In this week's Movie Date podcast, Rafer and Kristen look at three very different films: "Rio 2," which brings the message of eco-terrorism to children; "Draft Day," which attempts to do for football what "Moneyball" did for baseball; and "Oculus," a movie about a haunted mirror that brings far more than seven years bad luck. Helping them to dissect "Oculus" is scholar Mark Pendergrast , author of "Mirror Mirror: A History of the Human Love Affair with Reflection."...
Apr 11, 2014•29 min•Ep. 234
This week's Movie Date podcast is all Scarlett Johansson all the time! From their review of "Captain American: The Winter Soldier," to an accented audio trivia question, to a very special interview in person with the star herself, Rafer and Kristen are in a Scarlett mood!
Apr 04, 2014•27 min•Ep. 233
In this week's Movie Date podcast, Rafer and Kristen take a closer look at some of the not-so-literal elements of the new movie "Noah." Among those elements: rock monsters, magical wizards, bazookas, and alcoholism? Helping them to mull it all over, and giving his own take on the new Darren Aronofsky movie is Christian blogger Brian Godawa . Rafer and Kristen also review the new biopic "Cesar Chavez," answer an unusual movie therapy question, and, of course, offer up some movie trivia....
Mar 28, 2014•32 min•Ep. 232
In this week's Movie Date podcast, Rafer and Kristen talk everything from doppelgangers to dystopia to sex addiction. It's all in honor of the new films "Muppets Most Wanted," "Divergence," and "Nymphomaniac: Volume 1." Helping them understand the intricacies of "Nymphomaniac" is one of the film's stars, Stellan Skarsgard. Warning: this podcast includes some adult content, including references to a certain sex act with an avian nickname.
Mar 21, 2014•32 min•Ep. 231
In this week's Movie Date podcast, Rafer and Kristen review the video game-turned-movie "Need for Speed," the latest Wes Anderson confection, "The Grand Budapest Hotel," and the fan-funded movie, "Veronica Mars." Along the way, they talk with one of the Veronica Mars fans who made the film possible, Cindy Au. They also get a whopper of a Movie Therapy question, spanning six decades and even more films. And, as always, there's movie trivia!
Mar 14, 2014•32 min•Ep. 230
In this week's Movie Date podcast, Rafer and Kristen hop into the WABAC machine for a trip to the rebooted world of "Mr. Peabody & Sherman" and the sword and sandal past of "300: Rise of An Empire." And bonus: to help them better understand the true identity of Mister Peabody, they are joined by Sarah Montague, WNYC's resident dog expert, who covers, among other dog-related events, the Westminster Kennel Club dog show.
Mar 08, 2014•27 min•Ep. 229
In this very special Movie Date bonus podcast, listeners have a chance to re-listen to Rafer and Kristen's Oscar predictions from earlier in this year. Also, all three parts from The Takeaway series "Real People / Best Pictures" (produced by Kristen and hosted by John Hockenberry) are here, with some voices we don't normally hear on Oscar night (but maybe should). For more on the series "Real People / Best Pictures," visit the official site . THE FULL LIST OF ACADEMY AWARD NOMINEES Best Picture ...
Feb 28, 2014•34 min•Ep. 228
This week's Movie Date podcast looks at the newest attempt to put the life of Jesus Christ on film, in "Son of God." The movie takes content from a ten-hour History Channel miniseries, produced by Mark Burnett (of "Survivor" fame). Does it work as a feature film? Is it a successful proseltyzing tool? Kristen and Rafer also review "Non-Stop," the newest Liam Neeson-led action flick, which asks listeners to "listen very carefully," and maybe shows you how to smoke in an airplane toilet. All that, ...
Feb 28, 2014•24 min•Ep. 227
In this week's Movie Date podcast, Rafer and Kristen discuss how, if they were in a Hollywood blockbuster, they'd most want to be killed. The options: volcano ('Pompeii'), middle aged assassin ('Three Days to Kill'), or sinister lovers ('In Secret'). Rafer and Kristen also discuss the controversy around this year's Oscar nominees for best original song. And, as always, there's trivia! A note about this podcast: Rafer and Kristen want to make clear that any laughter about albinism in this podcast...
Feb 21, 2014•27 min•Ep. 226
In this week's Movie Date podcast, the 1980s are back in full force, as Kristen and Rafer review three remakes of 80s movies and one adaptation of an 80s novel. On the chopping block: 'Endless Love' (based on 1981's 'Endless Love'), 'Robocop' (based on 1987's 'Robocop'), 'About Last Night' (based on 1986's 'About Last Night...'), and 'Winter's Tale' (based on the 1983 novel 'Winter's Tale'). Also, Rafer and Kristen offer some Movie Therapy to a listener who wants some Valentine's Day films that ...
