Dayton937

Things to do in Dayton | Restaurants, Theatre, Music and More

Jonathan McNeal

NEON News: MORE OSCAR SHORTS

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Audiences have loved CYRANO as well as the OSCAR NOMINATED SHORTS: LIVE ACTION, and both will stick around. If you still need to see THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD, a film that a few of our regulars have considered to be the best film of 2021, you only have a couple more chances.

This Friday, we’re opening 5 more Oscar contenders…THE OSCAR NOMINATED SHORTS: ANIMATION. As always, this collection is quite a mix of styles and subjects, but in the past, we’ve had some attendees bring children to this program. This year is different…this collection of shorts contains a lot of adult content (essentially a hard R), and children will not be permitted. Next week, we’ll sprinkle in some screenings of the nominated DOCUMENTARY SHORTS.
Over the past week, I’ve been communicating with Julia Reichert about Part 2 of her Retrospective – JULIA REICHERT: 50 YEARS IN FILM. Right now, we’re looking at Wednesdays in April, and we plan to get all of those details secured next week. Stay tuned!
As national protocols regarding COVID safety are altered across the country, THE NEON’s Board realizes that a shift in our policies will eventually need to happen. Every day, we have to turn away potential customers who weren’t aware of our protocols…and conversely, every day we have customers thank us for our strict policies. The Board is not taking this next step lightly, and we understand that we’ll never be able to make everyone happy. That said, until decisions are made, our current COVID protocols will remain in effect.
NEW IN-PERSON ENGAGEMENTS:
Synopsis for OSCAR NOMINATED SHORTS: ANIMATION: This year’s program of animated shorts features five award-winning shorts that range in style, subject, and nationality. (Please note, this year’s selection is not suitable for children!) Nominees included ROBIN ROBIN (UK, 32 min), BOXBALLET (Russia, 15 min.), AFFAIRS OF THE ART (UK/Canada, 16 min.), BESTIA (Chile, 15 min), and THE WINDSHIELD WIPER (USA/Spain, 14 min). Click the image below to watch a trailer for this year’s Oscar Nominated Shorts.
UPCOMING SPECIAL EVENTS:

TOMORROW NIGHT! “K. Carter, with film creator Jeremy Tkach, give a glimpse into the progress of a man’s passions in a city thriving after chaos. This documentary shines a light on the process of a native Dayton talent pursuing his passions: music and his community. After devastating tornadoes, a mass shooting, and in the midst of a global pandemic, K. Carter continues to work on his music and plan a music festival for a small urban city. Viewers will see the teams behind Carter’s endeavors and the words of those who look up to him. His journey to making an album not only spans across time but across state lines, while planning a festival has its own challenges. See the connections made and the leaps bound to bring something special to Dayton, Ohio.” Join us on Thursday, March 3 at 7:30 for the World Premiere of SON OF HIP HOP: A RAPUMENTARY – followed by a Q&A with K. Carter and Jeremy Tkach! Tickets only available at this

We’ve booked 2 special screenings of The West End’s ANYTHING GOES – set for March 27 & 30, and tickets are already on sale! What I’m even more excited about is that WSU’s Joe Deer, who was in the 1987 Broadway revival of ANYTHING GOES and has directed productions of this show several times, will introduce the screening on Wednesday, March 30. This is a filmed version of last summer’s West End production starring the luminous Tony-winning Sutton Foster. Don’t miss this Cole Porter treat on the big screen! Tickets are $12.50 and available now at our box office or on-line! More details can be found on our website. Click the image below to watch a trailer.
TICKETS ARE FLYING! We’ve booked a special event for Thursday, April 21 at 6:30. Many of you are familiar with THE DISASTER ARTIST – the story & film about the making of what is regarded as “the greatest bad movie ever made” – the cult hit THE ROOM. On April 21, we will screen THE ROOM along with special guest actor & author Greg Sestero (he co-starred in THE ROOM and wrote the book THE DISASTER ARTIST). Greg will host a Q&A, we’ll screen THE ROOM, and then you will have an opportunity for a meet & greet. Tickets are $20 each and are already on sale!
On Sunday, March 27, you’re invited to our FREE Academy Awards Screening Party. Doors will open at 7pm and the official broadcast of the ceremony will begin at 8pm…though seating will be limited. That said, you can reserve your spot in advance by coming to THE NEON starting on Saturday, March 26 at Noon. (Only two reserved seats per person. i.e. If you have a party of 6 who want to sit together, 3 of you need to come and claim your seats.) More details and official party ballots (so you can play along and win great prizes) are available now at our Box Office!

What’s On Screen at The Neon

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Neon Movies on Fifth Street

This Friday, we’re bringing the film that Paul Thomas Anderson (writer and director of LICORICE PIZZA) calls “The best movie in the world” – Joachim Trier’s THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD…nominated for 2 Academy Awards. We’re also bringing back DRIVE MY CAR for 3 encore screenings due to high demand after it was nominated for 4 Academy Awards including “Best Picture.” And because our return engagement of BELFAST was met with so much enthusiasm this past weekend, it will stick around for another week. LICORICE PIZZA will stay for 1 more week, but if you need to see THE POWER OF THE DOG or THE LOST DAUGHTER, you only have a couple more chances. And don’t forget that we’ ll begin our engagement of Joe Wright’s CYRANO(starring Peter Dinklage) next Thursday, Feb. 24 (tickets are already on sale). If you need more details about any of these titles, please visit our official site – www.neonmovies.com

NEW IN-PERSON ENGAGEMENTS:
Synopsis for THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD: “Director Joachim Trier returns with another modern twist on a classically constructed character portrait of contemporary life in Oslo. Chronicling four years in the life of Julie, THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD examines one woman’s quest for love and meaning in the modern world. Fluidly told in twelve chapters, the film features a breakout performance by Cannes Best Actress winner Renate Reinsve as she explores new professional avenues and embarks on relationships with two very different men (Anders Danielsen Lie and Herbert Nordrum) in her search for happiness and identity.” (Neon Releasing) Click the image below to watch the film’s trailer. This film has been nominated for “Best Screenplay” and “Best International Film.”
CONTINUING IN OUR VIRTUAL CINEMA
To read more about the few films that are still available, please visit our WEBSITE. Here’s a LINK with a video I made about how Virtual Cinema works. Our Virtual Cinema is in its last days (at least for now), but you still have a chance to check out a couple titles from home.
UPCOMING SPECIAL EVENT:
“K. Carter, with film creator Jeremy Tkach, give a glimpse into the progress of a man’s passions in a city thriving after chaos. This documentary shines a light on the process of a native Dayton talent pursuing his passions: music and his community. After devastating tornadoes, a mass shooting, and in the midst of a global pandemic, K. Carter continues to work on his music and plan a music festival for a small urban city. Viewers will see the teams behind Carter’s endeavors and the words of those who look up to him. His journey to making an album not only spans across time but across state lines, while planning a festival has its own challenges. See the connections made and the leaps bound to bring something special to Dayton, Ohio.” Join us on Thursday, March 3 at 7:30 for the World Premiere of SON OF HIP HOP: A RAPUMENTARY – followed by a Q&A with K. Carter and Jeremy Tkach! Tickets only available at this LINK.
We’ve booked 2 special screenings of The West End’s ANYTHING GOES – set for March 27 & 30, and tickets are already on sale! What I’m even more excited about is that WSU’s Joe Deer, who was in the 1987 Broadway revival of ANYTHING GOES and has directed productions of this show several times, will introduce the screening on Wednesday, March 30. This is a filmed version of last summer’s West End production starring the luminous Tony-winning Sutton Foster. Don’t miss this Cole Porter treat on the big screen! Tickets are $12.50 and available now at our box office or on-line! More details can be found on our website. Click the image below to watch a trailer.
You’re hearing about this first! We’ve just booked a special event for Thursday, April 21. Many of you are familiar with THE DISASTER ARTIST – the story & film about the making of what is regarded as one of the worst movies of all time – the cult hit THE ROOM. On April 21, we will screen THE ROOM along with special guest actor & author Greg Sestero (he co-starred in THE ROOM and wrote the book THE DISASTER ARTIST). Mark your calendars now…you’ll be the first to get ticketing details in next week’s newsletter.
Details for this year’s screening party of the March 27 Academy Awards (always a FREE Event for NEON fans) will be revealed soon!

