"Movie Date" from The Takeaway

Rafer and Kristen wrap up 2015 with their favorite films of the year. Rafer's List Inside Out Clouds of Sils Maria The Revenant Mad Max: Fury Road Amy In the Heart of the Sea The Stanford Prison Experiment Anomalisa When Marnie Was There The Tribe Kristen's List Room Grandma Spy The D.U.F.F. Mad Max: Fury Road Straight Outta Compton The Martian I Am Big Bird: The Carroll Spinney Story Trainwreck Joy Happy New Year and much love to all the Movie Daters out there, from Rafer and Kristen! 

There are seven big releases this Christmas 2015, and Rafer and Kristen review (almost) all of them.  On the chopping block: "Concussion," "Joy," "The Revenant," "Daddy's Home," "The Hateful Eight," "Where to Invade Next," and "Point Break."  Happy holidays, Movie Daters!

In this week's Movie Date podcast, Rafer and Kristne review "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," "Sisters," and "Coat of Many Colors. "The Force Awakens" is the latest installment in the "Star Wars" universe, and brings back many of characters from the original trilogy, including Han Solo, Captain (formerly Princess) Leia, Chewbacca, and Luke Skywalker.  "Sisters" stars comedy greats Tina Fey and Amy Poehler as two forty-something sisters reckoning with their parents' decision to sell their childhood home. And "Coat of Many Colors" is based on Dolly Parton's own story (told in her song of the same name) of growing up poor, and being ridiculed for the coat of rags that her mother sewed for her to keep her warm. All that, plus trivia!

In this week's Movie Date podcast, Rafer and Kristen review "In the Heart of the Sea" (Ron Howard's new film based on a real story of a whaling expedition gone awry), "The Big Short" (Adam McKay's dramedy about the housing market crash in the U.S.), and "Lady in the Van" (based on a real story of woman who lived in a van, and parked that van in a man's driveway for fifteen years). They also weigh in on this year's Golden Globe nominations, including the snubs and the surprises. And, as always, there's trivia! 

In this week's Movie Date podcast, Rafer and Kristen review "Youth" (a meditation on aging and creativity, starring Michael Cain and Harvey Keitel), "Chiraq" (Spike Lee's retelling of "Lysistrata"), "The Letters" (a biopic centering on Mother Theresa), and "Krampus" (a Christmas comedy-horror flick, starring Toni Colette and Adam Scott). They also review Aziz Ansari's new Netflix original series, "Master of None," for this week's Sweatpants segment. All that, plus trivia!

This week's Thanksgiving edition of Movie Date includes reviews "Carol," "The Good Dinosaur," and "Creed"; as well as a conversation with the screenwriter of "The Danish Girl."  "Carol," which is one of this year's Oscar contender, is directed by Todd Haynes and stars Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara as two women in love in the 1950s. "The Good Dinosaur" is both a western and a little boy lost story, courtesy of Disney Pixar. "Creed" continues the "Rocky" legacy, with Sylvester Stallone playing the now-retired boxer and Michael B. Jordan playing the son of his rival/friend Apollo Creed. And "The Danish Girl" tell the story of one of the first people to ever undergo sexual confirmation surgery, over 80 years ago. The film's screenwriter, Lucinda Coxen," talks with Movie Date about the real story behind the film. All that, plus trivia!   

In this week's Movie Date podcast, Rafer and Kristen review "The Secrets in Their Eyes," "The Night Before," and "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2."  They also hear from listeners who share the must-see movies they've never seen. And they respond to a listener who has a valid criticism from a recent podcast.  All that, plus trivia! 

After an invasion of strep throat, Kristen and Rafer are back! In this week's Movie Date podcast, they review Love the Coopers, 33, By The Sea, and Spotlight. At least one is an Oscar contender, but will any of them compare to what Kristen's been watching on her sick couch (specifically, the Mistle-Tones)? They also share some confessions. Some very embarrassing confessions. And, as always, there's trivia! 

This week's Movie Date podcast centers on a man named Bond, a boy named Brown, a borough called Brooklyn, and some women in Britain.   The films are "Spectre" (the latest in the James Bond universe), "Peanuts" (featuring Charlie Brown and the gang), "Brooklyn" (about a young Irish immigrant in the 1950s) and "Suffragette" (which centers on the British suffrage movement). One of them is on Rafer's list of favorite movies of the year. We won't tell you which. You'll just have to listen!   

