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We have a special treat this week. The Critic and the Referee conducted their first interview with award-winning and Oscar-nominated director/screenwriter, Atom Egoyan, whose new movie, "Remember," is being released in the U.S. on Friday, March 11, 2016. It stars Academy Award winners Christopher Plummer and Martin Landau, both giving riveting performances in this drama/thriller. Atom gives us inside details about what it’s like to work with Plummer, Landau, and first-time screenwriter Benjamin August in this unexpected tale of a 90-year-old Holocaust survivor suffering from memory loss. Listen as Egoyan walks us through how he developed his phenomenal storytelling chops, as well as his technique in working with the industry’s most talented actors and actresses. Finally, Atom shares what he’s watching, as well as what you should be watching. Yes, he ultimately takes the Critic and the Referee back to school—film school, that is.  We told you it was a special treat!

Show Notes

Here some fun facts about Atom Egoyan (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000382/ & https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atom_Egoyan):

Attended Film School:  Nope (Hitchcock/Truffaut Conversation was his film school.)

Break Out Feature: "Exotica"

Most Notable Work: "The Sweet Hereafter" (received tons of awards including two Oscar nominations)

Other Big Wig Stars He’s Directed: Julianne Moore, Liam Neeson, Reese Witherspoon, Ryan Reynolds, Colin Firth, Victor Garber, Rosario Dawson and…wait for it…Kevin Bacon. (Yes, we at Why Watch That were officially one degree away from Kevin Bacon. Major accomplishment, folks!)

Current Small Screen Favorites: "Ray Donavan," "Breaking Bad," "Mad Men"

Current Big Screen Favorite: "Tangerine"

What to Watch: "Vertigo," "The Conversation," "Taxi Driver," "The Godfather," and "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance"

Remember (A24) http://a24films.com/films/remember/

Rating: R 

Runtime: 1 hour 34 minutes

Synopsis: "Remember" tells the story of Zev Guttman (Academy Award® Winner Christopher Plummer), a 90-year-old struggling with memory loss who is living out his final years in a serene retirement home. A week following the death of his beloved wife Ruth, he suddenly gets a mysterious package from his close friend Max (Academy Award® Winner Martin Landau), containing a stack of money and a letter detailing a shocking plan. Both Zev and Max were prisoners in Auschwitz, and the same sadistic guard was responsible for the death of both their families – a guard who, immediately after the war, escaped Germany and has been living in the U.S. ever since, under an assumed identity. Max is wheelchair-bound but in full command of his mental faculties; with his guidance, Zev will embark on a cross-continental road-trip to bring justice once and for all to the man who destroyed both of their lives.

Pick of the Week: "The Conversation" by Francis Ford Coppola http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071360/

Since we haven’t talked television yet at Why Watch That Radio, the Critic and the Referee decided to dive head first into a few of the shows that they enjoy. A couple are in their final seasons, and the rest are still going strong. Either way, you won’t be disappointed when you check them out. In addition, the Critic and the Referee talk movies. They discuss a few of the films that were in contention during this year’s Oscars and give you a verdict on Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny, the sequel to Ang Lee’s great Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Lastly, as always, the team provides a “Pick of the Week.” You’ll never guess what it is. Enjoy!

Note: The Critic references Joan Chen as the star of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, but he meant to reference Michelle Yeoh. He apologizes profusely for the error.

Show Notes

TV Shows

The Good Wife: http://www.cbs.com/shows/the_good_wife/

Downton Abbey: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/downtonabbey/index.html

American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson: http://www.fxnetworks.com/shows/the-people-v-oj-simpson-american-crime-story/episodes

Blackish: http://abc.go.com/shows/blackish

The Walking Dead: http://www.amc.com/shows/the-walking-dead

The Grinder: http://www.fox.com/the-grinder

Movies

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny: https://www.netflix.com/watch/80039717?p=os

Room: http://roomthemovie.com/#/

The Big Short: http://www.thebigshortmovie.com/

Bridge of Spies: http://bridgeofspies.com/

Brooklyn: http://www.foxsearchlight.com/brooklyn/

Pick of the Week

Oliver Twist (2007 BBC Miniseries): http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b008m6b8

EPISODE 31: In this episode, the Scout and the GM discuss a shift in the climate of the NBA – the shift from the league (and the media) celebrating point guards who focus on passing first to celebrating point guards who focus much more on scoring. They explore the hows and whys of this new phenomenon. Plus, they talk briefly about the Lakers upset of the Warriors and more. Enjoy!

