Not often does the Movie Madness Podcast dedicate an entire show to a single film. But there is one opening this week that can’t be done justice on the regular weekly review segment. Even one that has to do with justice with a character actually named Justice. Coke Daniels’ Karen with Taryn Manning in the lead role of an overtly racist white women hits so many buttons on the unintentionally hilarious button that Erik Childress and Sergio Mims had to discuss it at length. They go over all the boxes the film hopes to check, discuss how racial trauma is often exploited in film and whether or not the film could have succeeded as a straight comedy. Is this film headed for “so bad it’s good” status or is it just another film we’d just as soon forget about?

The Movie Madness Podcast celebrates its 250th episode with a look into one of the things that has made the theatrical experience so memorable over the years. It’s you. It’s us. It’s them. Erik Childress and Sergio Mims have had some memorable times at the movies going back decades and they are here to share a handful of the ones they cannot forget. Whether it be a rapturous response or a furious walkout the movies can inspire powerful emotions in all of us and as the industry struggles through a global pandemic they wonder if new memories like this can still be on the horizon, especially if more people begin to stay home.

The title suggests something equally sweet and horrible and art can be both. There is certainly a lot of art and artists on this week’s movie review episode. There are influencers and a photographer in the remake of She’s All That (He’s All That). The music and life of Guy Clark is featured in a new documentary (Without Getting Caught or Killed). There’s the story of a domino artist named Lily Hevesh (Lily Topples the World) and a guy who is good with numbers but bad with social interaction and fumigation (Mosquito State.) But there is also another relationship on pandemic lockdown (Together) and another film about the final days of Ted Bundy (No Man of God). It’s enough to want to get away with John Cena and Lil Rel Howery (Vacation Friends). But wait, there’s more art in the tragic story of a beloved painter (Bob Ross: Happy Accidents, Betrayal & Greed) and the whole damn shady world of art is exposed in a fascinating new documentary (The Lost Leonardo). Finally, there is another artist featured in Nia DaCosta’s updating of Bernard Rose & Clive Barker’s Candyman. Does the film have the right palette? Tune in and hear the opinions of Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy.

Marvel’s latest entry, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, is here to introduce a new character into their universe. Which is not to say he does not have his own history and comic book expert, Erik Laws, joins Erik Childress for another adaptation breakdown. They discuss the problematic history of his primary antagonist, The Mandarin, and what changes have been made for modern audiences. They also certainly have a lot to say about the film itself, breaking through much of the hyperbole to discuss where the film disappoints and where it could go from here.

The weekly movie review edition of the show is here with Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy reviewing ten new films. They remind you of a ‘80s music documentary from SXSW (Under the Volcano) as well as docs about noted activists (Unapologetic, Not Going Quietly). Steve covers a dyslexia drama (Confetti) and the new film by Sean Penn starring his daughter (Flag Day) while Erik settles for Jason Momoa getting sweet revenge vs. Big Pharma (Sweet Girl). After that they tackle new horror films from Neill Blomkamp (Demonic) and David Bruckner (The Night House), a sci-fi noir from one of the creators of Westworld (Reminiscence) and the new action film from Martin Campbell starring Maggie Q and Michael Keaton (The Protégé).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.