The weekly movie reviews hit the dozen mark again with Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy. They remind you of this year’s Sundance entry from indie sci-fi masters Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead (Something In The Dirt). Eva Green is either going nuts or has a very bad nanny (Nocebo) and Andrea Riseborough stars in a film that may get itself compared to Rocky Horror (Please Baby Please). The pair wade through a couple of thrillers that reset themselves including a noir wannabe (The Minute You Wake Up Dead) and Mel Gibson in a Phone Booth situation in a radio station (On The Line). Steve has words for James Gray’s new film (Armageddon Time) and the duo have lovely words for a documentary about the Mars Rover mission (Good Night Oppy). Funny women headline a pair of comedies including Toni Collette & Anna Faris in a Greedy-esque tale of will hunting (The Estate) and Jillian Bell & Natalie Morales star in a tale about friendship, regret and aliens (I’m Totally Fine). Millie Bobbie Brown returns as the sister of the famous detective (Enola Holmes 2) and Jennifer Lawrence stars with Brian Tyree Henry in a tale of trauma and friendship (Causeway). Finally, the internet finally got the biopic they wanted with Daniel Radcliffe starring as the world’s renown song parodist (Weird: The Al Yankovic Story).

Sergio Mims, our noted film scholar and friend, was well on his way to becoming “King Commentary” with all his official contributions to Blu-rays for Kino, Vinegar Syndrome and others. During the pandemic at the peak of lockdown, Collin Souter of Christmas Movies Actually, suggested that our good friend record one for Disney’s controversial 1940 film, Song of the South. Sergio did not hesitate and delivered something for his friends. Some of them are here to again pay brief tribute to the man who was a regular part of the Movie Madness podcast. Erik Childress is joined by both Collin and the Director’s Club host, Jim Laczkowski, to introduce this track that can now be experienced by everyone. Whether you have a version of the film to sync up with or not it doesn’t matter, because you can just sit back and soak in the words of a film lover who left us way too soon.

Erik Childress & Steve Prokopy play a little catch-up this week on some films that have been playing in limited release. One film they suggest you don’t catch up on from Sundance (Call Jane) still gives rise to another that you absolutely should. Among the rest Steve looks at a new documentary on the famous trumpeter (Louis Armstrong’s Black & Blues) and the focus on the mother of an infamously murdered child in Chicago (Till). On Netflix they look at Henry Selick’s stop-motion underworld and his team-up with Key & Peele as Wendell & Wild and another grueling adaptation of a twice-made WWI novel (All Quiet On The Western Front). Finally they discuss two of the best films of the year with Martin McDonagh’s reunion with Colin Farrell & Brendan Gleeson (The Banshees of Inisherin) and Todd Field’s return to directing with Cate Blanchett (Tár)

After a week off, Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy return to bring you their thoughts on the latest in theaters and on streaming and catch up on at least one film from the break. Another catch up is on their review of another great music doc that they recommended from SXSW this year (The Return of Tanya Tucker – Featuring Brandi Carlile). The horror anthology series returns (V/H/S/99) and Jessica Chastain has to stop Eddie Redmayne’s reign of hospital terror in a true-life tale (The Good Nurse). Ewan McGregor and Ethan Hawke are half-brothers reuniting to bury their terrible father (Raymond & Ray) and Harry Styles tries to ruin another woman’s life (My Policeman). Laurie Strode’s life could not possibly be more ruined except by appearing in one more film (Halloween Ends) and Julia Roberts tries to ruin another wedding, this time with George Clooney (Ticket To Paradise). Finally, DC gives it another go but Dwayne Johnson is no hero (Black Adam).

October continues with horror both real and imagined this week as Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy review eight new movies. They include a reminder of Andrea Riseborough’s stirring portrayal of the road to alcoholic recovery (To Leslie) and Mila Kunis’ far less stirring turn as a survivor of multiple traumas (Luckiest Girl Alive). Shawn Mendes is the voice of a singing croc (Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile) and Ruben Ostlund skewers the voices of the nouveau riche in his Palme d’or winning satire (Triangle of Sadness). Donald Sutherland and his iPhone grant revenge in a new Stephen King film that is horror adjacent (Mr. Harrigan’s Phone) and Art the Clown is back (yet new to Erik) in a blood-drenched sequel (Terrifier 2). Also returning are the Cenobites in a new reimagining from David Bruckner (Hellraiser) and another David (O. Russell) tries out an ensemble comic mystery to warn of impending worldwide horror (Amsterdam). Erik and Steve also pay tribute to the loss of their friend and Movie Madness regular, Sergio Mims.

