David Blakeslee
@peutetre.bsky.social
Criterion Reflections podcast, Grand Rapids Film Society, cinematic art, with occasional observations about culture, politics, theology, philosophy, and whatever else is going on in my life.
Stepping briefly out of my Criterion-centric podcasting habits, I had a few things to say about this poignant, heart-wrenching animated Japanese film set in the final days of WWII.
Studio Ghibli E9 of The Complete Catalog is live! I was somewhat dreading revisiting GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES, but as @peutetre.bsky.social and I discuss, that common sentiment of how great the movie is and yet is only a "one watch movie" may do a disservice to its power. Among other things! Links👇
November 14, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Stepping briefly out of my Criterion-centric podcasting habits, I had a few things to say about this poignant, heart-wrenching animated Japanese film set in the final days of WWII.
So glad to be revisiting the work of Abbas Kiarostami with my podcasting partner of many years!
We are excited to have in hand Eclipse Series 47: Abbas Kiarostami—Early Shorts and Features! Soon @peutetre.bsky.social and I will be recording a new episode of The Eclipse Viewer! So thrilled @criterion.bsky.social is relaunching this series, and this is a particularly lovely set!
November 12, 2025 at 10:55 PM
So glad to be revisiting the work of Abbas Kiarostami with my podcasting partner of many years!
First look at the new Abbas Kiarostami box set coming from Criterion as they revive the Eclipse Series. youtu.be/Ho94kFb-D6Q?...
First Look at Eclipse Series 47: Abbas Kiarostami - Early Shorts and Features
YouTube video by David Blakeslee
youtu.be
November 11, 2025 at 12:39 AM
First look at the new Abbas Kiarostami box set coming from Criterion as they revive the Eclipse Series. youtu.be/Ho94kFb-D6Q?...
Just released today, here's my 8 minute review of CARNAL KNOWLEDGE, a 4K/Blu-ray edition that returns the film to the Criterion Collection 34 years after they first released it on Laserdisc! youtu.be/kbZ-HyGAAgM
David Reviews CARNAL KNOWLEDGE (1971) - New Release from the Criterion Collection
YouTube video by David Blakeslee
youtu.be
July 23, 2025 at 12:42 AM
Just released today, here's my 8 minute review of CARNAL KNOWLEDGE, a 4K/Blu-ray edition that returns the film to the Criterion Collection 34 years after they first released it on Laserdisc! youtu.be/kbZ-HyGAAgM
Link to a new episode of my podcast: criterioncast.com/podcast/crit...
Criterion Reflections - Episode 156 - Ingmar Bergman’s Scenes From a Marriage
In this lengthy episode, David hosts four individual conversations about this emotionally searing and evocative TV miniseries of 1973 that was edited for theatrical release the following year.
criterioncast.com
July 7, 2025 at 11:08 AM
Link to a new episode of my podcast: criterioncast.com/podcast/crit...
I reviewed this excellent late work from Ozu back in 2010! criterioncast.com/column/a-jou...
April 30, 2025 at 3:18 PM
I reviewed this excellent late work from Ozu back in 2010! criterioncast.com/column/a-jou...
14 minute video review of JEAN DE FLORETTE and MANON OF THE SPRING, new on 4K UHD from the Criterion Collection. youtu.be/fyhUpXWP4XE?...
David Reviews JEAN DE FLORETTE and MANON OF THE SPRING (1986), directed by Claude Berri.
YouTube video by David Blakeslee
youtu.be
April 22, 2025 at 2:26 AM
14 minute video review of JEAN DE FLORETTE and MANON OF THE SPRING, new on 4K UHD from the Criterion Collection. youtu.be/fyhUpXWP4XE?...
New episode of my podcast, in which I revisit Allan King's COME ON CHILDREN, a Canadian "actuality drama" involving 10 teenagers living without adult supervision on a farm in 1972. A fun conversation, give it a listen! criterioncast.com/podcast/crit...
Criterion Reflections - Episode 155 - Allan King’s Come On Children
David is joined by William Remmers to discuss an obscure Canadian documentary about 10 groovy teenagers who are granted 10 weeks of autonomy for the purpose of generating compelling cinematic moments…
criterioncast.com
April 20, 2025 at 11:34 AM
New episode of my podcast, in which I revisit Allan King's COME ON CHILDREN, a Canadian "actuality drama" involving 10 teenagers living without adult supervision on a farm in 1972. A fun conversation, give it a listen! criterioncast.com/podcast/crit...
Always happy to see a movie review I wrote on 2011 get some fresh circulation!
