Movie Madness

James Laczkowski James Laczkowski

Episode 186: Senses, Nomads and Santa Claus

Two more glorious hours with Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy as they review another dozen movies for your consideration. They look at the latest in Steve McQueen’s Small Axe series (Red, White and Blue). Senses are diminished in a pair of films (Sound of Metal, Another Round) and wish they could have been dulled with the melodramatic horror of matrimony preparation (All My Life; Love, Weddings and Other Disasters). There is traditional horror in a remake (Castle Freak) and personal horror for Aubrey Plaza (Black Bear). Steve looks at the latest work with Andrea Riseborough (Luxor) and Erik checks out the documentary, Museum Town. They have a lot to say about the new Disney+ family film (Godmothered) and one (or both) may get actively choked up over Dear Santa. Finally, they offer their thoughts on the lauded Chloe Zhao/Frances McDormand collaboration, Nomadland.

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James Laczkowski James Laczkowski

Episode 185: Great Music, No Music And A Lack Of Intelligence

We may not have a traditional holiday movie season post-Thanksgiving, but Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy still have reviews of ten new films you can see on streaming services. For families still venturing out into theaters they take a look at “The Croods: A New Age”. Another reluctant return to family is explored in Alan Ball’s “Uncle Frank” as well as the Bella Thorne starrer, “Girl.” We revisit a turning point in video games (“Insert Coin”), a period in the life, if not music (any music) of David Bowie (“Stardust”) and the entire life of another musician (“Zappa”). Steve delves into the corruption of Illinois politics (“Lincoln is Crying”) and Erik looks at the next chapter in Steve McQueen’s Small Axe series (“Lovers Rock”). Then there is also the Santa vs. Hitman action-comedy “Hitman” and they have some strong words for the latest collaboration of Melissa McCarthy and husband, Ben Falcone, in “Superintelligence.”

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James Laczkowski James Laczkowski

Episode 184: SNL Past & SCTV Present Collide

As Black Friday approaches, Erik Childress & Sergio Mims return to offer some great Blu-rays to consider for your holiday shopping. Erik previews a brand new transfer of The Last Starfighter as well as a commentary he contributed for it. Pasts and presents collide with the original Mission: Impossible series and the updating of Robert Wise’s The Haunting for the ‘90s. The Flintstones and Bill & Ted may seem like relics but which have stood the test of time. Finally they have a blast talking about the early years of Saturday Night Live and why a pair of SCTV legends are finally getting their due.As Black Friday approaches, Erik Childress & Sergio Mims return to offer some great Blu-rays to consider for your holiday shopping. Erik previews a brand new transfer of The Last Starfighter as well as a commentary he contributed for it. Pasts and presents collide with the original Mission: Impossible series and the updating of Robert Wise’s The Haunting for the ‘90s. The Flintstones and Bill & Ted may seem like relics but which have stood the test of time. Finally they have a blast talking about the early years of Saturday Night Live and why a pair of SCTV legends are finally getting their due.

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James Laczkowski James Laczkowski

Episode 183: Run, Don’t Jiu Jitsu

Back-to-back movie review episodes. The last one had a dozen reviews. This one has a dozen reviews courtesy of Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy including Christmas offerings featuring Kurt Russell (“The Christmas Chronicles: Part Two”) and a galaxy far, far away (“The Lego Star Wars Holiday Special”). They look at five documentaries ranging from facial recognition tech (“Coded Bias”), the psychology of murder (“Crazy, Not Insane”), the making of a horror masterpiece (“Leap of Faith: William Friedkin on the Exorcist”) a healthcare mystery (“Collective”) and the one involving John F. Kennedy (“Truth is the Only Client”). They also talk about the beginning of Steve McQueen’s Small Axe series (“Mangrove”), Guy Pearce as a real-life art forger (“The Last Vermeer”), a pair of shuttered theatrical releases finding their home on Hulu (“Happiest Season”, “Run”) and they see if they can survive the Predator/Mortal Kombat mash-up featuring Nicolas Cage (“Jiu Jitsu”)

