'Howl,' 'Sex in an Epidemic' and 'A Marine Story' among those showing tonight

Georgia Voice celebrates Out on Film

It’s GA Voice night at Out on Film with a full slate of LGBT movies to choose from. All movies showing tonight will be shown at the Midtown Arts Cinema (LMAC) except “Flight of the Cardinal” that will be showing at Ansley Park Playhouse (APP).

Tonight’s lineup includes the much talked about “Howl,” starring James Franco as gay poet Allen Ginsberg. When Ginsberg wrote the poem “Howl,” it became a rallying cry but also was deemed indecent and obscene. The film chronicles the court trial that was held after law authorities deemed the poem legally obscene.

For a sneak peek into what else is on tap tonight for your queer viewing pleasure:

SEX IN AN EPIDEMIC (LMAC, 5:30 p.m.)

This no-nonsense documentary follows the sociopolitical impact of HIV/AIDS from its outbreak in the early 80s to current prevention strategies and activism. The film’s most interesting moments follow New York’s earliest prevention campaigns, which included pornographic comic books and porn-like instructional videos aimed at eroticizing sex in a fearful time. Preceded by the short film “Tell,” directed by David Ditmore. — Bo Shell

A MARINE STORY (LMAC, 7 p.m.)

No match for “Serving in Silence: The Margarethe Cammermeyer Story,” this Lifetime-style drama based on true stories spreads itself too thin, but a good performance from an appealing lead carries it over a lot of bumps. Alexandra Everett (Dreya Weber), discharged from the Marines under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” even though she’s married to a man, returns to her hometown, beats up some dudes, takes out a meth lab or two and mentors a troubled young woman (out actress Paris Pickard). Writer-director Ned Farr, Weber’s husband, also directed her in “The Gymnast.” Followed by panel discussion on “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.”

FLIGHT OF THE CARDINAL (APP, 7:10 p.m.)

Until the script goes off the rails near the end, Robert Gaston’s thriller has a lot going for it. The acting and direction are good enough to make most of its flaws forgivable. David J. Bonner plays the conniving serpent in the Eden-like North Carolina lodge run by Ross Beschler. Once the innocent victim starts fighting back things get interesting. The filmmaker and his leads, including Claire Bowerman, should have even better movies ahead of them.

HOWL (LMAC, 8:55 p.m.)

From Oscar winners Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman, their first narrative film is an experimental docudrama about gay poet Allen Ginsberg and the obscenity trial sparked by his 1955 poem “Howl.” If you don’t appreciate the poem you won’t appreciate the movie, despite a stellar cast. As Ginsberg, James Franco narrates and recites but doesn’t get to create a character. Courtroom scenes feature David Strathairn, Jon Hamm, Bob Balaban, Mary-Louise Parker, Jeff Daniels, Treat Williams and Alessandro Nivola. They’re all good, but if you don’t like Ginsberg’s poetry “Howl” couldn’t be verse.

PLAN B (APP, 8:55 p.m.)

I hate to spoil the will they? – won’t they? suspense in this Argentine film about two straight men falling in love with each other, but if they won’t it will be a feature-length tease like the American “Humpday,” which I didn’t recommend. And I recommend “Plan B,” even though it’s paced more slowly than I can usually tolerate and the plot doesn’t make much sense. Ultimately it doesn’t matter why Bruno (Manuel Vignau) and Pablo (Lucas Ferraro) become friends, and not rushing things makes the evolution of their relationship believable. Preceded by “Chico’s Angels, Episode 1.”

Check out the full slate of movies showing this week, click here.