2020 seems like it will follow us around for some time, but hopefully only the best memories of the year will standout as we were all isolated in lockdown watching movies wherever we could find them. Erik Childress is joined by two of his former WGN reviewing colleagues, Steve Prokopy and Collin Souter, to countdown their best lists from last year. There are direct agreements and a few disagreements as they also present their picks on everything from funniest moments to what they are looking forward to in 2021.

We are kicking off 2021 in grand fashion. Kicking being the optimum word as Erik Childress and Sergio Mims are highlighting some of their favorite big screen kicks to the nuts. But not just kicks. They have got punches, gunshots, other weapons and even furniture. You may wince a bit but we are hoping you laugh a whole lot more. We certainly did and you may have even forgotten about some of these bits that certainly entertained us. Self-defense, punishment and at least one actor who may enjoy it a bit too much all get in on some serious groin damage. Cross your legs if you must, but have a listen.

Over at “The Bad Mutha Film Show” on WHPK Radio at the University of Chicago, Erik Childress joined Sergio Mims to discuss the implications of the Warner Bros. deal with HBO MAX and the fallout that has already resulted from it. That leads them to wonder about the future of movie theaters and express some optimistic assessments. Sergio is pleased with the direction of recent black cinema as they focus on recent releases One Night in Miami, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and Sylvie’s Love and then go back in time to the time of the Production Code and ask if this resulted in filmmakers having to get more creative. Finally, Sergio asks when Hollywood began to take Steven Spielberg seriously?

Along with his contributions to the Movie Madness Podcast, Sergio Mims also hosts “The Bad Mutha Film Show” on WHPK Radio at the University of Chicago. Erik Childress has served as his regular co-host for over a decade and as the pandemic preempted their show, they brought it back virtually in November and this is the first of those shows. They discussed how studios were navigating the COVID era of movie releasing. After having done a tribute to Sean Connery here on the podcast after his death, they discuss how past comments resurfaced to dampen the praise and how it is still possible to accept the good with the bad. Then they take a nostalgic trip to the past with the movie theaters and experiences of their younger years. Where did they go? What did they see? Maybe it will spark some memories with you.

The second of the bi-annual segment makes it just in time as we close out 2020. Erik Childress & Sergio Mims continue to plead for some quality titles – and personal favorites – to finally get the upgrade they deserve. Over the course of this three-hour show they each select 10 titles to put on everyone’s radar. They range from an American remake, two films from the ‘70s that were eventually remade, a film made into a TV show and a TV show made into a movie. There are also films with cops, robbers, Hollywood and other gambles including those of mis-matched love affairs and even a guilty pleasure that may be just a plea from Sergio. Decades are covered with films they do not want forgotten as they languish in their original releases in the hopes to be re-introduced in Blu-ray or better to all of you sooner than later.

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.

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.

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).

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).

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.