We discuss Shintaro Katsu's "life after Zatoichi" project, three films about a principled cop in Edo-era Japan, renowned for his fighting skills and infamous interrogation techniques.
Criterion Reflections
David Blakeslee
Criterion Reflections – Episode 136 – Brian De Palma’s Sisters
David dissects Brian De Palma's breakout thriller with Richard Doyle and first-time guest Robert Baum.
Criterion Reflections – Episode 135 – Rainer Werner Fassbinder’s Eight Hours Don’t Make a Day
David and his ensemble gather 'round the table to enjoy and engage with Fassbinder's winsome series about family life and the German working class.
Criterion Reflections – Episode 134 – Bernardo Bertolucci’s Last Tango in Paris
David and guests share their thoughts on this sensational, scandalous landmark film from 1972 that still stirs up strong reactions today.
Criterion Reflections – Episode 133 – Bob Rafelson’s The King of Marvin Gardens
David is joined by Richard Doyle to discuss the final feature film in Criterion's America Lost and Found: The BBS Story box set.
Criterion Reflections – Episode 132 – Éric Rohmer’s Love in the Afternoon
David is joined by Matthew Gasteier to talk about the final installment of Rohmer's film series Six Moral Tales.
Criterion Reflections – Episode 131 – Luis Buñuel’s The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie
David is joined by Derek Power, Travis Trudell, Brad McDermott and Dave Eves in a series of 1:1 chats about Bunuel's magnificent and delectable chef d'oeuvre from late in his career.
Criterion Reflections – Episode 130 – Martin Ritt’s Sounder
This adaptation of a youth fiction classic earned 4 Oscar nominations, popular acclaim and some critical backlash. We discuss all that, and also share our reactions to the new Sight and Sound list.
Criterion Reflections – Episode 129 – Shintaro Katsu’s Zatoichi in Desperation
The 24th film in the series finds the Blind Swordsman venturing down the bleakest and most nihilistic pathways. Zatoichi gets no darker than this!
Criterion Reflections – Episode 128 – Wes Craven’s The Last House on the Left
We discuss this infamous and polarizing film in which Krug and company commit sex crimes of the century that inevitably lead them to a brutal night of vengeance.
Criterion Reflections – Episode 127 – William Crain’s Blacula
David is joined by Aaron West from Criterion Now to discuss this blaxploitation/horror mash-up from July 1972.
Criterion Reflections – Episode 126 – Late July 1972
Films discussed include GREASER'S PALACE, CIAO! MANHATTAN and BONE - all streaming on the Criterion Channel.
Criterion Reflections – Episode 125 – Pier Paolo Pasolini’s The Canterbury Tales
David and guests discuss the middle installment of Pasolinin's Trilogy of Life, an adaptation of the bawdiest chapters in Geoffrey Chaucer's classic medieval text.
Criterion Reflections – Episode 124 – Ronald Neame’s The Poseidon Adventure
David and guests take a deep dive into this massively successful and influential disaster-movie blockbuster that established genre standards for the decades that followed.
Criterion Reflections – Episode 123 – James Ivory’s Savages
Daisuke Beppu, Robert Taylor and Richard Doyle join David to discuss this strange diversion from the usual form that made Merchant Ivory Productions an Oscar-winning powerhouse in 80s and 90s cinema.