Music City Mondays

Musical prodigy, admired and beloved by his many collaborators (not the least of which dubbed him “the fifth Beatle”), keyboardist and songwriter Billy Preston was also troubled, underrecognized and elusive — a closeted gay man raised in a Black church community that stridently condemned homosexuality (or pretended it didn’t exist). Electrifying footage and moving interviews bring the maestro front and center.

Keith Jarrett’s legendary performance in January 1975 nearly didn’t happen. KÖLN 75 dramatizes how the concert was conceived and orchestrated by the efforts of a teenage up-and-coming concert promoter (Mala Emde) and nearly stymied when the Bösendorfer Imperial Grand promised to the pianist (John Magaro) was nowhere to be found.

An unconventional work in every way, KOYAANISQATSI wordlessly surveys the rapidly changing environments of the Northern Hemisphere, in an astonishing collage created by director Godfrey Reggio, cinematographer Ron Fricke and composer Philip Glass.

Part of Music City Mondays and Staff Picks and programmed by Ellen, who says: “A KNIGHT’S TALE has always stood out in my mind as an instant classic. Not only is the dreamy Heath Ledger the protagonist, but every character is perfectly cast, the one-liners rattle around in your head and always solicit a giggle, and the soundtrack is banger after banger!”

“I'm gonna get you high today, 'cause it's Friday; you ain't got no job... and you ain't got s#!t to do.” After being fired on his day off, down-on-his-luck Craig Jones (Ice Cube) has to help his friend Smokey (Chris Tucker) figure out a way to pay back the brutal drug dealer whose weed they smoked. Screening in 35mm

Grace Glowicki writes, directs and gives a barkingly daring lead performance in this bizarre, performance art-coded, gender-bending lo-fi Frankenstein comedy about a lonely gravedigger who will do anything to build the perfect man. Preceded by a live opening set from U.S. Girls, who scored the film.

May the 4th be with you. Always. The Rebels scatter after the Empire attacks their base on the ice planet Hoth. Han Solo and Princess Leia are pursued by Imperials, while Luke trains with Jedi Master Yoda. But when Luke battles Darth Vader, he learns the shocking truth of his past. Iconic score from John Williams + May 4th = an otherworldly edition of Music City Mondays.