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Why Watch That

The Critic and the Referee are still fired-up and couldn’t wait until Wednesday to talk about their 2013 highs and lows. Enjoy part 1 of this engaging conversation about 2013 films.

The Highlights and Lowlights of 2013

Nebraska: after receiving a sweepstakes letter in the mail, a cantankerous father thinks he’s struck it rich, and wrangles his son into taking a road trip to claim the fortune. Shot in black and white across four states, Nebraska tells the stories of family life in the heartland of America.

Philomena: based on “The Lost Child of Philomena Lee,” a 2009 investigative book by BBC correspondent Martin Sixsmith, PHILOMENA focuses on the efforts of Philomena Lee, mother to a boy conceived out of wedlock–something her Irish-Catholic community didn’t have the highest opinion of–and given away for adoption in the United States.  (The Referee’s 2013 “Wonderful Surprise”)

The Hunt: a disturbing depiction of how a lie becomes the truth when gossip, doubt, and malice are allowed to flourish and ignite a witch-hunt that soon threatens to destroy an innocent man’s life. Lucas is a highly-regarded school teacher who has been forced to start over after going through a tough divorce.

Star Trek Into Darkness: when the crew of the Enterprise is called back home, they find that an unstoppable force of terror from within their own organization has detonated the fleet and everything it stands for, leaving our world in a state of crisis. With a personal score to settle, Captain Kirk leads a manhunt to capture a one-man weapon of mass destruction.

World War Z: a 2013 British-American apocalyptic horror film directed by Marc Forster. The screenplay by Matthew Michael Carnahan is based on the 2006 novel of the same name by Max Brooks.

After Earth: a 2013 American science-fiction action-adventure film directed by M. Night Shyamalan, which he co-wrote with Gary Whitta, based on an original story idea by Will Smith. A military father and his teenage son crash land on Earth one thousand years after cataclysmic events forced humanity to abandon Earth for a new home planet. The son must save his dying father and himself by trekking alone across hostile terrain pursued by evolved predators and an alien beast to recover a rescue-beacon. (Why Watch That “Flop Alert”)

Man of Steel: a 2013 American superhero film directed by Zack Snyder, produced by Christopher Nolan, and written by David S. Goyer. Based on the DC Comics character Superman, the film is a reboot of the Superman film series that portrays the character’s origin story. The film stars Henry Cavill in the title role, with Amy Adams as Lois Lane, Michael Shannon as General Zod, Diane Lane as Martha Kent, Kevin Costner as Jonathan Kent, Laurence Fishburne as Perry White, and Russell Crowe as Jor-El.

Iron Man 3: a 2013 superhero film featuring the Marvel Comics character Iron Man, produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.

The Wolverine: based on the celebrated comic book arc, this epic action-adventure takes Wolverine, the most iconic character of the X-Men universe, to modern day Japan. Out of his depth in an unknown world he faces his ultimate nemesis in a life-or-death battle that will leave him forever changed. (Why Watch That “Flop Alert”)

Fruitvale Station (previously known as Fruitvale): a 2013 American drama film written and directed by Ryan Coogler. It is Coogler’s first feature-length film and is based on the events leading to the death of Oscar Grant, a young man who was killed by BART police officer Johannes Mehserle at the Fruitvale Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Station in Oakland, California.The film stars Michael B. Jordan as Oscar Grant. Forest Whitaker is one of the film’s producers. Kevin Durand and Chad Michael Murray play the two BART police officers involved in Grant’s death. The names of the officers were changed for the film. (The Referee’s 2013 “Surprise”)

Quote of the Episode
“The Wolverine needs to be burned and used for firewood!”

Coming this November
Better Call Saul, based off of the Saul character from Breaking Bad. Check out episode 4 to see whether you should watch Breaking Bad.