In this week's Movie Date podcast, Rafer and Kristen review two movies about politics, one about zombies, and another about a very mean chef. The first political film is called "Our Brand is Crisis," and it centers on a campaign consultant (Sandra Bullock) who goes to Bolivia to help a candidate and fight her biggest rival. The second political film is called "Truth," and it's about the real 60 Minutes story in 2004 that questioned George W. Bush's military record, and brought down the careers of Mary Mapes and Dan Rather in the process.  "Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse" is a horror comedy directed by the son of Michael Landon (yes, that Michael Landon). "Burnt" is about horrible man (Bradley Cooper) who happens to be a talented chef (this review is in the form of a parody radio play, so be ready for some sound effects!). And as always, there's trivia!   

This week's Movie Date podcast includes a very special radio play acted out by Rafer, Kristen, Sean Rameswaram (of the late, great "Sideshow" podcast), and Katie Bishop (of "Death, Sex & Money"). It's all in honor of the new film "Jem and the Holograms." Rafer and Kristen also review this week's two spooky Halloween offerings, as well as the film that Rafer calls "the worst movie of the year." Rest assured, they also review "one of the 100 greatest movies ever made," according to Kristen.  Guess which is which: "The Last Witch Hunter," "Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension," "Rock the Kasbah," and "Room." 

In this week's Movie Date podcast, Rafer and Kristen review "Bridge of Spies," "Crimson Peak," and the new musical TV series "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend." "Bridge of Spies" is a dramatization of a real Cold War prison swap, written by the Coen brothers, directed by Steven Spielberg, and starring Tom Hanks. "Crimson Peak" is a gothic romance / horror flick directed by Guillermo del Toro and starring Mia Wasikowska, Jessica Chastain, and Tom Hiddleston. And "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend" is the new CW comedy-drama-musical centering on a successful attorney who leaves behind her life to track down her summer camp boyfriend from childhood. 

We've all heard of Peter Pan and Steve Jobs and there have been plenty of movies about them both. Do we need two more? Rafer and Kristen weigh in with their verdict on the new Danny Boyle / Aaron Sorkin biopic "Steve Jobs," starring Michael Fassbender, Kate Winslet, Seth Rogen, and Jeff Daniels. They also bestow their date rating on "Pan," starring Levi Miller, Hugh Jackman, and Rooney Mara. After the break, Rafer and Kristen put on their Sweatpants, for a Speed Date. The challenge: review six movies, now available online or on-demand, in six minutes. They include: Steve Jobs: The Man in the Machine Finders Keepers Prophet's Prey St. Laurent Monkey Kingdom Cop Car And, as usual, there's Trivia! 

In this week's Movie Date podcast, Rafer and Kristen review "The Walk" and "The Martian," and administer some October-themed Movie Therapy.  "The Walk" is a dramatization of the real Philippe Petit's tight rope walk between the World Trade Center twin towers in 1974. "The Martian" is an adaptation of the novel of the same name by Andy Weir, about an astronaut trapped on the red planet. For Movie Therapy, we have a question from Posey in Seattle, whose wife insists on watching all horror movies during the month of October. Which scary flicks are actually worth watching? Rafer and Kristen have one suggestion for each day of the month! And, as always, there's trivia! 

This week's Movie Date podcast is filled with lessons, some of which involve handkerchiefs, some which end in cannibalism.  For a chivalrous handkerchief lesson, there's "The Intern," starring Robert DeNiro as a wise 70-year-old intern working for a startup CEO played by Anne Hathaway. For a lesson in the drug wars along the U.S.-Mexico border, there's "Sicario," starring Emily Blunt as an idealistic FBI agent who enters morally murky waters. For a history lesson, there's "Stonewall," which looks at the LGBT rights movement in the 1960s and the Stonewall riots.   And for a lesson on activism (which yes, ends in cannibalism), there's "Green Inferno." Special guest P.J. O'Rourke also joins the podcast, to discuss his days at the National Lampoon, and the new documentary about the magazine, "Drunk Stoned Brilliant Dead."  And Rafer and Kristen review the new "Muppets" for this week's Sweatpants segment. Of course, no Movie Date would be complete without trivia, and this week's question is a stumper!   

