Movie Madness

James Laczkowski James Laczkowski

Episode 191: Promising & Not-So-Promising Women

The final movie review show of 2020 narrows the focus down to just seven movies, but certainly some major ones. Erik Childress & Steve Prokopy gear you up for Amazon’s release of One Night in Miami next month. Tom Hanks & Peter Greengrass reunite for the western, News of the World, and we take you to the Beyond of Pixar’s latest, Soul. Where does it rank with their best? They look back at the Hilary Swank thriller, Fatale, and even further back at their experience seeing Sylvie’s Love at Sundance. Then the duo have two of their lengthiest discussions to date breaking down Emerald Fennell’s Promising Young Woman and the long-awaited Wonder Woman 1984 and if it lives up to the promise of the first film.

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James Laczkowski James Laczkowski

Episode 190: Last Minute Murphys, Eastwoods & Hobbits

On this – the final new Blu-ray show of 2020 – Erik Childress & Sergio Mims present some great last minute ideas for…presents…if you still need them. From 2001-03, Christmas also meant The Lord of the Rings as they look back on Peter Jackson’s trilogies in 4K. Paramount gets in on the 4K party with a pair of new Tom Cruise & Eddie Murphy releases and even a title finally new to Blu-ray from the comedian’s ‘80s output. They thrill to get another of their “not-on-Blu-ray” choices finally released in time for its 40th Anniversary and they re-examine Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather Part III as it celebrates its 30th Anniversary with a new Coda. Umbrella Entertainment does their part in bringing a pair of Paramount’s ‘70s releases to Blu-ray overseas. Finally they look at a slew of new Clint Eastwood releases from Kino along with a comedic 1980s anthology.

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James Laczkowski James Laczkowski

Episode 189: Aliens, Monsters, Apocalypse & Gerard Butler

Erik Childress & Steve Prokopy may tell you they are slacking this week with only eight movie reviews for you, but the swings are no less big. It’s an apocalyptic kind of week involving the third in an alien-bound series (Skylines), creatures from the world of gaming (Monster Hunter), a comet trying to bring an end to Gerard Butler and his family (Greenland) and a climate event that plagues poor George Clooney (The Midnight Sky). Perhaps most cataclysmic of all is the loss left by Chadwick Boseman as they look at his final on-screen appearance in an August Wilson adaptation (Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom). Then they conclude with a documentary following the connections between Islam and terrorism (The Last Sermon), watching Alicia Silverstone try to stop a wedding (Sister of the Groom) and the final chapter in Steve McQueen’s Small Axe series (Education).

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James Laczkowski James Laczkowski

Episode 188: Just Breathe, Emma, Or On Second Thought, Don’t!

The movie reviews continue with Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy and true to form they are reviewing another dozen new movies on this show. Included are documentaries covering the first wife of Johnny Cash (My Darling Vivian) and the women accused of a prominent North Korean murder (Assassins). Rachel Brosnahan is on the run in Julia Hart’s latest (I’m Your Woman) and everyone is in hiding in a COVID-23 thriller (Songbird). Jamie Dornan believes he is cursed to never be with Emily Blunt in John Patrick Shanley’s latest (Wild Mountain Thyme) and Joe Mangianello is a superhero cursed with a funny name (Archenemy). Steve takes a look at the fourth entry in Steve McQueen’s Small Axe series (Alex Wheatle) and the immigrant drama (Farewell Amor). Sienna Miller thinks she is dead (Wander Darkly) and, after five years, two Drew Barrymores return (The Stand-In). There are also two Meryl Streep films this week including the latest from Steven Soderbergh (Let Them All Talk) and Ryan Murphy’s adaptation of a short-lived musical with an all-star cast (The Prom).

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James Laczkowski James Laczkowski

Episode 187: WHY IS THIS NOT ON BLU-RAY? (Chapter 5)

Before the pandemic began, Erik Childress and Sergio Mims recorded the first of their bi-annual Not-On-Blu-Ray shows for 2020. Well it is finally here which is more than we can say about all but one of the 20 films that have still not been released in the format some nine months later. Where are they? What is taking so long? Tune in and find out which fantasies and mysteries from the 1970s and ‘80s they have chosen. Which lauded film from Sundance is still not available? Oscar nominees, musicals, westerns and much more are still languishing on DVD while others are already moving on to 4K. Join the demand for these titles and stay tuned for another edition coming much sooner than later.

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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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