MADNESS PODCAST

SIGN UP FOR AUDIBLE

Be sure to check out

Erik’s Weekly Box Office Column – At Rotten Tomatoes

Critics’ Classics Series – At Elk Grove Cinema in Elk Grove Village, IL

Chicago Screening Schedule - All the films coming to theaters and streaming

Physical Media Schedule - Click & Buy upcoming titles for your library.

(Direct purchases help the Movie Madness podcast with a few pennies.)

Erik’s Linktree - Where you can follow Erik and his work anywhere and everywhere.

The Movie Madness Podcast has been recognized by Million Podcasts as one of the Top 100 Best Movie Review Podcasts as well as in the Top 60 Film Festival Podcasts and Top 100 Cinephile Podcasts. MillionPodcasts is an intelligently curated, all-in-one podcast database for discovering and contacting podcast hosts and producers in your niche perfect for PR pitches and collaborations.

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

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It’s a packed week on physical media this week, thanks at least to one filmmaker. But Erik Childress and Peter Sobczynski have plenty of good stuff for your libraries this week. They include one of the great filmmaking documentaries with Werner Herzog. There are a pair of Oscar-winning Best Pictures making their 4K debuts as well as a pair of Jim Carrey upgrades. Alex Winter’s ‘90s cult film gets an incredible new package and one of Peter’s favorite directors gets a package worth celebrating. If you’re a fan.

6:05 - Criterion (Burden of Dreams (4K))

13:02 - Lionsgate (The Descent 4K)

18:10 - Kino (Frightmare)

22:41 - Warner Bros. (One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (4K))

33:45 - Shout Factory (Spotlight (4K), Snowden (4K))

46:24 - Drafthouse Films (Freaked (4K))

54:35 - Arrow (The Mask (4K))

1:05:16 - Universal (How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (4K), U-571 (4K))

1:21:49 - Sony (The Luc Besson 9-Movie Collection (1983-2005) (4K))

1:49:31 - New TV Titles On Blu-ray (Ted Lasso: The Richmond Way (4K), Creepshow: Complete Series (2019-2022), Two and a Half Men: The Complete Series, The Morning Show (Seasons 1 & 2))

1:50:41 - New Theatrical Titles On Blu-ray (The Naked Gun (2025) (4K), Caught Stealing (4K), Together (4K), Spinal Tap II: The End Continues (4K), Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale (4K), Freakier Friday, The Count of Monte Cristo, Him (4K), Eden, Red Sonja (2025))

1:57:01 - New Blu-ray Announcements

SIGN UP FOR AUDIBLE

CLICK ON THE FILMS TO RENT OR PURCHASE AND HELP OUT THE MOVIE MADNESS PODCAST

Be sure to check out

Erik’s Weekly Box Office Column – At Rotten Tomatoes

Critics’ Classics Series – At Elk Grove Cinema in Elk Grove Village, IL

Chicago Screening Schedule - All the films coming to theaters and streaming

Physical Media Schedule - Click & Buy upcoming titles for your library.

(Direct purchases help the Movie Madness podcast with a few pennies.)

Erik’s Linktree - Where you can follow Erik and his work anywhere and everywhere.

The Movie Madness Podcast has been recognized by Million Podcasts as one of the Top 100 Best Movie Review Podcasts as well as in the Top 60 Film Festival Podcasts and Top 100 Cinephile Podcasts. MillionPodcasts is an intelligently curated, all-in-one podcast database for discovering and contacting podcast hosts and producers in your niche perfect for PR pitches and collaborations.

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

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Eight reviews are on the docket this week with Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy. They include a film about a recording of a photographer telling us about their day (Peter Hujar’s Day). Steve covers many of the elements with a documentary about one of the biggest franchises ever (Fire and Water: Making the Avatar Films) and the hunts for millions in the tundra (Ice Fall). Sydney Sweeney becomes one of the most successful female boxers ever (Christy) and Russell Crowe is on trial for being Hitler’s second-in-command (Nuremberg). A non-binary teenager is kicked out of their home (I Wish You All The Best). Jennifer Lawrence goes through hell after having a baby with Robert Pattinson (Die, My Love) and the antagonist becomes the protagonist in the continuing adventures of a 40+-year franchise – or two (Predator: Badlands).

4:46 - Fire and Water: Making the Avatar Films

13:45 - Peter Hujar’s Day

23:08 - Ice Fall

30:21 - Christy

41:37 - I Wish You All the Best

51:10 - Nuremberg

1:06:52 - Die, My Love

1:21:02 - Predator: Badlands

CLICK ON THE FILMS TO RENT OR PURCHASE AND HELP OUT THE MOVIE MADNESS PODCAST

Be sure to check out

Erik’s Weekly Box Office Column – At Rotten Tomatoes

Critics’ Classics Series – At Elk Grove Cinema in Elk Grove Village, IL

Chicago Screening Schedule - All the films coming to theaters and streaming

Physical Media Schedule - Click & Buy upcoming titles for your library.