What's it like being trapped in a maze? Kristen knows. What's it like being able to pronounce Dermot Mulroney's name? Rafer knows.  But there's a lot more to know beyond these questions in this week's Movie Date podcast! Like: What's it like to survive the deadliest day on Everest? (That's in the movie "Everest.") Is the scorch better than the glade? (That's in the movie "Maze Runner: Scorch Trials.") Why is Gollum in the middle of a gangster movie? (That's in "Black Mass".) And what should jaded daters watch if they've had it with overly-romantic Hollywood endings? (That's in this week's Movie Therapy). All that, plus trivia! 

This week's podcast is all about grandparents and pastors. Some are good, some aren't so good, and some might just put you to sleep.  On the grandparents front, we have "Grandma," starring Lilly Tomlin as a cantankerous poet, helping her teenage granddaughter to obtain and abortion. We also have the peculiar elderly people visited by their grandkids in M. Night Shyamalan's "The Visit."  On the pastor front, there's "90 Minutes in Heaven," which tells the story of a minister who is pronounced dead for an hour and a half, and then found to be alive. There's also "Impastor," the new TV Land series in which a man running from bad guys steals a pastor's identity, and then comes to enjoy his new life.  All that, plus listener mail and trivia!  

This week, Rafer and Kristen review "A Walk in the Woods" and "The Transporter Refueled." "Woods" is loosely based on the Bill Bryson book of the same name and stars Robert Redford and Nick Nolte as mismatched traveling partners who attempt to walk the Appalachian Trail.  "Refueled" continues the "Transporter" franchise, minus Jason Statham, but still with the getaway cars.  There's also a Movie Therapy prescription for all the folks out there who care about diversity in kids' films. And, as always, there's trivia!

Today's episode of Movie Date is all about indecent movies, and it features special guest Dan Savage! Dan talks about Hump Fest, the amateur porn film festival that he founded which is now in its 11th year, and kicking off on August 28th in Brooklyn. And while on the topic of porn, Rafer and Kristen share their favorite films that were originally stamped with an NC-17 or X rating (but might not be considered quite so indecent by today's standards).  Of course, there's also trivia...indecent trivia, that is! 

Two of this week's movies feature humans that have been programmed to be killing machines. Which, if either, is worth seeing? One is called "Hitman: Agent 47," and stars Rupert Friend and Zachary Quinto. The other is called "American Ultra," and stars Jesse Eisenberg and Kristen Stewart. There's also killing in "Sinister 2," but none of it involves programming humans to be killers. We also have some very special Movie Therapy for Joanna, the producer of WNYC's Longest Shortest Time podcast. And, as always, there's trivia!   

This week's movies take us back in time, to 1986 and 1963. Which era would you rather live in? Our 1963-era film is "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." Directed by Guy Ritchie, and starring Armie Hammer and Henry Caville, the film is a spy romp inspired by the 1960s TV show of the same name. The 1986-era film is "Straight Outta Compton." Telling the story of the rise of the rap group NWA, and the social circumstances that inspired their music, the film stars a cast of newcomers, including the real son of Ice Cube, playing Ice Cube. There's also a Sweatpants review of Hulu's "Difficult People" and Movie Therapy for an injured beach-comber. All that, plus trivia!

What does it sound like when sheep sing? Is Ricki flashy? And is "The Fantastic Four" the worst action movie ever? These and other questions are explored in this week's Movie Date podcast as Rafer and Kristen review "Shaun the Sheep," "Ricki and the Flash," and the newest version of "The Fantastic Four." Other questions explored: What does it look like when a 15-year-old girl has an unapologetic sex drive on screen (as in ""Diary of a Teenage Girl")? And what does Joel Edgerton sound like in his native Australian accent? (All will be revealed in their interview with him about "The Gift.") All that...plus the questions that come in the form of movie trivia!

