May finds the Castro Theatre devoting a full month to its delicious mix of new and old faves.
"Isle of Dogs" (2018) Stop-motion from director Wes Anderson is set in a future dystopian Japan. Bill Murray heads an all-star cast of voice actors. "Man's best friend" is smarter than we think, with quirks, abilities and prejudices. Ultimately, no mutt is an island, and the story has a happy if chaotic conclusion. (5/3)
"Amadeus" (1984) Peter Shaffer's hit play, based on the last year of Mozart's life, tells a story that ought to be true even if it's farfetched. Eight Oscars including Best Picture. Tom Hulce is divine as "Wolfy," complete with pink wig.
"Hair" (1979) The late Milos Forman brought the spirit of 60s hippie America to the screen. Treat Williams is the draft-dodging longhair in Central Park with friends who can sing up a storm. (both 5/6)
"One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" (1977) Based on Ken Kesey's novel about the disintergration of mental health care in post-WWII America. A rebel patient (Jack Nicolson) attempts to overthrow "Big Nurse" (Oscar winner Louise Fletcher). Won Oscar's Top 5: Best Picture, Actor, Actress, Director and Screenplay.
"Man on the Moon" (1999) Forman helmed this Jim Carrey tribute to the eccentric late comic Andy Kaufman. With Danny DeVito. (both 5/7)
"Love, Simon" (2018) The teen comedy romance gets a makeover in this Hollywood take on a gay boy's coming out tale. (5/8)
"I, Tonya" (2017) Ice-skating drama features one of the year's hardest-to-like heroines, offset by a strong turn by Allison Janney as the bad girl's mom.
"Slap Shot" (1977) Great comedy about the role of violence in minor league hockey. Director George Roy Hill's profane, action-packed film concerns aging male athletes (Paul Newman), "high sticking," the penalty box, bombastic sports talk hosts and macho jocks doing fashion shows. Sexy Michael Ontkean does a robust on-ice striptease. Nancy Dowd's script uses homophobic language for a good cause. (both 5/9)
"An American Story: Norman Mineta and His Legacy" Opening night for the 36th Asian American Film Festival. (5/10)
"Monty Python and the Holy Grail" (1975) Often hilarious sendup of most things stuffy people hold sacred.
"Jabberwocky" (1977): Terry Gilliam gathers the Python gang for another stroll through the Dark Ages. (both 5/11)
"Double Indemnity" (1944): The granddaddy of all noirs, Billy Wilder's film combines a great male-female double-double cross with a platonic male love story. Hip insurance salesman Fred MacMurray sells a policy on the life of femme fatale Barbara Stanwyck's grouchy oil-company executive husband. They're soon plotting to bump off the hubby while making it look like an accident, thus claiming his policy's double pay-out.
"The Killers" (1946) The screen debut of tough guy Burt Lancaster is only one of the pleasures derived from this Ernest Hemingway short story (adapted by John Huston and Anthony Veiller) about the murder of an ex-boxer.
"Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid" (1982): Director Carl Reiner joins forces with a young Steve Martin in this complicated spoof of film noir. Martin interacts with clips from 40s noir classics. Dedicated to costume designer Edith Head; it was her final credit. (all 3, 5/12)
"My Fair Lady" (1964) Smash hit Broadway musical became, under the direction of (at the time closeted) gay helmer George Cukor an eight-Oscar winner, including Best Picture, Director, and Actor for Rex Harrison. Professor Henry Higgins rescues Cockney flower girl Eliza Doolittle (Audrey Hepburn) from the gutter in order to win a bet with his pal. A submersion into the foibles of Edwardian England, based on Socialist G.B. Shaw's stage play "Pygmalion," adapted by Lerner and Lowe.
"Doctor Dolittle" (1967) Rex Harrison returns as UK children's writer Hugh Lofting's animal-doctor character who could speak to his charges in their own languages. Fans of the books are divided on the merits of this one. (both 5/13)
"Black Panther" (2017): Blockbuster comic book-inspired crowd-pleaser should be a real treat at the theatre where every type of film has its best run. (5/15-16)
"Barbarella" (1968) France's Roger Vadim found success with this undemanding adaption of a popular 60s French comic strip. Then-newbie Jane Fonda's opening-credits striptease is a huge reason viewers found this one so groovy. Fonda and Vadim were "involved" at the time.
"Modesty Blaise" (1966) American-born exile from McCarthyism Joseph Losey helmed this Pop Art-influenced silliness based on the antics of a young female spy (Monica Vitti). (both 5/17)
"A Fistful of Dollars" (1964) Sergio Leone concocted the formula for the Spaghetti Western with this Italian-shot oater. Clint Eastwood is a mysterious armed stranger who doesn't hesitate to keep the locals in line. Based on the Japanese samurai classic "Yojimbo."
"Dirty Harry" (1971) Clint Eastwood and director Don Siegel became forever linked for this kick-off of their five-part series about the cop known for the punchline, "Make my day!" This tribute to the men and women of the SFPD (pre-Moscone-Milk) will appeal to fans of pure action. (both 5/29)