Sources & Notes

NBA Player Scoring Per Game Stats: http://espn.go.com/nba/statistics/player/_/stat/scoring-per-game

Point Guards that are Top 10 scorers: Steph Curry (1), Damian Lillard (5), Russell Westbrook (7)

Point Guards that are Top 20 scorers: Isaiah Thomas (13), Kyle Lowry (14), Kemba Walker (16)

Point Guards that are Top 30 scorers: John Wall (22), Chris Paul (23), Reggie Jackson (26)

Point Guards that are in the Top 10 of players who attempt the most field goals throughout this season: Russell Westbrook (2), Steph Curry (4), Damian Lillard (5), John Wall (8), Isaiah Thomas (10) 

Point Guards that are in the Top 20 of players who attempt the most field goals throughout this season: Kemba Walker (14), Reggie Jackson (19)

Point Guards that are in the Top 10 of players who attempt the most field goals per game: Steph Curry (2A), Damian Lillard (2B), Russell Westbrook (7)

Point Guards that are in the Top 20 of players who attempt the most field goals per game: John Wall (14), Brandon Knight (15), Kemba Walker (17), Isaiah Thomas (18)

Lakers upset Warriors: http://espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=400828818

Summary of the history of the three-point field goal: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three-point_field_goal

For contextual NBA stats: basketball-reference.com

EPISODE 28: This week, The Zeitgeist discusses Zoe Saldana as Nina Simone, the likely Presidential nominees, Boeing's self-cleaning toilet, Caitlyn Jenner and Ted Cruz, and more. Enjoy!

THIS WEEK’S TOPICS

The Sizzle

The trailer for "Nina" is out, and people aren't happy, especially Nina Simone's estate and daughter: http://www.people.com/article/nina-simone-estate-lashes-back-at-zoe-saldana AND http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/the-nina-trailer-is-what-happens-when-white-people-tell-black-stories_us_56d74238e4b0bf0dab34472a

Politics

Super Tuesday postmortem & looking ahead to upcoming primaries/caucuses: http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/republican-voters-kind-of-hate-all-their-choices/ AND http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/donald-trump-is-just-barely-on-track-to-win-the-gop-nomination/ AND http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/hillary-clintons-got-this/ AND http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2016/03/05/what-states-have-primaries-on-saturday/81282848/

Odd News

Police officer pulls over a car for speeding and is serenaded by Gladys Knight (psst, there's more): http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/mar/03/soul-singer-gladys-knight-serenades-police-officer-utah

Health & Science

A reporter seemed to use science to explain why a teen shot his family; people aren't happy: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/03/02/he-wanted-to-stay-in-bed-his-family-wanted-him-at-school-so-he-shot-them-police-say/

Business

Boeing's self-cleaning toilet: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-03-03/boeing-s-new-self-cleaning-jet-toilet-is-a-germophobe-s-delight

What We Don’t Care About

Farewell to Ben Carson as President: http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/republicans-liked-ben-carson-to-the-end-but-not-enough-to-vote-for-him/

The Tomfool of the Week

Caitlyn Jenner, Trans Ambassador for ... Ted Cruz. What?! http://www.cnn.com/2016/03/03/election-center-2016/caitlyn-jenner-ted-cruz-trans-ambassador/

Why Watch That

Who ever complained about a good chuckle? Nobody we know! So, we’re back with an episode about our favorite comedies. The Critic and the Referee discuss a variety of funny films so diverse that you’re bound to find something that will make you cry with laughter. Enjoy!

Why Watch That

Thanks to some of the wonderful performances that we’ve recently seen from Lupita Nyong’o, Viola Davis, and many others, black actresses are beginning to get the recognition that they deserve. In this episode, the Critic and the Referee discuss several notable black actresses and their standout performances. Enjoy our lively conversation about these women who often get overlooked!