We’re delighted to be the sponsor for a wonderful program on WDPR Discover Classical – THE SCORE – “a celebration of symphonic music in film.” You can listen to this program on Sunday’s at 5pm on 88.1FM or via WDPR’s official site. To read more THE SCORE and the focus of each week’s program, visit this official

POWER OF THE DOG, LOST DAUGHTER, BELFAST & More at The Neon

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On Monday, while making predictions and confirming our engagements of THE POWER OF THE DOG and THE LOST DAUGHTER, we decided to throw in a handful of screenings of BELFAST. I’m glad we did. Our slate for this weekend is golden. (I’ll go into more details with each synopsis.) In addition to those 3 films arriving on Friday, you’ll still have chances to see LICORICE PIZZA (nominated for 3 Academy Awards including “Best Picture”) and PARALLEL MOTHERS (nominated for 2 Oscars including “Best Actress”). If you still need to see WHO WE ARE: A CHRONICLE OF RACISM IN AMERICA, Thursday will be your last chance to see it at THE NEON.

This Sunday, February 13, we will have our first ever FREE POPCORN DAY! Whether you’re just passing by or joining us for a movie, any beverage purchase starting at Noon until closing on Feb. 13 will get you a FREE SMALL POPCORN (one free popcorn per customer). You can stop by and grab a beer “to go” before you kick-off your pregame at home…or grab a soda for your screening of THE POWER OF THE DOG – either way, the popcorn will be on us!
Please pay close attention to this week’s schedule. Some movies are only screening a handful of times, so I’ve moved them all around in order to get a mix of matinee and evening times throughout the week.
More nominees are on the way! THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD (nominated for “Best International Film” and “Best Original Screenplay”) opens next Friday. CYRANO and many of the OSCAR NOMINATED SHORT FILMS will open on Feb. 25. Other surprises are also in store. (FYI – Tickets for opening weekend of CYRANO are slated to go on sale this Friday morning!)
NEW IN-PERSON ENGAGEMENTS:
Synopsis for THE POWER OF THE DOG: Nominated for 12 Academy Awards including “Best Picture” and “Best Director” (Jane Campion is the first woman to ever be nominated twice for this award – how is that possible?). “A domineering rancher responds with mocking cruelty when his brother brings home a new wife and her son, until the unexpected comes to pass.” Starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemons, and Kodi Smit-McPhee – all nominated for their performances! Click the image below to watch the film’s trailer.
Synopsis for THE LOST DAUGHTER: Nominated for 3 Academy Awards including “Best Actress” for Olivia Colman. In the feature directorial debut from Maggie Gyllenhaal, Colman gives a strong and unsettling performance – one that has been winning awards around the world. “A college professor confronts her unsettling past after meeting a woman and her young daughter while on vacation in Italy. Her obsession with the woman and her daughter prompts memories of her early motherhood.” Click the image below to watch the film’s trailer. Gyllenhaal was nominated for her “Adapted Screenplay” for this film!
Synopsis for BELFAST: We had a feeling that nominations might renew interest in this gem…so we re-booked it without knowing it would garner 7 Academy Awards nominations including “Best Picture” (and a surprise nomination for the much-loved Judi Dench). We’ll have BELFAST for 5 special screenings starting Friday, Feb. 11. Director Kenneth Branagh’s “semi-autobiographical film which chronicles the life of a working class family and their young son’s childhood during the tumult of the late 1960s in the Northern Ireland capital.” (Focus Features) With Jamie Dornan, Caitriona Balfe, Judi Dench and Ciaran Hinds…and introducing Jude Hill. Click on the image below to watch the film’s trailer.
CONTINUING IN OUR VIRTUAL CINEMA
To read more about the few films that are still available, please visit our WEBSITE. Here’s a LINK with a video I made about how Virtual Cinema works. Our Virtual Cinema is in its last days (at least for now), but you still have a chance to check out a couple titles from home.
UPCOMING SPECIAL EVENT:
“K. Carter, with film creator Jeremy Tkach, give a glimpse into the progress of a man’s passions in a city thriving after chaos. This documentary shines a light on the process of a native Dayton talent pursuing his passions: music and his community. After devastating tornadoes, a mass shooting, and in the midst of a global pandemic, K. Carter continues to work on his music and plan a music festival for a small urban city. Viewers will see the teams behind Carter’s endeavors and the words of those who look up to him. His journey to making an album not only spans across time but across state lines, while planning a festival has its own challenges. See the connections made and the leaps bound to bring something special to Dayton, Ohio.” Join us on Thursday, March 3 at 7:30 for the World Premiere of SON OF HIP HOP: A RAPUMENTARY – followed by a Q&A with K. Carter and Jeremy Tkach! Tickets only available at this LINK.
We’re set for 2 special screenings of The West End’s ANYTHING GOES – set for March 27 & 30, and tickets are already on sale! What I’m even more excited about is that WSU’s Joe Deer, who was in the 1987 Broadway revival of ANYTHING GOES and has directed productions of this show several times, will introduce the screening on Wednesday, March 30. This is a filmed version of last summer’s West End production starring the luminous Sutton Foster. Don’t miss this Cole Porter treat on the big screen! Tickets are $12.50 and available now at our box office or on-line! More details can be found on our website. Click the image below to watch a trailer.
Details for this year’s screening party of the Academy Awards (set for March 27)…always a FREE Event for NEON fans…will be revealed soon!

WHO WE ARE Opens Friday at The Neon

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On Friday, we will open one of the most powerful documentaries I have seen in a long time – WHO WE ARE: A CHRONICLE OF RACISM IN AMERICA. I think this film should be part of a national curriculum, and I hope you’ll help me spread the word about this important engagement. LICORICE PIZZA continues to be our biggest draw – so it will stick around. PARALLEL MOTHERS will hold for a second week, and DRIVE MY CAR is coming back for three more encore screenings this weekend.

Academy Award nominations are coming out on Feb. 8, and we’re pretty sure we know a couple contenders coming down the pike that haven’t screened at THE NEON. So starting next Friday, you’ll have a chance to see Jane Campion’s THE POWER OF THE DOG(starring Benedict Cumberbatch) and Maggie Gyllenhaal’s feature directorial debut THE LOST DAUGHTER (starring Olivia Coleman) on our big screen.

On Sunday, February 13, we will have our first ever FREE POPCORN DAY! Whether you’re just passing by or joining us for a movie, any beverage purchase starting at Noon until closing on Feb. 13 will get you a FREE SMALL POPCORN (one free popcorn per customer). You can stop by and grab a beer “to go” before you kick-off your pregame at home…or grab a soda for your screening of THE POWER OF THE DOG – either way, the popcorn will be on us!

