Blister Cinematic | BLISTER Outdoor Media & Gear Reviews

‘Downhill’ stars A-list actors and comedians (Will Ferrel, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Zach Woods); features realistic skiing; takes place entirely at a ski resort; and was released on Valentine’s Day. So it must be every skier’s favorite Rom-Com, right? Not exactly. On Blister Cinematic, you’ll hear Amie and Jonathan’s strong reactions to one of the most puzzling ski movies they’ve ever seen.

‘Downhill’ w/ Amie Engerbretson & Jonathan Ellsworth (Ep.36)

February 14, 2025 by Jonathan Ellsworth

‘Downhill’ stars A-list comedians (Will Ferrel, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, etc); takes place entirely at a ski resort; and was released on Valentine’s Day. So it must be every skier’s favorite Rom-Com, right? Hear Amie and Jonathan’s strong reactions to one of the most puzzling ski movies ever.

On our Blister Cinematic podcast, Jonathan talks with Nikolai Schirmer about snow monk warriors, obsessive weirdos, and his outstanding new movie. And Cody Townsend (who is in the film) joins in to talk about the evolution of ski culture, filmmaking, and more.

‘Ski: The Greatest Ski Tour of All Time’ w/ Nikolai Schirmer, Cody Townsend, & Jonathan Ellsworth (Ep.35)

February 6, 2025February 6, 2025 by Jonathan Ellsworth

We talk with Nikolai Schirmer about snow monk warriors, obsessive weirdos, and his outstanding new movie. And Cody Townsend (who is in the film) joins in to talk about the evolution of ski culture, filmmaking, and more.

On our latest Blister Cinematic podcast, Amie Engerbretson and Jonathan break down Katie Burrell’s ski comedy, Weak Layers. It’s a hilarious, not-very-suitable-for-work movie that features many of your favorite skiers and an incredible number of great lines, but please, just remember to “Shhhhhhh!”

‘Weak Layers’ with Amie Engerbretson & Jonathan Ellsworth (Ep.34)

January 28, 2025 by Jonathan Ellsworth

We break down Katie Burrell’s ski comedy, Weak Layers, a hilarious, not-very-suitable-for-work movie that features many of your favorite skiers and an incredible number of great lines, but please, just remember to “Shhhhhhh!”

5 New Films: ‘Circle of Madness’; ‘Grown’; ‘White Gold’; ‘Blue Hour’; & ‘Variable’ w/ Mike Rogge & Jonathan Ellsworth (Ep.33)

December 31, 2024 by Jonathan Ellsworth

Mike and Jonathan talk about the state of snowsports films today, and make the case for 5 new films from 2024 that deserve your attention. So check out these films, let us know what you think of them, and let us know what else you think were some of the standout films of 2024.

‘Falling for Christmas’ w/ Amie Engerbretson & Jonathan Ellsworth (Ep.32)

December 17, 2024December 17, 2024 by Jonathan Ellsworth

Amie and Jonathan discuss this Lyndsay Lohan Rom-Com / Christmas / Ski movie and have a very festive time debating whether it’s a Christmas delight or a modern-day dumpster fire. Plus, you have an opportunity to win a brand new pair of Atomic skis. Check it out!

‘Dumb & Dumber’ w/ Cody Townsend & Jonathan Ellsworth (Ep.31)

December 10, 2024 by Jonathan Ellsworth

In honor of its 30th anniversary, we discuss one of Cody’s all-time favorite movies, and you’ll hear him make the case for Dumb & Dumber being the greatest ski movie ever??

On the Blister Cinematic podcast, Jonathan talks with Connor Ryan, Ryan McClure, and Isaiah Branch-Boyle about their powerful new film, Surviving Our Story. It should be required viewing for anyone who backcountry skis, splitboards, snowmobiles — or does any form of backcountry travel on snow.

