Movie Madness Erik Childress

Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy get back into their reviewing ways with 10 new films this week. They include documentaries about an infamous movie app (Moviepass, Moviecrash), a filmmaker and his unfinished projects (Flipside) and the career of a bonafide genius (Jim Henson: Idea Man). Steve looks at a story of a 19th century Jewish boy raised as a Catholic (Kidnapped) and Daisy Ridley as the first woman to swim the English Channel (Young Woman and the Sea). Apart from Flipside, there are three more films chosen as part of this year’s Chicago Critics Film Festival. They include a new western by Viggo Mortensen (The Dead Don’t Hurt), Nick Stahl as a chef on the run (What You Wish For) and you may have heard of (or at least part of) the “what if Gus Van Sant or Terrence Malick made a Friday the 13th film” (In a Violent Nature). Then its all downhill from there with looks at Diane Keaton, Kathy Bates and Alfre Woodard revisiting their childhood (Summer Camp) and Tony Goldwyn trying to do Rain Man (Ezra).
0:00 - Intro
1:32 - Kidnapped
7:56 - Moviepass, Moviecrash
22:42 - Flipside
36:25 - Jim Henson Idea Man
51:03 - Young Woman and the Sea
59:30 - What You Wish For
1:08:02 – The Dead Don't Hurt
1:17:53 - In a Violent Nature
1:28:54 - Summer Camp
1:41:32 - Ezra
1:58:53 - Outro

Peter Sobczynski returns to talk new Blu-rays with Erik Childress. This week includes the debut feature from Karyn Kusama and one of last year’s Oscar winners from Criterion. Arrow has some Guillermo Del Toro in 4K and Severin has a whole slew of Italian horror being upgraded. They talk about one of the films to get the rare “F” from Cinemascore and the film that Kevin Smith turned into a punchline. There are a pair of titles from Abel Ferrara and one of John Waters’ more mainstream efforts. Finally, it is time to rank some Star Trek and discuss the one celebrating its 40th Anniversary this summer.
0:00 - Intro
0:39 - Criterion (Girlfight, Anatomy of a Fall)
7:00 - Arrow (Pandemonium, Crimson Peak 4K)
15:52 - Severin (The Great Alligator 4K, The Devil’s Honey 4K, Cemetery Man 4K)
27:44 - Shout Factory (Darkness/Fear City)
37:09 - Vinegar Syndrome (Dangerous Game 4K, Navy Seals 4K)
45:19 – MPI (Into the Blue)
49:29 - Kino (Revenge of the Ninja, Cry Baby 4K, Sci Fi Chillers)
1:03:30 - Paramount (Star Trek III 4K)
1:13:00 - New Theatrical Titles on Blu-ray
1:15:30 - New Blu-ray Announcements

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