It's called "Mission Impossible," but by the time you hit the fifth movie, one can't help but wonder if it's really "Mission Achievable." These and other musings are included in this week's Movie Date podcast. In addition to "MI: Rogue Nation," Rafer and Kristen also review the newest film in the Griswald family saga: "Vacation," starring Ed Helms and Christina Applegate; and "The Best of Enemies," a documentary that looks at the rivalry between Gore Vidal and William F. Buckley.  There's also a very special session of Movie Therapy, for folks out there seeking fun solo date nights (food and beverage pairing suggestions included!). And, as usual, there's trivia!  

Pac-man, punches, prison, and pissed-off moms. There's a lot to enjoy in this week's movies if you're a fan of any of these.  Pac-man is one of the stars of "Pixels." Punches are central to the boxing movie "Southpaw." Prison is what's being explored in "The Stanford Prison Experiment." And pissed-off moms are the characters on the loose in "Lila and Eve."  Rafer and Kristen review them all, plus, as always, there's trivia! 

There are three very different jars of jelly on the shelf this week, and one man has his finger in every jar. That man's name is Judd Apatow. In addition to directing Amy Schumer in the week's big comedy, "Trainwreck," he's also the bro master behind half of Paul Rudd's movies (Rudd stars this week in "Ant-Man"); and on top of that, he's one of the earliest directors to cast Emma Stone (who, this week, is in Woody Allen's new film, "Irrational Man").   Rafer and Kristen review every jelly jar, and get help with one jar in particular, from Scott Rosenberg, the comic book enthusiast who knows all things Marvel.  They also sit down with David Thorpe, director of the new documentary, "Do I Sound Gay?" The film examines the so-called gay voice - including its theorized origins and role in personal and social identity.  All that, plus trivia!   

Check in your brain, because you won't necessarily need it. And swap your body, because yes, you can. It's "Minions" and "Self/Less" time!   In addition to reviewing the big releases, Rafer and Kristen also spend some time with "Walk of Shame," for this week's Mystery Date. And they also welcome special guest Dito Montiel, director of Robin Williams's final film, "Boulevard."  All that, plus trivia!

In this week's Movie Date podcast, Rafer and Kristen review "Terminator Genisys," "Amy," and "Magic Mike XXL." They also discuss the movies that make them feel proudest to be Americans (rest assured, there's no "Mister Smith" or "Born on the Fourth of July" on their lists). And, as always, with trivia.  Happy birthday, America!

When animals talk, do we really want to hear what they say? It depends on whether it's a teddy bear or a dog who's doing the talking. After all, the teddy bear could be Ted, of "Ted 2," who's famous for his offensive mouth. Or, it could be Max, the war dog with PTSD in "Max." Rafer and Kristen discuss both in this week's Movie Date podcast.  They also review "A Dangerous Game" and "Safe," for this week's Sweatpants segment. And they welcome very special guest Lisa Simone Kelly, daughter of Nina Simone and producer of the new film, "What Happened, Miss Simone?" All that, plus Trivia!    

Is "Inside Out" ripping off "Herman's Head"? Is "Dope" a remake of "Risky Business"? And what's up with all the sax solos on this week's Movie Date podcast? Rafer and Kristen explore these questions, plus dedicate some time to Sweatpants, and a very special Movie Therapy for someone who recently lost her father. And, as always, there's trivia!  

This week's Movie Date podcast has a little something for everyone, especially those who love quirky girls, hate crazy dads, and presume that working women are the root of all evil.  On the quirky girl front, we have "Me and Earl and the Dying Girl." For haters of crazy dads, we have "The Wolfpack." And for the folks out there who believe nothing spells trouble like a woman with a job, we have "Jurassic World."  Rafer and Kristen also review the new Netflix series "Grace and Frankie" for this week's Sweatpants session. And, as always, there's trivia! 

This week's Movie Date podcast is all sex and war and rock and roll, as Rafer and Kristen review "Entourage," "Testament of Youth," "Love and Mercy," and a special Mystery Date: "Sexual Intelligence," hosted by Kim Cattrall. All that, plus a real CIA spy gives her take on the new Melissa McCarthy movie, "Spy." And, as always, there's trivia!

