Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud

Commotion guest host Amil Niazi is joined by film and culture critics Sarah-Tai Black, Barry Hertz and Radheyan Simonpillai to discuss two new films: ‘Ali G: Who Iz I?’ and ‘Wicker,’ plus the return of the controversial TV character Apu to The Simpsons.

With the release of Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim’s ‘You Can See Everything,’ spoiler anxiety might be at an all-time high. And it’s not just about protecting big twists, some fans don’t want to know ANYTHING about the latest shows and films. So how does the anxiety of “ruining” a story affect the way we engage with film and tv? Critics Adam Nayman and Kathryn VanArendonk join Commotion guest host Radheyan Simonpillai to talk about spoiler culture, entertainment's fixation on the big reveal, and why sometimes there just might be a case for spoiling.

Plus, comedy historian Paul Myers discusses Judd Apatow’s new Netflix documentary on the late Norm Macdonald.

Ethan Hawke is back as the wily gumshoe for season 2 of the neo-noir, mystery comedy The Lowdown. Film and tv critic Rachel Ho and musician Marek Tyler chat with Commotion guest host Radheyan Simonpillai about the show and why they feel the critically-acclaimed series remains a somewhat hidden gem.

Plus, culture writer Samuel Eli Shepherd talks about how Josh Silver’s satirical thriller ‘Fruit Fly’ became the literary sensation of the season, parlaying BookTok buzz into a tv development deal.

Commotion guest host Radheyan Simonpillai is joined by culture critics Shamira Ibrahim and Rania El Mugammar to discuss the new Mahershala Ali-led film ‘Your Mother, Your Mother, Your Mother’ and the conversations it has sparked about Black single-fatherhood, religion and violence.

Plus, the Irish novelist Sally Rooney became famous for writing about millennial relationships. But even before she became a best-seller, she was an outspoken supporter of Palestine. Now, her books are set to disappear from UK shelves after she pledged to donate the proceeds from her book sales to a pro-Palestinian group, which the British government calls a terrorist organization. Irish culture journalist Aoife Barry joins guest host Radheyan Simonpillai to explain the decision, and describe the polarized reaction.

During the press tour for 'The Social Reckoning,' Jeremy Strong has faced questions about whether he went too far to get the role of Mark Zuckerberg right. The infamous technique of method acting also made headlines this year after Anya Taylor-Joy and Kristen Stewart both denounced it for its machismo. Film critic Roe McDermott and theatre professor Ian Maxwell join guest host Radheyan Simonpillai to talk about the mythology behind method acting, why it’s so misunderstood, and why some women in Hollywood are speaking up.