NEW IN-PERSON ENGAGEMENTS:
Synopsis for WHO WE ARE: A CHRONICLE OF RACISM IN AMERICA: Rated “100% Fresh” on rottentomatoes and the winner of numerous awards at film festivals across the country, this film is a Must-See! “Interweaving lecture, personal anecdotes, interviews, and shocking revelations, in WHO WE ARE: A CHRONICLE OF RACISM IN AMERICA, criminal defense/civil rights lawyer Jeffery Robinson draws a stark timeline of anti-Black racism in the United States, from slavery to the modern myth of a post-racial America.” (Sony Classics) Robert Daniels of THE LOS ANGELES TIMES wrote, “Through Robinson’s fervor for truth, Emily and Sarah Kunstler’s WHO WE ARE chronicles how such heartaches, when observed on a personal level, remind us how knowing the unchangeable past can still improve the alterable future for the better.” Click the image below to watch the film’s trailer.
CONTINUING IN OUR VIRTUAL CINEMA
To read more about the few films that are still available, please visit our WEBSITE. Here’s a LINK with a video I made about how Virtual Cinema works. Our Virtual Cinema is in its last days (at least for now), but you still have a chance to check out a couple titles from home.
UPCOMING SPECIAL EVENT:
We’re set for 2 special screenings of The West End’s ANYTHING GOES – set for March 27 & 30, and tickets are already on sale! What I’m even more excited about is that WSU’s Joe Deer, who was in the 1987 Broadway revival of ANYTHING GOES and has directed productions of this show several times, will introduce the screening on Wednesday, March 30. This is a filmed version of last summer’s West End production starring the luminous Sutton Foster. Don’t miss this Cole Porter treat on the big screen! Tickets are $12.50 and available now at our box office or on-line! More details can be found on our website. Click the image below to watch a trailer.
THE NEON wants to keep our Staff and Patrons safe! Our Board of Directors has sought advisement from Combined Health Dayton & Montgomery County and the Center for Disease Control…we’re also looking at other arthouse cinemas in major markets across the country. We have recently made one minor change to our policy. Masks are now required for all guests age 2 and higher until further notice.  All patrons aged 12 and over will be required to present proof of vaccination with a photo ID or a negative COVID-19 test from the last 72 hours. (Self-reported vaccination records not verified by a third party health care provider are not acceptable. Test results must include name, test result, and a timestamp within the past 72 hours.) We will continue to monitor the community’s health data and amend our policies based on guidance.
Please stay tuned to THE NEON’s website for the latest updates. A couple helpful hints!! Take a single picture of your photo ID and your vaccination card in the same shot. You’ll be able to flash this photo at our box office, and that will work as proof enough for us. If you have a smart phone, you could also download the app that most folks in NYC are using to get into movies, Broadway shows and restaurants – NYCCOVIDSAFE. This app will have you take a photo of your ID and your vaccine card – and it saves you from having to hunt for a photo on your phone. I downloaded it, and it’s very easy to use.
Please remember – We ask that you arrive before showtime to allow for checking everyone in before the auditorium gets dark!

Almodovar’s PARALLEL MOTHERS and Stunning Refugee Doc FLEE at The Neon

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Two films are rolling in and two films are rolling out! If you still need to see THE VELVET QUEEN or RED ROCKET, Thursday will be your last chance to catch them at THE NEON. On Friday, we will open Almodóvar’s new film with Penelope Cruz – PARALLEL MOTHERS (one of my absolute favorites of 2021). In addition, we’ll bring the very special animated doc FLEE for three screenings this weekend! LICORICE PIZZA is sticking around for another week, and because DRIVE MY CAR saw a nice uptick over the weekend, we’ll bring it back for three more shows starting Friday.

On February 4, we will open one of the most powerful documentaries I have seen in a long time – WHO WE ARE: A CHRONICLE OF RACISM IN AMERICA. I think this film should be part of a national curriculum. I hope you’ll help me spread the word about this doc that needs a groundswell of support to gain traction. Here’s a LINK to the trailer.
As most of you know, we closed our doors for 3+ months in 2020 due to the COVID pandemic. We reopened with strict protocols in late June that year and have only closed our doors again when we installed new projectors last Fall. It’s been a challenging ride for numerous reasons…but you’ve stuck with us, and we appreciate your support so much. We’ve had a few successes along the way – NOMADLAND, SUMMER OF SOUL, and THE FRENCH DISPATCH have been the highlights – and now LICORICE PIZZA has become our highest grossing film since we reopened our doors in June 2020. Thank you!
NEW IN-PERSON ENGAGEMENTS:
Synopsis for PARALLEL MOTHERS: “Don’t miss Pedro Almodóvar’s gorgeous new film on the big screen! “Two women, Janis and Ana, coincide in a hospital room where they are going to give birth. Both are single and became pregnant by accident. Janis, middle-aged, doesn’t regret it and she is exultant. The other, Ana, an adolescent, is scared, repentant and traumatized. Janis tries to encourage her while they move like sleepwalkers along the hospital corridors. The few words they exchange in these hours will create a very close link between the two, which by chance develops and complicates, and changes their lives in a decisive way.” (Sony Classics) EMPIRE writes, “Almodóvar juggles comedy and drama to terrifically entertaining ends, aided by a tip-top Penélope Cruz. It’s hard to think of a more exciting actor-director partnership working today.” Click the image below to watch the film’s trailer.
Synopsis for FLEE: Rated “98% Fresh” – “FLEE tells the story of Amin Nawabi as he grapples with a painful secret he has kept hidden for 20 years, one that threatens to derail the life he has built for himself and his soon to be husband. Recounted mostly through animation to director Jonas Poher Rasmussen, he tells for the first time the story of his extraordinary journey as a child refugee from Afghanistan.” (Neon Releasing) Don’t miss this gorgeous documentary that is certain to be an Academy Award contender this year! ABC News says, “The year’s most inventive animated adventure mixes graphic design with documentary realism and puts hallucinatory brilliance at the service of understanding the continuing psychic damage of war. You’ll never forget it.” Click the image below to watch the film’s trailer.
CONTINUING IN OUR VIRTUAL CINEMA
To read more about all the films that are still available, please visit our WEBSITE. Here’s a LINK with a video I made about how Virtual Cinema works. Our Virtual Cinema is slowing down, but we still want to bring new films now and again that deserve to be seen that you can enjoy from home! As a reminder, THE LAST PICTURE SHOW and A RAISIN IN THE SUN are only available until January 31!
UPCOMING SPECIAL EVENT:
Last week, I let you know about special screenings of ANYTHING GOES – set for March 27 & 30. Tickets are already on sale! What I’m even more excited about is that WSU’s Joe Deer, who was in the 1987 Broadway revival of ANYTHING GOES and has directed productions of this show several times, will introduce the screening on Wednesday, March 30. This is a filmed version of last summer’s West End production starring the luminous Sutton Foster. Don’t miss this Cole Porter treat on the big screen! Tickets are $12.50 available now at our box office or on-line! More details can be found on our website. Click the image below to watch a trailer.
THE NEON wants to keep our Staff and Patrons safe! Our Board of Directors has sought advisement from Combined Health Dayton & Montgomery County and the Center for Disease Control…we’re also looking at other arthouse cinemas in major markets across the country. We have recently made one minor change to our policy. Masks are now required for all guests age 2 and higher until further notice.  All patrons aged 12 and over will be required to present proof of vaccination with a photo ID or a negative COVID-19 test from the last 72 hours. (Self-reported vaccination records not verified by a third party health care provider are not acceptable. Test results must include name, test result, and a timestamp within the past 72 hours.) We will continue to monitor the community’s health data and amend our policies based on guidance. Please stay tuned to THE NEON’s website for the latest updates. A couple helpful hints!! Take a single picture of your photo ID and your vaccination card in the same shot. You’ll be able to flash this photo at our box office, and that will work as proof enough for us. If you have a smart phone, you could also download the app that most folks in NYC are using to get into movies, Broadway shows and restaurants – NYCCOVIDSAFE. This app will have you take a photo of your ID and your vaccine card – and it saves you from having to hunt for a photo on your phone. I downloaded it, and it’s very easy to use.
Please remember – We ask that you arrive before showtime to allow for checking everyone in before the auditorium gets dark!
Thank you for all of your continued support through these challenging times!
We hope to see you soon,
Jonathan

Neon Newsflash: RED ROCKET and THE VELVET QUEEN!

