For the better part of the last 20 years covering film festivals, I used to do a preview piece for eFilmCritic about South by Southwest called “10 Films To See.” Now that the site is no more I am bringing it to the Movie Madness podcast and offering those attending my suggestions to get on their schedule. They include a number of terrific documentaries about television and music, films where women take control, scary (and hopeful) films about technology and THE horror film to see where one of our great character actors gets to take center stage. Literally. But if you are attending Austin, all of these films should be highlighted on your schedule. And if you are not, be on the lookout for them in the future.

The weekly movie reviews come at you quick this week with five new titles. Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy have opinions on all five including an uncomfortable tale of grooming that was chosen for the Chicago Critics Film Festival in 2022 (Palm Trees and Power Lines). Michael Shannon pretends to be an infamous author (A Little White Lie) and Stephen King’s evil kids get a prequel of sorts (Children of the Corn). Guy Ritchie is is inexplicably back with another action comedy (Operation Fortune: Ruse Du Guerre) and Michael B. Jordan is back as Adonis in front of and behind the camera to battle Jonathan Majors in and out of the boxing ring (Creed III).

Some great new blu-rays this week to bulk up your physical media collections, especially in 4K. Criterion delivers one of the seminal comedies of the 1980s, Denzel Washington wins another Oscar and Peter Sobczynski reveals which film he would be happy to see win an Oscar this year. Francis Ford Coppola finally puts out an authentic cut, Indiana Jones gets an origin story and Dustin Hoffman has an awful time in the dentist chair. A pair of horror classics get their due in 4K and if you missing Rocky Balboa in Creed III, you can now see him a Knockout Collection. For years though, one film has eluded Peter’s grasp and Erik Childress is ready to hear all about his experience with a talking dragon.

Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy look at six new movies this week. They include an acclaimed film from Ireland you may have heard about on our best-of-2022 show (The Quiet Girl) and a feature version of Idris Elba’s BBC series (Luther: The Fallen Sun). The star of Sex Education brings the author of Wuthering Heights to life (Emily) and hippies become Jesus freaks (Jesus Revolution). Finally, David Harbour is a silent apparition in a new family’s home (We Have a Ghost) and you may have heard the one about the bear that did cocaine.

Find out what you can get on Blu-ray this week with an update from Erik Childress and Peter Sobczynski. They take a remembrance on the first time each of them saw Dazed and Confused, now in a new edition from Criterion. Blue Underground has a pair of Jess Franco titles newly minted in 4K. Jean Reno hunts a serial killer, Dean Stockwell is a werewolf and Steve McQueen magnificently fights Eli Wallach and throws a car from the Marina Towers in Chicago. There is also Catherine Deneuve’s only Oscar nomination, a feminist horror film from the ’80s more interesting than you may remember and the tortured anguish of keeping your feelings to yourself when fascism is on the rise and you’re in love with Emma Thompson.

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)

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.

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.

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).

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.