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  Special Screenings

  

  Cooley High (1975)

  Selected in 2021 to be in the National Film Registry, this 1975 classic inspired the likes of Spike Lee and was a major box-office hit upon its release. Contrary to the ubiquitous Blaxploitation of its era, it’s a coming-of-age story following two ambitious best friends in 1964 Chicago: aspiring poet Preach Jackson and basketball star Cochise Morris, who run into trouble during a day of cutting class. What starts as a series of parties, joyrides, and flirting is sadly twisted by the dangers of being Black in America. A heart-wrenching drama through and through, it’s nonetheless joyous and funny, soundtracked by well-loved Motown hits. John Singleton’s 1991 classic Boyz n the Hood is a direct homage to Cooley High, as is Boyz II Men’s 1991 debut album Cooleyhighharmony. – Lina Fisher

  May 16 - 20

  Alamo Drafthouse Village, Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar, Alamo Drafthouse Lakeline, Alamo Drafthouse Mueller

• Film

  Special Screenings

  

  Crossroads (2002)

  Back in 2002, Britney Spears was on fire, having already sold over 37 million albums including …Baby One More Time and Oops!… I Did It Again. She was definitely overworked and overextended, but was trying her hand at everything and mostly succeeding, and her first and only starring film role was praised, although the film as a whole was critically panned. It’s a lovely little story about three high school grads (Spears, Taryn Manning, and Zoe Saldaña) who cross the country – on roads – as they rekindle their faded friendship and look toward the future. Travel along with them at the Tuesday movie party with props like a road trip map and globe keychain (Village and South Lamar locations only), or if you’re feeling less adventurous, non-MP screenings happen at all the Alamos Monday through Wednesday. – Kat McNevins Read a full review of Crossroads.

  May 19-21

  Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar, Alamo Drafthouse Village, Alamo Drafthouse Slaughter Lane, Alamo Drafthouse Mueller, Alamo Drafthouse Lakeline

• Film

  Special Screenings

  

  Dog Day Afternoon (1975)

  In 1973, director Sidney Lumet tapped Al Pacino to play an NYPD detective in Serpico. Two years later he cast Pacino on the other end of the law in Dog Day Afternoon. Groundbreaking in its time – how many Hollywood stars were playing a real-life guy who knocked over a bank in order to pay for his lover’s gender-affirming surgery? – Dog Day is a quintessential zeitgeist movie, expertly capturing the working-class agitation and angst of the 1970s. It’s also funny, thrilling, so very sweaty, and totally tragic. It paired Pacino with John Cazale again – Michael and Fredo reunited, a year after The Godfather Part II forcibly separated them – in Cazale’s next to last film role. They’re both dynamite in one of Lumet’s best. – Kimberley Jones Read a full review of Dog Day Afternoon.

  May 16 - 21

  Alamo Drafthouse Lakeline, Alamo Drafthouse Slaughter Lane, Alamo Drafthouse Mueller, Alamo Drafthouse Village, Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar

• Film

  Special Screenings

  

  Living in Oblivion (1995)

  Often called an ode to indie film, the Tom DiCillo black comedy might be best remembered lately for secondary character Tito (a young Peter Dinklage), who rails against his inclusion within the in-film film’s dream sequence as an actor with dwarfism. “Do you know anyone who’s had a dream with a dwarf in it?” Tito asks Steve Buscemi’s overwhelmed director Nick Reve. “No! I don’t even have dreams with dwarves in them. The only place I’ve seen dwarves in dreams is in stupid movies like this.” Beyond the explosive scene, this exploration of low-budget, high-ambition filmmaking utilizes the real director’s experiences for bittersweet satire. – James Scott Read a full review of Living in Oblivion.

  Tue., May 20

  Hyperreal Film Club