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Life lessons are imparted in David Gilmour's new book, but The Film Club is no Tuesdays With Morrie. The Canadian novelist and critic decided to let his wayward son drop out of the tenth grade so long as he agreed to watch three movies a week with Dad. The usual cinéaste classics are on the syllabus (The 400 Blows, Roman Holiday), but so is Basic Instinct. What can a young troublemaker possibly learn about artistry and morality from a boiled bunny rabbit? Find out when Gilmour makes a New York visit to read from the results of a gloriously reckless experiment that leaves most stunt books in the dust. — Boris Kachka