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This Friday, we’re bringing two new films to town. The mesmerizing documentary THE VELVET QUEEN and the boisterous and critically acclaimed RED ROCKET. Both of these films might only play for a week…so hurry down. LICORICE PIZZA will stick around for another week, and DRIVE MY CAR will stick around for one show per day over the weekend. If you still need to see THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH on the big screen, Thursday will be your last chance at THE NEON.

Several distributors are moving dates around this season, so we will likely be filling the early weeks of February with some critically lauded titles from earlier in the Awards Season that deserve to be seen on the big screen – like THE POWER OF THE DOG and THE LOST DAUGHTER. I’ll keep you posted. That said, we’re still on track to open two incredible new films next Friday (both of which will likely garner Academy Award nominations) – Almodovar’s PARALLEL MOTHERS and the animated documentary FLEE.
One special event that I know many of you will be excited about is now set for March 27 & 30 – 2 special screenings of ANYTHING GOES – a filmed version of last summer’s West End production starring the luminous Sutton Foster. This Cole Porter treasure is a treat! Tickets are available now! More details can be found on our website.
NEW IN-PERSON ENGAGEMENT:
Synopsis for THE VELVET QUEEN: “In the heart of the Tibetan highlands, multi-award-winning nature photographer Vincent Munier guides writer Sylvain Tesson on his quest to document the infamously elusive snow leopard. Munier introduces Tesson to the subtle art of waiting from a blind spot, tracking animals, and finding the patience to catch sight of the beasts. Through their journey in the Tibetan peaks, inhabited by invisible presences, the two men ponder humankind’s place amongst the magnificent creatures and glorious landscapes they encounter along the way.” (Oscilloscope) Click the image below to watch the film’s trailer.
Synopsis for RED ROCKET: “The audacious new film from writer-director Sean Baker (THE FLORIDA PROJECT and TANGERINE), starring Simon Rex in a magnetic, live-wire performance, RED ROCKET is a darkly funny and humane portrait of a uniquely American hustler and a hometown that barely tolerates him.” (A24) The Chicago Tribune says this film is “Raunchy, restless, cinematically vital…” Click the image below to watch the film’s trailer.
CONTINUING IN OUR VIRTUAL CINEMA
To read more about all the films that are still available, please visit our WEBSITE. Here’s a LINK with a video I made about how Virtual Cinema works. Our Virtual Cinema is slowing down, but we still want to bring new films now and again that deserve to be seen that you can enjoy from home! As a reminder, THE LAST PICTURE SHOW and A RAISIN IN THE SUN are only available until January 31!
UPCOMING SPECIAL EVENT
January 20th  – A DREAM TO SERVE THROUGH EDUCATION is a new short documentary that is being presented by the founder of The Dayton School. “The Dayton School (TDS) is an up and coming revolutionary educational experience for students, families, and the surrounding community. The school will specifically service Dayton students, however, through after school programming and community partners we plan to offer educational experiences for TDS families and the community. This documentary outlines a story of a young woman’s journey of resilience through poverty to educational success. Follow her on this voyage as she transforms humbling life lessons and early teaching experiences into passion and commitment to create rewarding education environments for all Dayton families. Witness her unflagging support for the Dayton community as a dedicated educator inside and outside of the classroom. It is the belief of The Dayton School that every child, regardless of zip code, economic status, or culture, deserves a free holistic project based style education that transcends beyond high school. The Dayton School has a mission to improve access, opportunity, and resources for students through multiple exemplary education pathways. This short 30 minute documentary can be viewed for $10 on Thursday January 20th at 7:30pm at THE NEON. After viewing the film The Dayton School’s board, and/or film participants will be available for questions, comments, and discussion. Tickets are available at THE NEON’s Box Office or via this LINK. For more information regarding The Dayton School, including ways in which you can support prior to viewing, please visit Daytonschoolohio.org.” (taken from press notes)
THE NEON wants to keep our Staff and Patrons safe! Our Board of Directors has sought advisement from Combined Health Dayton & Montgomery County and the Center for Disease Control…we’re also looking at other arthouse cinemas in major markets across the country. We have recently made one minor change to our policy. Masks are now required for all guests age 2 and higher until further notice.  All patrons aged 12 and over will be required to present proof of vaccination with a photo ID or a negative COVID-19 test from the last 72 hours. (Self-reported vaccination records not verified by a third party health care provider are not acceptable. Test results must include name, test result, and a timestamp within the past 72 hours.) We will continue to monitor the community’s health data and amend our policies based on guidance. Please stay tuned to THE NEON’s website for the latest updates. A couple helpful hints!! Take a single picture of your photo ID and your vaccination card in the same shot. You’ll be able to flash this photo at our box office, and that will work as proof enough for us. If you have a smart phone, you could also download the app that most folks in NYC are using to get into movies, Broadway shows and restaurants – NYCCOVIDSAFE. This app will have you take a photo of your ID and your vaccine card – and it saves you from having to hunt for a photo on your phone. I downloaded it, and it’s very easy to use.
Please remember – We ask that you arrive before showtime to allow for checking everyone in before the auditorium gets dark!
Thank you for all of your continued support through these challenging times!
We hope to see you soon,
Jonathan

NEON NEWSFLASH: Award Winning DRIVE MY CAR Opens Friday!