The earth is mad in "San Andreas" and everyone is mad in Hawaii. At least, they will be mad after they see "Aloha." Rafer and Kristen explain what all the madness is about in this week's Movie Date podcast.  They also review "Hot Girls Wanted" and "Brian Wilson: I Just Wasn't Made for These Times" for this week's Sweatpants portion of the show.  And in honor of the pseudo science in "San Andreas," they give out awards for best pseudo science in the movies.  All that, plus trivia!

The future used to be a bright shiny thing covered in chrome and dreams. But as "Tomorrowland" reminds us, the future isn't what it used to be. That could be a good thing...or a very bad thing. In addition to looking ahead to the future, Rafer and Kristen also look back at the life of BASE jumper Carl Boenish, who's the subject of "Sunshine Superman." They also look at the present way that wars are fought, in "Good Kill." They also do a deep dive into this week's Sweatpants pick, "Scrotal Recall," and fight over whether or not this week's Mystery Date, "The Loft," is any good. All that, plus trivia!  

When the world is coming to an end, and mankind is reduced to their most animal instincts, the only logical thing to do is race cars and sing pop songs a capella. At least, that's what you might think if you muddle this week's two big releases: "Mad Max: Fury Road," starring Charlize Theron and Tom Hardy; and "Pitch Perfect 2," starring Rebel Wilson, Anna Kendrick, and Elizabeth Banks (who also directs). Rafer and Kristen weigh in on both films. They also launch a new feature, Mystery Date, in which they watch and review one of the many mysterious films that randomly appears in their iTunes, Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon feeds. There's a special Movie Therapy question this week, that involves a listener's secret family history. And, as usual, there's trivia!    

Were you the coolest kid in your high school? Rafer and Kristen weren't. But neither was Jack Black (in his latest movie, that is). The film is called "The D Train," and it centers on the efforts of a former high school nobody to get the coolest kid from his class to attend the 20th reunion. Also up for review this week: "Hot Pursuit," which is about a straight-laced cop (Reese Witherspoon), the saucy drug lord widow (Sofia Vergara) she's been assigned to protect, and their attempts to outrun the bad guys. There's also "I Am Big Bird: The Carroll Spinney Story," which tells the story of the man who's played Big Bird for over forty years. Rafer and Kristen also discuss season 3 of "Inside Amy Schumer" for this week's Sweatpants discussion. There's Movie Therapy for a man about to go on vacation with his 8 year-old daughter. And, as always, there's trivia!

This week's Movie Date podcast features a look at "Welcome to Me," "The Avengers: Age of Ultron," "Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck," and more! There's also a deep-dive into whether superheroes are killing the movies with AM New York's Entertainment Editor Scott Rosenberg and Senior Editor Rob Levin.  And, as always, there's trivia!

Summer is right around the corner, and Rafer and Kristen can't wait. They share their top picks for the months ahead. On Kristen's list: "Pitch Perfect 2," "Spy," and "Magic Mike XXL."  On Rafer's list: "Mad Max: Fury Road," "Love and Mercy," and "The Wolf Pack."  Plus, they talk with Tom Beer, books editor at Newsday and the president of the National Book Critics Circle. Beer gives the scoop on which bestsellers are being adapted to film in the months ahead.

Technology: sometimes it helps us to stay connected. Sometimes it makes us a little too connected...or not connected enough. Consider this week's big movie, "Unfriended." In it, friends hang out online, from the comfort of their own homes, but maybe they'd be better off if they were all in the same room. Then there's "Ex Machina," the new film about a super-intelligent robot and his inventor, played by Oscar Isaac. Isaac stops by the Movie Date podcast to talk about some of the film's deeper themes and darker moments. And in between, Rafer and Kristen review "Monkey Kingdom," "True Story," "Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2," and "Child 44."  Don't put down your device! We promise not to hurt you!  

In this week's podcast, Rafer and Kristen look at three movies that explore youth versus age. "The Longest Ride" is the latest adaptation of a Nicholas Sparks novel, focusing on a young couple that learns lessons from an older man. "While We're Young" is Noah Baumbach's newest film, about a couple in their forties that befriends a couple in their twenties. Finally, Kristen Stewart joins Movie Date to discuss her newest film, about an aging actress and her young personal assistant, "The Clouds of Sils Maria."     