(Direct purchases help the Movie Madness podcast with a few pennies.)

Erik’s Linktree - Where you can follow Erik and his work anywhere and everywhere.

The Movie Madness Podcast has been recognized by Million Podcasts as one of the Top 100 Best Movie Review Podcasts as well as in the Top 60 Film Festival Podcasts and Top 100 Cinephile Podcasts. MillionPodcasts is an intelligently curated, all-in-one podcast database for discovering and contacting podcast hosts and producers in your niche perfect for PR pitches and collaborations.

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

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Its physical media time again on the show with Erik Childress and Peter Sobczynski talking about the film that got Dillinger killed a pre-Lady Eve comic mystery with Barbary Stanwyck & Henry Fonda. Apple goes back to physical media to add an Oscar winner to your shelf. There’s an all-star cast in a late ‘70s Godfather wannabe plus Peter Hyams’ western in space. Tim Burton gets an upgrade for one of his very best films as does the great John Woo with an action film (and baby) for the ages. Plus Criterion upgrades their entry from the John Hughes era which the duo have a lot of thoughts on.

3:50 - Criterion (The Breakfast Club (4K))

19:34 - Apple (CODA 4K)

30:17 - Warner Archive (Manhattan Melodrama, The Mad Miss Manton)

43:11 - Cinematographe (King of the Gypsies 4K)

52:13 - Disney (Edward Scissorhands (4K))

1:04:35 - Arrow (Outland (4K))

1:15:45 - Shout (Hard Boiled (4K))

1:23:21 – New TV On Blu-ray (Alfred Hitchcock Presents: The Legacy Collection, Happy’s Place: Season One)

1:26:26 - New Blu-ray Announcements

CLICK ON THE FILMS TO RENT OR PURCHASE AND HELP OUT THE MOVIE MADNESS PODCAST

Be sure to check out

Erik’s Weekly Box Office Column – At Rotten Tomatoes

Critics’ Classics Series – At Elk Grove Cinema in Elk Grove Village, IL

Chicago Screening Schedule - All the films coming to theaters and streaming

Physical Media Schedule - Click & Buy upcoming titles for your library.

(Direct purchases help the Movie Madness podcast with a few pennies.)

Erik’s Linktree - Where you can follow Erik and his work anywhere and everywhere.

The Movie Madness Podcast has been recognized by Million Podcasts as one of the Top 100 Best Movie Review Podcasts as well as in the Top 60 Film Festival Podcasts and Top 100 Cinephile Podcasts. MillionPodcasts is an intelligently curated, all-in-one podcast database for discovering and contacting podcast hosts and producers in your niche perfect for PR pitches and collaborations.

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

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It’s Halloween weekend and there isn’t a lot of horror but Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy still have eight films to talk about. They include a documentary about an archbishop who wrote the gay disco anthem of the ‘70s (I Was Born This Way) and another true story about drugs, family and revenge in the Ozarks (Violent Ends). There are some holiday-themed titles including a daughter realizing her mom may have fallen into a cult (Self-Help) and an animated Frankenstein-esque tale for kids (Stitch Head). The director of Conclave has Colin Farrell gambling away in Macau (Ballad of a Small Player) and Nia DaCosta swaps race and gender in an updating of Henrik Ibsen’s 1891 play (Hedda). Diane Lane watches her family come apart in a new America (Anniversary) and the pair share their memories on the 40th anniversary of a masterpiece (Back to the Future).

3:32 - I Was Born This Way

13:44 - Self-Help

21:53 - Stitch Head

30:43 - Violent Ends

42:14 - Ballad of a Small Player

51:14 - Anniversary

1:09:10 - Hedda

1:20:33 - Back to the Future (40th Anniversary re-release)

CLICK ON THE FILMS TO RENT OR PURCHASE AND HELP OUT THE MOVIE MADNESS PODCAST

Be sure to check out

Erik’s Weekly Box Office Column – At Rotten Tomatoes

Critics’ Classics Series – At Elk Grove Cinema in Elk Grove Village, IL

Chicago Screening Schedule - All the films coming to theaters and streaming

Physical Media Schedule - Click & Buy upcoming titles for your library.

(Direct purchases help the Movie Madness podcast with a few pennies.)

Erik’s Linktree - Where you can follow Erik and his work anywhere and everywhere.

The Movie Madness Podcast has been recognized by Million Podcasts as one of the Top 100 Best Movie Review Podcasts as well as in the Top 60 Film Festival Podcasts and Top 100 Cinephile Podcasts. MillionPodcasts is an intelligently curated, all-in-one podcast database for discovering and contacting podcast hosts and producers in your niche perfect for PR pitches and collaborations.

