How important is logic in a movie? Does it matter more with the scientific rules of the story? Or with the motivations of the movie's characters? Rafer and Kristen contemplate questions of logic, as well as issues of family in this week's Movie Date. 

On the chopping block: Christopher Nolan's outer space story of humanity and heroism, "Interstellar"; "Horns," starring Daniel Radcliffe as a young man who resembles the devil; and "Big Hero 6," which centers on a robotics prodigy and his big, puffy, loving robot friend. 

Rafer and Kristen also offer a couple of Sweatpants picks, for those who prefer to sit on the couch, rather than hit the theatres. 

There's also listener mail, and, as always, trivia!

It's a haunted Halloween Movie Date with a wide range of creepy options, from an amnesia suspense flick to a sociopath-centered thriller.

Nicole Kidman wakes up confused about who she is and where she is every single day in "Before I Go to Sleep." Jake Gyllenhaal is willing to cross the line as he chases down ambulances in "Nightcrawler." And Keira Knightly hangs out with kids half her age, and sleeps with a man twice her age in "Laggies."

The strangeness continues in this week's Sweatpants conversation. Frances McDormand plays a peculiar Mainer in "Olive Kitteridge" (on HBO, beginning November 2, 2014) and a cartoon Mike Tyson solves mysteries on "Mike Tyson Mysteries" (premiere was this week on Adult Swim).

There's also some angry listener mail this week. And, as always, there's trivia!

Subscribe to the Movie Date podcast, like Movie Date on Facebook, follow Kristen on Twitter, and leave a message for Rafer and Kristen anytime at 571-7MOVIES (571-766-8437).

It's a week when real men are being pushed to their limits, on the football field ("23 Blast"), on the world stage ("Citizenfour"), and in a universe where mobsters kill puppies ("John Wick").

In addition to the new releases, Kristen and Rafer also weigh in on two picks you can watch at home, in their weekly Sweatpants segment.

Plus, special guest Jason Schwartzman, of "Rushmore," "Grand Budapest Hotel," and "Saving Mister Banks" fame stops by to discuss his new film, "Listen Up, Philip."  

And, as always, there's trivia!

Subscribe to the Movie Date podcast, like Movie Date on Facebook, follow Kristen on Twitter, and leave a message for Rafer and Kristen anytime at 571-7MOVIES (571-766-8437).

It's a rage-filled week on the newest Movie Date podcast, as Rafer and Kristen delve into race relations, child abuse, career angst, and war.

Up for review: "Dear White People," from first-time filmmaker Justin Simien; the newest Nicholas Sparks adaptation, "The Best of Me"; the comeback within a comeback film, "Birdman"; and the Brad Pitt-led World War II film, "Fury."

But it's not all anger and rage this week. There's also Movie Therapy for a listener feeling the stress of home renovations. Plus, Rafer and Kristen present a brand new segment, Sweatpants, which features the best of what's on the small screen this week.

And, as always, there's trivia!

Subscribe to the Movie Date podcast, like Movie Date on Facebook, follow Kristen on Twitter, and leave a message for Rafer and Kristen anytime at 571-7MOVIES (571-766-8437).

This week, Robert Downey, Jr. and Robert Duvall team up as a dysfunctional father and son in "The Judge." Bill Murray reminds us of why he's a lousy babysitter in "St. Vincent." And Jeremy Renner reminds us not to "Kill The Messenger."

If that's not enough miserable jerkiness for you, we also talk abusive teachers - both real and fictional - with Damien Chazelle, writer and director of the new film, "Whiplash." 

Stick around long enough, and you'll also be treated to some angry voices in this week's trivia question.

Get out the bourbon...it's a miserable Movie Date!

Subscribe to the Movie Date podcast, like Movie Date on Facebook, follow Kristen on Twitter, and leave a message for Rafer and Kristen anytime at 571-7MOVIES (571-766-8437).