Feb 14, 2014•4 min•Ep. 225
This week's Movie Date podcast includes some heavy matters as well as some livelier ones. On the heavy side, Rafer and Kristen give a recap on the recent Woody Allen / Dylan Farrow drama (warning: if you're looking for them to come down on one side or the other, you're going to be disappointed). They also remember the brilliant actor Philip Seymour Hoffman, with the help of Hoffman's friend and former high school English teacher, John Baynes, of Fairport High School in Rochester, NY. On the live...
Feb 06, 2014•32 min•Ep. 224
This week's Movie Date podcast is going up a few days late, as Rafer and Kristen have been on vacation. Thanks for your patience! And now, with no further ado, reviews of the suspense/romance "Labor Day," starring Kate Winslet and Josh Brolin; and the bromance/chick flick "That Awkward Moment," starring Zac Efron, Michael B. Jordan, and Miles Teller.
Feb 05, 2014•29 min•Ep. 223
In this week's Movie Date podcast, Rafer and Kristen try to squeeze as much as they can into half an hour. They begin with a review of the sci-fi semi-religious adventure movie, "I, Frankenstein." Starring Aaron Eckhart and Bill Nighy, it's written and directed by Stuart Beattie. Next, the great film critic Anne Thompson gives Movie Daters a dispatch from the Sundance Film Festival. When she's not rubbing elbows with Robert Redford, Thompson writes the Thompson on Hollywood blog at Indiewire. An...
Jan 24, 2014•4 min•Ep. 222
In this week's Movie Date podcast, Rafer and Kristen recount their encounters with wildlife in the city and ponder the ways that dance-offs are better than shoot-outs. It's all in honor of the animated feature, "The Nut Job," the buddy cop comedy, "Ride Along," and the spy thriller, "Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit." Rafer and Kristen also weigh in on the Oscar nominations, which were announced this Thursday. And there's a big trivia-related mea culpa as well! THE FULL LIST OF ACADEMY AWARD NOMINEES B...
Jan 17, 2014•31 min•Ep. 221
In this week's Movie Date podcast, Rafer and Kristen review the new Renny Harlin action flick, "The Legend of Hercules," starring Kellan Lutz. They also give their predictions for the major film categories of this weekend's Golden Globes (Sunday, January 12). And, bonus: this week's trivia winner gets a very special prize! THE FULL LIST OF GOLDEN GLOBE FILM NOMINEES Best Motion Picture - Drama "12 Years A Slave" "Captain Phillips" "Gravity" "Philomena" "Rush" Best Motion Picture - Comedy Or Musi...
Jan 10, 2014•27 min•Ep. 220
In this week's Movie Date podcast, Rafer and Kristen answer a few of the many listener letters they've recently received. Along the way, they try to lend some movie therapy and (hooray!) end up on a surprise speed date. Bonus: Rafer and Kristen have some big announcements to make. Among them: a recent smackdown with the Game Night Guys and an upcoming singles movie mixer at WNYC ....
Jan 03, 2014•34 min•Ep. 219
In this week's Movie Date podcast, Rafer and Kristen review seven of the big movies being released on Christmas Day 2013. The films touch on everyone's favorite holiday topics, including family fights, financial corruption, elder abuse, war, extramarital affairs, lay-offs, and samurais. So pour yourself a cup of eggnog, and hear what Rafer and Kristen have to say about: "Lone Survivor," "August: Osage County," "Invisible Woman," "47 Ronin," "Wolf of Wall Street," "Grudge Match," and "The Secret ...
Dec 24, 2013•35 min•Ep. 218
This week's Movie Date podcast has Rafer wishing he knew how to do the hustle and Kristen questioning whether computers will eventually try to have sex with us all. On the chopping block: the star-packed heist film by David O. Russell, "American Hustle"; the long-awaited next chapter in the Ron Burgundy saga, "Anchorman 2"; and the Spike Jonze artificial intelligence romance, "Her." To help separate fact and fiction in "Her," Kristen and Rafer are joined by a very special guest. Gary Marcus is a...
Dec 20, 2013•36 min•Ep. 217
In this week's Movie Date podcast, Rafer and Kristen look back on their own magical childhood memories as they review the making-of-"Mary Poppins" movie, "Saving Mister Banks" and the second installment in "The Hobbit" trilogy, "The Desolation of Smaug." They also consider whether the Golden Globe Award nominations make any sense whatsoever, and help a listener who needs advice on how to make holiday travel a little less torturous.
Dec 13, 2013•30 min•Ep. 216
In this week's Movie Date podcast, Rafer and Kristen look at the intersections of music and film in three new releases: "Inside Llewyn Davis," the Coen brothers' film about a 1960s folk singer trying to make it big; "Out of the Furnace," starring Woody Harrelson, Christian Bale, and Casey Affleck; and "Sound of Music Live," the live television staging of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical made famous by Julie Andrews. They also embark on some movie therapy with a listener who wants help with tr...
