Movie Madness
Episode 466: This Is A Rebellion. We Rebel.
Eight movie reviews this week from Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy include both surprises and disappointments. Steve checks out a new crime film with Scoot McNairy and Kit Harington (Blood for Dust) and Erik goes to space briefly with the new IMAX short (Deep Sky). There are some lovely films to find including the latest and possibly last from Ken Loach (The Old Oak) and a tale of childhood set amidst the former Cabrini Green housing project in Chicago (We Grown Now). A pair of part twos are out there but who made out better, Steve (The Three Musketeers – Part 2: Milady) or Erik (Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver). Finally, Guy Ritchie releases his third film in 13 months (The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare) and the Radio Silence duo goes back to mayhem in gothic houses with the vampire tale (Abigail).
Episode 465: A Steak Sandwich And A Steak Sandwich
This week in physical media, Peter Sobczynski and Erik Childress look at new releases from Bela Tarr to Luc Besson. Sony finalizes releases one of the best films from John Sayles and Shout Factory puts out an Oscar winning film from Paul Schrader. They discuss the merits of a classic western now in 4K as well as go through the entire Jack Ryan franchise. Finally, it’s all ball bearings nowadays. And if you don’t know what that means, clearly you need to find out and add it to your collection.
Episode 464: Beasts, Spiders, Werewolves & Other Monsters
Another seven movies on the docket for Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy and a lot of variations on horror. Not so much with the third film from director Goran Stolevski that Steve suggests a look at (Housekeeping for Beginners). But Larry Fessenden crafts a werewolf metaphor for America (Blackout), there is a new giant spider film (Sting), Nicolas Cage’s sons, at least, fighting hairy snapping creatures (Arcadian) for a few minutes plus Lea Seydoux on the lookout from unimaginable dread for over a century (The Beast) and a new Woody Allen film (Coup de Chance). But the biggest discussion lies with the new film from Alex Garland whose title wants to say it all (Civil War).
Episode 463: Where Are The White Women At?
This week’s physical media edition has Peter Sobczynski and Erik Childress looking at films with people getting lost as well as ones with murderers, looters, variations on classic horror and family fare plus a ‘70s era Kong. They include films by Peter Weir and the writer of Blade Runner plus a film hammered by MST3K and a dog murdered for their inheritance. Admit it, you’re intrigued.
Episode 462: Three Sixes And You’re Out!
Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy have eight reviews this week that range from one of the best surprises of the year thus far and a film that could be destined to give Tommy Wiseau’s The Room a run for its money. They begin with a pair of documentaries including the natural follow-up to Boys State (Girls State) and how the rise of memes and conspiracy theories came into modern fold (The Antisocial Network). Erik looks at a mystery thriller starring Elizabeth Hurley and directed by her son (Strictly Confidential). The co-star of Sing Street uses music to travel back in time (The Greatest Hits). Across the pond we get a dramatization of the infamous Prince Andrew interview and his association with Jeffrey Epstein (Scoop) while Olivia Colman thinks she is getting vulgar postages from Jessie Buckley (Wicked Little Letters). Then the origins of little devil Damien are fleshed out (The First Omen) and Dev Patel punches his way through his directorial debut (Monkey Man).
Episode 461: Look At This F*!@ing Guy!
Do not mistake a light week for physical media as evidence that it is dying. Even they need a break after Easter. Nevertheless Peter Sobczynski and Erik Childress are here to tell you about five titles making the rounds this week. They include a debut from a one-time up-and-coming actor/director plus an early effort from George Lucas’ Huyck friends. There’s an Oscar-nominated documentary from last year and a film that is hardly good for post-Easter or post-anything. Finally, there’s a baseball film celebrating its 35th anniversary and is getting the 4K treatment. (Apologies in advance for work being done around the recording domain.)
Episode 460: Martin & Morricone x Godzilla & Kong
Erik Childress & Steve Prokopy review seven new movies over Easter weekend. They include a documentary about an evil son-of-a-bastard-fuck and his attempt to erase the memory of dead children (The Truth vs. Alex Jones) and another doc about one of the most legendary composers (Ennio). David Krumholtz is dying and just going about his deadpan remaining days (Lousy Carter) while Tessa Thompson oversees a chat line for lonely and troubled people (The Listener). The great Steve Martin gets his own documentary. Two of them in fact (Steve!: A Documentary in 2 Pieces) and Liam Neeson is an assassin on the trail of the IRA led by Kerry Condon (In the Land of Saints and Sinners). Finally, another pair of titans return to free stop an uprising in Hollow Earth (Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire)
Episode 459: What Brain Donor Asked Eastwood To Sing?
Peter Sobczynski joins Erik Childress to get you (and Carrie Coon) up to date on the latest in physical media. There are crime stories drenched in noir and including Nicole Kidman as a seductive weather lady and Edward Norton in his screen debut. There are all sorts of bizarre westerns including Jack Nicholson behind the camera, John Wayne babysitting and Clint Eastwood singing. There are inspirational teachers, courtroom dramas and ants. Plus one of the great football movies, John Turturro doing the Marx Bros. in an underrated comedy and one of the most delightful romantic charmers of the last 25 years.
Episode 458: Heeeeeeeerrrrreeeee’s David!
Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy review seven new movies this week, a couple of them even good. Which ones could they be? Is it this week’s killer with amnesia thriller starring Russell Crowe (Sleeping Dogs). Maybe the two-hander horror film from Shudder (You’ll Never Find Me)? Regina King plays the first black woman elected to Congress (Shirley) and Jake Gyllenhaal steps into the shoes of Patrick Swayze (Road House). David Dastmalchian is a 70s talk show host dabbling with forces live on-air (Late Night with the Devil) and Sydney Sweeney is a nun who finds herself in a mysterious convent (Immaculate). Finally, the original cast returns with the new generation in a 40 year-old franchise (Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire).
Episode 457: The Abyss Is Staring Right At You
Catching up on a couple weeks of releases, Peter Sobczynski joins Erik Childress to talk westerns from the end of John Wayne’s career to the middle-ish of Tom Selleck’s. There are documentaries about art, filmmaking plus Harrison Ford with a Russian accent. Remakes of Stephen King, American J-Horror and just American remakes leading into political conspiracies and Liza Minnelli as a sex worker. That is all just a warm-up to the 4K releases everyone has been waiting for from James Cameron.