Sundays With Cate (Murtada Elfadl)

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, Fire of Love, Palm Trees and Power Lines, Nanny, After Yang, Call Jane, Free Chol Soo Lee, and Brainwashed: Sex-Camera-Power. We also discuss whether the selection reflected a diversity of voice.

Hosted, Produced and Edited by Murtada Elfadl.

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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 Power of the Dog and Parallel Mothers and of course the two Cate Blanchett movies that were nominated for best picture Don’t Look Up, and Nightmare Alley.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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Guest:  Wyatt Fenner

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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.

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Guest:  Rafa Sales Ross

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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

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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 in this chamber drama.

Hosted, Produced and Edited by Murtada Elfadl.
Guest: Desmond Thorne.

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For our first episode, we discuss Elizabeth, considered to be Cate Blanchett’s international breakout and the first time many people have ever seen her on screen.

Hosted by Murtada Elfadl with Teo Bugbee.

 

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This week we continue examining Cate Blanchett’s early career by discussing The Talented Mr Ripley (1999). Hosted by Murtada Elfadl with Jose Solis.

 

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This week we jump ahead to one of Cate Blanchett's most fascinating transformations; as a version of Bob Dylan in Todd Haynes' I'm Not There (2007). Hosted by Murtada Elfadl with Chris Feil.

 

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This week we discuss Cate Blanchett's post-Elizabeth (1998) career and in particular The Gift (2000) directed by Sam Raimi. Hosted by Murtada Elfadl with Kieran Scarlett.

 

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What happens when an icon of cinema takes on another icon? Well an Oscar for starters. This week we discuss Cate Blanchett's performance as Katharine Hepburn in Martin Scorsese's The Aviator (2004). Hosted by Murtada Elfadl with Manuel Betancourt.

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This week we discuss one of the most popular films Cate Blanchett has ever been in, yet oddly unrecognized as one of her signature parts. It's The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008), directed by David Fincher and co-starring Brad Pitt.  Hosted by Murtada Elfadl with Andrew Kendall.

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Perhaps Cate Blanchett's least seen film, at least in the United States, Litte Fish (2005) is gritty and scrappy and unlike anything in her filmography. Hosted by Murtada Elfadl with Valerie Complex.

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One of Cate Blanchett’s earliest films finds her working in Australia with Gillian Armstrong and Ralph Fiennes. It's an odd, eccentric but very feminist tale. Hosted by Murtada Elfadl with Andy Stewart.

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We are going big this week. Big movie. Big performance. Murtada Elfadl welcomes Gavin Mevius, co-host of The Mixed Reviews Podcast to discuss Steven Spielberg's Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008).

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This week Murtada Elfadl welcomes Kate Halliwell to discuss Ocean's 8 and the period post Carol (2015) which they both consider to be Blanchett's peak celebrity and pop culture power.

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A sea expedition to find a killer shark. A riff on Jacques Cousteau. Cate Blanchett enters the quirky and unique world of Wes Anderson. Murtada Elfadl welcomes producer and filmmaker Erica Mann to discuss The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004).

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We are going avant garde because "art is supposed to be radical." Murtada Elfadl welcomes Shelley Farmer to discuss Waiting for the Artist (2019), an episode of Documentary Now, and the film Manifesto (2017) which started as an art installation, two Cate Blanchett projets that grapple with what it means to be an artist!

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No new episode because of the holidays, however we are looking back at our first 12 episodes and what we learned about the films of Cate Blanchett so far.

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In Truth, Cate Blanchett plays journalist and TV news producer Mary Mapes in the story of the fallout from the CBS investigation into George Bush's military service, that led to the resignation of Dan Rather. The performance was warmly recieved even if the film wasn't widely seen, we examine why in the latest episode. Hosted by Murtada Elfadl with guest Kevin Jacobsen host of And The Runner-Up Is podcast.

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That heart wrenching closeup. That iconic buzzcut. That performance many think is one of Cate Blanchett's best. This week Murtada Elfadl welcomes Kyle Stevens to discuss Heaven (2002), directed by Tom Tykwer.

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In this episode we discuss another Cate Blanchett foray into playing a villian in a big blockbuster; as Hela the goddess of death in Thor: Ragnarok (2017). Other topics discussed include the Marvel cinematic universe, who's the best Chris and Taika Waititi's singular comedic vision. Hosted by Murtada Elfadl with guest writer and critic Joi Childs, host of The Color Grade podcast.

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For this episode we visit with Cate Blanchett among the ruins of 1945 Berlin in Steven Soderbergh's re-creation of a 1940s drama, The Good German. A film and performance we consider to be Blanchett's most underrated. Hosted by Murtada Elfadl with guest Megan McGurk, host of Sass Mouth Dames podcast.

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In the 3rd and final part of the Blue Jasmine miniseries, we discuss Jasmine and her sisters. Annie Hall, Helen St Clair in Bullets Over Broadway, Maria Elena in Vicky Cristina Barcelona and Cecilia in The Purple Rose of Cairo, among others. Hosted by Murtada Elfadl with returning guest journalist and theater critic Jose Solís, of Token Theater Friends podcast.

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In part 2 of the Blue Jasmine miniseries, we discuss the similarities with Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire, the character of Blanche Dubois, clearly is the blueprint for Jasmine. The many actresses who played Blanche or were inspired by her from the women in Pedro Almodovar’s movies to Gena Rowlands in A Woman Under the Influence to most recently Carey Mulligan in Wildlife.  Hosted by Murtada Elfadl with guest TV and Film Journalist Candice Frederick.

