The TÁR discussion continues with a special spoiler episode. Murtada Elfadl welcomes actor Wyatt Fenner , from the upcoming movie Chrissy Judy , to dig deeper into Cate Blanchett's latest towering performance, where director Todd Field places the POV, spoiling the film and in particular three big scenes that form the thesis of the film including the rather divisive ending. Hosted, Produced and Edited by Murtada Elfadl Guest: Wyatt Fenner Support the show...
Nov 27, 2022•55 min•Season 5Ep. 58
Like all good things, the TÁR season comes to an end. Murtada Elfadl welcomes writer and podcaster Manish Mathur , host of It Pod To You podcast, to discuss the thematic correlations between TÁR and Stanley Kubrick's Eyes Wide Shut. They also delve into how repeated viewings of the film reveal deeper meaning and the popularity and memefication of Lydia Tár. Hosted, Produced and Edited by Murtada Elfadl Guest: Manish Mathur Support the show...
Nov 20, 2022•51 min•Season 5Ep. 59
The time has come to discuss TÁR . This week Murtada Elfadl welcomes critic and prgrammer Rafa Sales Ross to discuss Cate Blanchett's latest towering performance, Todd Field's elsusive jigsaw puzzle script and Nina Hoss' fantastic reaction shots. Hosted, Produced and Edited by Murtada Elfadl Guest: Rafa Sales Ross Support the show...
Oct 09, 2022•1 hr 10 min•Season 5Ep. 57
Our celebration of the release of TÁR continues. This week it's Todd Field's second film as a writer / director, Little Children. For this conversation Murtada Elfadl welcomes back Kevin Jacobsen host of And The Runner-Up Is podcast , to discuss what makes Field's movies entralling, Kate Winslet quintessentially American roles, why Patrick Wilson never became a big star, suburban ennui and Madame Bovary. Hosted, Produced and Edited by Murtada Elfadl Guest: Kevin Jacobsen Support the show...
Oct 02, 2022•1 hr 17 min•Season 5Ep. 56
The podcast is back! There's a new Cate Blanchett movie in theaters soon so a conversation must be had. To celebrate TÁR we will have a few episodes to discuss the movies that preceded it and the ones that inspired it. This week it's Todd Field's first film as a writer / director, In the Bedroom. In this episode Murtada welcomes programmer and podcaster Desmond Thorne to discuss what makes Field's movies entralling, and the mode, tension and outsize performances of Sissy Spacek and Tom Wilkinson...
Sep 25, 2022•59 min•Season 5Ep. 55
We have come to the end of this podcast project. In this episode Murtada puts a bow on the podcast and briefly talks about how and why it started, what was learned and recommends a few episodes as an entry to the project. Hosted, Produced and Edited by Murtada Elfadl . Support the show
Mar 15, 2022•13 min•Season 4Ep. 54
We are in the final stretch of the podcast series. This week it's another of Cate Blanchett's many titular roles and Charlotte Gray (2001). In this episode Murtada discusses Gillian Armstrong's World War II film, the many loving close ups she affords Balnchett and whether the film works as both a sweeping epic romance and a narrative about life in occupied France during the war. Hosted, Produced and Edited by Murtada Elfadl . Support the show...
Mar 06, 2022•24 min•Season 4Ep. 53
This week we go back to almost the beginning of Cate Blanchett’s illustrious career with Pushing Tin (1999). To discuss Mike Newell’s film and the performances of Blanchett, Angelina Jolie, John Cusack and Billy Bob Thornton, Murtada welcomes to the podcast Mitchell Beaupre , senior editor at Letterboxd . Hosted, Produced and Edited by Murtada Elfadl . Support the show...
Feb 27, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Season 4Ep. 52
This week we tackle one of Cate Blanchett’s weirdest roles, that of an injured American tourist traveling in Morocco in Babel ( 2006). To discuss Alejandro González Iñárritu’s film and Blanchett’s penchant to sometimes take on small supporting parts, Murtada welcomes to the podcast Zita Short , critic for InSession Film and Jumpcut Online and host of The 300 Passions Podcast. Hosted, Produced and Edited by Murtada Elfadl . Support the show...
Feb 20, 2022•52 min•Season 4Ep. 51
2015 film masterpiece. From those acknowledged by the director Todd Haynes - David Lean's Brief Encounter - to others we gleaned from watching the film many times - the films of George Cukor, Deborah Kerr in The End of the Affair and Haynes' own Far From Heaven . For this conversation Murtada welcomes back Izzy from Be Kind Rewind to discuss these topics and how forming a relationship with a film changes the way you view over time. Hosted, Produced and Edited by Murtada Elfadl . Support the show...
