The Izzy and Murtada Picture Show

Izzy and Murtada make their grand return to the podcast to discuss Challengers, the latest from Italian director Luca Guadagnino. Zendaya, Josh O’Connor, and Mike Faist star in this sensual thriller that brings audiences into the melodramatic world of professional tennis. Tensions run high when their lives collide in a make-or-break match that will determine the next steps in their career. In this episode, they discuss the star power of Zendaya, Josh O’Connor’s scene-stealing performance as Patrick, the attention-grabbing score, and how Challengers fits into the broader filmography of Luca Guadagnino. Follow the show on Twitter and Instagram: @IMPictureShow. To hear more from Izzy and Murtada check them out on social media: Izzy (Twitter: @bkrewind, IG: @bk_rewind); Murtada (Twitter: @ME_Says, IG: murtada_e). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The 96th Academy Awards were on Sunday and Izzy and Murtada have thoughts about them!!! In this episode they review Ryan Gosling’s fun rendition of I’m Just Ken, Jonathan Glazer’s brave political statement, possibly the worst In Memoriam segment to have ever graced a telecast, and, of course, Emma Stone’s Best Actress win. Why didn’t Killers of the Flower Moon win any awards? How come everyone loved Oppenheimer so much? Listen to find out what we think! Follow the show on Twitter and Instagram: @IMPictureShow. To hear more from Izzy and Murtada check them out on social media: Izzy (Twitter: @bkrewind, IG: @bk_rewind); Murtada (Twitter: @ME_Says, IG: murtada_e). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, Izzy chats with host of Turner Classic Movies, Dave Karger, about his book “50 Oscar Nights: Iconic Stars and Filmmakers on their Career-Defining Wins.” This collection of original interviews with actors, filmmakers, musicians, and craftspeople spans 60 years of Oscar history, and provides truly personal insight into a very public, much-discussed event. Karger talks about what it’s like being on the red carpet, his interviews with actors like Jane Fonda and Hilary Swank, and how he’d like to see the Oscars evolve in the future. Follow the show on Twitter and Instagram: @IMPictureShow. To hear more from Izzy and Murtada check them out on social media: Izzy (Twitter: @bkrewind, IG: @bk_rewind); Murtada (Twitter: @ME_Says, IG: murtada_e). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The time has come! The Oscars are on March 10th and this week Murtada and Izzy predict the winners in all the major categories. They also advocate for who they want to see win. Gather around and hear arguments for Lily Gladstone, The Zone of Interest, Colman Domingo, Sandra Huller and Anatomy of a Fall and many others. The epsode includes a discussion about what transpired during the Indie Spirit Awards! Follow the show on Twitter and Instagram: @IMPictureShow. To hear more from Izzy and Murtada check them out on social media: Izzy (Twitter: @bkrewind, IG: @bk_rewind); Murtada (Twitter: @ME_Says, IG: murtada_e). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ever wonder what campy double-header Izzy and Murtada would program for a live event? What’s going on with Meryl Streep’s career? Who should be Sofia Coppola’s next muse? What’s it like balancing personal passions with audience expectations? This week on the pod—you asked, we answered!!! Follow the show on Twitter and Instagram: @IMPictureShow. To hear more from Izzy and Murtada check them out on social media: Izzy (Twitter: @bkrewind, IG: @bk_rewind); Murtada (Twitter: @ME_Says, IG: murtada_e). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week Karl Delossantos joins us again to review two. best International Film nominees: Society of the Snow and Perfect Days! We discuss whether we’d survive a harrowing plane crash in the Andes (absolutely not) and how slow cinema can actually be extraordinarily riveting. Listen as you trek through the snow from the most recent blizzard for full effect. Read Murtada's review of Perfect Days. Follow the show on Twitter and Instagram: @IMPictureShow. To hear more from Izzy and Murtada check them out on social media: Izzy (Twitter: @bkrewind, IG: @bk_rewind); Murtada (Twitter: @ME_Says, IG: murtada_e). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week Murtada interviews Moses Bwayo the director of the Oscar nominated documentary Bobi Wine: The People’s President. The conversation encompasses Bwayo’s 5-year long quest to bring to audiences the story of Wine, a popular musician in Uganda who tried to serve his community by challenging an authoritarian dictator and how that impacted him, his family and the people of Uganda. But before that Izzy and Murtada talk about their favorite Oscar category; best actress and what Annette Bening, Lily Gladstone, Sandra Huller, Emma Stone and Carey Mulligan are doing - and not doing - to win the big award. For more information on the Sudan crisis go to this link: Keep Eyes On Sudan Follow the show on Twitter and Instagram: @IMPictureShow. To hear more from Izzy and Murtada check them out on social media: Izzy (Twitter: @bkrewind, IG: @bk_rewind); Murtada (Twitter: @ME_Says, IG: murtada_e). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Oscar nominations were announced on Tuesday morning and obviously everyone is being very chill about it—Izzy and Murtada included! This week they caught up to mourn the May December snubs, give their predictions for the major categories, and, YES, wade into the Barbie discourse. Follow the show on Twitter and Instagram: @IMPictureShow. To hear more from Izzy and Murtada check them out on social media: Izzy (Twitter: @bkrewind, IG: @bk_rewind); Murtada (Twitter: @ME_Says, IG: murtada_e). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week Izzy and Murtada welcome Karl Delossantos to discuss All of Us Strangers, Andrew Haigh’s metaphysical meditation on the relationships of queer children to their parents. Izzy also offers her thoughts on Oppenheimer, which took her far too long to see, but which turned out to not be that urgent in her opinion. Finally, the trio gives their thoughts about the upcoming Oscar nominations—who’s in, who’s out, and who will be out but should be in! Here's Murtada's review of the fil @ AV Club. Information and tickets for Sudanese Night at Cheers Cinema, introduced by Murtada. Follow the show on Twitter and Instagram: @IMPictureShow. To hear more from Izzy and Murtada check them out on social media: Izzy (Twitter: @bkrewind, IG: @bk_rewind); Murtada (Twitter: @ME_Says, IG: murtada_e). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In their first recording session of 2024, Izzy and Murtada catch up on the Golden Globes and SAG nominations. They lament the gradual erasure of May December, wonder if the Bradley Cooper discourse has gone too far, and debate whether Annette Bening truly will be nominated for NYAD! Follow the show on Twitter and Instagram: @IMPictureShow. To hear more from Izzy and Murtada check them out on social media: Izzy (Twitter: @bkrewind, IG: @bk_rewind); Murtada (Twitter: @ME_Says, IG: murtada_e). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week Izzy and Murtada are joined by Jenny He and Dara Jaffe, the brilliant curators behind The Academy Museum’s John Waters exhibition, “Pope of Trash.” The exhibition, which runs until August 2024, is the first comprehensive exhibition dedicated to Waters’s work. From his earliest 8mm silent films to his most recent film, 2004’s A Dirty Shame, it explores his filmmaking process, singular style, and the core themes of his work. In this interview, He and Jaffe share insight into the curation process, including anecdotes about collaborating with Waters, and elaborate on what it means for the filmmaker to be elevated by the Museum at this stage in his career. Learn more about the exhibition here, Check out the exhibition catalog here. Follow the show on Twitter and Instagram: @IMPictureShow. To hear more from Izzy and Murtada check them out on social media: Izzy (Twitter: @bkrewind, IG: @bk_rewind); Murtada (Twitter: @ME_Says, IG: murtada_e). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week Murtada interviews Palestinian director Lina Soualem about her Oscar tipped movie, Bye Bye Tiberias. Soualem traces the history of four generations of Palestinian women in her family by pointing the camera at her mother, actress Hiam Abbas, of Succession fame. In playfully recreating moments from Abbas’ life in Palestine, with her sisters, mother and grandmother, Soualem pays tribute to the women in her family while creating a record of the political and cultural issues of her lifetime. The conversation touches on the warm reaction the film has been recieving in festivals while Palestinian people live with the reality of what's happening in Gaza. Follow the show on Twitter and Instagram: @IMPictureShow. To hear more from Izzy and Murtada check them out on social media: Izzy (Twitter: @bkrewind, IG: @bk_rewind); Murtada (Twitter: @ME_Says, IG: murtada_e). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week Izzy chatted with Sydney Urbanek, one of our best writers and thinkers on pop stars and their visual antics. Sydney shared her thoughts on two recent theatrical releases by Beyonce and Taylor Swift—the difference between “concert films” and “filmed concerts,” how the films develop their respective personas, and why Izzy is a fool for having not seen Homecoming yet. You can follow Sydney’s writing with her newsletter, Mononym Mythology: https://sydurbanek.ghost.io/ Follow the show on Twitter and Instagram: @IMPictureShow. To hear more from Izzy and Murtada check them out on social media: Izzy (Twitter: @bkrewind, IG: @bk_rewind); Murtada (Twitter: @ME_Says, IG: murtada_e). