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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

02:01:24

Episode 197: Strap In And Lock Down For 2021

Movie Madness ·

2021/01/18

The first official movie review show of 2021 arrives with ten films, including a few holdovers from the end of 2020, discussed by Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy. They catch-up with Robert Rodriguez’s latest family film (We Can Be Heroes) and the bonkers WWII action horror film (Shadow in the Cloud) with Chloe Grace Moretz. Anthony Mackie is a more modern warrior with more sci-fi action (Outside the Wire), Liam Neeson tries to save an immigrant child from the drug cartels (The Marksman) and

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02:02:37

Episode 196: The Best of 2020

Movie Madness ·

2021/01/14

2020 seems like it will follow us around for some time, but hopefully only the best memories of the year will standout as we were all isolated in lockdown watching movies wherever we could find them. Erik Childress is joined by two of his former WGN reviewing colleagues, Steve Prokopy and Collin Souter, to countdown their best lists from last year. There are direct agreements and a few disagreements as they also present their picks on everything from funniest moments to what they are looking forward

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01:19:02

Episode 195: KICK ‘EM IN THE BALLS!

Movie Madness ·

2021/01/09

We are kicking off 2021 in grand fashion. Kicking being the optimum word as Erik Childress and Sergio Mims are highlighting some of their favorite big screen kicks to the nuts. But not just kicks. They have got punches, gunshots, other weapons and even furniture. You may wince a bit but we are hoping you laugh a whole lot more. We certainly did and you may have even forgotten about some of these bits that certainly entertained us. Self-defense, punishment and at least one actor who may enjoy it a

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02:59:15

Episode 194: The Bad Mutha Film Show Files (December...

Movie Madness ·

2021/01/01

Over at “The Bad Mutha Film Show” on WHPK Radio at the University of Chicago, Erik Childress joined Sergio Mims to discuss the implications of the Warner Bros. deal with HBO MAX and the fallout that has already resulted from it. That leads them to wonder about the future of movie theaters and express some optimistic assessments. Sergio is pleased with the direction of recent black cinema as they focus on recent releases One Night in Miami, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and Sylvie’s Love and then go back

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02:42:18

Episode 193: The Bad Mutha Film Show Files (November...

Movie Madness ·

2020/12/30

Along with his contributions to the Movie Madness Podcast, Sergio Mims also hosts “The Bad Mutha Film Show” on WHPK Radio at the University of Chicago. Erik Childress has served as his regular co-host for over a decade and as the pandemic preempted their show, they brought it back virtually in November and this is the first of those shows. They discussed how studios were navigating the COVID era of movie releasing. After having done a tribute to Sean Connery here on the podcast after his death, they

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03:09:13

Episode 192: WHY IS THIS NOT ON BLU-RAY? (Chapter 6)

Movie Madness ·

2020/12/28

The second of the bi-annual segment makes it just in time as we close out 2020. Erik Childress & Sergio Mims continue to plead for some quality titles – and personal favorites – to finally get the upgrade they deserve. Over the course of this three-hour show they each select 10 titles to put on everyone’s radar. They range from an American remake, two films from the ‘70s that were eventually remade, a film made into a TV show and a TV show made into a movie. There are also films with cops, robbers,

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02:23:27

Episode 191: Promising & Not-So-Promising Women

Movie Madness ·

2020/12/26

The final movie review show of 2020 narrows the focus down to just seven movies, but certainly some major ones. Erik Childress & Steve Prokopy gear you up for Amazon’s release of One Night in Miami next month. Tom Hanks & Peter Greengrass reunite for the western, News of the World, and we take you to the Beyond of Pixar’s latest, Soul. Where does it rank with their best? They look back at the Hilary Swank thriller, Fatale, and even further back at their experience seeing Sylvie’s Love at Sundance

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02:21:48

Episode 190: Last Minute Murphys, Eastwoods & Hobbits

Movie Madness ·

2020/12/21

On this – the final new Blu-ray show of 2020 – Erik Childress & Sergio Mims present some great last minute ideas for…presents…if you still need them. From 2001-03, Christmas also meant The Lord of the Rings as they look back on Peter Jackson’s trilogies in 4K. Paramount gets in on the 4K party with a pair of new Tom Cruise & Eddie Murphy releases and even a title finally new to Blu-ray from the comedian’s ‘80s output. They thrill to get another of their “not-on-Blu-ray” choices finally released in

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01:47:23

Episode 189: Aliens, Monsters, Apocalypse & Gerard...

Movie Madness ·

2020/12/19

Erik Childress & Steve Prokopy may tell you they are slacking this week with only eight movie reviews for you, but the swings are no less big. It’s an apocalyptic kind of week involving the third in an alien-bound series (Skylines), creatures from the world of gaming (Monster Hunter), a comet trying to bring an end to Gerard Butler and his family (Greenland) and a climate event that plagues poor George Clooney (The Midnight Sky). Perhaps most cataclysmic of all is the loss left by Chadwick Boseman

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01:58:33

Episode 188: Just Breathe, Emma, Or On Second...