Feb 13, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Season 4Ep. 50
In this bonus episode we are discussing the 2022 Oscar Nominations. Our take on the acting categories and best picture. The discussion touches on the performances of Kristen Stewart, Nicole Kidman, Olivia Colman, Andrew Garfield and Denzel Washington. We lament the exclusion of Ruth Negga and raise a glass to Lady Gaga's fun and fascinating press tour for House of Gucci . For this conversation Murtada welcomes back Izzy from Be Kind Rewind . Other movies discussed include West Side Story , The P...
Feb 09, 2022•43 min
Cate Blanchett’s the top is so many ways. The top star, the top actress. And in Carol she plays the top. In the third of our multiple episodes about Carol (2015), the topic is the perfect merge of actor and role with Blanchett as Carol Aird. For this conversation, Murtada welcomes Maggie Larkin to discuss how Blanchett’s screen persona makes her the ideal actor to play this role. Hosted, Produced and Edited by Murtada Elfadl . Support the show...
Feb 08, 2022•53 min•Season 4Ep. 49
In this bonus episode we are discussing the many films we screened at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival. For this conversation Murtada welcomes Li Lai , founder and editor in chief of Mediaversity Reviews to discuss a few films including Bill Nighy in Living , Emma Thompson in Good Luck to You, Leo Grande and two films for both Dakota Johnson ( AmI OK? and Cha Cha Real Smooth ) and Regina Hall ( Master and Honk for Jesus Save Your Soul ). Other movies discussed include Rebecca Hall in Resurection ...
Feb 07, 2022•1 hr 5 min
This week we go back to Cate Blanchett's early career and another one of her "titular" roles, playing Irish journalist Veronica Guerin (2003). To discuss Joel Schumacher's film, Murtada welcomes illustrator and designer Dash Silva to the podcast. This wide ranging conversation also covers Blue Jasmine, The Aviator, the accent work of Meryl Streep and a few of this year's best actress awards contenders including Lady Gaga, Jessica Chastain and Kristen Stewart. Hosted, Produced and Edited by Murta...
Jan 23, 2022•1 hr 13 min•Season 4Ep. 48
A witch and a warlock teach an orphan boy how to becme a magician in The House with a Clock in its Walls , one of Cate Blanchett's more curious film choices. We discuss her performance, what makes co-star Jack Black special on screen and briefly touch on the response to her two films on release. For this conversation Murtada welcomes filmmaker and podcaster Chels , from Untitled Cinema Gals to the podcast. Hosted, Produced and Edited by Murtada Elfadl . Support the show...
Jan 16, 2022•57 min•Season 4Ep. 47
In the second of multiple episodes about Carol (2015), the topic is the cultural impact the film had on queer people. From memes to comedy routines, Carol was adored. For this conversation, Murtada welcomes writer and film programmer Shayna Maci Warner of Critically Queer, to review the film and talk about its queer legacy. Hosted, Produced and Edited by Murtada Elfadl . Support the show...
Jan 09, 2022•59 min•Season 4Ep. 46
There’s a comet hurtling towards earth and a bunch of movie stars at trying to not look up at it. To discuss Cate Blanchett’s second movie this holiday season – Adam McKay’s climate change satire Don’t Look Up – Murtada welcomes critic Boyd van Hoeij from The Film Verdict to the podcast. Hosted, Produced and Edited by Murtada Elfadl . Support the show...
Jan 02, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Season 4Ep. 45
In the first of multiple episodes about Carol (2015), the topic is the love story. How Therese and Carol fell in love, how Todd Haynes visualizes falling in love and the scorching chemistry between Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara. For this conversation, Murtada welcomes filmmaker Luke Willis to discuss all the above as well as rank the best line reading uttered by Blanchett. Hosted, Produced and Edited by Murtada Elfadl . Support the show...
Dec 26, 2021•1 hr 4 min•Season 4Ep. 44
Cate Blanchett is back in cinemas this holiday season. And the podcast is back for a final season of episodes. We kick things off with the first of the two Cate movies coming out this month, Guillermo del Toro's Nightmare Alley . For this conversation Murtada welcomes film critic Leila Latif , to discuss the film, how it differs from 1947 version, and the performances of Cate as a femme fatale, Rooney Mara, Bradley Cooper and Toni Colette. Hosted, Produced and Edited by Murtada Elfadl . Support ...
Dec 19, 2021•57 min•Season 4Ep. 43
The podcast returns on Sunday December 19th for a fourth and final season. Listen to this short announcement where the first film discussed will be revealed. Includes a snippet from The Good German episode with host Murtada Elfadl and guest Megan McGurk , host of Sass Mouth Dames podcast. Produced and Edited by Murtada Elfadl . Support the show (https://ko-fi.com/sundayswithcate) Support the show...
