Team Deakins PETER BRADSHAW - Film Critic
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Mar 25, 2026 Peter Bradshaw, Chief film critic at The Guardian and longtime film writer, recalls his path into criticism and early movie memories. He discusses balancing personal taste with rational analysis, revising past opinions, the impact of social media and AI on cinema, and why communal, affordable moviegoing still matters. Short, candid, and wide-ranging reflections on watching, judging, and loving films.
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Childhood Movies Sparked Lifelong Criticism
- Peter Bradshaw first loved movies as a child, remembering Jungle Book and later Spielberg's Duel as formative, frightening experiences that felt illicit and decadent.
- He watched films repeatedly in 1970s cinemas where movies ran for months, which deepened his passion and memory of specific scenes.
Satire Lawsuit Led To Film Critic Job
- Bradshaw was sued by MP Alan Clark for a satirical spoof of Clark's diaries, losing on a passing-off legal technicality.
- The case paradoxically raised his profile and directly led to Alan Rushbridger offering him The Guardian film critic role.
Criticism Demands Lifelong Learning
- Becoming a professional critic required humility and constant learning, especially to avoid stagnation and stay open to international cinema perspectives.
- He cites Iranian filmmakers like Jafar Panahi as teaching filmmakers' inner worlds that news cannot convey.