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This Friday, we will open one of the most acclaimed & awarded films of 2021 – DRIVE MY CAR. This Japanese drama is quite likely to be a big contender at this year’s Academy Awards…so don’t miss it on the big screen – it may only be here for a week! LICORICE PIZZA will stick around for another week on a full schedule, and THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH will be here for one show per day until January 20.
In the next few weeks, we have some really wonderful films. PARALLEL MOTHERS(fantastic new film from Almodovar with a powerful central performance from Penelope Cruz), FLEE (an animated documentary that will likely garner at least 2 Oscar nominations), and THE VELVET QUEEN (a mesmerizing nature doc set in the Tibetan highlands). We hope to see you often.
During the entire pandemic, we have not raised our ticket prices…even though cost of goods have been rising across the board for months and months. Unfortunately, we have to make a change. Tickets will be going up 50 cents starting this Friday, and we will be exploring our concession prices in the coming days, too. Our prices will still be far below the multiplexes in town, and we hope you can understand the need for this change.
NEW IN-PERSON ENGAGEMENT:
Synopsis for DRIVE MY CAR: Winner of multiple awards around the world including the National Society of Film Critics’ “Best Picture” and “Best Director” prizes. “Two years after his wife’s unexpected death, Yusuke Kafuku (Hidetoshi Nishijima), a renowned stage actor and director, receives an offer to direct a production of Uncle Vanya at a theater festival in Hiroshima. There, he meets Misaki Watari (Toko Miura), a taciturn young woman assigned by the festival to chauffeur him in his beloved red Saab 900. As the production’s premiere approaches, tensions mount amongst the cast and crew, not least between Yusuke and Koji Takatsuki, a handsome TV star who shares an unwelcome connection to Yusuke’s late wife. Forced to confront painful truths raised from his past, Yusuke begins – with the help of his driver – to face the haunting mysteries his wife left behind. Adapted from Haruki Murakami’s short story, Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s DRIVE MY CAR is a haunting road movie traveling a path of love, loss, acceptance, and peace.” (Janus Films) Click the image below to watch the film’s trailer.
CONTINUING IN OUR VIRTUAL CINEMA
We added two classics to our Virtual Cinema over the weekend (available until Jan. 31), and we still have a handful of contemporary titles available. To read more about all the films that are still available, please visit our WEBSITE. Here’s a LINK with a video I made about how Virtual Cinema works. Our Virtual Cinema is slowing down, but we still want to bring new films now and again that deserve to be seen that you can enjoy from home! More titles are on the way…stay tuned!
In memory of the late, great Peter Bogdanovich – who passed away last week – we have secured the rights to his classic American film THE LAST PICTURE SHOW. Also known for directing other great films such as PAPER MOON, WHAT’S UP DOC? and MASK, THE LAST PICTURE SHOW was the movie that put Bogdanovich on the map. “Released in 1971 to critical acclaim and public controversy, THE LAST PICTURE SHOW garnered eight Academy Award nominations and was hailed as the most important work by a young American director since CITIZEN KANE. A surprisingly frank, bittersweet drama of social and sexual mores in small-town Texas, the film features a talent-laden cast led by Jeff Bridges (THE BIG LEBOWSKI), Cybill Sheperd (TV’s MOONLIGHTING) and Timothy Bottoms (THE PAPER CHASE). Cloris Leachman (TV’s THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW) and Ben Johnson (THE WILD BUNCH) each won Oscars for their work in supporting roles.” (Sony) Click on the image below to watch the trailer and rent the film. This film can be viewed on your computer or mobile device or via your TV with Apple TV or Roku (via the Eventive app). Once you unlock the film for $10, you’ll have 24 hours to finish watching it. Additional instructions can be found on Eventive’s Help Page.
In memory of the incomparable Sidney Poitier – who passed away last week – we have secured the rights to A RAISIN IN THE SUN – the screen adaptation of the award-winning play. Also known for great performances in films like IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT, THEY CALL ME MR. TIBBS!, GUESS WHO’S COMING TO DINNER?, LILLIES OF THE FIELD (for which he won an Oscar) and so many more, A RAISIN IN THE SUN saw him performing alongside Ruby Dee and Claudia McNeil. “A RAISIN IN THE SUN is a groundbreaking drama celebrating the human spirit, featuring an electrifying performance by Sidney Poitier. The Younger family, frustrated with living in their crowded Chicago apartment, sees the arrival of a $10,000 insurance check as the answer to their prayers. Matriarch Lena Younger promptly puts a down payment on a house in an all-white suburban neighborhood. But the family is divided when Lena entrusts the balance of the money to her mercurial son Walter Lee, against the wishes of her daughter and daughter-in-law. It takes the strength and integrity of this African-American family to battle against generations of prejudice to try to achieve their piece of the American Dream.” (Sony) Click on the image below to watch the trailer and rent the film. This film can be viewed on your computer or mobile device or via your TV with Apple TV or Roku (via the Eventive app). Once you unlock the film for $10, you’ll have 24 hours to finish watching it. Additional instructions can be found on Eventive’s Help Page.
UPCOMING SPECIAL EVENT
A DREAM TO SERVE THROUGH EDUCATION is a new short documentary that is being presented by the founder of The Dayton School. “The Dayton School (TDS) is an up and coming revolutionary educational experience for students, families, and the surrounding community. The school will specifically service Dayton students, however, through after school programming and community partners we plan to offer educational experiences for TDS families and the community. This documentary outlines a story of a young woman’s journey of resilience through poverty to educational success. Follow her on this voyage as she transforms humbling life lessons and early teaching experiences into passion and commitment to create rewarding education environments for all Dayton families. Witness her unflagging support for the Dayton community as a dedicated educator inside and outside of the classroom. It is the belief of The Dayton School that every child, regardless of zip code, economic status, or culture, deserves a free holistic project based style education that transcends beyond high school. The Dayton School has a mission to improve access, opportunity, and resources for students through multiple exemplary education pathways. This short 30 minute documentary can be viewed for $10 on Thursday January 20th at 7:30pm at THE NEON. After viewing the film The Dayton School’s board, and/or film participants will be available for questions, comments, and discussion. Tickets are available at THE NEON’s Box Office or via this LINK. For more information regarding The Dayton School, including ways in which you can support prior to viewing, please visit Daytonschoolohio.org.” (taken from press notes)
THE NEON wants to keep our Staff and Patrons safe! Our Board of Directors has sought advisement from Combined Health Dayton & Montgomery County and the Center for Disease Control…we’re also looking at other arthouse cinemas in major markets across the country. We have recently made one minor change to our policy. Masks are now required for all guests age 2 and higher until further notice.  All patrons aged 12 and over will be required to present proof of vaccination with a photo ID or a negative COVID-19 test from the last 72 hours. (Self-reported vaccination records not verified by a third party health care provider are not acceptable. Test results must include name, test result, and a timestamp within the past 72 hours.) We will continue to monitor the community’s health data and amend our policies based on guidance. Please stay tuned to THE NEON’s website for the latest updates. A couple helpful hints!! Take a single picture of your photo ID and your vaccination card in the same shot. You’ll be able to flash this photo at our box office, and that will work as proof enough for us. If you have a smart phone, you could also download the app that most folks in NYC are using to get into movies, Broadway shows and restaurants – NYCCOVIDSAFE. This app will have you take a photo of your ID and your vaccine card – and it saves you from having to hunt for a photo on your phone. I downloaded it, and it’s very easy to use.
Please remember – We ask that you arrive before showtime to allow for checking everyone in before the auditorium gets dark!
Thank you for all of your continued support through these challenging times!
We hope to see you soon,
Jonathan

Neon News: Denzel & Frances in Joel Coen’s TRAGEDY OF MACBETH

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LICORICE PIZZA was just what we needed for the holidays…an exclusive engagement of a big Oscar contender that would bring people to the cinema! Our audiences have been loving it, and it will stick around.

Starting this Friday, we’ll have another exclusive of a big award season contender – THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH! If you still need to see NIGHTMARE ALLEY, Friday afternoon will be your last chance.

