1
Pioneers of Queer Cinema
(Siskel, August)
The Siskel presents a dozen films in association with the UCLA Film & Television Archive, including Bill Sherwood’s brilliant, bittersweet comedy “Parting Glances,” featuring a winning early lead role by Steve Buscemi; “Desert Hearts”; “Coming Out Under Fire”; “Tongues Untied”; “Nitrate Kisses”; “Paris Is Burning”; “The Living End”; “Word Is Out”: “The Watermelon Woman”; and “The Times Of Harvey Milk.”
2
Big Night
(Music Box, Tuesday, August 9)
Tender to the bone: Stanley Tucci and Campbell Scott’s debut feature is toothsome greatness with one of the great concluding passages in movies; shown in 35mm. Part of the four-film “Good Taste Tastes Good” series which includes “Tampopo,” (August 2); “Ratatouille” (August 16) and “Chef” (August 23).
3
Three Thousand Years of Longing
(Opens Friday, August 26)
George Miller retires to a hotel room in Istanbul and pokes mythology scholar Tilda Swinton and elfin-eared Djinn Idris Elba into storytelling life across millennia. The cast, the title, a good start, plus Dr. Miller, right?
4
Beast
(Opens Friday, August 19)
Idris Elba plays a father who must protect his teenage daughters from a lion on the savanna for Icelandic action ace Baltasar Kormákur (“Everest”). From producer Will Packer (the 2022 Oscars).
5
City Of God
(Siskel, Monday, August 8)
Loved, loathed, Fernando Meirelles and Kátia Lund’s heart-pounder set in the favelas of 1970s Rio de Janeiro startled in 2002; how will it look on a big, wide screen today? Part of the Siskel’s golden anniversary 50/50 series.