Aficionados of beat literature, indie film, or hawt man-on-man James Franco action are probably going to enjoy the 2010 quasi-documentary Howl. It stars Franco as poet Allen Ginsberg circa 1955, going down on Neal Cassady and going on trial for the obscenity in his landmark poem.

• James Franco as Ginsberg in 'Howl' with Aaron Tviet

Sometimes funny, sometimes moving and sometimes corny (especially the animated segments) — Howl feels like a tame if entertaining paean to the source material, especially compared to today's movie mores. [With Mad Men's excellent Jon Hamm, Mary Louise-Parker, and Jeff Daniels. Written and directed by Rob Epstein (The Times of Harvey Milk) and Jeffrey Friedman (The Celluloid Closet). Playing on Sunday, June 27, 7:30 p.m. for $25 as part of frameline34 the SF International LGBT Film Festival. Opens in theaters nationwide September 24.

• Jon Hamm in 'Howl' as Lawrence Ferlinghetti's defense attorney Jake Ehrlich