On Sunday, the 88th Annual Academy Awards were held, so we decided to tune in just to see what Chris Rock would do ... and say. Well, he knocked it out of the park. (We can't say the same about the ceremony overall, though.) In this episode, the Critic and the Referee react to the Oscars, describe an effective way to determine whether the plot of a movie or TV show will appeal to you, and provide an all new "Pick of the Week." Enjoy!

Show Notes

Oscar Nominees & Winners: http://oscar.go.com/news/winners/oscar-winners-2016-see-the-complete-list

The McGuffin: https://www.writingclasses.com/toolbox/articles/what-is-a-mcguffin

Deadpool: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1431045/

EPISODE 30: In this episode, the Scout and both GMs discuss the domination of Steph Curry. Where does he fall in the pantheon of NBA greats? Also, how do his and his team’s style of play affect the rest of the league (and each other)? Listen to our analysis of all that and more. Enjoy!

Sources

538’s statistical analysis of Steph Curry: http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/stephen-curry-is-the-revolution/

Draymond Green’s tirade during halftime of Warriors vs. Thunder: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2620327-draymond-green-reportedly-goes-on-tirade-at-halftime-of-warriors-vs-thunder

Warriors at Thunder Box Score + More: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/nba/event/2015/897223/boxscore/

Draymond Green’s mother writes a letter to Warriors haters: http://ftw.usatoday.com/2016/02/draymond-greens-mom-letter-haters-warriors

An interesting breakdown of the improvement in 3-point shooting: http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/74103/no-contest-todays-best-shooters-are-better-than-ever

EPISODE 27: This week, The Zeitgeist discusses Jamie Foxx & #actbetter, Super Tuesday, NASA applicants, Apple vs. the FBI, the NFL’s Dante Fowler, and more. Enjoy!

THIS WEEK’S TOPICS

The Sizzle

Jamie Foxx makes fun of Oscars boycott (#ActBetter): http://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/feb/24/jamie-foxx-tells-african-american-stars-to-act-better-oscars-so-white-diversity-row

Politics

Super Tuesday! (March 1st) – 11+ states voting (VT, MA, MN, VA, TN, GA, AL, AR, OK, TX, and, for Republicans, AK, for Democrats, American Samoa): http://www.politico.com/story/2016/02/super-tuesday-2016-everything-you-need-to-know-219849

Odd News

Feet washing ashore in British Columbia: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/feb/23/british-columbia-canada-human-feet-mystery

Health & Science

Record number of applicants want to be NASA astronauts: http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2016/0220/18-300-apply-to-be-astronauts.-How-will-NASA-selection-just-14

Business

Apple vs. the FBI: http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/columnist/2016/02/24/got-hacked-my-mac-while-writing-story/80844720/ AND http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/25/technology/apple-is-said-to-be-working-on-an-iphone-even-it-cant-hack.html?_r=0

What We Don’t Care About

Polls showing that Trump's supporters are intolerant (20% oppose executive action that freed the slaves in this country): http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/25/upshot/measuring-donald-trumps-supporters-for-intolerance.html?_r=0 AND https://d25d2506sfb94s.cloudfront.net/cumulus_uploads/document/bpdyys33xc/econTabReport_20160116_EO_X_REPNOM.pdf

The Tomfool of the Week

The NFL's Dante Fowler, his girlfriend, and the mother of his child: http://www.vibe.com/2016/02/dante-fowler-fight-video-apology/

EPISODE 16: It’s so easy to find a reason to not get started or to make up some excuse for why you can’t introduce yourself to the world, but the Idea Jungle hosts want you to stop. Usually, it’s just your inner voice that’s leaving you stuck on the hamster wheel of doubt and that’s paralyzing you from getting started. In today’s world, everyone’s constantly trying to come up with the latest, greatest, and most innovative invention. But, ultimately, you don’t need any of that to get started: What you have right now is usually enough. So, the Visionary and the Mentor decided to prove it to you. In this episode, let us help you mute your inner self doubt, reconnect with your basic needs, and secure your first or next client.