Dec 06, 2013•33 min•Ep. 215
The Thanksgiving movie rush is upon us and The Movie Date team is here to tell you what to see and what to skip this holiday weekend. On this special Wednesday version of the podcast, Kristen Meinzer and Rafer Guzman review "Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom," "Black Nativity," "Old Boy", "Homefront," and "Frozen." Idris Elba plays Nelson Mandela in the biopic "Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom." The movie chronicles Mandela's life leading up to his inauguration as the first democratically elected presi...
Nov 27, 2013•42 min•Ep. 214
A Dystopia, many estranged children, and a christmas miracle all hit movie theaters this weekend and Kristen Meinzer and Rafer Guzman are here to weight in. On the docket are "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire," "Delivery Man," and "The Christmas Candle." "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire," stars Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson as winners of the 74th Hunger Games in the movie adaption of the second book in The Hunger Games trilogy. Liam Hemsworth, Elizabeth Banks, Donald Sutherland, and Stanley ...
Nov 23, 2013•33 min•Ep. 213
In this week's Movie Date podcast, Rafer and Kristen review an Oscar contender and a holiday popcorn flick. "Nebraska" is the latest from Alexander Payne, who is best known for “About Schmidt,” “Sideways” and “The Descendants." His new movie, starring Bruce Dern, is about a father-son trip to rural Nebraska. And "The Best Man Holiday" is the sequel to the 1999 African-American romantic comedy, “The Best Man.” It revisits the same group of old college friends now that they’re well into adulthood....
Nov 15, 2013•29 min•Ep. 212
Kristen Meinzer and Rafer Guzman take on superheroes and mere mortals as they review "Thor: The Dark World," "The Book Thief," and "Dallas Buyers Club." "Thor: The Dark World," marks the return of Chris Hemsworth as the Mighty Avenger in the sequel to 2011's "Thor." Directed by Alan Taylor, the film's cast includes Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Hopkins, and Christopher Eccleston. Geoffrey Rush and Sophie Nélisse star in "The Book Thief." Based on the New York Times bestseller by Marku...
Nov 08, 2013•31 min•Ep. 210
Time travel and dystopia reign this week as Kristen Meinzer and Rafer Guzman take on "Free Birds," "Ender's Game," and "About Time." Plus, Kristen interviews Mary Steenburgen who stars as a lounge singer in the new movie "Last Vegas." "Free Birds," tells the tale of two turkeys, voiced by Owen Wilson and Woody Harrelson, who attempt to change the course of history in hopes of saving their fellow birds from their yearly Thanksgiving fate. Amy Poehler and George Takei also lend their voices to thi...
Nov 01, 2013•30 min•Ep. 209
This week, Kristen and Rafer talk thrillers, French films, and films with barely any dialogue: "The Counselor," starring Michael Fassbender, Brad Pitt, Javier Bardem, Penélope Cruz, and Cameron Diaz; the Robert Redford film "All Is Lost"; and finally, the French film, "Blue Is The Warmest Color." Kristen and Rafer also take on your problems with the new Movie Date feature, called Movie Therapy. This week: a soon-to-be first-time dad seeks advice on how to handle his first few weeks at home with ...
Oct 25, 2013•30 min•Ep. 208
This week, Kristen and Rafer get serious as they talk about three new major releases: "The Fifth Estate," starring Benedict Cumberbatch as Julian Assange; the remake of "Carrie," starring Chloe Grace Moretz and Julianne Moore; and finally, Steve McQueen's film based on Solomon Northup's memoir, "12 Years a Slave." Kristen and Rafer also launch a new Movie Date feature, called Movie Therapy, in which they help listeners with their questions and issues by prescribing movies. This week: a listener ...
Oct 18, 2013•29 min•Ep. 206
This week, Kristen and Rafer take on heroes and villains with this week's two major releases: 'Captain Phillips,' the new Tom Hanks-led film about the real hijacking of the Maersk Alabama by Somali pirates in 2009, and 'Machete Kills,' the latest Mexploitation film from Robert Rodriguez. And bonus: Kristen interviews the real Captain Richard Phillips, asking him to give his thoughts on the movie (and on Tom Hanks's interpretation of his accent). All aboard!
Oct 11, 2013•31 min•Ep. 205
Rafer and Kristen race against the clock and review 10 movies in 10 minutes. Then, it's all about the space thriller Gravity. It's the second annual Movie Speed Date episode. Here's the list of movies: Runner Runner A Single Shot Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2 Baggage Claim Battle of the Year Linsanity Parkland Jewtopia Drinking Buddies Enough Said Also, Rafer and Kristen have some very special announcements to make. Among them: They'll be hosting their first live event on Sunday, October 2...
Oct 04, 2013•31 min•Ep. 204
In this week's Movie Date podcast, Rafer and Kristen talk sex, sex addiction and porn. Tell your kids to leave the room because they're reviewing 'Thanks for Sharing,' 'Starlet,' and 'Don Jon.' And yes, there are lots of adult situations, strong language, and nudity throughout.
Sep 27, 2013•27 min•Ep. 203