Movie Madness ·

2020/12/14

The movie reviews continue with Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy and true to form they are reviewing another dozen new movies on this show. Included are documentaries covering the first wife of Johnny Cash (My Darling Vivian) and the women accused of a prominent North Korean murder (Assassins). Rachel Brosnahan is on the run in Julia Hart’s latest (I’m Your Woman) and everyone is in hiding in a COVID-23 thriller (Songbird). Jamie Dornan believes he is cursed to never be with Emily Blunt in John

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02:39:54

Episode 187: WHY IS THIS NOT ON BLU-RAY? (Chapter 5)

Movie Madness ·

2020/12/09

Before the pandemic began, Erik Childress and Sergio Mims recorded the first of their bi-annual Not-On-Blu-Ray shows for 2020. Well it is finally here which is more than we can say about all but one of the 20 films that have still not been released in the format some nine months later. Where are they? What is taking so long? Tune in and find out which fantasies and mysteries from the 1970s and ‘80s they have chosen. Which lauded film from Sundance is still not available? Oscar nominees, musicals,

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02:05:45

Episode 186: Senses, Nomads and Santa Claus

Movie Madness ·

2020/12/07

Two more glorious hours with Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy as they review another dozen movies for your consideration. They look at the latest in Steve McQueen’s Small Axe series (Red, White and Blue). Senses are diminished in a pair of films (Sound of Metal, Another Round) and wish they could have been dulled with the melodramatic horror of matrimony preparation (All My Life; Love, Weddings and Other Disasters). There is traditional horror in a remake (Castle Freak) and personal horror for

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01:47:19

Episode 185: Great Music, No Music And A Lack Of...

Movie Madness ·

2020/11/28

We may not have a traditional holiday movie season post-Thanksgiving, but Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy still have reviews of ten new films you can see on streaming services. For families still venturing out into theaters they take a look at “The Croods: A New Age”. Another reluctant return to family is explored in Alan Ball’s “Uncle Frank” as well as the Bella Thorne starrer, “Girl.” We revisit a turning point in video games (“Insert Coin”), a period in the life, if not music (any music) of

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01:50:21

Episode 184: SNL Past & SCTV Present Collide

Movie Madness ·

2020/11/26

As Black Friday approaches, Erik Childress & Sergio Mims return to offer some great Blu-rays to consider for your holiday shopping. Erik previews a brand new transfer of The Last Starfighter as well as a commentary he contributed for it. Pasts and presents collide with the original Mission: Impossible series and the updating of Robert Wise’s The Haunting for the ‘90s. The Flintstones and Bill & Ted may seem like relics but which have stood the test of time. Finally they have a blast talking about

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01:57:53

Episode 183: Run, Don’t Jiu Jitsu

Movie Madness ·

2020/11/23

Back-to-back movie review episodes. The last one had a dozen reviews. This one has a dozen reviews courtesy of Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy including Christmas offerings featuring Kurt Russell (“The Christmas Chronicles: Part Two”) and a galaxy far, far away (“The Lego Star Wars Holiday Special”). They look at five documentaries ranging from facial recognition tech (“Coded Bias”), the psychology of murder (“Crazy, Not Insane”), the making of a horror masterpiece (“Leap of Faith: William Friedkin

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02:20:29

Episode 182: Freaky Hillbillies & Fossil Lovin’

Movie Madness ·

2020/11/16

Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy are back for over two hours of uninterrupted conversation on new movies being released in theaters and on streaming this week. They cover documentaries about meteors (“Fireball”), deep sea diving (“Dave Not Coming Back”), climate change activism (“I Am Greta”) and the mystery of a woman searching for her dead child (“Where She Lies”). They go from “Jungleland” to “Dreamland” to Never Never Land (“Come Away”). Things get a little “Freaky” with Vince Vaughn and Kathryn

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01:30:23

Episode 181: The Man Who Would Be Sean Connery

Movie Madness ·

2020/11/09

The film world lost one of its greatest moviestars last week and we have dedicated an entire episode to his career. Erik Childress and Sergio Mims each focus on five films that either cemented his legacy amongst generations or ones that all of them may want to revisit. From James Bond to Marko Ramius as well as Indiana Jones’ father and the iconic Chicago role that won him the Oscar, this is a fun trip down memory lane and will likely have you reaching for the nearest Blu-ray or streaming service

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01:19:06

Episode 180: Let Him Go! Let Him Go!

Movie Madness ·

2020/11/08

It is movie review time once again and Steve Prokopy is back to join Erik Childress to talk about five new movies together and throws in a couple extra for you. They will discuss the latest theatrical release with Diane Lane and Kevin Costner (Let Him Go), a potential date with awards season for Sophia Loren (The Life Ahead), an emotional astronaut drama starring Eva Green (Proxima) and a pair of horror releases (Kindred, The Dark and the Wicked). Steve also lets you know about the latest from the

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01:13:40

Episode 179: Virtual, Yet So Real: The 2020 Chicago...

Movie Madness ·

2020/11/07

In the midst of film festivals shifting to online presentations this year, Erik Childress and Sergio Mims delve into Chicago’s addition of their annual October festival. While there are frustrations abound they turn to a good number of documentaries focusing on John Belushi and Stanley Kubrick as well as new ones from Spike Lee and Steve James’ latest on the city itself. Sergio also talks about City Hall, the new epic documentary from Frederick Wiseman, which has played a number of fests this

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01:12:49

Episode 178: Come Play With Us, Halloweeners. We’ve...

Movie Madness ·

2020/10/31

Another week of new movies are upon us and Erik Childress & Steve Prokopy reunite once again to bring you the latest for Halloween week. There’s a sequel to a 90’s cult classic and a documentary about one from the ‘80s. Is horror best in theaters this weekend with Come Play or available on streaming with His House and Spell? Then they turn to a couple of documentaries about the strength of school shooting survivors and one about a donut entrepreneur.

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