Movie Madness
Episode 471: Once Upon a Time From The Huh?
This week certainly has the latest and the greatest in Blu-rays. Depending on who you ask of course. If you inquire with Erik Childress and Peter Sobczynski you will certainly here about one of the greatest westerns of all-time (Erik’s favorite) as well as a film that deserves to be among the very best of Sidney Lumet’s career. Michael Powell directs a creepy film about voyeurism and murder and the pair look again at the film where Brandon Lee lost his life. Shout Factory has a trio of horror oddities and there is also lament for the goofy sex comedies of the ‘80s. Clint Eastwood’s most successful film gets a 4K release and a number of Francis Ford Coppola efforts get the upgrade including one that Peter believes to be his finest work.
Episode 470: The Guys Fall For The Idea Of Pop-Tarts
Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy stick to just four films this week including the acclaimed comedy from Joanna Arnow (The Feeling That The Time For Doing Something Has Passed) and an adaptation into Anne Hathaway scandalously falling for a Boy Band member. The scandal! (The Idea of You). Jerry Seinfeld and a giant cast of comedians tell their version of the Pop-Tarts origin (Unfrosted) while Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt try to bring life to another ‘80s television show (The Fall Guy). But there are still a lot more movies to talk about as they discuss this year’s Chicago Critics Film Festival which they produce and program. May 3-9 at the Music Box Theatre in Chicago and the lineup is stellar.
Episode 469: There’s An Ocean Between Us
This week’s physical media show has a little of everything and a lot of heartbreak. Nancy Savoca provides the latter as the “Savocaissance” continues on Blu-ray this year but there is also early James L. Brooks with Burt Reynolds missing out in a stacked year of Oscar nominees. We have an Anthony Mann western and a Roman Polanski thriller; a double-up of Mean Girls and a remake of a Peckinpah film. Plus a breakdown of Steven Soderbergh’s Ocean’s films now all available on 4K.
Episode 468: Game. Set. Match.
Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy look at a half-dozen movies this week. If fashion design is your thing then Steve has a documentary for you (John Singer Sargent: Fashion and Swagger). He has also been telling Erik about this great big spider movie since last year. Does he share the sentiment? (Infested). Steve catches up a pandemic-era comedy from Sundance (Stress Positions) and the first film from the daughter of David Cronenberg (Humane). Erik reveals what was different about the latest kick-ass extravaganza when he saw it at Toronto (Boy Kills World) and both have a lot to say about Luca Guadagnino’s tennis film (Challengers).
Episode 467: Livin’ Like Lovers. Rolling Like Thunder.
This week’s physical media show features Peter Sobczynski and Erik Childress talking about a seminal propaganda film from the ‘60s that inspired a ‘70s scene in Boogie Nights plus some science-fiction from the 1980s from Imprint. The ‘80s also across an all-star cast that helped launch Julia Roberts and a Nancy Savoca film from the ‘90s due for a rediscovery. They discuss the film that inspired The Untouchables, plus Paul Schrader writes a religious comedy and then gets the 4K treatment to a project he disavowed. Then his frequent partner in crime, Martin Scorsese, also gets his Oscar-winning effort upgraded. Is it now considered underrated? Come for the discussion. Stay for Peter’s tale of presenting with William Devane at an awards show.
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).