4/7/60: Basil Dearden's The League of Gentlemen, w/Jack Hawkins, Nigel Patrick, Roger Livesey, Richard Attenborough
Fine caper flic w/some things to say
More:
@peutetre.bsky.social / @criterioncast.com: criterioncast.com/column/a-jou...
@cinebeats.bsky.social: cinebeats.wordpress.com/2020/03/13/e...
Fine caper flic w/some things to say
More:
@peutetre.bsky.social / @criterioncast.com: criterioncast.com/column/a-jou...
@cinebeats.bsky.social: cinebeats.wordpress.com/2020/03/13/e...
EQUAL SHARES FOR ALL: THE LEAGUE OF GENTLEMEN (1960)
The League of Gentlemen (1960) contains one of my favorite moments from postwar British cinema; a group of ex-soldiers carrying submachine guns plow through London’s narrow streets with their faces…
cinebeats.wordpress.com
April 7, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Always happy to see a movie review I wrote on 2011 get some fresh circulation!
The MLB app is really going out of its way to keep the Dodgers in first place.
April 6, 2025 at 9:42 PM
The MLB app is really going out of its way to keep the Dodgers in first place.
A look at the packaging of the new Criterion Collection edition of UGETSU, a classic ghost story directed by Kenji Mizoguchi. Also my first post on the Skylight Social app!
April 4, 2025 at 1:09 AM
A look at the packaging of the new Criterion Collection edition of UGETSU, a classic ghost story directed by Kenji Mizoguchi. Also my first post on the Skylight Social app!
Reposted by David Blakeslee
An advance look at Barry Blitt’s “Left to Their Own Devices,” the cover for next week’s issue. #NewYorkerCovers
March 28, 2025 at 2:31 PM
An advance look at Barry Blitt’s “Left to Their Own Devices,” the cover for next week’s issue. #NewYorkerCovers
15 minutes of me talking about NIGHT MOVES, starring Gene Hackman. The Criterion Collection just put it out in 4K UHD. youtu.be/sz1-s_fxoBI?...
David Reviews NIGHT MOVES (1975), Criterion Collection Spine #1255
YouTube video by David Blakeslee
youtu.be
March 27, 2025 at 12:52 AM
15 minutes of me talking about NIGHT MOVES, starring Gene Hackman. The Criterion Collection just put it out in 4K UHD. youtu.be/sz1-s_fxoBI?...
Reposted by David Blakeslee
New Criterion Now episode with @peutetre.bsky.social. We get into the Killers of the Flower Moon news that went viral and also the June 2025 announcements.
cinejourneys.com/criterion-no...
cinejourneys.com/criterion-no...
March 26, 2025 at 3:06 PM
New Criterion Now episode with @peutetre.bsky.social. We get into the Killers of the Flower Moon news that went viral and also the June 2025 announcements.
cinejourneys.com/criterion-no...
cinejourneys.com/criterion-no...
My 20 minute review of Charles Chaplin's A WOMAN OF PARIS, just released by the Criterion Collection. I also talk a bit about Criterion's other Chaplin releases and where this title fits in his filmography. youtu.be/_x8j3MFpk3Y?...
David Reviews A WOMAN OF PARIS (1923) directed by Charles Chaplin
YouTube video by David Blakeslee
youtu.be
March 19, 2025 at 6:20 PM
My 20 minute review of Charles Chaplin's A WOMAN OF PARIS, just released by the Criterion Collection. I also talk a bit about Criterion's other Chaplin releases and where this title fits in his filmography. youtu.be/_x8j3MFpk3Y?...
I published a new episode of my podcast yesterday, which seems kind of silly and futile in light of all that's going on in today's world, but it's about rampaging monsters inflicting indiscriminate chaos and destruction, so I suppose it's sufficiently on-topic. criterioncast.com/podcast/crit...
Criterion Reflections - Episode 154 - Jun Fukuda’s Godzilla vs. Megalon
David is joined by Richard Doyle and David Seeley to provide intellectual gravitas as we contemplate the threat that atomic testing presents to the future of human civilization. Also: Jet Jaguar to…
criterioncast.com
March 11, 2025 at 3:25 PM
I published a new episode of my podcast yesterday, which seems kind of silly and futile in light of all that's going on in today's world, but it's about rampaging monsters inflicting indiscriminate chaos and destruction, so I suppose it's sufficiently on-topic. criterioncast.com/podcast/crit...
Reposted by David Blakeslee
Two photos: 1) me introducting Flow at the Boston Baltic Film Festival with Matīss Upītis, who is the VFX artist and animator that did the WATER in Flow.
This was Saturday.
2) Upītis with his Oscar!
This was Sunday.