This week, Rafer and Kristen explore movies that involve fighting Nazis and being fast (not furious). They also help a listener who wants help letting the tears out.  On the chopping block: "Woman in Gold," starring Helen Mirren as a woman trying to reclaim the art that the Nazis stole from her family; and "Furiouis 7," about a group of race-car driving vigilantes who get together for another ride, and another shot at getting the bad guys. There's also a list of tear-jerkers for this week's Movie Therapy patient. And as usual, there's trivia!   

This week's new releases aren't particularly unique, but that doesn't necessarily mean they're bad dates.  In "Home," an adorable little alien tries to reunite with his species, and befriends a human girl along the way. In "It Follows," a teenage girl enjoys a fun night in the back seat with a boy she barely knows, then finds herself being chased by evil spirits. And in "Get Hard," a white man asks a black man to mentor him in ways which he presumes the black man is wise. There's also Movie Therapy for the fathers and sons out there. And, as always, trivia!  

This week's Movie Date podcast is all about new beginnings...or more accurately, questionable recycling of stuff we already know.  We're talking about "The Gunman," which features the same director as "Taken," and an aging protagonist assassin who is not Liam Neeson (Sean Penn). Also on the chopping block: "Tracers," which features Taylor Lautner of "Twilight" fame, possibly trying to go down a new path, possibly remaking a movie that was already done last year ("Brick Mansions'). And, of course, Rafer and Kristen discuss this week's big opener, "The Divergent Series: Insurgent," which feels an awful lot like "The Hunger Games," but which might not be as good.  All that, plus this week's Sweatpants picks and Trivia!   

This week's podcast is filled with liars, working girls, aging gangsters, millionaire murderers and bonus: an adoptee in need of some Movie Therapy.  Our liars are the lobbyists and spin doctors profiled in "Merchants of Doubt." Our working girl is "Cinderella," who serves her evil stepmother and stepsisters, but dreams of better things. Our aging gangster is Liam Neeson, in "Run All Night" (a movie eerily similar to "Taken"). Our millionaire murderer is the subject of the new HBO documentary miniseries "The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst." And our adoptee in need of Movie Therapy is Katie, who's recently been reintroduced to her birth mother. All this, plus trivia are in this week's Movie Date podcast!

In this week's Movie Date podcast, Rafer and Kristen review "The Second Best Marigold Hotel" and "Chappie."  "The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" continues the story of a retirement community in India made up of expats played by the UK's acting elite (Maggie Smith, Bill Nighy, and Judi Dench, among others). This time, the man who oversees the community (Dev Patel) attempts to expand into additional properties, but is thwarted by undercover inspectors and underhanded relatives. "Chappie" is directed by Neill Blomkamp, of "District 9" fame, and takes place in the near future, when a mechanized police force patrols the streets. One of the decommissioned robots gets taken home by an engineer (again, Dev Patel) and reprogrammed with artificial intelligence. But things go awry when the artificially intelligent robot gets kidnapped by violent weapons-wielding gangsters. For this week's Sweatpants pick, Rafer and Kristen discuss Tina Fey's new Netflix series, "The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt," which centers on a former cult member (Ellie Kemper), who attempts to adjust to modern New York life after living for 15 years in an underground bunker.  

In this week's Movie Date podcast, there are a lot of heavy topics and lousy movies.  The dark topics include theft ("Focus"), death ("The Lazarus Effect" and "Farewell to Hollywood"), and rape ("The Hunting Ground") The lousy movies include most of the above. But on the bright side, Jemaine Clement, of Flight of the Conchords fame, stops by to talk about his new film, "What We Do in the Shadows." It's a vampire horror comedy mockumentary, and yes, you read that correctly.     

It's a jam-packed Movie Date, with reviews of 'The Duff,' 'Hot Tub Time Machine 2,' and 'McFarland USA,' as well as interviews with the Oscar nominees! Among the nominees:  Damien Chazelle, the director and writer of "Whiplash" James Marsh, the director of "The Theory of Everything" Director Moreten Tyldum and writer Graham Moore, the team behind "The Imitation Game" And, as usual, there's trivia!

Put on your handcuffs. After much anticipation, 'Fifty Shades of Grey' hits theatres. Also on the chopping block: 'Old Fashioned' and 'Kingsman: The Secret Service.' For this week's Sweatpants pick, Rafer and Kristen dig deep into NBC's newest miniseries, 'The Slap,' directed by Lisa Choledenko and starring some of the biggest names in the movie business. And, as always, there's trivia!