‘Surviving Our Story’ w/ Connor Ryan, Ryan McClure, & Isaiah Branch-Boyle (Ep.30)

December 3, 2024 by Jonathan Ellsworth

Jonathan talks with Connor Ryan, Ryan McClure, and Isaiah Branch-Boyle about their powerful new film, Surviving Our Story. It should be required viewing for anyone who backcountry skis, splitboards, snowmobiles — or does any form of backcountry travel on snow.

James Bond films have probably put skiing and snowboarding in front of more people than any other film series. So on our latest Blister Cinematic podcast, Jonathan Ellsworth and James-Bond-aficionado, Simon Stewart, discuss this fact. Then, in honor of the 25th anniversary of ‘The World is Not Enough,’ they break down that film — and its absolutely-all-time ski scene.

James Bond, ‘The World Is Not Enough’ w/ Jonathan Ellsworth & Simon Stewart (Ep.29)

November 27, 2024 by Jonathan Ellsworth

James Bond films have probably put skiing and snowboarding in front of more people than any other film series. So we discuss this, then, in honor of the 25th anniversary of ‘The World is Not Enough,’ we break down that film and its absolutely-all-time ski scene.

55 years ago today, the movie 'Downhill Racer' came out, starring two legendary actors, Robert Redford and Gene Hackman. The film critic Roger Ebert calls this “the greatest sports movie ever made,” and today on Blister Cinematic, Jonathan is discussing it with one of the greatest American downhillers of all time, Daron Rahlves.

‘Downhill Racer’ with Daron Rahlves & Jonathan Ellsworth (Ep.28)

October 29, 2024October 29, 2024 by Jonathan Ellsworth

55 years ago today, the movie 'Downhill Racer' came out, starring two legendary actors, Robert Redford and Gene Hackman. The film critic Roger Ebert calls this “the greatest sports movie ever made,” and today, we’re discussing it with one of the greatest American downhillers of all time, Daron Rahlves.

On our latest Blister Cinematic podcast, Jonathan talks with our great friend and longtime Blister reviewer, Paul Forward, about a beautiful new series of three short films about Paul, called, The Hard Way. It is presented by Sitka Films, and it delves into Paul’s lifelong passion for traditional bow hunting, and into the ethics that guide Paul’s practice.

‘The Hard Way’ w/ Paul Forward & Jonathan Ellsworth (Ep.27)

October 15, 2024 by Jonathan Ellsworth

Jonathan talks with our friend and longtime Blister reviewer, Paul Forward, about a beautiful new series of three short films about Paul, called The Hard Way, that delve into Paul’s lifelong passion for traditional bow hunting, and the ethics that guide Paul’s practice.

'A Sunday in Hell’ w/ Joe Parkin (Ep.26)

‘A Sunday in Hell’ w/ Joe Parkin & Simon Stewart (Ep.26)

October 18, 2024October 8, 2024 by Simon Stewart

We revisit the 1977 film ‘A Sunday in Hell,’ often regarded as one of the greatest bike racing films of all time. To do it justice, Simon Stewart is joined by former pro cyclist Joe Parkin, who raced Paris-Roubaix himself in 1988, and knows what it takes to suffer through “The Hell of the North.”

‘Deeper’ w/ Jeremy Jones & Jonathan Ellsworth (Ep.25)

October 1, 2024October 1, 2024 by Jonathan Ellsworth

Jeremy Jones & Jonathan Ellsworth revisit the 2010 film, Deeper, which Jeremy calls the most important movie of his snowboarding career — which is saying something, coming from a guy who was named snowboarder of the year 10 times, and a guy that’s starred in over 100 films.

One of the best (and unique) things about snowsports is that, every fall, we get to meet up as a community, go to some theater, and watch together the season’s new ski and snowboard films. So on our latest Blister Cinematic podcast, we celebrate the start of Ski Movie Season with Drew Petersen. Drew talks about the major impact that ski movie screenings made on him; he names some of his all-time favorite ski movies, he talks about his role today in running the Salomon Quality Ski Time Film Tour, and we offer a sneak peek of some of the films that will be showing, including the latest from Cody Townsend; a great one from The Blank Collective; and more.

