Bonjour From Montreal on This Saturday

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Bienvenue à Saturday Matinee, mes amis! We’re back in Montreal for a little vacation. It’s one of our favorites cities and it’s magical in the summer. This time, we’re here because Nic is doing this really cool French immersion program where he gets to stay in the dorms at McGill University and meet kids his age from all over the world. It feels like a very grown-up, independent thing to do. We’re really excited for him, and we're always excited to explore Montreal.

But the movies never take a vacation. So here’s what we reviewed this week on our Breakfast All Day YouTube channel and podcast. (We kept it simple for getaway week.)

• SUPERMAN. This is a non-spoiler review, but we feel like it’s safe to say that we loved this movie. It’s a thrilling mix of all of James Gunn’s filmmaking instincts: the big-budget, crowd-pleasing blockbusters and the weird sense of humor that marked his early films. David Corenswet is a perfect Superman and he has terrific chemistry with Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane. Plus, Superman’s dog, Krypto, is the best good boy. In theaters now, and keep an eye out for details on a live spoiler chat in the next week or so.

And once you’ve seen “Superman,” check out my old friend Ben Mankiewicz’s interview with Corenswet. He did a segment on the actor for CBS Sunday Morning, but this 48-minute extended conversation is very much worth your time. Ben is always a thoughtful, engaged interviewer, and Corenswet seems like a thoroughly decent dude.

• EDDINGTON REACTION. Couldn’t leave town without sharing a few thoughts on Ari Aster’s latest. We dug “Hereditary” and “Midsommar,” but were less enchanted by “Beau Is Afraid.” Aster’s new film takes place in a small New Mexico town during the tumultuous summer of 2020, when the pandemic and Black Lives Matter protests divided us as a society. It’s a total misfire. Full review coming next week. In theaters July 18.

Also this week, I appeared on both radio shows I do in Los Angeles. Sometimes, the schedule just happens to shake out that way:

• Press Play With Madeleine Brand on 89.9 KCRW. The lovely Witney Siebold and I discussed “Superman” and more.

• FilmWeek With Larry Mantle on 89.3 LAist. The delightful Tim Cogshell and I also discussed “Superman,” plus Kyle Buchanan of The New York Times brought his great pipes to talk about the newspaper’s interactive Best Movies of the 21st Century list. (Alonso and I did our own picks last week.)

The coolest film you’ll see this week is the sexy and stylish “Kill the Jockey” from Argentina, which we talked about on both radio shows. Director and co-writer Luis Ortega tells the story of an alcoholic, drug-addicted jockey (Nahuel Pérez Biscayart) who finds himself in trouble with both the mob and his pregnant girlfriend (a captivating Úrsula Corberó). When a bizarre riding accident lands him in the hospital, things only get weirder from there. The surrealist streak reminded me of Fellini; I’ve also seen comparisons to Wes Anderson, and that’s apt. But “Kill the Jockey” is very much its own beautifully bizarre beast, and it’s totally unpredictable from one moment to the next. It’s in theaters now and expanding over the next several weeks. Full schedule of release dates here.

Another movie we discussed on FilmWeek, which I highly recommend, is the documentary “The Last Class.” It follows Robert Reich — former labor secretary during the Clinton administration and longtime professor — as he teaches the final year of his UC Berkeley Wealth and Poverty class after more than four decades as an educator. If you’ve ever seen Reich during one of his many, many television appearances, you’re probably familiar with how quick-witted and articulate he is. He’s a great storyteller and so adept at making complicated concepts seem accessible. And at nearly 80 years of age, he’s adored among his students, who are several generations younger. This a love letter, as documentaries tend to be when the subject provides such intimate access. But Reich keeps things grounded with his genuine, self-deprecating manner, and he’s just so reasonable and sane, which is welcome these days “The Last Class” is in theaters now. Find out here if it’s playing near you.

Finally, if you’ve seen the devastation from the deadly floods that swept through Central Texas last week and you’re looking for a way to help, World Central Kitchen is there. Chef José Andrés’ relief teams got on the ground quickly to serve meals to first responders and families waiting for news about their loved ones. That includes the parents of children who were attending summer camps in the Texas Hill Country, a tradition that spans generations. It’s an absolutely heart-wrenching story. But you can support World Central Kitchen as they support others by donating here. We were honored to raise money for the great work they do when they fed folks here in Southern California during January’s wildfires. Let’s keep it going.

Gonna wrap it up here. This whole time difference thing is messing me up, so I need a nap or a run or coffee or all of the above. But I’m so thankful to you for hanging out with me, whatever time it is in your world. If you’ve enjoyed my newsletter, I’d be honored if you’d pass it along to the movie lovers in your life. Have a great week, and I’ll see you back here next Saturday.