By Gregg Shapiro

Contributing writer

In theaters:

“Interview” (Sony Pictures Classics)—There are some gay movie fans sure to remember Steve Buscemi as Nick, a gay man living with AIDS, in the groundbreaking independent movie “Parting Glances.” He’s come a long way since then, appearing in both big budget Hollywood flicks and indie features.

Buscemi has also made a name for himself as a director, and in his latest, the extremely intimate “Interview,” he pays homage to the late Theo Van Gogh by crafting an American version of his film of the same name. Katya (Sienna Miller) is the kind of movie star who is as famous for her movies as for who she’s fucking. Pierre (Buscemi) is a political journalist who repeatedly pisses off his boss, so his punishment is the assignment to interview Katya. What develops is a power struggle, beginning in a restaurant and ending in Katya’s loft, between the pair. At times, it’s not clear who’s interviewing whom, but of course, that’s all part of the story. Not an especially flattering portrait of journalists or actresses, or people for that matter—the claustrophobia of the piece verges on becoming overwhelming on occasion—but at less than 90 minutes, relief is in sight.

“Sicko” (Lionsgate/Weinstein Company)—Oscar-winning documentary maker Michael Moore has a flair for the obvious. In “Fahrenheit 911,” he presented his compelling case and simply confirmed what many were thinking on a range of subjects regarding the war in Iraq and the events leading up to it, including the Bush’s connection to the Bin Laden family.

In “Sicko,” Moore takes a similar approach, even down to finding to a way to pin the failing American health care system on George W. Bush and his crooked cronies who have allowed both the pharmaceutical and insurance industries, as well as the American Medical Association, to call the shots in the name of financial gain. Of course, the wheels were set in motion long before Bush came to power, when another Republican, the equally repugnant Richard Nixon used the insidious Edgar Kaiser’s medical care program as a model for his national health care system, resulting in the birth of the HMO. The equation—less and less care equals more money for the companies—is still in place today. Ultimately, what makes “Sicko” so effective are the human faces Moore puts on screen. Those include American ex-pats living in France, where health care is provided at no cost, our Canadian neighbors (some of whom are assisting Americans in need of health care) singing the praises of their national health care system and some of the 50 million Americans without health insurance, doing what they can to get help before becoming one of the 18,000 a year who die because they can’t afford to pay for health care. And while Moore’s trip to Cuba with some of the sick might seem extreme, it gets the point across loud and clear.

Limited runs:

Mira Nair’s 2006 film adaptation of Jhumpa Lahiri’s acclaimed novel “The Namesake” is being screened at two different venues July 18—at 7:30 p.m. at the Beverly Arts Center, 2407 W. 111th (call (773) 445-3838 and at 9 p.m. on the east lawn of Norris University Center, 1999 Campus Drive, on Northwestern’s Evanston campus.

Bill Pullman, Patricia Arquette and a creepier than usual Robert Blake star in “Lost Highway,” the second collaboration between David Lynch and pulp-noir novelist Barry Gifford, shown as part of the David Lynch film festival at the Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N. State, July 20, 8:30 p.m., and July 23, 6 p.m.

The Michelangelo Antonioni film festival continues at the Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N. State, with screenings of his films, including “Il Grido” (from 1957) on July 21 and 24, “Blowup” (from 1966) on July 21, “Identification of a Woman” (from 1982) on July 22.

Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport, welcomes openly gay actor Farley Granger, star of Hollywood, Broadway and television, July 22 for a live onstage interview and to introduce screenings of the two Alfred Hitchcock classics he starred in—“Rope” and “Strangers on a Train.” Call (773) 871 6604.

David Lynch’s 1985 cult classic “Dune,” starring Kyle McLachlan, Sean Young and Sting, is shown July 22 at 3 p.m. and July 25 at 6 p.m.

Join “Sound Opinions” hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot for an exclusive preview screening of the Roky Erickson documentary, “You’re Gonna Miss Me” July 24th at 7:30 p.m. at the Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport, with director Keven McAlester available for a Q&A with the audience following the movie screening.