Synopsis for THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH: Opens Dec. 31! “Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand star in Joel Coen’s bold and fierce adaptation—a tale of murder, madness, ambition, and wrathful cunning.” (A24) Ann Hornaday of WASHINGTON POST wrote, “The pursuit of power by any means necessary – and the moral injury that ensues – feels both ancient and urgently new, especially when it’s animated by the artistry and acute intelligence on display here.” Click the photo below to watch the film’s trailer.
CONTINUING IN OUR VIRTUAL CINEMA
We still have a handful of titles available in our Virtual Cinema…and we hope to add something new in the next few weeks. To read more about all the films that are still available, please visit our WEBSITE. Here’s a LINK with a video I made about how Virtual Cinema works. Our Virtual Cinema is slowing down, but we still want to bring new films now and again that deserve to be seen that you can enjoy from home! More titles are on the way…stay tuned!
UPCOMING SPECIAL EVENT
A DREAM TO SERVE THROUGH EDUCATION is a new short documentary that is being presented by the founder of The Dayton School. “The Dayton School (TDS) is an up and coming revolutionary educational experience for students, families, and the surrounding community. The school will specifically service Dayton students, however, through after school programming and community partners we plan to offer educational experiences for TDS families and the community. This documentary outlines a story of a young woman’s journey of resilience through poverty to educational success. Follow her on this voyage as she transforms humbling life lessons and early teaching experiences into passion and commitment to create rewarding education environments for all Dayton families. Witness her unflagging support for the Dayton community as a dedicated educator inside and outside of the classroom. It is the belief of The Dayton School that every child, regardless of zip code, economic status, or culture, deserves a free holistic project based style education that transcends beyond high school.
The Dayton School has a mission to improve access, opportunity, and resources for students through multiple exemplary education pathways. This short 30 minute documentary can be viewed for $10 on Thursday January 20th at 7:30pm at THE NEON. After viewing the film The Dayton School’s board, and/or film participants will be available for questions, comments, and discussion. Tickets are available at THE NEON’s Box Office or via this LINK. For more information regarding The Dayton School, including ways in which you can support prior to viewing, please visit Daytonschoolohio.org.” (taken from press notes)

THE NEON wants to keep our Staff and Patrons safe! Our Board of Directors has sought advisement from Combined Health Dayton & Montgomery County and the Center for Disease Control…we’re also looking at other arthouse cinemas in major markets across the country. We have recently made one minor change to our policy. Masks are now required for all guests age 2 and higher until further notice.  All patrons aged 12 and over will be required to present proof of vaccination with a photo ID or a negative COVID-19 test from the last 72 hours. (Self-reported vaccination records not verified by a third party health care provider are not acceptable. Test results must include name, test result, and a timestamp within the past 72 hours.) We will continue to monitor the community’s health data and amend our policies based on guidance. Please stay tuned to THE NEON’s website for the latest updates. A couple helpful hints!! Take a single picture of your photo ID and your vaccination card in the same shot. You’ll be able to flash this photo at our box office, and that will work as proof enough for us. If you have a smart phone, you could also download the app that most folks in NYC are using to get into movies, Broadway shows and restaurants – NYCCOVIDSAFE. This app will have you take a photo of your ID and your vaccine card – and it saves you from having to hunt for a photo on your phone. I downloaded it, and it’s very easy to use.

Please remember – We ask that you arrive before showtime to allow for checking everyone in before the auditorium gets dark!
Thank you for all of your support!
We hope to see you soon,
Jonathan
IN-PERSON SHOWTIMES for Tuesday, Dec. 28 – Thursday, Jan. 6 :
NIGHTMARE ALLEY (R) 2 Hrs 30 Min
Tuesday-Thursday (Dec 28-30): 3:15, 7:00
Friday (Dec 31): 1:00
FINAL DAY – Dec. 31!
LICORICE PIZZA (R) 2 Hrs 13 Min
Tuesday-Thursday (Dec 28-30): 3:30, 7:20
Friday, Saturday, Sunday (Dec 31-Jan 2): 12:50, 4:10, 7:20
Monday-Thursday (Jan 3-6): 3:30, 7:20
THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH (R) 1 Hr 45 Min
Friday (Dec 31): 4:30, 7:30
Saturday & Sunday (Jan 1 & 2): 1:30, 4:30, 7:30
Monday-Thursday (Jan 3-6): 3:15, 7:00
COMING SOON – In-Person Screenings:
(All Dates Are Tentative. Dates Often Move And Sometimes Disappear)
TBD – CYRANO
TBD – PARALLEL MOTHERS
TBD – DRIVE MY CAR
TBD – THE DUKE
TBD – MOTHERING SUNDAYS

The Line Up at The Neon this Week

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Wow! It felt really good to be busy again! THE FRENCH DISPATCH became our biggest opening of 2021, and we are thrilled. THANK YOU! It will certainly be sticking around. If you need to see LAST NIGHT IN SOHO, Thursday afternoon will be its last screening. On Thursday evening, we’ll open Kenneth Branagh’s semi-autobiographical film BELFAST – don’t miss this one!
We’re adding an award-winning new film to our Virtual Cinema this weekend, too – a powerful indigenous story set during Canada’s Oka Crisis in 1990 – BEANS.
NEW IN-PERSON ENGAGEMENT:
Synopsis for BELFAST: “Written and directed by Academy Award® nominee Kenneth Branagh, BELFAST is a poignant story of love, laughter and loss in one boy’s childhood, amid the music and social tumult of the late 1960s.” (Focus Features) This incredible, award-winning film will certainly garner a “Best Picture” nomination this year. Starring Jamie Dornan, Caitriona Balfe, Judi Dench and Ciarán Hinds, and introducing Jude Hill. I know that we have a lot of Judi Dench fans…and she is irresistible in this film. Her scenes with Ciarán Hinds are bliss. Don’t miss this one on the big screen! During Opening Week (Nov. 12-18), the 1:15 screening each day will feature Open Captions (this means captions will be projected on screen). Click the image below to watch the film’s trailer.
NEW IN OUR VIRTUAL CINEMA
Synopsis for BEANS: Available starting Nov. 12! “Twelve-year-old Beans is on the edge: torn between innocent childhood and delinquent adolescence; forced to grow up fast to become the tough Mohawk warrior she needs to be during the Indigenous uprising known as The Oka Crisis, which tore Quebec and Canada apart for 78 tense days in the summer of 1990.” Click the image below to watch the wonderful trailer and gain 72 hour access to the film for $12.
CONTINUING IN OUR VIRTUAL CINEMA
Synopsis for SISTERS: “For thirty years, French-Algerian sisters Zorah, Nohra and Djamila have been living in the hope of finding their brother Rheda, abducted by their father, and hidden in newly decolonised Algeria. Their relationship is shaken when Zorah, the eldest sister, decides to write a play based on the traumatising events of their childhood that haunted them their whole life. But when they learn that their father is dying, the three sisters decide to go to Algeria to seize their last opportunity to have him reveal where their brother is. When the past catches up, the three sisters have no choice but to put their differences aside.” (Distrib Films) Click the image below to watch the trailer and gain 72 hour access for $10.
To read more about all the films that are still available in our Virtual Cinema, please visit our WEBSITE. Here’s a LINK with a video I made about how Virtual Cinema works. Our Virtual Cinema is slowing down, but we still want to bring new films now and again that deserve to be seen that you can enjoy from home! More titles are on the way…stay tuned!
UPCOMING SPECIAL EVENTS
“SHOUT FOR JOY! brings the power and passion of Jeremy Winston Chorale International to the big screen.  Filmed in the beautiful sanctuary at Kettering Seventh-day Adventist Church, this short film showcases the exceptional artistry of this nation’s most outstanding vocalists and musicians. Along with in-depth artist interviews and discussions, the music will feature classical, spirituals, and a cappella gospel. It shares the story of this non-profit organization and how it uses music to change the world. All proceeds support scholarships for collegiate music students.” (taken from press notes) Tickets are $20 each and available on THE NEON’s website or at our box office during traditional operating hours. This event will take place Tuesday, November 23 at 7:30.
We’re delighted to bring JULIA REICHERT: 50 YEARS IN FILM to Julia’s hometown. The retrospective, which was curated and organized by the Wexner Center for the Arts, premiered at the Museum of Modern Art in May 2019. The film series then traveled to Los Angeles, Houston, Minneapolis, Portland, Cleveland, Louisville and Madison before the pandemic shut everything down. Reichert said, “It means so much to me to share these films again with Dayton audiences, many who weren’t even born yet when these films came out.” Attendees at the first screening on Nov. 21 will receive a complimentary souvenir program and will be treated to an artist talk from Reichert before screening her very first feature film – GROWING UP FEMALE. 4 dates have been set and more titles and dates will be determined in early 2022. Tickets are $10 for each screening and are now available on our website and at our box office. More details about each selection will be available in upcoming newsletters. Here’s the schedule:
Sunday, Nov 21 at 4:00 – GROWING UP FEMALE & Artist Talk
Wednesday, Dec 1 at 7:00 – UNION MAIDS and THE LAST TRUCK
Wednesday, Dec. 8 at 7:00 – SEEING RED
Wednesday, Dec. 15 at 7:00 – JULIA’S HIDDEN GEMS: 4 SHORT FILMS
We recently got a new delivery of NEON t-shirts and hoodies…perfect for the movie-lovers in your life. Get ’em while you can.
THE NEON wants to keep our Staff and Patrons safe! Our Board of Directors has sought advisement from Combined Health Dayton & Montgomery County and the Center for Disease Control.  Masks will continue to be required for all guests age 6 and higher until further notice.  On Oct. 1, 2021, we began our new policy that will be in effect until further notice – all patrons aged 12 and over will be required to present proof of vaccination with a photo ID or a negative COVID-19 test from the last 72 hours. (Self-administered tests will not be accepted. Test results must include name, test result, and a timestamp within the past 72 hours.) We will continue to monitor the community’s health data and amend our policies based on guidance. Please stay tuned to THE NEON’s website for the latest updates. A couple helpful hints!! Take a single picture of your photo ID and your vaccination card in the same shot. You’ll be able to flash this photo at our box office, and that will work as proof enough for us. If you have a smart phone, you could also download the app that most folks in NYC are using to get into movies, Broadway shows and restaurants – NYCCOVIDSAFE. This app will have you take a photo of your ID and your vaccine card – and it saves you from having to hunt for a photo on your phone. I downloaded it, and it’s very easy to use.
Please remember – We ask that you arrive before showtime to allow for checking everyone in before the auditorium gets dark!
If you know anyone or organization who might be interested in some old speakers and subwoofers, please send them my way.