There's a lot to be afraid of this week: the rapture, homicidal husbands, the internet, and, of course, dolls. That's because, Rafer and Kristen and are reviewing "Left Behind," "Gone Girl," "Men Women & Children," and "Annabelle." They also help a listener who loves watching Halloween movies in the lead-up to Halloween...but needs suggestions of films where Halloween actually factors into the story line. And, as always, there's trivia!

28 Halloween Movies for our Movie Therapy Patient

Movies in Which Halloween is Central to the Plot

Movies with Notable Trick-or-Treating Scenes

Movies in which Pivotal Moments Happen on Halloween

Subscribe to the Movie Date podcast, like Movie Date on Facebook, follow Kristen on Twitter, and leave a message for Rafer and Kristen anytime at 571-7MOVIES (571-766-8437).

Rafer and Kristen never could have imagined 1980s TV shows like "The Equalizer" being made into feature films. What's next? "Simon and Simon"? "Three's Company"? But they try their best to approach the new Denzel Washington film with open minds.

Also up for review: "Boxtrolls," the new children's movie about small creatures trying to survive in a world that doesn't want them and "The Two Faces of January," a thriller starring Viggo Mortenson, Kirsten Dunst, and Oscar Isaac. 

Dan Pashman, host of The Sporkful, also makes an appearance on this week's podcast, seeking Movie Therapy for people who prefer movie and a dinner over dinner and a movie. Be sure to check out Dan's delicious podcast, which Kristen has spent the past six months helping to launch with WNYC.

And, last but not least, don't miss this week's Movie Trivia!

Subscribe to the Movie Date podcast, like Movie Date on Facebook, follow Kristen on Twitter, and leave a message for Rafer and Kristen anytime at 571-7MOVIES (571-766-8437).

Rafer thinks it's a week for people on film to take personal responsibility for their lives. But not all of them seem up for the task.

The members of the Altman family need to tell the truth and make peace with each other in "This is Where I Leave You." A podcaster needs to face a strange challenger in "Tusk." A former cop must commit crimes to fight crimes in "A Walk Among the Tombstones." And a group of teenage boys must take control of their lives and free themselves of what cages them in "The Maze Runner."

Finally, Simon Pegg discusses the importance of taking personal responsibility for one's happiness, when he sits down with Kristen to discuss his new film, "Hector and the Search for Happiness."

Subscribe to the Movie Date podcast, like Movie Date on Facebook, follow Kristen on Twitter, and leave a message for Rafer and Kristen anytime at 571-7MOVIES (571-766-8437).

Rafer thinks it's a red-letter week for women in the movies (if you count dolphins). Kristen's not so sure. Of course, there are other disagreements as well: like, what is a real crisis in a marriage? And why would a suburban mom become BFFs with a teenager? Up for debate: "Dolphin Tale 2," "The Drop," "The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby," and "Kelly and Cal."

Rafer and Kristen also offer up some Movie Therapy to a listener who's sending her only daughter off to college.

And, as usual, there's trivia!

Subscribe to the Movie Date podcast, like Movie Date on Facebook, follow Kristen on Twitter, and leave a message for Rafer and Kristen anytime at 571-7MOVIES (571-766-8437).

This week's Movie Date podcast starts with questions, ends with questions, and of course there are plenty of questions in between. Like: What really happened during the fall of Saigon? Was Elvis Jewish? And are voiceovers ever okay? On the chopping block are "Last Days in Vietnam," "The Identical," and (by popular demand) "Snowpiercer."

The Movie Date team also shares a snippet of Kristen's Soundcheck interview with Stuart Murdoch, lead singer and songwriter of Belle & Sebastian and director of the new pop musical film, "God Help the Girl." To hear the full interview, pay a visit to the great WNYC music program Soundcheck.

In response to listener outcry, Kristen gets schooled by The Takeaway's Washington Correspondent Todd Zwillich on how to properly address Dennis Kucinich.

And, of course, there's trivia! 

Subscribe to the Movie Date podcast, like Movie Date on Facebook, follow Kristen on Twitter, and leave a message for Rafer and Kristen anytime at 571-7MOVIES (571-766-8437).