It's another jam-packed week at the Movie Date podcast, as Rafer and Kristen take on 'Jupiter Ascending,' 'Mr. Turner,' 'Lovesick,' 'Spongebob,' 'Seventh Son,' Movie Therapy & Sweatpants! And, as always, there's trivia!

In this week's Movie Date podcast, Rafer and Kristen cover all the bases with new releases, Sweatpants picks, an interview, Movie Therapy, and, of course, trivia! On the new releases front: they review the teen time travel adventure "Project Almanac," Anne Hathaway's indie music romance "Song One," and the racially charged custody battle flick, "Black or White," starring Kevin Costner and Octavia Spencer. For this week's Sweatpants flick, they talk with Sarah Montague, WNYC's resident animal expert and executive producer of Selected Shorts, about the Puppy Bowl, the Kitten Bowl, and the Fish Bowl. They then administer some Movie Therapy for listeners of The Longest Shortest Time who need to get their sexy back after having children.  And this week's movie trivia might be a stumper for anyone born before 1970 or after 2000.     

Its one of those rare weeks, when most of the new releases star women. Among them: 'Cake,' starring Jennifer Aniston; 'The Boy Next Door,' starring Jennifer Lopez; 'Strange Magic,' starring Evan Rachel Wood; and 'Mordecai,' starring Johnny Depp (and Gwyneth Paltrow).  In addition to reviewing the new releases, Rafer and Kristen also administer some Movie Therapy that will benefit a lot of people this time of year. And, as always, there's trivia!! 

It's the kind of week that will make you laugh and cry, and maybe think you have early onset Alzheimer's.  On the laughing front: "The Wedding Ringer," starring Kevin Hart and Josh Gadd; and on both the crying front and Alzheimer's front: "Still Alice," starring Julianne Moore. Rafer and Kristen also review the hacker suspense flick "Black Hat" and the family film "Paddington." And they take a deep dive into the 2015 Oscar nominations, which were announced this past Wednesday. Last, but not least, there's trivia! Here's a list of some of the nominations we're watching: Best Picture American Sniper Birdman Boyhood The Grand Budapest Hotel The Imitation Game Selma The Theory of Everything Whiplash  Best Actor Steve Carell, Foxcatcher Bradley Cooper, American Sniper Benedict Cumberbatch, The Imitation Game Michael Keaton, Birdman Eddie Redmayne, The Theory of Everything  Best Actress Marion Cotillard, Two Days, One Night Felicity Jones, The Theory of Everything Julianne Moore, Still Alice Rosamund Pike, Gone Girl Reese Witherspoon, Wild Best Supporting Actor  Robert Duvall, The Judge Ethan Hawke, Boyhood Edward Norton, Birdman Mark Ruffalo, Foxcatcher J. K. Simmons, Whiplash Best Supporting Actress  Patricia Arquette, Boyhood Laura Dern, Wild Keira Knightley, The Imitation Game Emma Stone, Birdman Meryl Streep, Into the Woods  Best Director Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Birdman Richard Linklater, Boyhood Bennett Miller, Foxcatcher Wes Anderson, The Grand Budapest Hotel Morten Tyldum, The Imitation Game  Best Foreign Language Film Ida, Poland Leviathan, Russia Tangerines, Estonia Timbuktu, Mauritania Wild Tales, Argentina  Best Original Score The Grand Budapest Hotel The Imitation Game Interstellar Mr. Turner The Theory of Everything  Best Documentary Feature Citizenfour Finding Vivian Maier Last Days in Vietnam Salt of the Earth Virunga  Best Animated Feature Big Hero 6 The Boxtrolls How to Train Your Dragon 2 Song of the Sea The Tale of Princess Kaguya Best Original Song “Lost Stars,” Begin Again “Grateful,” Beyond the Lights “I'm Not Gonna Miss You,” Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me “Everything is Awesome,” The Lego Movie “Glory,” Selma Best Visual Effects Captain America: The Winter Soldier Dawn of the Planet of the Apes Guardians of the Galaxy Interstellar X-Men: Days of Future Past