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PODCAST

Movie Madness

Movie Madness is a weekly podcast hosted by Chicago film critic Erik Childress presenting movie reviews, interviews, film festival coverage, DVDs, awards, box office and much more! erikthemovieman.substack.com

tv & film visual arts

All Episodes

01:26:53

Episode 353: Missing You, Darling

Movie Madness ·

2023/01/22

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

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01:06:57

Episode 352: They Still Live And They Still Rule

Movie Madness ·

2023/01/19

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

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02:23:27

Episode 351: A Man Called Otto & A Doll Called M3GAN

Movie Madness ·

2023/01/15

The first batch of movie reviews for 2023 from Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy arrives with quite the show. 14 reviews in all ranging from some late acclaimed 2022 catch-ups from the international scene (Broker, Saint Omer) and another mystery with Edgar Allan Poe as a participant (The Pale Blue Eye). Erik describes what could be the nuttiest plotline of the new year (The Devil Conspiracy) and Steve looks at a new horror film drawing both ecstatic praise and hatred (Skinamarink). Speaking of the

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01:31:34

Episode 350: Avoid The Sandpit, It’s A Doozy!

Movie Madness ·

2023/01/11

The first Blu-ray show of 2023 with Erik Childress and Peter Sobczynski brings about a variety of age-old classics to films fresh out of theaters. In-between there are films with early work from Joan Crawford, Matt Damon, Brendan Fraser, Diane Lane and Laura Dern. TV episodes are turned into movies, the bullied let their tormentors be setup for murder and Sonny Chiba is an executioner. Brandi Carlile gets an assist in bringing Tanya Tucker back to the mainstream and then there is a trio of exemplary

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01:48:50

Episode 349: The Best Films Of 2022

Movie Madness ·

2023/01/06

For the year-end show spotlighting their choices for the best films of 2022, Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy are joined by Collin Souter from the Christmas Movies Actually podcast to offer his selections as well. It was a year where the funny often came with the sad. A transition period through the pandemic where filmmakers were forced to adjust or find new commentary on a society that has drifted into disharmony where friends are lost and accountability is right around the corner. Only a few films

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02:33:32

Episode 348: From Babylon To Pandora

Movie Madness ·

2022/12/19

Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy have done one final review show for 2022 and close it out with some biggies. It was quite a year for documentaries and they finish with four new ones including the story of a natural disaster tragedy (The Volcano: Rescue From Whakaari), the face of the Psychic Readers Network (Call Me Miss Cleo), a relationship between author and editor (Turn Every Page – The Adventures of Robert Caro and Robert Gottlieb) and Laura Poitras’ new film on artist and activist Nan Goldin

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02:01:22

Episode 347: Shall We Play A Blu-ray?

Movie Madness ·

2022/12/17

Peter Sobczynski joins Erik Childress to close out the Blu-ray & DVD book for 2022 with a number of new titles for your Christmas lists. They include Criterion editions of a Todd Haynes music doc and the Chicago-set inspiration for a memorable TV show. A lot of horror for the holidays recently in theaters along with women warriors and a singing crocodile. Peter looks at a misguided gang film starring, well, you’ll find out. Sony releases a David Cronenberg film in time for its 20th anniversary along

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01:31:27

Episode 346: Meanies, Loudmouths And A Donkey

Movie Madness ·

2022/12/12

On the penultimate review episode of 2022, Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy look at nine new movies. They include documentaries about the theater after Covid (Broadway Rising) and the life of Al Sharpton (Loudmouth). Someone made a bloody horror film about The Grinch (The Mean One) and another Oscar-winning director again tries to turn a wooden boy into a good boy (Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio). Lea Seydoux has to juggle an affair and her ailing father (One Fine Morning) while Jim Parsons must

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01:56:55

Episode 345: Walter Hill, Meta Blues, Bombs And A Shower

Movie Madness ·

2022/12/08

Things get weird on the show this week with a vast array of new Blu-rays to talk about. Peter Sobczynski joins Erik Childress again to talk perfect films for the holiday by Bob Clark and Michael Haneke? Things get meta with both Kevin Smith and Nicolas Cage. New Tarantino in 4K and Walter Hill as well gives Peter an opportunity to talk about how he first encountered Roger Ebert. Erik gets to discuss his connection to Dawson’s Creek and you also get a pair of cult comedy classics and a pair of box