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week Izzy and Murtada discuss Emerald Fennell’s Saltburn and Bradley Cooper’s Maestro, two films they are largely less than enthusiastic about. They analyze Saltburn’s odd politics and character motivations (or lack thereof), while digging into Cooper’s motivations for turning Maestro from a conventional biopic into a portrait of a marriage (of all things). Follow the show on Twitter and Instagram: @IMPictureShow. To hear more from Izzy and Murtada check them out on social media: Izzy (Twitter: @bkrewind, IG: @bk_rewind); Murtada (Twitter: @ME_Says, IG: murtada_e). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week Izzy and Murtada go to bat for their respective favorite new releases in theaters this week: Poor Things and The Holdovers. Murtada sings the praises of Emma Stone’s Oscar-worthy performance, while Izzy essentially just wishes Hal Ashby were still alive. They also break down the highly competitive Best Supporting Actress race this year. Will Julianne Moore sneak a second win for May December? Follow the show on Twitter and Instagram: @IMPictureShow. To hear more from Izzy and Murtada check them out on social media: Izzy (Twitter: @bkrewind, IG: @bk_rewind); Murtada (Twitter: @ME_Says, IG: murtada_e). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week Izzy and Murtada are joined by Agniia Galdanova and Igor Myakotin, the director and producer of Queendom, a documentary that follows Russian drag artist Gena Marvin through the streets of Moscow and the harsh but beautiful landscape of Magadan, Russia. The film details not only Gena’s stunning transformations, but also the increasing restrictions on queer life and protest as the invasion of Ukraine changes the shape of Russian society. Galdanova and Myakotin provide insight into how they filmed the documentary, the challenges of making art in and about Russia, and Gena’s evolution as an artist. Follow the show on Twitter and Instagram: @IMPictureShow. To hear more from Izzy and Murtada check them out on social media: Izzy (Twitter: @bkrewind, IG: @bk_rewind); Murtada (Twitter: @ME_Says, IG: murtada_e). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week Izzy and Murtada take a look at Netflix’s NYAD, a biopic of marathon swimmer Diana Nyad who, at 64 years old, became the first person to successfully (?) swim from Cuba to Florida. The film stars Annette Bening as the titular Nyad and Jodie Foster as her coach and ex-lover Bonnie Stoll. The hosts rave about Bening’s exaggerated and intense performance, and admire Foster’s usual strength and intelligence. They also make a bet—will the film’s duo be nominated this year at the Oscars? Tune in next week as they lay down the stakes. Follow the show on Twitter and Instagram: @IMPictureShow. To hear more from Izzy and Murtada check them out on social media: Izzy (Twitter: @bkrewind, IG: @bk_rewind); Murtada (Twitter: @ME_Says, IG: murtada_e). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week Murtada and Izzy discuss Sofia Coppola’s latest, Priscilla—a film Izzy has been thinking about nonstop for 2 weeks straight. Unsurprisingly, she has a lot of opinions about it, Coppola’s filmmaking, Priscilla’s memoir, and more, while Murtada offers insight into Coppola’s larger oeuvre and why he does and very much also does not enjoy it. They also discuss the film’s stars and whether or not Oscar nominations are in the cards for them. For more from Izzy on this film, read her (first!!) piece with Filmmaker Magazine: https://t.co/mJlKc4iUtz Follow the show on Twitter and Instagram: @IMPictureShow. To hear more from Izzy and Murtada check them out on social media: Izzy (Twitter: @bkrewind, IG: @bk_rewind); Murtada (Twitter: @ME_Says, IG: murtada_e). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week Murtada and Izzy join the chorus of cinephiles raving over Martin Scorsese’s latest, Killers of the Flower Moon. The pair talk through viral clips concerning the film’s perspective, how the film fits into Scorsese’s iconic filmography, its ending, and whether or not it’s Lily Gladstone’s year. Murtada also catches us up on some titles that will appear in this year’s Doc NYC, an annual festival celebrating some of the year’s best documentaries. Follow the show on Twitter and Instagram: @IMPictureShow. To hear more from Izzy and Murtada check them out on social media: Izzy (Twitter: @bkrewind, IG: @bk_rewind); Murtada (Twitter: @ME_Says, IG: murtada_e). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.