Dec 12, 2021•2 min
Cate Blanchett and Julianne Moore, two actresses linked in our minds as the muses of Todd Haynes, have only shared scenes on screen in 1999’s An Ideal Husband. For this episode Murtada welcomes back Chris Feil , host of This Had Oscar Buzz podcast, to discuss the film, whether it retains the wit of its author Oscar Wilde and the performances of Cate, Julianne, Minnie Driver, Rupert Everett and Jeremy Northam. Hosted, Produced and Edited by Murtada Elfadl . Support the show...
May 02, 2021•58 min•Season 3Ep. 42
We go way back for this episode, to Cate Blanchett’s early screen performance in the Australian film T hank God He Met Lizzie . We discuss the film, the perfomance and its link to Katharine Hepburn’s screen persona as well as Blanchett’s long professional partnership with the film’s other star, Richard Roxburgh. Produced, Hosted and Edited by Murtada Elfadl . Support the show...
Apr 18, 2021•22 min•Season 3Ep. 41
This week a double Cate Balnchett. In one of eleven vignettes included in Jim Jarmusch's anthology film Coffee and Cigarettes (2003), Blanchett plays a version of herself as well as her ne'er do well "cousin," Shelly. We discuss the film and performance and why it stands out in her filmography. For this conversation podcast host Murtada Elfadl welcomes writer and critic Ela Bittencourt of the film site Lyssaria . Produced and Edited by Murtada Elfadl . Support the show...
Apr 04, 2021•51 min•Season 3Ep. 40
To celebrate this year's Oscar nominations which were announced this week we have a special episode about one of the nominees for best actress; Carey Mulligan. We discuss her filmography, her screen persona and dig deeper into three films; Shame (2011), Wildlife (2018) and her latest Promising Young Woman for which she recieved her second Oscar nomination. For this conversation podcast host Murtada Elfadl welcomes producer and writer , Jordan Crucchiola host of Disaster Girls and Aughtsterion p...
Mar 21, 2021•1 hr 20 min•Season 3Ep. 39
A retread of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid ? A homage to the pop music of 1980s Welsh singing sensation Bonnie Tyler? The rare American studio film that celebrates polyamory? It's all of these things; Barry Levinson's Bandits (2001). It also has Cate Blanchett lip-synching, dancing and kissing both Bruce Willis and Billy Bob Thornton. We also discuss our favorites in this year's Oscar race for best actress as the nominations are announced. For this conversation Murtada Elfadl welcomes back ...
Mar 14, 2021•1 hr•Season 3Ep. 38
We have a special episode this week, a companion to our discussion last week of Notes on a Scandal . We visit with the Dame, Judi Dench. We discuss her film career, with deep dives into an early entry A Room With a View (1986) and the film that launched her film stardom Mrs. Brown (1997). Returning for this conversation with our host Murtada Elfadl is writer and critic Teo Bugbee . Produced and Edited by Murtada Elfadl . Support the show...
Feb 28, 2021•58 min•Season 3Ep. 37
A scandalous affair with an underage boy is the entry into this melodrama about the friendship between two teachers in North London. Murtada Elfadl welcomes back Teo Bugbee to discuss the juicy and delicious Notes on a Scandal , its lineage to hagsploitation flicks like Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? , the trope of the predatory lesbian, and why this film remains highly rewatchable. Produced and Edited by Murtada Elfadl . Support the show...
Feb 21, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Season 3Ep. 36
In lieu of a regular episode, this week we are discussing the many films we screened at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival. Murtada Elfadl welcomes back writer and critic Valerie Complex to discuss a few films including Rebecca Hall's Passing , Shaka King's Judas and the Black Messiah and Jonas Poher Rasmussen's Flee, among many others. We also give out our awards for best perfromances and choose the one film you can't miss at the festival. Produced and Edited by Murtada Elfadl . Support the show...
Feb 07, 2021•55 min•Season 3Ep. 35
Cate Blanchett: Medicine Woman. She's a healer in 1880s New Mexico in Ron Howard's Western The Missing (2003). We discuss the film, the performances of Blanchett, Tommy Lee Jones and Evan Rachel Wood. Plus we look into Howard's filmography including his latest Hillbilly Elegy (2020), while admitting that we can't find clues there to what he's obsessed with as a filmmaker. For this conversation Murtada Elfadl welcomes back writer and critic Andrew Kendall , some of Andrew’s film writing can be fo...
Jan 24, 2021•51 min•Season 3Ep. 34
AUDIO HAS BEEN FIXED. REFRESH. APOLOGIES. Well the time has come. This week we have a hurricane in us and we are going to command the wind. It's Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007), the movie that contains that most famous monologue in Cate Blanchett's filmography. We discuss the film, that iconic scene and delve into that year's best actress Oscar competition. Plus we nominate younger actors whose screen work remind us of Blanchett. For this conversation, Murtada Elfadl welcomes back Izzy from Be ...
Jan 17, 2021•1 hr 6 min•Season 3Ep. 33
