Let's Take a Deep Breath Together This Saturday

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We did it. We made it to Saturday. It didn’t always feel like we would at various points throughout the week. As I’ve written before in times of turmoil — which sorta feels like all the time — this is not a political newsletter. Tempting as it is to share my thoughts on what happened this week, I’m here to provide you a distraction, an escape, and hopefully a little bit of joy when everything feels so uncertain.

Movies may sound frivolous right now, but if that’s what you need, I’m here for you. So thanks for being here with me.

But first! I’m thrilled to tell you about an in-person event Alonso and I are doing before an opening weekend showing of “One Battle After Another.” We’ll be at CinemaWest Beach Cities on Friday, Sept. 26. Come hang out with us in the lobby bar starting at 530pm, then head into the 6pm showing of Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest epic on their GIANT screen. This is a former ArcLight location in El Segundo that re-opened earlier this year, so it’s cushy and comfy and has terrific sound. Details and tickets are available here. And if you can’t make it this time, we’ll be doing more in-person events at this theater in the future. Hope to see you!

Also, if you’d like to see Alonso and his lovely husband and fellow film critic Dave White in person, head out to the 29 Queer Film Festival in Twentynine Palms, California. They’ll be introducing a 30th anniversary screening of “Showgirls” on Saturday, Sept. 20 at 1030pm. Break out your best Versace! Tickets are available here.

As for new movies, we reviewed a bunch of them this week on our Breakfast All Day YouTube channel and podcast. Give us a listen and maybe leave a few stars if you have a moment — it helps people find us in the ether.

• THE LONG WALK. This may not be the best week to watch a movie about people who get shot in the head. But Francis Lawrence’s film is one of the best Stephen King adaptations ever: harrowing, gripping and beautifully acted. It’s in theaters when you’re ready for it.

• SPINAL TAP II: THE END CONTINUES. Making a sequel to a comedy is hard. Making a sequel to a groundbreaking comedy from over 40 years ago, which invented an entire sub-genre and remains quotable to this day, is impossible. The sequel to 1984’s “This Is Spinal Tap” is as painfully unfunny as you might imagine, but the actual reunion concert at the end is a blast. In theaters.

• DOWNTON ABBEY: THE GRAND FINALE. This is definitely not the place to start with “Downton Abbey.” But if you were a fan of the TV series (or at least saw the first two movies), you’re in for a treat. This final film just might be the elegant escape you need right now if you’re looking for a pleasant afternoon of popcorn and fancy hats. In theaters.

• THE HISTORY OF SOUND. A film about music that’s muted to a fault. Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor have lovely chemistry with each other as young men who fall in love while traveling through rural Maine, recording folk songs during World War I. It’s beautiful, but it never grabs you. In theaters. (I also wrote about “The History of Sound” for Ebert, if you’d like to read my thoughts on the film there.)

• TWINLESS. I mentioned this movie in last week’s newsletter when I reviewed it for RogerEbert.com, but Alonso and I catch up with it here in our spoiler-free discussion, as well. Once again, it’s great, but the less you know about James Sweeney’s indie drama going into it, the better. In theaters.

• MOVIE NEWS LIVE! A busy one this time, with early reactions to “One Battle After Another” (which we’re seeing Monday morning and will have a quick reaction video afterward), the Emmys this Sunday, “Big Little Lies” season 3 and more. Join us every Friday at Noon Pacific.

We also reviewed these movies and many others this week on FilmWeek on LAist 89.3. The always thoughtful Tim Cogshell and Charles Solomon were my fellow critics this time with host Larry Mantle. Give us a listen and support public radio!

One of the movies we reviewed on FilmWeek was the documentary “Clemente,” about the late Pittsburgh Pirates legend Robert Clemente. Director David Altrogge gets his arms around a lot in examining the life of a man who was, in many ways, more prolific and impactful off the field than he was on it. The Puerto Rican right fielder became an icon as a player, leading the Pirates to two World Series championships, amassing a ton of MVP and Gold Glove awards and recording exactly 3,000 hits. But his generosity and his drive to use his platform to help and inspire others form his real legacy; Clemente died in a plane crash on Dec. 31, 1972, while delivering humanitarian aid to Nicaragua after a devastating earthquake. Among the variety of people featured in the film are Clemente’s sons and his widow, players including Francisco Lindor and Curtis Granderson, author David Maraniss, Bob Costas, Rita Moreno, Michael Keaton and Richard Linklater. It just might be the inspiration you need right now. Find out here when “Clemente” is playing near you.

Over at our Patreon, we’ve begun recapping season 5 of “Only Murders in the Building.” As is Hulu’s wont, they put the first three episodes out at once, with subsequent episodes coming once a week on Tuesdays. (We’ll recap on Fridays if you’d like to follow along.) At the end of season 4, we saw that the latest victim was Lester, the longtime doorman at the Arconia. Police have ruled his death an accident; naturally, Charles, Mabel and Oliver are suspicious. Among the big names guest-starring this time are Téa Leoni, Bobby Cannavale, Christoph Waltz, Logan Lerman and Renée Zellweger. This series may have lost some of its zing at this point, but we’re still intrigued. Watch along with us and share your thoughts.

That’ll do it for me this week. As always, I’m so thankful you’re here and appreciate all you do to make our community a kindhearted place. If you’ve enjoyed my newsletter, I hope you’ll share it with friends and family. Have a great week, and I’ll see you back here next Saturday.