Happy Saturday, and Happy November

How is it already November? Marveling over the passage of time seems fitting, given that one of the many movies we reviewed this week is Robert Zemeckis’ millennia-spanning gimmick “Here.” But it’s true. My kid has already finished his first quarter of high school. On Monday, he’ll turn 15. And with this week’s jam-packed movie lineup, it’s clear that the chaos of awards season and holiday movies officially has begun.

It was an especially busy week at our Breakfast All Day YouTube channel and podcast after the excitement of meeting so many longtime viewers and listeners Sunday at our in-person screening of John Carpenter’s “The Fog.” Thanks so much to all the lovely folks who made the drive to The Frida Cinema in Santa Ana, and thanks to the great Frida staff for hosting us so warmly. We’ll definitely do more events like this in the future, so keep an eye out for details.

As for new movies:

• HERE. All of human existence plays out from the same perspective in “Here,” which reunites the director, writer and stars of “Forrest Gump.” The camera doesn’t move as various characters’ lives flash before us across time in the same living room. It’s an intriguing concept, executed in the most banal, superficial way. I kinda hated this movie. In theaters.

• BLITZ. A masterful achievement, exquisitely made in every way. Writer-director Steve McQueen tells the story of a mother and son (Saoirse Ronan and amazing newcomer Elliott Heffernan) struggling to find each other amid the chaos of the London Blitz during World War II. In theaters now in limited release and streaming Nov. 22 on Apple TV+, but see it on the big screen if you can, because it’s gorgeous and the sound design is so powerful.

• JUROR #2. This may be 94-year-old Clint Eastwood’s final film as director, and for whatever reason, Warner Bros. is hiding it. They didn’t need to — it’s totally solid, an old-fashioned courtroom drama and the kind of mid-budget movie for adults we don’t see much of anymore. It’s beautifully crafted and well-acted with a great cast that includes Nicholas Hoult, Toni Collette, Chris Messina and J.K. Simmons. If it’s playing in one of the 50 theaters near you, check it out. (And here’s my RogerEbert.com review of “Juror #2” if you’re interested in reading my thoughts in the form of actual sentences.)

• A REAL PAIN. Jesse Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin play estranged cousins who visit Poland to explore their beloved grandmother’s homeland after her death. Cringe comedy and legitimate sorrow ensue. Both actors are great in this but Culkin gets the showier role, and has earned well-deserved awards discussion because of it. Eisenberg, as writer and director, shows great mastery of tone. This is a good one too! In theaters in limited release.

• WOMAN OF THE HOUR. I recommended this movie in a recent edition of my newsletter, but this week we had the chance to catch up with it on Breakfast All Day, too. Anna Kendrick’s directorial debut, about serial killer Rodney Alcala’s appearance as a contestant on “The Dating Game,” is a tense and well-acted thriller. Streaming now on Netflix.

• MOVIE NEWS LIVE! This was a longer livestream than usual because there was so much to discuss. Among this week’s topics were the late Teri Garr (whom we’re honoring with this month’s Off the Menu Poll on our Patreon — more on that soon), Disney+’s Look Ahead, plus news about Timothée Chalamet, Armie Hammer AND Luca Guadagnino. It’s a “Call Me By Your Name” reunion. Join us every Friday at Noon Pacific.

For FilmWeek on LAist 89.3, I had the chance to watch “Endurance.” It’s the latest documentary from the husband-and-wife team of Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, Oscar winners for 2018’s “Free Solo.” (Natalie Hewit also directs.) The film follows the 2022 expedition to find the legendary wreckage of Ernest Shackleton’s ship, which sunk near Antarctica in 1915. It operates on two parallel tracks, cutting back and forth between restored footage and recreations of that failed mission a century ago and the recent efforts to locate the ship with modern technology. The tales of struggle and survival are harrowing, and the score from Daniel Pemberton (the “Spider-Verse” movies) sweeps you along on the adventures. Streaming now on Disney+ and Hulu.

Thank you so much for sharing some of your time with me this weekend. These are crazy, busy days, so I don’t take it for granted. If you enjoyed my newsletter, I’d be honored if you’d share it with a family member or friend. PLEASE make sure you vote on Tuesday if you haven’t already — I dropped my ballot in the box weeks ago and it’s already been counted, which is a good feeling. No matter what happens, I’ll be back here with you next Saturday. ‘Til then, take care, let’s hope for the best, and have a great week.