Movie Madness

James Laczkowski James Laczkowski

Episode 246: WHY IS THIS NOT ON BLU-RAY? (Chapter 7)

In their ongoing bi-annual series, Erik Childress and Sergio Mims once again hope to reach out to studios and rights holders over titles that are still only out there in the DVD format. As always they each choose ten titles to highlights and it’s a variety ranging from directors David Lean to Robert Benton. Comedies going from the political to downright silly to even more relevant 25 years later. TV shows that got their shot on the big screen. Film noirs, mysteries, spy films, swashbucklers, sports, a starring role for one of our greatest comedic character actors and the stunning debut of one of our great modern actresses. All of them still not on blu-ray and they want to know why.

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James Laczkowski James Laczkowski

Episode 245: Both Sides Now Worth Listening To

Four new theatrical exclusive titles, a pair from Netflix and another on Apple TV highlight this week’s review edition of the show. Erik Childress handles the first of Netflix’s sports documentary series Untold with the most infamous event in NBA history (Malice at the Palace) and the latest talke from Pablo Larrain about a woman taking back control of her life in the most dramatic fashion (Ema). Steve handles duties on two of the big theatrical releases of the week with the sequel to a surprise 2016 horror success (Don’t Breathe 2) and the biopic of Aretha Franklin (Respect). Then the pair team up to see John David Washington’s latest troubles on foreign soil in the thriller, Beckett. They revisit the opening night film of this year’s Sundance which set a record deal. Does CODA live up the hype? Finally they weigh in on the video game (and everything else-inspired) Free Guy with Ryan Reynolds.

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James Laczkowski James Laczkowski

Episode 244: A Sample of Tribeca 2021

We are getting into festival season and this episode takes us back a few weeks to when Erik Childress and Sergio Mims checked out some of the films that played at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival. Sergio handles a number of documentaries involving conductors, paintings, Rick James and Dick Gregory. Erik offers his thoughts on one of the festival award winners, another film about Ted Bundy, another better pandemic rom-com and a horror film that should draw plenty of uncomfortable laughter as well as terror.

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James Laczkowski James Laczkowski

Episode 243: Dancing To A Different Drum

Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy return with reviews of seven new movies including three documentaries of various outrage including ISIS sex slaves (Sabaya), aerial journalism (Whirlybird) and the epidemic of wildfires (Bring Your Own Brigade). Udo Kier gets a chance to shine in a leading role (Swan Song) and two very different musicals from Leo Carax (Annette) and Lin-Manuel Miranda (Vivo) delight and frustrate. Finally, if you missed out on The Suicide Squad episode with Erik Laws, Steve gets his opportunity to chime in on James Gunn’s anticipated reboot of the comic book.

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James Laczkowski James Laczkowski

Episode 242: The Box Office Evolution of Summer 2021

Erik Childress and Sergio Mims began a conversation on their WHPK radio show about the summer box office last month and have been continuing that discussion from week-to-week. On this episode you will hear the evolution of that talk as they offer perspective on behavior during the pandemic, trends that began to form in attendance, how HBO MAX and streaming have messed with the dynamics and some thoughts going forward on Disney and the lawsuit they are now facing with Scarlett Johansson. It’s a little bit of a timewarp with predictions and expectations but one that shall continue through a year that feels almost like one big experiment as studios decide where to land going forward.

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James Laczkowski James Laczkowski

Episode 241: The Quest for Bigger And Better Quests

Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy are back with this week’s movie review show. Not as many movies as last week but they have a lot to say nevertheless. From a documentary about legendary Second City master Del Close (For Madmen Only) to a twisting true tale of a hacker’s battle with the government (Enemies of the State), that is only the beginning. There is also a parkour-laden modern adaptation of Charles Dickens (Twist) as well as the first movie from the makers of The Djinn which they reviewed in Episode 227 (The Boy Behind the Door). But wait, there’s more and it’s all about the quests. Jake Johnson is on a quest for inner peace to inherit his mom’s cabin (Ride the Eagle). A collection of souls are on a quest to be born (Nine Days). Matt Damon is on a quest to clear his daughter of murder (Stillwater). Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt are on a river quest based on a Disney ride (Jungle Cruise). And finally, David Lowery and Dev Patel take us through the magnificent quest of Sir Gawain in a film you will be hearing more from them about (The Green Knight).

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James Laczkowski James Laczkowski

Episode 240: There’s No Gambling On Django

Continuing the bestow the virtues of physical media, Erik Childress and Sergio Mims go another round with some great Blu-ray and 4K titles that you may want to put into your collection or at least check out for the first time. They include one of the best Stephen King adaptations and one of the more troubled Sam Peckinpah productions. A new blu-ray about the fascinatingly crazy Australian genre history and an even nuttier martial arts/costume drama/werewolf film. The pair both give it up for the long overdue treatment for one of James Caan’s greatest films. And while Sergio was anxiously awaiting to dance all night with one anticipated 4K release, it is another that he names as one of the best releases of the year.

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James Laczkowski James Laczkowski

Episode 239: From Suicide Squad To THE Suicide Squad

Erik Childress is joined by comic book expert, Erik Laws, who had one of the worst comic book experiences watching what DC and Warner Bros. put in theaters with David Ayer’s Suicide Squad in 2016. (You can hear that on Episode 21 right here.) Not one to give up, Mr. Laws is back to check out James Gunn’s new reboot of the series. The pair discuss their thoughts on the film, whether or not Gunn has a ceiling with his template and if one of its primary characters is wearing out their welcome. Will this version generate enough good will to keep Gunn on board for future projects or will DC somehow screw this one up too.

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James Laczkowski James Laczkowski

Episode 238: What’s Old Is Still Old

Fondly we joke about not being able to do this on the radio like we used to, but find another show that offers up 13 movie reviews in a single episode. Cause that is what you get from Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy here including documentaries ranging from sharks to Woodstock ’99 and Alvin Ailey to Val Kilmer. There are vampires on a plane (Blood Red Sky), giant flies in a trunk (Mandibles) and the end of our world played for laughs (How It Ends) and drama (Settlers). Megan Fox is hunting a serial killer (Midnight in the Switchgrass), Ben Platt has a mentally ill sister screwing up his plans (Broken Diamonds) and Mark Wahlberg takes a cross-country walk for his gay son (Joe Bell). Finally the G.I. Joe franchise gets rebooted again with Snake Eyes and could there be a twist that gets Erik to finally like an M. Night Shyamalan movie (Old) after 22 years?

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James Laczkowski James Laczkowski

Episode 237: Pigs & Roadrunners: A New Legacy

This week’s movie review episode with Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy has it all. Sharks, pigs, roadrunners, gunfights, milkshakes and basketball. That would be selling it short though as the guys wade through eight films this week including documentaries featuring Eli Roth (Fin) and Anthony Bourdain (Roadrunner). They close the book on a Netflix trilogy (Fear Street Part 3 – 1666) and try to look past a bump in the road on a filmmaker they have appreciated (Die in a Gunfight). Karen Gillan leads a pack of armed female assassins in the John Wick-ish, Gunpowder Milkshake, while Nicolas Cage appears ready to go that route until his latest turns into something entirely different (Pig). Finally, there are two more sequels for the week including one hoping to continue a new franchise (Escape Room: Tournament of Champions) and another the pair hope ends immediately (Space Jam: A New Legacy).

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