Movie Madness
Episode 589: Ethan, Don’t. Just…Don’t!
The summer continues to wind down but Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy still have eight reviews for you this week. Steve takes a look at one of the most successful films of all-time, outside of the United States (Ne Zha 2) as well as a Sophie Turner thriller the studio apparently wanted nobody to see or even hear about (Trust) while Erik looks at the new romance from Lasse Hallstrom (The Map That Leads To You). Then its time for Samara Weaving as a getaway driver (Eenie Meanie) and Riz Ahmed providing cover for whistleblowers (Relay). A group of college kids try to avoid growing up (Pools) and a bunch of adults escape wartime society in the new film from Ron Howard (Eden). Finally, Ethan Coen gives it another shot without brother Joel and the results are again troubling (Honey, Don’t)
Episode 588: 15,000 Cars, Suddenly, BY Magic
This week in physical media with Erik Childress and Peter Sobczynski they look at everything from Italian neo-realism to blaxploitation. There is also James Stewart and his invisible rabbit, Jane Austen and her lovelorn sisters plus a little Jess Franco. One of Leslie Nielsen’s lesser known parodies is discussed along with the Coneheads feature and one of Adam Sandler’s most beloved characters. Erik goes to bat for what he feels is an underappreciated Ron Howard film and Peter goes into the bizarro world of Xanadu.
Episode 587: Call Me Sometime When You Have No Class
It is another epic review week on the show with Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy tackling 11 films. They range from a documentary about comedians navigating their worst condition (Anxiety Club) to an animated film about horny dogs (Fixed). A black family deals with the aftermath of an intruder in their home (The Knife) while a toxic dead mother intrudes on the bodies of her wife and son (Went Up The Hill) not to mention the widowed rancher trying to keep her family and business together (East of Wall). Two friends fight against being abducted by aliens in an apartment (Jimmy & Stiggs) while two infamous cable staples from 1985 get reimagined without imagination (Witchboard, Red Sonja). Bob Odenkirk returns as a man of action (Nobody 2). Vanessa Kirby spends all night trying to gather money to save her home (Night Always Comes) and Spike Lee reteams with Denzel Washington in the best remake of the week; let alone one from Akira Kurosawa (Highest 2 Lowest).
Episode 586: Let’s Get Some F#!$in’ FRENCH Toast!
This week in physical media with Erik Childress and Peter Sobczynski they look at a staple of Egyptian film noir as well as a noir box that features an early version of Gatsby. There’s a double feature with Sylvia Sidney and a double dip of Sleepaway Camp. Hear about the horror film that Peter despises as well as the better one also getting the 4K upgrade. The Poseidon Adventure gets a modern remake and Oliver Stone does his 9/11 film. Erik also proves to be a bit fonder of the trio of anniversaries being released, particularly the one he considers to be one of the absolute best of modern comedies and kicked off an era that many wish would return to the big screen.
Episode 585: Choose Your Weapon And Draw
Lots of movies this week on the show. 11 of them to be precise with full reviews from Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy. Steve flies solo with Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan back in the wrong bodies (Freakier Friday) plus a new serial killer thriller (Strange Harvest) and a documentary focusing on the fandom of Eminem (Stans). Erik looks at a story of young sisters trying to avoid being separated after their mom dies (What We Hide). There’s an actual music documentary about an artist taken too soon (It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley) and another pending paternal anxiety with a sci-fi twist (Descendent). An all-star cast forms Kristen Scott-Thomas’ personal directorial debut (My Mother’s Wedding) and Eddie Murphy teams up with Pete Davidson for some armored truck action (The Pickup). A young girl’s drawings come to life causing havoc around town (Sketch). The pair catch up on the new reboot of a comedy classic (The Naked Gun) and finish off with the mysterious disappearance of children from the director of Barbarian (Weapons).
Episode 584: Are You Ready For Your Close-Up?
It is a light week for physical media but that does not mean there aren’t some heavy hitters. Erik Childress and Peter Sobczynski are here to catch you up including a pair of grim anti-war films from Kon Ichikawa. There is a whole new batch of martial arts films from the Shaw Brothers. Peter Weir’s dad-movie maritime epic gets an upgrade as does a great starring vehicle for David Dastmalchian. They talk about Sam Peckinpah’s song-inspired Hal Needham film and the 40th anniversary of a John Cusack teen classic. Though few films will compare to the majesty of a masterpiece among masterpieces from Billy Wilder that belongs on every movie lover’s shelf.
Episode 583: Breakthrough Comedies and MST4K
Erik Childress and Peter Sobczynski guide you through a wacky week of physical media. It includes the breakthrough comedies from Jim Carrey and Adam Sandler. Eddie Murphy makes his first foray into fantasy and Norm MacDonald gets three versions of his first starring role. A cinephile incel turns to murder. Meanwhile, Pulp Fiction gets a spinoff and Diabolik gets three. There is blaxploitation, Elaine May, Jon Cryer going back to school and Fu Manchu. Find out who Cliff Twemlow is and what William Conrad directed. Another William (Friedkin) directs his reported favorite movie that got the How Did This Get Made treatment while a pair of titles also got the MST3K stamp. We also got one from our Why Is This Not On Blu-Rays shows making the leap from DVD to 4K.
Episode 582: First Steps and Big Swings
Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy review seven movies for you this week. They include a documentary about one of the most famous journalists of her time (Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything). Erik check out Hell in the Pacific meets the Creature from the Black Lagoon (Monster Island) while Steve looks at a new romantic thriller from Michael Winterbottom (Shoshana). They catch up on a quirky relationship comedy they saw at Sundance (Oh, Hi!). Pete Davidson goes the horror route with a mysterious elderly facility (The Home) while another SNL veteran returns to maybe his most popular character after 30 years (Happy Gilmore 2). Finally, Steve gets to check in on his thoughts on the latest from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (The Fantastic Four: First Steps).
Episode 581: The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Just a few weeks after their incredible disappointment with James Gunn’s Superman (which they briefly revisit), Erik Childress and comic book expert Erik Laws dive back into comic book cinema with Marvel’s latest attempt to do justice to the Fantastic Four. After two films by Tim Story and the infamous disasters of 2015 and the shelved Roger Corman version of the ‘90s, the foursome has never endeared itself to Childress but the results may surprise you. They delve into the creation and treatment of Galactus and the Silver Surfer, how the new cast adheres to the intentions of the comic book family and why that is important to its ultimate success. The film is not without its flaws but does manage to further highlight some of the flaws they found in Superman. Could Marvel be inching their way back to creative consistency? The title may just have a dual meaning in that manner.
Episode 580: Your French Fries Are Drowning And Stuff
Physical media offers a lot of pleasures this week. Do Erik Childress and Peter Sobczynski feel guilty about any of them? Certainly not of Jack Nicholson’s collaboration with Mike Nichols or one of their “Why Is This Not On Blu-ray” titles getting the 4K treatment. There’s a little history of the nudie plus Bertolucci does a family film. An MST3K selection may not be worth all the skewering though neither was Joe Dante’s snakebit summer effort from 1998. All that plus Larry Cohen’s grossly satirical take on consumerism and what Beverly Hills Cop might have been like if it starred Sylvester Stallone.