Alfonso Cuarón & Laura Cantrell

Who is Oscar? (Hint: his real name isn’t Oscar.) This week, we reveal the man who inspired the Academy Awards’ iconic gold statue. Kurt Andersen talks with filmmaker Alfonso Cuarn, who explains why the astounding special effects in his movie Gravity (up for 10 Oscars) take second place to Sandra Bullock’s performance as an untethered astronaut. The director of the disturbing and singular documentary The Act of Killing takes us into the minds of Indonesian paramilitaries. Plus, Laura Cantrell performs the songs of country legend Kitty Wells live in the studio.