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

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It’s another week of horror, weirdness and cult titles on physical media but also another addition from our annual “Why Is This Not On Blu-ray?” shows. Erik Childress and Peter Sobczynski guide you through this week on physical media including the works of Dan Curtis, Richard Stanley and Guillermo Del Toro. Abel Ferrara’s infamous revenge picture gets the upgrade as does one of the great Godzilla films. John Carpenter’s best film of the ‘90s gets its due praise while there is a deep dive into one of the infamous slasher spoofs of the ’80s. Finally, Mike Nichols’ adaptation of an anti-war classic is reappraised with a deserving new transfer.

4:00 - Criterion (Deep Crimson (4K), Nightmare Alley (2021) (4K))

15:25 - Kino (The Cat and the Canary (1927) (4K), Dan Curtis’ Classic Monsters (1968-1974), Dead of Night, Dust Devil (4K))

38:02 - Arrow (In the Mouth of Madness (4K), Ms. 45 (4K))

55:20 - TerrorVision (Student Bodies 4K)

1:16:14 - Shout (Shin Godzilla (4K), Catch-22 (4K))

1:37:33 – New TV & Theatrical Titles On Blu-ray (St. Denis Medical: Season One, The Day of the Jackal: Season One, The Toxic Avenger (2023), Americana, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Smurfs, Jimmy and Stiggs, Familiar Touch)

1:42:18 - New Blu-ray Announcements

CLICK ON THE FILMS TO RENT OR PURCHASE AND HELP OUT THE MOVIE MADNESS PODCAST

Be sure to check out

Erik’s Weekly Box Office Column – At Rotten Tomatoes

Critics’ Classics Series – At Elk Grove Cinema in Elk Grove Village, IL

Chicago Screening Schedule - All the films coming to theaters and streaming

Physical Media Schedule - Click & Buy upcoming titles for your library.

(Direct purchases help the Movie Madness podcast with a few pennies.)

Erik’s Linktree - Where you can follow Erik and his work anywhere and everywhere.

The Movie Madness Podcast has been recognized by Million Podcasts as one of the Top 100 Best Movie Review Podcasts as well as in the Top 60 Film Festival Podcasts and Top 100 Cinephile Podcasts. MillionPodcasts is an intelligently curated, all-in-one podcast database for discovering and contacting podcast hosts and producers in your niche perfect for PR pitches and collaborations.

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

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy have another 11 reviews for you this week. It starts all the way back at last year’s Toronto Film Festival with Crispin Glover finding no way out of a mysterious hotel (Mr. K). Justin Lin adapts the true story of a young missionary and a lost tribe (Last Days). A ‘90s thriller gets updated (The Hand That Rocks The Cradle), an imaginary demon terrorizes people (Shelby Oaks) and zombies go after drag queens (Queens of the Dead). Kelly Reichardt tells the story of the man behind a ‘70s art heist (The Mastermind) and Richard Linklater returns with Ethan Hawke on a notable night for a songwriting legend (Blue Moon). Jesse Plemons kidnaps Emma Stone in the latest from Yorgos Lanthimos and Kathryn Bigelow returns after eight years to put us on the brink of WWIII (A House of Dynamite). The author of It Ends With Us gets her latest melodramatic adaptation (Regretting You) while The Boss finally gets a crucial part of his journey told (Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere)

3:56 - Mr. K

11:34 - Last Days

17:48 - The Hand That Rocks the Cradle

27:32 - Shelby Oaks

33:28 - Queens of the Dead

45:42 - The Mastermind

55:03 - Blue Moon

1:08:16 - Bugonia

1:20:32 - Regretting You

1:34:14 - A House of Dynamite

1:48:00 - Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere

2:01:13 – Next Week

CLICK ON THE FILMS TO RENT OR PURCHASE AND HELP OUT THE MOVIE MADNESS PODCAST

Be sure to check out

Erik’s Weekly Box Office Column – At Rotten Tomatoes

Critics’ Classics Series – At Elk Grove Cinema in Elk Grove Village, IL

Chicago Screening Schedule - All the films coming to theaters and streaming

Physical Media Schedule - Click & Buy upcoming titles for your library.

(Direct purchases help the Movie Madness podcast with a few pennies.)

Erik’s Linktree - Where you can follow Erik and his work anywhere and everywhere.

The Movie Madness Podcast has been recognized by Million Podcasts as one of the Top 100 Best Movie Review Podcasts as well as in the Top 60 Film Festival Podcasts and Top 100 Cinephile Podcasts. MillionPodcasts is an intelligently curated, all-in-one podcast database for discovering and contacting podcast hosts and producers in your niche perfect for PR pitches and collaborations.

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

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.