The first show of October begins with nine movie reviews from Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy. Appropriately kicking off with an actor auditioning to be a demonologist (Devil’s Workshop) and a pair of best friends dealing with a demon of their own (My Best Friend’s Exorcism). Kate Hudson befriends an escaped woman with telekinesis (Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon) and a documentary looks at the career of Sinead O’Connor (Nothing Compares). Sigourney Weaver and Kevin Kline reteam for a third time (The Good House) and Walter Hill returns to the director’s chair for a new western (Dead for a Dollar). Zac Efron delivers warm PBR to his buddies in Vietnam (The Greatest Beer Run Ever), Sosie Bacon discovers that trauma has a new face (Smile) and Billy Eichner co-writes and headlines a sharp, LBGTQ romantic comedy that deserves your attention (Bros).

Another loaded week has Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy looking at nine new movies. They include another guy-joins-shadowy-government-agency film (Section 8) and a tale of another famous (in Canada) bank robber tale with Josh Duhamel (Bandit). The star of The Babadook takes on another rocky tale of motherhood (The Justice of Bunny King), Adelaide Clemens must come to terms with having her first child and the two men vying for her affection (The Swearing Jar) and Lena Dunham adapts the story of a 14 year-old in the 13th century trying to fend off her own suitors (Catherine Called Birdy). Two icons are also chronicled by Reginald Hudlin in a documentary about the recently departed Mr. Poitier (Sidney) and Ana De Armas takes on the role of Marilyn Monroe in Andrew Dominik’s controversial adaptation (Blonde). Finally, Allison Janney gets a chance to be an action hero on Netflix (Lou) and Florence Pugh begins to wake up in a patriarchal society in Olivia Wilde’s sophomore directorial effort (Don’t Worry Darling).

Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy catch-up on two weeks-worth of movies. 13 movies to be precise and many of them have a lot in common. Justin Long is in two films where he should be staying away from a house, one where he is trying to get laid (House of Darkness) and another that he is trying to sell that Erik has some specific thoughts on (Barbarian). Not to mention the smart house that is trying to kill it’s inhabitants (Margaux). There is the true story of sisters who would not talk to anyone but each other (The Silent Twins) and one of the great horror films of the year – and on this episode – about what can happen if you see something but don’t say something (Speak No Evil). There are a pair of mysteries with Sam Rockwell and Saoirse Ronan trying to solve one (See How They Run) and Jon Hamm stepping into Chevy Chase’s to solve the other (Confess, Fletch). Erik and Steve also get saddened by the disappointments delivered by Robert Zemeckis (Pinocchio) and Kevin Smith (Clerks III). But beyond those there is also Thandiwe Newton in the acclaimed Sundance drama (God’s Country), a documentary about David Bowie (Moonage Daydream), Viola Davis and an army of women kicking ass (The Woman King) and Ti West & Mia Goth’s prequel to this year’s mix of horror and porno (Pearl).

Theaters are facing a drought this autumn season and over Labor Day Weekend Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy have seven movies to review. They include a reimagining from filmmaker Francois Ozon (Peter Von Kant) and a quest to bring Hitler’s remains to Stalin (Burial). The Umbrella Academy’s Tom Hopper and Kat Graham double-book a place in Verona (Love In The Villa) and Javier Bardem seeks an award for his company (The Good Boss). Two documentaries look at the happy friendships of genre filmmakers (The Horror Crowd) and the tortured psyche of a tennis great (McEnroe). Finally, Steve gets a chance to weigh in on a Sundance favorite and reveal whether Erik was on point with its shortcomings (Honk For Jesus. Save Your Soul).

When Sergio Mims asked me to program his classical music show for WHPK RADIO dedicated to composer John Williams, I knew it was a daunting assignment. How can you sum up the career of a legend in three hours? How can one convey what his compositions have meant to not only me but countless moviegoers (and even TV viewers) over the years? What follows is the journey that I went on highlighting many of the classics but also the range that followed beyond his collaboration with Steven Spielberg. It still only scratches the surface, but what I could not fit into the radio timeslot at the University of Chicago is expanded upon with 36 additional minutes of music and commentary. I hope you enjoy.