“Julia Reichert: 50 Years in Film” Retrospective Coming to Neon

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Traveling film exhibit which debuted at the Museum of Modern Art finally premiering in Dayton

The Neon, Dayton’s downtown art house cinema, will host “Julia Reichert:  50 Years in Film,” a traveling celebration of the Oscar winning filmmaker’s decades of documentaries.  The screenings begin on Sunday afternoon, November 21, 2021.   The retrospective, which was curated and organized by the Wexner Center for the Arts, premiered at the Museum of Modern Art in May 2019.  The film series then traveled to Los Angeles, Houston, Minneapolis, Portland, Cleveland, Louisville and Madison before the pandemic shut everything down. 

“I’m deeply grateful to the Neon’s manager Jonathan McNeal for bringing this retrospective home,” said Julia Reichert.  “It means so much to me to share these films again with Dayton audiences, many who weren’t even born yet when these films came out.  New and beautiful 4K restorations of the four films I made with Jim Klein will play on the Neon’s screens, and they look amazing.”

“For 50 years, my professor, mentor and dear friend Julia Reichert has been telling powerful and engaging cinematic stories,” said McNeal.  “These important films still resonate, and we’re thrilled to finally be able to present this incredible collection of work back on the big screen.”

The retrospective will begin on Nov 21 with Reichert, who taught film at Wright State for 28 years, giving a live, intimate, illustrated talk about her origins.  How did she go from a working-class small-town girl, told she could only be a secretary, teacher or nurse, to being a pioneering filmmaker?  The first event will also include a screening of Julia Reichert & Jim Klein’s first film, GROWING UP FEMALE, their groundbreaking 1971 documentary exploring how girls and women are socialized.  This film, Julia’s senior project at Antioch College, was selected in 2011 by the Library of Congress for the prestigious National Film Registry of historically significant films.

The 2021 events in the retrospective are:

  • Sun, Nov 21 at 4:00: Julia Reichert Artist Talk and GROWING UP FEMALE (1971)
  • Wednesday, Dec. 1 at 7:00:  UNION MAIDS (1976) and THE LAST TRUCK: CLOSING OF A GM PLANT (2009).
  • Wednesday, Dec. 8 at 7:00:  SEEING RED:  STORIES OF AMERICAN COMMUNISTS (1984)
  • Wednesday, Dec. 15 at 7:00:  Julia’s Hidden Gems & Deep Cuts:  Four shorter documentaries from Reichert’s body of work:  METHADONE – AN AMERICAN WAY OF DEALING (1974), SPARKLE (2012), MAKING MORNING STAR (2014) & NO GUNS FOR CHRISTMAS (2014).

Reichert’s retrospective will continue in 2022 with films and dates to be announced. 

Tickets are $10 for each screening and available on THE NEON’s website www.neonmovies.com or at THE NEON’s Box Office.  For additional information, please contact Jonathan McNeal at theneon@msn.com

 

NEON NEWS: FALLING FOR FIGARO & THE GREEN KNIGHT!

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Even though we’re holding THE EYES OF TAMMY FAYE for another week, we’re adding two new films to the mix. Our first selection is a UK import that has had many audience members swooning – FALLING FOR FIGARO. Our second selection is a film that has already played in this market – but several NEON fans have been asking for it – THE GREEN KNIGHT. Both of these could be gone in a week…so hurry down.