This was Saturday.
2) Upītis with his Oscar!
This was Sunday.
March 3, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Two photos: 1) me introducting Flow at the Boston Baltic Film Festival with Matīss Upītis, who is the VFX artist and animator that did the WATER in Flow.
This was Saturday.
2) Upītis with his Oscar!
This was Sunday.
This was Saturday.
2) Upītis with his Oscar!
This was Sunday.
@grfilmsociety.bsky.social published a special edition of our newsletter, a dedicated tribute to David Lynch and the impact that he and his work have had on so many. Here's a link: grfilmsociety.substack.com/p/special-ed...
SPECIAL EDITION: REMEMBERING DAVID LYNCH
BEAM FROM THE BOOTH | GRAND RAPIDS FILM SOCIETY
grfilmsociety.substack.com
February 21, 2025 at 11:00 PM
@grfilmsociety.bsky.social published a special edition of our newsletter, a dedicated tribute to David Lynch and the impact that he and his work have had on so many. Here's a link: grfilmsociety.substack.com/p/special-ed...
I strung together enough words about the new KING LEAR release from Criterion to fill almost 17 minutes of air time (with a little help from Richard Brody). But it all amounts to nothing. No thing.
youtu.be/aCzhH2C71tw?...
youtu.be/aCzhH2C71tw?...
David Reviews KING LEAR (1987) directed by Jean-Luc Godard - Criterion Collection Spine #1249
YouTube video by David Blakeslee
youtu.be
February 18, 2025 at 3:20 AM
I strung together enough words about the new KING LEAR release from Criterion to fill almost 17 minutes of air time (with a little help from Richard Brody). But it all amounts to nothing. No thing.
youtu.be/aCzhH2C71tw?...
youtu.be/aCzhH2C71tw?...
In advance of reviewing Criterion's upcoming release of Jean-Luc Godard's KING LEAR, I made this video talking about films he made in the 1980s that I'm in process of watching, to better understand what he was up to during that decade. youtu.be/ARLUkHh_VEs?...
Opening thoughts on Jean-Luc Godard's KING LEAR (1987), new Blu-ray from the Criterion Collection.
YouTube video by David Blakeslee
youtu.be
February 7, 2025 at 2:52 PM
In advance of reviewing Criterion's upcoming release of Jean-Luc Godard's KING LEAR, I made this video talking about films he made in the 1980s that I'm in process of watching, to better understand what he was up to during that decade. youtu.be/ARLUkHh_VEs?...
New episode of my podcast discusses Mike Leigh's 1973 made-for-BBC film Hard Labour, and also his most recent release Hard Truths, still showing theatrically in some markets. criterioncast.com/podcast/crit...
Criterion Reflections - Episode 153 - Mike Leigh’s Hard Labour
David is joined by first-time guest Ethan Magnan to discuss Leigh’s first made-for-TV film, and we also talk about Hard Truth’s, his most recent release from 2024.
criterioncast.com
February 1, 2025 at 11:45 PM
New episode of my podcast discusses Mike Leigh's 1973 made-for-BBC film Hard Labour, and also his most recent release Hard Truths, still showing theatrically in some markets. criterioncast.com/podcast/crit...
Downtown Grand Rapids tonight at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum.
February 1, 2025 at 2:44 AM
Downtown Grand Rapids tonight at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum.
Reposted by David Blakeslee
Information on the fundraiser that will benefit the Black History Month assembly celebration of local Campus Elementary School!
grcmc.org/theatre/even...
grcmc.org/theatre/even...
Moonlight (Grand Rapids Film Society)
Moonlight presented by the Grand Rapids Film Society.
grcmc.org
January 30, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Information on the fundraiser that will benefit the Black History Month assembly celebration of local Campus Elementary School!
grcmc.org/theatre/even...
grcmc.org/theatre/even...
This past Saturday I hosted an hour-long video call about 2 films from Pier Paolo Pasolini: 1962 short LA RICOTTA and 1963 feature LOVE MEETINGS. It's part of a series hosted on the CineJourneys website created by @awest505.bsky.social and @biscuitkitten.bsky.social youtu.be/zOxIxgtRthg?...
120 Days of Pasolini - Call 3
YouTube video by CineJourneys
youtu.be
January 29, 2025 at 11:36 PM
This past Saturday I hosted an hour-long video call about 2 films from Pier Paolo Pasolini: 1962 short LA RICOTTA and 1963 feature LOVE MEETINGS. It's part of a series hosted on the CineJourneys website created by @awest505.bsky.social and @biscuitkitten.bsky.social youtu.be/zOxIxgtRthg?...