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In the first of three episodes about Blue Jasmine, we discuss Cate Blanchett as the real auteur of Blue Jasmine, and the many ways her performance makes her the author of the film. Hosted by Murtada Elfadl with guest writer and critic Matthew Eng.

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After last week, we stay with Cate Blanchett during WW2. This time as an Australian nurse in a Japanese internment camp who becomes part of a voice choir with her fellow prisoners of war in Paradise Road (1997). Hosted by Murtada Elfadl with guest Nathaniel Rogers of The Film Experience.

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We continue recaping and reviewing Hulu's Mrs. America starring Cate Blanchett. This week we tackle episodes 4 and 5 dealing with Betty Freidan (Tracey Ullman) and Brenda Feigen Fasteau (Ari Graynor) debating Phyllis Schlafly (Blanchett). Hosted by Murtada Elfadl with guest staff writer at Backstage, Casey Mink.

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The costumes are green, the hair is red and Cate Blanchett is the Wicked Witch in Hanna (2011). Ostensibly a thriller about a teenage assassin, it reveals itself to be a fairytale with a modern twist. For this disscussion, Murtada welcomes back Gavin Mevius, co-host of The Mixed Reviews Podcast .

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We continue recaping and reviewing Hulu's Mrs. America starring Cate Blanchett. This week we will tackle episodes 6 and 7 of the series about Jill Ruckelshaus played by Elizabeth Banks and Bella Abzug played by Margo Martindale. Also in this episode an interview with Bria Samoné Henderson who plays activist Margaret Sloan on the show. Hosted by Murtada Elfadl with guest Andy Stewart.

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To review the last two episodes of Mrs. America  Murtada Elfadl welcomes back writer and filmmaker Tayler Montague. The TV miniseries about the fight to ratify the equal rights amendment in the 1970s is created by Dahvi Waller and stars Cate Blanchett as Phyllis Schlafly, the right wing polarizing organizer.

Produced and Edited by Murtada Elfadl.

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We are going back to the early 1970s to recap the first three episodes of Cate Blanchett's first major TV role in the FX on Hulu show, Mrs America as polarizing right wing figure Phyllis Schalfly. We discuss her performance, the all star cast, the costumes and review the show. Hosted by Murtada Elfadl with guest writer and filmmaker Tayler Montague.

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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 podcasts.


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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.

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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.

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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 Kevin Jacobsen host of And The Runner-Up Is podcast, who previously guested on our episode about Truth.

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It's not Maid Marian but rather Marion Loxely, a more modern take on Robin Hood's paramour, played by Cate Blanchett in Ridley Scott's 2010 version of the folklore tale of the legendary outlaw and his merry men. For this discussion Murtada Elfadl welcomes back Teo Bugbee.

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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.

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For the 2nd season finale of the podcast, we return to 1998. Elizabeth was Cate Blanchett's international breakout and the first time many people saw her on screen. Hence it deserves a revisit. To discuss the film again, along with Blanchett's first Academy Award nomination and the 1998 best actress Oscar race, Murtada Elfadl welcomes Izzy from Be Kind Rewind.

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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.

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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.

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This week we discuss Galadriel, Cate Blanchett's most iconic role. We delve into the enduring populariy of The Lord of the Rings trilogy and what diffrentiates them as excellent action adventure films, what makes Galadriel so special within Blanchett's filmography and even ask Peter Jackson for a Boromir / Aragon rom-com. For this conversation Murtada Elfadl welcomes filmmaker Conrado Falco, co-creator of the show Wormholes and host of The Criterion Project podcast.

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The podcast will be coming back from hiatus soon.  Season 3 arriving wherever you listen to podcasts. Hosted by Murtada Elfadl.

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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 found here.

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We kickoff the 3rd season of the podcast with the last film we saw in theaters for Cate Blanchett. Richard Linklater's Where'd You Go, Bernadette. For this conversation Murtada Elfadl welcomes Dan Mecca and Connor O' Donnell, hosts of the The B Side podcast.

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This week we are take a brief detour from the films of Cate Blanchett. Instead we are discussing a current film, out on release now, Ammonite. Plus the career of Kate Winslet  and in the latter part of the podcast we discuss a few other queer films out this season. Hosted by Murtada Elfadl with guest queer writer-performer, producer and filmmaker Ren Jender, whose work has appeared in The New York Times, NPR, Slate, Bandcamp and The Village Voice.

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It's time for another delicious villian from Cate Blanchett. The Wicked Stepmother in 'Cinderella,' the 2015 live action Disney remake, directed by Kenneth Branagh. For this conversation Murtada Elfadl welcomes writer and podcaster Manish Mathur, host of It Pod To You and Queer and Now podcasts.

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Glamour! Big Acting ! An Accent! A few hallmarks of Cate Blanchett's performances that we love are present in Sally Potter's The Man Who Cried (2001). It's a commanding star turn that shows Blanchett at her best, and for that the movie is a must-see for every Blanchett fan. We discuss the film and performance. Plus revisit Mrs. America and the show's chances at the winter TV awards (Golden Globes and SAG). 

Hosted and produced by Murtada Elfadl with guest Nathaniel Rogers of The Film Experience.

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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 Kind Rewind.

Produced and Edited by Murtada Elfadl.

Thanks to Podcorn for sponsoring this episode. Explore sponsorship opportunities and start monetizing your podcast by signing up here: https://podcorn.com/podcasters/

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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.

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We go way back for this episode, to Cate Blanchett’s early screen performance in the Australian film Thank 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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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 Murtada Elfadl.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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