Movie Madness Erik Childress

Six movies in theaters and on streaming are reviewed by Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy this week. They include a pair of documentaries about one of the greatest bands of all-time (The Beach Boys) and the death-defying pilots of the Air Force (The Blue Angels). The Monday-hating cat who loves lasagna gets the animated treatment (The Garfield Movie) and Jennifer Lopez tries to navigate both sides of the A.I. debate (Atlas). Then, quite simply, two of the best most enjoyable films begin their runs this week. In some theaters before it hits Netflix, Glen Powell stars in one of Richard Linklater’s best films (Hit Man) and George Miller returns to the apocalyptic wasteland to provide backstory to one of the greatest heroines of cinema (Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga). Tune in to hear why they are so worthy of your attention.
0:00 - Intro
1:55 - The Blue Angels
7:02 - The Beach Boys
26:04 - The Garfield Movie
35:33 - Atlas
48:22 - Hit Man
59:55 - Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
1:22:11 - Outro

The latest and greatest of Blu-rays this week have Erik Childress and Peter Sobczynski disagreeing on the films of Joe Carnahan. There are two Val Kilmer projects; one certainly better than the other (though it did produce a great John Frankenheimer story) as well as some early horror from Bob Clark and a more recent one from Osgood Perkins getting an upgrade. One of David O. Russell’s best films gets the same 4K upgrade plus Peter talks all about Philo Vance, Bettie Page and Peter Bogdanovich reteaming with Cybill Shepherd.
0:00 - Intro
0:56 - Arrow (Narc)
10:09 – Blue Underground (Deathdream)
18:09 – Shout Factory (Gretel & Hansel, The Island of Dr Moreau)
28:32 - Sony (Thunderheart, American Hustle)
35:12 - Kino: (Philo Vance Collection, Republic Horror Collection, Teaserama, Daisy Miller)
58:31 – MPI (Coup de Chance)
1:05:12 – New Blu-ray Announcements

Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy look at seven films this week. They include the latest directorial effort from Ethan Hawke (Wildcat) and the hilarious feature debut from Pamela Adlon (Babes). Horror gets a Danish sequel 30 years later (Nightwatch: Demons Are Forever) and Renny Harlin starts a new trilogy in the home invasion series (The Strangers: Chapter 1). Amy Winehouse gets the biopic treatment from the director of Fifty Shades of Grey (Back to Black). The duo catch up on the latest in the Apes franchise (Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes) and finally have a lot to say about John Krasinski’s baffling family film (IF).
0:00 - Intro
1:19 - Wildcat
9:58 - Nightwatch: Demons Are Forever
21:21 – The Strangers: Chapter 1
31:44 - Babes
42:42 - Back to Black
58:50 - Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
1:16:01 - IF
1:35:25 - Outro

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.
0:00 - Intro
1:50 - Criterion (Peeping Tom 4K)
10:54 - Arrow (Night Falls on Manhattan)
19:16 - Paramount (Once Upon a Time in the West 4K, The Crow 4K)
36:18 - Shout Factory (Killer Klowns From Outer Space, Dracula 2000, Orphan)
52:03 - MVD (Joysticks)
1:01:14 - WB (American Sniper 4K)
1:08:18 - Warner Archive (You’re a Big Boy Now, The Rain People)
1:15:47 - Lionsgate (One from the Heart 4K)
1:31:57 – New Theatrical Titles On Blu-ray
1:35:17 – New Blu-ray Announcements
1:38:36 – Outro

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.
0:00 - Intro
1:09 - The Feeling That The Time For Doing Something Has Passed
10:42 – The Idea of You
24:03 - Unfrosted
38:52 – The Fall Guy
56:20 – Chicago Critics Film Festival

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.
 
0:00 - Intro
1:41 – Criterion (Dogfight)
8:45 - Kino (True Love, Bluebeard, Starting Over)
22:57 - Music Box (Signature Move)
25:38 – Arrow (The Tin Star, Basket Case)
37:48 – Shout Factory (Death and the Maiden, The Getaway)
47:09 – Warner Bros. (Oceans Trilogy 4K)
56:25 - Paramount (Mean Girls 2004 4K, Mean Girls 2024)
1:05:05 – New TV & Theatrical Titles on Blu-ray
1:12:05 – New Blu-ray Announcements
1:15:05 - Outro