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James Laczkowski James Laczkowski

Episode 182: Freaky Hillbillies & Fossil Lovin’

Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy are back for over two hours of uninterrupted conversation on new movies being released in theaters and on streaming this week. They cover documentaries about meteors (“Fireball”), deep sea diving (“Dave Not Coming Back”), climate change activism (“I Am Greta”) and the mystery of a woman searching for her dead child (“Where She Lies”). They go from “Jungleland” to “Dreamland” to Never Never Land (“Come Away”). Things get a little “Freaky” with Vince Vaughn and Kathryn Newton and a lot with Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan (“Ammonite”). Finally they listen to the grievances of “Echo Boomers” and those from Ron Howard’s “Hillbilly Elegy” but also delve into David Fincher’s prologue to one of the finest motion pictures ever made in “Mank.”

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James Laczkowski James Laczkowski

Episode 181: The Man Who Would Be Sean Connery

The film world lost one of its greatest moviestars last week and we have dedicated an entire episode to his career. Erik Childress and Sergio Mims each focus on five films that either cemented his legacy amongst generations or ones that all of them may want to revisit. From James Bond to Marko Ramius as well as Indiana Jones’ father and the iconic Chicago role that won him the Oscar, this is a fun trip down memory lane and will likely have you reaching for the nearest Blu-ray or streaming service searching for the name – Sean Connery.

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James Laczkowski James Laczkowski

Episode 180: Let Him Go! Let Him Go!

It is movie review time once again and Steve Prokopy is back to join Erik Childress to talk about five new movies together and throws in a couple extra for you. They will discuss the latest theatrical release with Diane Lane and Kevin Costner (Let Him Go), a potential date with awards season for Sophia Loren (The Life Ahead), an emotional astronaut drama starring Eva Green (Proxima) and a pair of horror releases (Kindred, The Dark and the Wicked). Steve also lets you know about the latest from the director of The Autopsy of Jane Doe and Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (Mortal) and doubles down on the love for Frederick Wiseman’s four-and-a-half-hour Boston documentary, City Hall.

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James Laczkowski James Laczkowski

Episode 179: Virtual, Yet So Real: The 2020 Chicago International Film Festival

In the midst of film festivals shifting to online presentations this year, Erik Childress and Sergio Mims delve into Chicago’s addition of their annual October festival. While there are frustrations abound they turn to a good number of documentaries focusing on John Belushi and Stanley Kubrick as well as new ones from Spike Lee and Steve James’ latest on the city itself. Sergio also talks about City Hall, the new epic documentary from Frederick Wiseman, which has played a number of fests this season.

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James Laczkowski James Laczkowski

Episode 178: Come Play With Us, Halloweeners. We’ve Got Donuts!

Another week of new movies are upon us and Erik Childress & Steve Prokopy reunite once again to bring you the latest for Halloween week. There’s a sequel to a 90’s cult classic and a documentary about one from the ‘80s. Is horror best in theaters this weekend with Come Play or available on streaming with His House and Spell? Then they turn to a couple of documentaries about the strength of school shooting survivors and one about a donut entrepreneur.

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James Laczkowski James Laczkowski

Episode 177: The Movie Reviews Are Back!

For over 20 years, Erik Childress joined Nick Digilio on WGN Radio to talk and review movies. After his show was unceremoniously canceled this September, the movie review segment that was a staple on Chicago radio went as well. But now, following up on requests from fans, Erik and Steve Prokopy return to keep its memory alive; a segment once populated with the likes of Christmas Movies Actually host, Collin Souter, for nearly two decades and even the Now Playing Network founder, Jim Laczkowski. It’s a longstanding tradition that the Movie Madness Podcast now hopes to resurrect and they have picked a week that includes the latest from Justin Benson & Aaron Moorhead, Robert Zemeckis, Sofia Coppola and, of course, they talk the return of Borat and get into Rudy Giuliani’s pants. Some great recommendations on this show and we hope to continue to bring you more.

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