In Praise of Ski Movie Season w/ Drew Petersen (Ep.24)

September 24, 2024 by Jonathan Ellsworth

We’re celebrating the start of Ski Movie Season by talking with Drew Petersen about the impact that ski movie screenings had on him; his all-time favorite ski movies; and the Salomon Quality Ski Time Film Tour that kicks off tonight!

20 years ago this week, ’Yearbook,’ one of the most star-studded ski movies of all time, was released. So on our latest Blister Cinematic podcast, we talk with Matchstick’s Murray Wais and Scott Gaffney about the behind-the-scenes insanity; the in-front-of-the-camera surprises; the incredible soundtrack; the styles of Seth Morrison & Hugo Harrisson; and more. You can watch the film on the Matchstick website, then check out our conversation wherever you get your podcasts.

Hugo Harrisson, Ingrid Backstrom, & Mark Abma on the 20th Anniversary of ‘Yearbook’ (Ep.23)

September 20, 2024September 17, 2024 by Jonathan Ellsworth

20 years ago, ‘Yearbook,’ one of the most star-studded ski movies of all time, was released. So last week we talked with Matchstick’s Murray Wais and Scott Gaffney about the making of the film, and today, we’re talking with three of the stars of the film, Hugo Harrisson, Ingrid Backstrom, and Mark Abma.

20th Anniversary of ‘Yearbook’ w/ Murray Wais & Scott Gaffney (Ep.22)

September 10, 2024 by Jonathan Ellsworth

20 years ago this week, ‘Yearbook,’ one of the most star-studded ski movies of all time, was released. So we talk with filmmakers Murray Wais and Scott Gaffney about the behind-the-scenes insanity; the in-front-of-the-camera surprises; the styles of Seth vs Hugo; and more.

‘Rad’ with Eddie Fiola, Jen Zeuner, & Simon Stewart (Ep.21)

September 3, 2024 by Simon Stewart

There’s no denying that the film Rad is a cult classic, and we sat down with one of the stunt riders, BMX freestyle legend Eddie Fiola, as well as BMX Hall of Famer Jen Zeuner, to get the backstory on how Eddie got involved, how he got knocked out, the terrifying Helltrack drop-in, wearing Lori Loughlin’s pants, plus a whole lot more.

‘Rocky’ with Brendan Leonard & Jonathan Ellsworth (Ep.20)

August 20, 2024 by Jonathan Ellsworth

Brendan and Jonathan discuss the 1976 movie, Rocky, because Brendan has made the bold claim that Rocky is the greatest running movie of all-time. Tune in to see if you agree.

‘American Flyers’ with Jonathan Ellsworth & Simon Stewart (Ep.19)

August 13, 2024 by Jonathan Ellsworth

Kevin Costner, bike racer? Yep. 'American Flyers' was released 39 years ago this week, and Costner would go on to make some of the best sports films of all time. So how well does this bike film hold up? And how does it compare to the other bike film written by Steve Tesich, 'Breaking Away'? Jonathan and Simon discuss.

Ep. 18: 'Feel It All' with Drew Petersen & Jonathan Ellsworth

‘Feel It All’ with Drew Petersen & Jonathan Ellsworth (Ep.18)

July 23, 2024 by Jonathan Ellsworth

We talk with Drew Petersen about his new running film / ski movie / documentary about some topics that are far bigger than skiing, running, and outdoor sports in general.

‘Breaking Away’ with Jonathan Ellsworth & Simon Stewart (Ep.17)

July 16, 2024 by Jonathan Ellsworth

Breaking Away features one of the biggest and coolest bike races ever (the Little 500) while also doubling as a fantastic coming-of-age film. So in honor of its 45th anniversary, Jonathan & Simon debate what’s aged the best; discuss its most rewatchable scenes; and Simon drops the hottest of Hot Takes.

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