Movie Madness
Episode 361: Small Men And Such Tiny Little Men
The weekly movie edition goes lite this week as Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy look over five new movies. They include one of the best horror films Steve saw at a film festival last year (Huesera: The Bone Woman) and a darkly comic thriller about proving one’s manliness that is one of the best films of the early year (The Integrity of Joseph Chambers). Steve looks at the second film from a quickly rising filmmaker (Of An Age) and the pair look at a detective yarn from an older master (Marlowe). Finally, the week would not be complete without a look at the latest entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania)
Episode 360: Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
Comic book expert, Erik Laws, returns to talk with Erik Childress about the third Ant-Man film and the beginning of Phase 5 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Phase 4 did not close out well by either of their standards so they were certainly in the mood for a good palette cleanser. Unfortunately, this one did not go down nearly as smoothly as the previous films with Paul Rudd. They wonder if Kevin Feige has checked himself out more than imagined and why the latest entries have been so bad at melding the super silly with the super serious. There is certainly one element the Eriks agree upon in this chapter that is so good it is a wonder no one thought just a standalone film with their origin story would have been the more interesting kickoff. Thoughts get so meh that talk eventually turns to what DC has up next and how they can sendoff the last of the pre-Gunn era while still looking forward to his own sendoff from the dwindling Marvel Universe.
Episode 359: Truffaut, Redford and The Fabelmans
Peter Sobczynski returns for an update on the Blu-ray scene with Erik Childress. Between cylindrical objects in the sky and noxious chemicals causing evacuations you might think Kino was marketing its collection of new Francois Truffaut films. Criterion puts out what may be the definitive version of a Shakespeare classic and Shout Factory has your martial arts covered. There are also more recent standouts of Asian cinema, a Rolling Stones concert and a tribute to a favorite movie of Peter’s father. The duo also discuss a pair of Redford classics from the ‘70s, why sci-fi and animation don’t seem to mix and, finally, their differences on Spielberg’s latest.
Episode 358: Everybody’s Last Anniversary Dance
Seven new movies and a modern classic release this week. Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy are here to tell you what to check out, if anything. They reflect a bit on James Cameron’s Titanic back in theaters for its 25th anniversary and then Erik tackles a new romcom with shades of a film in its 23rd anniversary (At Midnight). Steve looks at a pair of horror films about getting lost in the desert (The Outwaters) and getting lost in religion (Consecration). Then its back to “romcoms” including a long distance, split-screen one with Reese Witherspoon and Ashton Kutcher (Your Place Or Mine) and another starring Alison Brie with shades of a film that recently celebrated its 25th that had the same star as the one in its 23rd (Somebody I Used To Know). Finally con artists go full circle on each other (Sharper) and Steven Soderbergh returns with Channing Tatum to lap it up one final time (Magic Mike’s Last Dance).
Episode 357: The Wonderfully Weird With Campbell & Paxton
There’s a little something for everyone this week on the Blu-ray scene. Especially if you like it weird. Peter Sobczynski joins Erik Childress again to talk about Criterion’s release of one of the landmarks of international cinema. Barbara Hershey takes on apartheid and Rory Calhoun explores as Marco Polo. Peter chimes in on the Black Panther sequel while there are also new 4K releases of an Oscar-winning musical and a charming zombie romcom. Then it gets weirder with a campy sequel getting its own 4K release, Bill Paxton fighting the homeless and a bizarre internet thriller featuring Peter’s favorite actress and one of Erik’s favorite musicians. Last but certainly not least and weird in the best ways, another tribute to arguably the best performance of Bruce Campbell’s career. Now in 4K.
Episode 356: Good Daddies And Bad Mommies
Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy are back with the weekly movie reviews and they certainly have a lot in common. Maybe not with Pamela Anderson who is the subject of a new Netflix documentary (Pamela, A Love Story). Haley Bennett and Sam Riley are the latest exes to end up with the same booking (She Is Love). Noemie Merlant begins to unravel as a new mother (Baby Ruby) while Michelle Monaghan will do anything for her zombie son (Blood). A man tries to get across town to meet his movie partner (The Blind Who Did Not Want To See Titanic) and Jonah Hill is coming to Eddie Murphy’s dinner (You People). Finally in theaters this week, four legendary actresses try to get into the 2017 Super Bowl (80 For Brady) and M. Night Shyamalan tries to ward off the apocalypse with Dave Bautista. Could Knock at the Cabin be the first of Night’s films that Erik likes?
Episode 355: Virgins, Flesh and Timpano
Peter Sobczynski joins Erik Childress to catch up on a couple weeks of Blu-rays. Udo Kier’s a vampire, Timothee Chalamat is a cannibal and Vinegar Syndrome is serving up some Flesh and Fantasy. Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz go for a long drive, Mel Gibson goes to war as does Gene Hackman for the French. The pair look back on an ‘80s teen relic and its growing popularity over the years and remember their own fondness for one of the great food movies of all-time. That title is just one of a couple featured in the past on the Movie Madness’ Why Is This Not On Blu-ray shows, ones that could have included whole new collections featuring Peter Falk and Jackie Chan. All that and a number of new 4K titles to put on your shopping lists.
Episode 354: The 2023 Sundance Film Festival
Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy once again experienced this year’s Sundance from the comfort of their domiciles, but that in no way affected their viewing numbers. In just a sampling of what they saw, they discuss over 25 films including documentaries about Michael J. Fox, Brooke Shields, freediving, our evolvement with the camera and the strange saga of a bootleg video store. They talk about some of their favorite midnight selections along with divisive tales of dating, bodybuilding and workplace relationships all featuring the festival’s theme of the year – man babies. Gael Garcia Bernal inspires as a luchador while David Strathairn and Jane Levy put next year’s award ballots on notice. Searchlight Pictures has a great new romcom coming to Hulu and bought a hilarious mockumentary from Molly Gordon, Nick Lieberman and Ben Platt. All that plus new films from Brandon Cronenberg and Nicole Holofcener are at the center of a pretty solid festival with titles you should take note of now.
Episode 353: Missing You, Darling
Sundance is on the horizon but Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy are still checking in with nine movies you can see right now; one of them from last year’s Sundance (When You Finish Saving The World) and another from ten years ago finally making its debut (Virtually Heroes). Steve catches up with Jafar Panahi’s latest (No Bears) and Erik watched a documentary about the Laemmle family business from home (Only In Theaters). There’s a string of horror films involving children including a party gone wrong (Kids vs. Aliens) and a trip to a cave gone even worse (There’s Something Wrong With The Children). We even have a comic horror tale from wunderkind Emily Hagins (Sorry About The Demon).
Episode 352: They Still Live And They Still Rule
The weekly Blu-ray edition of the show is here with Erik Childress and Peter Sobczynski going through a number of titles from overseas distributor Powerhouse Films which includes John Huston doing Freud, Rita Moreno slapping Marlon Brando, George C. Scott as Sherlock Holmes and the debut of a controversial “director.” They get into the unique history of Chuck Norris’ Missing In Action films and get Peter’s thoughts on a couple releases from last Fall. They defer in what may be the best Guy Ritchie film, Erik makes his case for one of the dumbest films ever made, but both agree that John Carpenter’s masterpiece about the Reagan era is still as every bit relevant today.