Movie Madness

James Laczkowski James Laczkowski

Episode 171: The Essentials (2010-19) (Chapter Three)

Our third guest, Ian Simmons from Kicking the Seat, joins us to offer his ten selection for the time capsule of the past decade. Amongst entering an Oscar winner, a franchise favorite and a film fresh from 2019, choices are made that revive the age-old debate of art vs. the artist and how simply canceling them cancels the discussion. Then Erik Childress adds his own pick for a film that may be even more important today given where the country stands divided.

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James Laczkowski James Laczkowski

Episode 170: Good Things Go Up and Down In Stretches

A lot of collections highlight the latest in Blu-rays starting with the release of Tex Avery’s classic cartoons. Erik Childress and Sergio Mims talk about the Beverly Hills Cop trilogy and look at a pair of films featured at last year’s Chicago Critics Film Festival now available from Shout Factory. Erik goes off on the latest Terminator but offers high praise on another new 4K release from Paramount. Then they wrap things up by looking at a stretch of Spike Lee’s career in a bunch of brand new releases from Kino amongst others.

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James Laczkowski James Laczkowski

Episode 169: A Lot of Yik-Yak and Tobruk

Things get a little weird on this episode. OK, maybe not that weird as Erik & Sergio Mims delve into some Ealing comedies, war films and a pair of television comebacks. Sergio finally gives his take on Todd Phillips’ Joker and tells us of his latest commentary track. In the middle of all of this though they go through a trio of films that run the gamut from one of Charlie Sheen’s first big roles to what maybe should have been Tawny Kitaen’s last. And Erik presents his theory on the film he somehow wiped away from memory that has been described as “Nickelodeon by way of David Lynch.”

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James Laczkowski James Laczkowski

Episode 168: Sundance Film Festival 2020

Erik Childress recaps his 18th year attending the first big film festival of the year talking about his favorites and even some of his not-so-favorites. Hear what Erik thought of new films with Michael Keaton, Jude Law, Steven Yeun, Alison Brie, Winston Duke and Aubrey Plaza. Plus the latest from directors Brandon Cronenberg, Miranda July and the film that broke the new sales record at the fest. He even has a few things to say about some Slamdance documentaries and others about the creation of The Exorcist and Ren & Stimpy. It is a packed episode about films you may be hearing more about in 2020.

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James Laczkowski James Laczkowski

Episode 167: The Essentials (2010-19) (Chapter Two)

The time capsule for the last decade of film gets ten more titles courtesy of Collin Souter, co-host of the Christmas Movies Actually podcast and longtime radio partner of Erik Childress. Animation carves out a spot this time as well as a surprise entry that is, nevertheless, one of the great achievements of the period. Then for good measure, Erik adds one more title to the list and makes the case that it is more than just another sports movie.

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James Laczkowski James Laczkowski

Episode 166: Bancroft and Hard-Workin’ Men

The first new episode of the new year and new decade focuses on a crop of titles from just a few studios and one legendary actress. That would be the great Anne Bancroft who has a wonderful new collection out from Shout Factory. Erik and Sergio Mims also look at films starring everyone from Lloyd Bridges to Ethan Hawke as well as a cornucopia of titles from Kino including the first film from Rian Johnson, a history of the Silence of the Lambs sequel, going to bat for a Charlie Sheen film and ultimately reaping praise on what they believe to be one of the great American films from Paul Schrader.

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James Laczkowski James Laczkowski

Episode 165: The Essentials (2010-19) (Chapter One)

The long-awaited new chapter of the Movie Madness podcast begins as we look back upon the previous decade of films to choose which ones we would like to put into a time capsule. Steve Prokopy is the first of many guests to join Erik Childress on a journey through some of their favorites, kicking off the list with 11 titles to make the final cut in a new tradition that will continue into the new decade.

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James Laczkowski James Laczkowski

Episode 164: Special Editions & Special Movies To End 2019

More last-minute gift ideas for the holiday as we close out 2019 with some genuine favorites from Sergio Mims and Erik Childress. Names like Murphy, Burton and Brundle get brand new packages. Criterion has some Bette Davis greats, Olive pays tribute to Dick Miller and Sergio is happier with Kurt Vonnegut than Thornton Melon ever was. They also show some love to an overlooked werewolf film as well as one of the funniest movies of 2019 and another among the very best of the year.

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James Laczkowski James Laczkowski

Episode 163: Conspiracies, Concerts & Costello

The Blu-rays never stop stopping on the podcast with Sergio Mims back for another round to talk about some recent releases from Criterion, Kino and particularly Shout Factory. Sergio defends some late ‘80s/early ‘90s action films on 4K and Erik does the same for the new Child’s Play while praising the release of Haxan and the ridiculousness of a mutant bear film. It is all leading up to the immaculate new packaging of all things Abbott & Costello that they call one of the best releases of 2019.

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James Laczkowski James Laczkowski

Episode 162: Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

The Skywalker Saga comes to an end and the fans speak! Erik Childress looks back upon the earliest memories of Star Wars with guests Sergio Mims, Erik Laws, Collin Souter and a surprise guest. They then get to it speaking about their initial thoughts to J.J. Abrams’ 180 back to The Force Awakens immediately after seeing it. There are warm thoughts, criticisms and hopes on where the universe goes from here in an episode dedicated to the end of an era.

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