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01:36:26

Episode 344: White Noise Going Through My Mind

Movie Madness ·

2022/12/06

Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy have eight reviews for you to kick off the final month of 2022. They begin with an author recalling his activist patriarch (Memories Of My Father) and Robert Downey Jr. paying tribute to the indie cinema legend that he grew up with as well (Sr.) The director of Jakob’s Wife is back with a twisted serial killer trip (A Wounded Fawn) and there is a new adaptation of the infamous D.H. Lawrence novel (Lady Chatterley’s Lover). Can Will Smith find an audience on Apple+

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01:24:16

Episode 343: The Evil That Men And Women Do

Movie Madness ·

2022/12/01

Peter Sobczynski returns to look at this week’s editions to the physical media calendar with Erik Childress. There’s a film that played at their Chicago Critics Film Festival this year and the one that beat out Reservoir Dogs at Sundance. Kirk Douglas as a detective and Esther Williams out of water. A pair of gory horror entries from Vinegar Syndrome about a guy killing Santa Clauses and a new 4K edition of an infamous horror sequel. Not even a Train To Busan is more horrific than the Charles

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01:42:16

Episode 342: Peeling Back The Layers

Movie Madness ·

2022/11/27

On this holiday week edition, Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy look at the films in theaters (if briefly) for Thanksgiving. One that you can catch on Shudder is Noan Segan’s Paper Moon-like vampire tale (Blood Relatives), then you can go to theaters if you choose to see Luca Guadagino’s tale of young love and cannibalism (Bones and All). If you don’t want to wait for Amazon Prime, check out this year’s Sundance Grand Jury Prize Winner (Nanny) and if you can’t wait a month for Netflix, get out to see

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01:37:14

Episode 341: Blu-Ray Black Friday

Movie Madness ·

2022/11/24

It’s the Blu-ray time of the week and Peter Sobczynski joins Erik Childress again to talk a whole bunch of 4Ks for your Black Friday shopping. Take advantage of the Barnes and Noble Criterion sale to grab one of the best films from Pixar and one of the best from Spike Lee. Shout Factory has new editions of genre cult classics from Neil Jordan and Norman Jewison while Vinegar syndrome delivers a 4K of maybe the ultimate cult film. Kino has another Eastwood in 4K and a comic book parody before the

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01:57:00

Episode 340: She Said To Call Stutz

Movie Madness ·

2022/11/21

Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy are back on the movie review beat with nine new titles this week. On the Disney Plus front Steve looks at a new doc on an animated icon (Mickey: The Story of a Mouse) and Erik checks out a sequel 15 years in the making (Disenchanted). Russell Crowe directs a film not about poker (Poker Face) and Frank Grillo stars in a film that is barely about a car (Lamborghini: The Man Behind The Legend). Steve looks at the new pandemic-era film from Andrew Bujalski (There There)

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01:44:56

Episode 339: The Return Of The Blu-Rays

Movie Madness ·

2022/11/19

Sergio Mims and Erik Childress discussed DVDs and Blu-rays for two decades on the radio and on this podcast. To honor his recent untimely passing, we wanted to continue this tradition and shine a light on the world of physical media that he was so passionate in preserving. For that, Erik is joined by Peter Sobczynski of RogerEbert.com to once again bring you all the latest and greatest for your home collection and holiday shopping needs. They talk a number of new 4K releases including an early film

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01:17:50

Episode 338: Is That Black Panther Enough For You?

Movie Madness ·

2022/11/14

Erik Childress & Steve Prokopy have five movie reviews for you this week. A little calm before the end-of-the-year storm. They include one with a pair of acting legends, Dustin Hoffman and Sissy Spacek, paired with their acting children (Sam & Kate) and a documentary from Elvis Mitchell on the history of black film (Is That Black Enough For You?) Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds team up for a new musical take on Dickens’ A Christmas Carol (Spirited) and a feature debut from filmmaker Charlotte Wells

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02:01:27

Episode 337: Black Panther: Wakanda For Too Long

Movie Madness ·

2022/11/12

Comic book expert Erik Laws is back with Erik Childress to discuss the bittersweet return to the land of Wakanda. Unfortunately, that return is more bitter than sweet as they talk about the numerous missed opportunities in trying to eulogize its fallen star, Chadwick Boseman, and the scurry of Shuri to ultimately replace him. Marvel may have finally found themselves with the opportunity to elevate its female heroes to the forefront only to see them pulling their gut-punches and losing ground to its

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02:16:02

Episode 336: Friends, Trauma and Weird Al

Movie Madness ·

2022/11/06

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

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01:53:25

Episode 335: Sergio Mims’ Song Of The South Commentary

Movie Madness ·

2022/11/02

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

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01:34:49

Episode 334: Just Get Away From Me Already

Movie Madness ·

2022/10/30

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

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