Rafer Guzman

What makes a great political movie? Suspense? A unique plot line? A surprising reveal? Or...Marisa Tomei? In this weeks' podcast, Rafer and Kristen happen to agree. On what? You'll have to listen to find out, as they discuss the latest political epic with a wide release — and Ryan Gosling's 18,000th movie this year, apparently.  

What's your number? No, not your phone number, but the number of sexual partners you've had. Awkward question right? It's also the basis and title for a new Anna Faris movie. But is "What's Your Number" a good idea for a movie? Kristen and Rafer agree on the final judgment, but if you want to know what it is, you'll have to take a listen to this week's movie date podcast. 

It’s Friday, when we talk about new movies here on The Takeaway. This week, we're talking about "50/50," a comedy about a young guy with cancer, starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Seth Rogen, and "What's Your Number?," another comedy — this one centers on dating and relationships — with Anna Faris.

In this week's Movie Date podcast, Kristen, Rafer, join a baseball-loving guest in discussing stats movie "Moneyball," starring Brad Pitt. Can a movie about baseball statistics be remotely interesting? Does Kristen's knowledge of the game run deeper than "Bad News Bears"? Does the movie, in the final judgment, satisfy people who aren't number crunchers? To get answers to these questions, you must listen!  

This weekend, a variety of anticipated movies are hitting theaters. "Moneyball," starring Brad Pitt, is a dramatic film based on Michael Lewis's popular 2003 book of the same name. "Dolphin Tale," which stars Morgan Freeman, is a family film based on a true story about an injured bottlenose dolphin. "Abduction" is a thriller about a teenager who discovers that he was kidnapped as a young child. And "Killer Elite" is an action flick with Clive Owen and Robert De Niro.

This week our Movie Date podcasters get a special treat: a visit from "Mad Men" actress Christina Hendricks. Hendricks, who is also in two fall films, including "Drive," talks about approaching the differences between acting for movies and for TV, and about the next season of "Mad Men." 

You can't say Kristen and Rafer don't go to great lengths to make their movie date fit the bill. This week's topic is epic mixed martial arts film "Warrior," and how do they discuss it? With a "Movie Date throwdown," of course! After a few weeks of surprised agreement, Rafer and Kristen are back in separate corners, ready to go to (friendly) blows at the ring of the bell. Who wins? Who loses? You have to listen to find out! 

The biggest release this weekend is the thriller "Contagion," which has a formidable cast of big names in Hollywood: Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Winslet, Matt Damon, Laurence Fishburn, and Jude Law. "Warrior," a mixed martial arts movie starring Nick Nolte, is also opening this weekend.

In this week's Movie Date podcast, Kristen and Rafer take a look back at the summer that was...a "bummer summer." But rather than harp on how they were disappointed with the list of blockbusters that didn't deliver, they look forward at the movies being released this fall, and talk about what they're looking forward to and what they're dreading. From that list, our critics make picks for each other to see. What do they pick and how do they react? You'll have to listen to find out. 

Every Friday, The Takeaway looks at the weekend's new releases. Opening this weekend: "The Debt," an American remake of a 2007 Israeli thriller, starring Helen Mirren. We'll also talk about films to see this fall, including the haunting film "Martha Marcy May Marlene," and the 3-D family adventure film "Hugo."

We here at The Takeaway don't want you to head into the weekend without knowing which movies to check out — particularly if Hurricane Irene is going to keep you indoors. Every Friday we review new films here at The Takeaway. This week, we're talking about the bromance-style comedy "Our Idiot Brother," the revenge thriller "Colombiana," and the horror movie remake "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark."

Ahh...so many little moments are packed into the day. Moments where you're eating lunch or reading the paper, and moments when you're falling in love. The latter is the basis for new film "One Day," which is the latest film looked at in Kristen and Rafer's podcast. For one of our movie reviewers, this is a "good time, I'd go out again" date, for another, it's a "I probably won't call you again" kind of date. Take a listen.

Every Friday we talk about new movies here on The Takeaway. Today, we'll be discussing the latest "Conan the Barbarian" iteration — this version is available in 3D and without Arnold Schwarzenegger — and "One Day," the latest Anne Hathaway vehicle — that this time she's brought an English accent with her.

In this week's Movie Date podcast, Kristen and Rafer talk about "The Help," which tells the story of African-American domestic workers in 1960s Mississippi and the white women they work for. While it's not the summer's best film, both of our intrepid critics have decided that "The Help" is a good date. To find out why, you'll have to take a listen!

Every Friday we talk about new movies here at The Takeaway. This weekend’s big releases are “The Help,” which centers on black domestic workers in Mississippi in the 1960s and the white women they work for; “30 Minutes or Less,” a bank-robbery action film; and “The Guard,” an Irish indie cop film, featuring Don Cheadle as an American FBI agent.

In this week's Movie Date Podcast, Kristen and Rafer discuss the latest "Planet of the Apes" movie, and why it's far from your daddy's Charlton Heston flick. They also talk about motion capture animation, and how the technology can offer cinema magic or a bit of an empty feeling. As far as whether the film was a good or bad date, you'll have to listen to find out! 

Every Friday, Movie Date podcast co-hosts Kristen Meinzer and Rafer Guzman talk about the weekend's new releases. The biggest debut this weekend is a remake of a film that comes from a long line of remakes: "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" opens today. (The movie’s director and unconventional star, Andy Serkis will appear later this morning on the program.) Also opening this weekend is "The Change-Up" a new bro-mance starring Jason Bateman and Ryan Reynolds, and "Magic Trip," a documentary about Ken Kesey and the Merry Prankster’s drug-filled road trip in 1964.

This week, Movie Date is going out West by way of outer space. Kristen and Rafer take on the genre mash-up "Cowboys & Aliens," starring Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford. While audiences may have laughed at the movie's trailer, Kristen and Rafer say "Cowboys & Aliens" is no joke. (That's right, they're in agreement on this one — again.) Rafer says "Cowboys & Aliens" falls in the tradition of sci-fi classics like "Predator," and Kristen thinks it's "just a great Western."

Every Friday, The Takeaway looks at the week's new film releases. Hitting the multiplexes this weekend is "Crazy Stupid Love" is a romantic comedy starring Steve Carell as a recent divorcé navigating the dating world, and Ryan Gosling as source of romantic advice. Also out is "The Smurfs," a combination live-action and animated movie, based on the '80s cartoon about tiny blue creatures. And "Cowboys and Aliens" is a western meets alien invasion flick, starring Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, and Olivia Wilde.

Ladies and gentleman, Kristen and Rafer stand united! Can you believe it? And on, of all movies...a superhero movie! It's true. Our oft-at odds Movie Date duo have rated "Captain America" a good date. Rafer calls it Norman Rockwellian. Kristen supports the "nobody" superhero theme.