Please remember that our new health and safety protocol starts this Friday!
THE NEON wants to keep our Staff and Patrons safe! Our Board of Directors has sought advisement from Montgomery County Health Department and the Center for Disease Control.  Masks will continue to be required for all guests age 6 and higher until further notice.  Beginning Oct. 1, 2021, all patrons aged 12 and over will be required to present proof of vaccination with a photo ID or a negative COVID-19 test from the last 72 hours. (Self-administered tests will not be accepted. Test results must include name, test result, and a timestamp within the past 72 hours.) We will continue to monitor the community’s health data and amend our policies based on guidance. Please stay tuned to THE NEON’s website for the latest updates. A couple helpful hints!! Some friends recently got back from the East Coast, and one had a solution for an easy way to always have proof of vaccination with you. Take a single picture of your photo ID and your vaccination card in the same shot. You’ll be able to flash this photo at our box office, and that will work as proof enough for us. If you have a smart phone, you could also download the app that most folks in NYC are using to get into movies, Broadway shows and restaurants – NYCCOVIDSAFE. This app will have you take a photo of your ID and your vaccine card – and it saves you from having to hunt for a photo on your phone. I downloaded it, and it’s very easy to use.
Please remember – We ask that you arrive before showtime to allow for checking everyone in before the auditorium gets dark!
NEW IN-PERSON ENGAGEMENTS:
Synopsis for FALLING FOR FIGARO: “From award-winning director Ben Lewin (THE SESSIONS, THE CATCHER WAS A SPY) FALLING FOR FIGARO follows a brilliant young fund manager named Millie (Danielle Macdonald: PATTI CAKES, DUMPLIN), who quits her job and ends things with her longterm boyfriend in order to fulfill her dream of becoming an opera singer — in the Scottish Highlands. She begins intense vocal training lessons with renowned but fearsome singing teacher and former opera diva Meghan Geoffrey-Bishop (Joanna Lumley – ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS). It is there she meets Max, another of Meghan’s students who is also training for the upcoming “Singer of Renown” contest. The competition between Millie and Max gradually evolves into something different and deeper.” (IFC Films) Click the image below to watch the film’s trailer.
Synopsis for THE GREEN KNIGHT: “An epic fantasy adventure based on the timeless Arthurian legend, THE GREEN KNIGHT tells the story of Sir Gawain (Dev Patel), King Arthur’s reckless and headstrong nephew, who embarks on a daring quest to confront the eponymous Green Knight, a gigantic emerald-skinned stranger and tester of men. Gawain contends with ghosts, giants, thieves, and schemers in what becomes a deeper journey to define his character and prove his worth in the eyes of his family and kingdom by facing the ultimate challenger. From visionary filmmaker David Lowery (who directed THE OLD MAN & THE GUN – partially shot in Dayton) comes a fresh and bold spin on a classic tale from the knights of the round table.” (A24) Click the image below to watch the film’s trailer. For a fun little video about the background of The Green Knight, click this LINK.
CONTINUING IN OUR VIRTUAL CINEMA:
Synopsis for SURGE: Brilliant actor Ben Whishaw stars in SURGE, directed by Aneil Karia. “Joseph (Ben Whishaw) works in security at a London airport. His life proceeds in an orderly fashion but, in spite of his contact with other people during the course of his job, he seems to be isolated from his surroundings. The anxiety felt by some passengers when they are patted down before check-in and the impersonal atmosphere amongst his colleagues both affect him. After a visit to his parents, something snaps inside this loner and another Joseph comes to light: one who takes what he wants, invades others’ personal space and does not even shy away from criminal acts. Between eruption, escalation and destruction, he undergoes a painful process of self-discovery, the starting point of which is closer than we would like to admit to the actual living and working conditions of many people.” (FilmRise) THE GUARDIAN says that it’s “[A] big pressure-cooker performance from Ben Whishaw.” Click the image below to watch the trailer and reserve access. This film can be viewed on your computer or mobile device or via your TV with Apple TV or Roku. Additional instructions can be found on Eventive’s Help Page. Click the image below to watch the trailer and reserve access to the film.
To read more about all the films that are still available in our Virtual Cinema, please visit our WEBSITE. Here’s a LINK with a video I made about how Virtual Cinema works.
Our Virtual Cinema is slowing down, but we still want to bring new films now and again that deserve to be seen that you can enjoy from home! (Click titles to watch each film’s trailer.) In October, we’ll have a documentary about how Gospel quartets became the basis for rock’n’roll – HOW THEY GOT OVER. In early November, we’ll have a French-Algerian film about a group of sisters who are searching for their kidnapped brother – SISTERS. On November 12, we’ll start the powerful indigenous story BEANS. More titles are on the way…stay tuned!
UPCOMING SPECIAL EVENTS:
“Take a noir-inspired and surreal trip through L.A. as Max, a failed writer, prepares to leave the city where her dreams died. On Wednesday, October 6th at 7:30, Wright State Film School grad, Trevor Hollen, will be presenting his award-winning feature film debut, EATING CARS – in conjunction with its US and UK release. The black and white film was made in Los Angeles, but most of the cast and crew hail from the Dayton/Cincinnati area and some are also WSU MoPix alumni. After the screening, there will be a Q&A with Trevor. Proceeds will go to the WSU MoPix department.” (taken from press notes) Tickets are available now on our website. Click the image below to watch the film’s trailer.

The 16th Annual DAYTON LGBT FILM FESTIVAL is gearing up to be back in person this year! Though things will be a little different (we’ll go an entire week this year with 2 screenings of each selection so we can spread everyone out), we’re delighted that we can bring the best in LGBT cinema back to the big screen. Our website is now live, and tickets are on sale now! Click the image below to watch the trailer for a documentary about queer women who have written some of Country Music’s biggest hits over the years for stars from Willie Nelson and Garth Brooks to Barbara Mandrell and Reba McEntire – INVISIBLE! You’ll see a lot of recognizable musicians interviewed in this doc – from Emmylou Harris to Linda Ronstadt. A friend told me that there are a lot of connections in this film to the Dayton Women’s Music Collective from Canal St. – for those of you who remember this, please spread the word!

RESPECT and SWAN SONG at The Neon

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This weekend marks the opening of a film we’ve been anticipating for a while. Many critics already agree that Jennifer Hudson will get an Oscar nomination for playing Aretha Franklin in RESPECT – opening Thursday night. In addition, we’ve got a surprise! Starting Friday, for three shows only, we have an indie treat – Udo Kier in SWAN SONG (just wait until you see the trailer). ANNETTE and NINE DAYS will stick around for one more week…then we’ll open a film that we’re very excited about – CODA. Tickets for our Aug. 19 preview screening of this highly anticipated, award-winning film are on sale now!

In regards to NINE  DAYS, we’ve had several patrons rave that it is incredible. Richard, a long-time NEON fan, wrote “you want to make some room in your schedule for a viewing. This is an unbelievable piece of filmmaking.” We hope you’ll take his advice.
It’s been two weeks since we launched our Projecting Our Future fundraising campaign…and we’re getting closer to our goal! It’s hard to believe that it’s been 9 years since we switched from 35mm to digital projection, but our digital projectors are already out of warranty and parts are no longer being made for them. Our initial goal is to raise $85,000…and the fantastic news is that the Jack W. and Sally D. Eichelberger Foundation of the Dayton Foundation has already committed a lead gift of $50,000 to the campaign! Many thanks to them as well as to those of you who have reached out about contributing to our campaign. To learn more about “Projecting Our Future” and how you can be a part of it, please visit THIS SITE. Additional thanks to WDTN & Mark Alan as well as Dayton Daily News for helping us spread the word.
NEW IN-PERSON ENGAGEMENTS:
Synopsis for RESPECT: “Following the rise of Aretha Franklin’s career from a child singing in her father’s church’s choir to her international superstardom, Respect is the remarkable true story of Franklin’s journey to find her voice.” (taken from MGM/UA press notes) Starring Jennifer Hudson, Forest Whitaker, Marlon Wayans, Audra McDonald, Marc Maron, Tituss Burgess, Saycon Sengbloh, Hailey Kilgore, Heather Headley, Skye Dakota Turner, Tate Donovan and Mary J. Blige.THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER writes, “An intimate gift of love, rich in complexity, spirituality, Black pride and feminist grit rooted not in didactic speeches but in authentic experience.” Click the image below to watch the film’s trailer.
Synopsis for SWAN SONG: Critics agree that Udo Kier has never been better! “A retired hairdresser (the legendary Udo Kier, in a career-defining role) escapes his nursing home and embarks on an odyssey across his small town to style a dead woman’s hair for her funeral, confronting the ghosts of his past and rediscovering his sparkle along the way.” (Magnolia Pictures) THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER writes, “What’s most notable about Todd Stephens’ heartfelt salute to a real-life local legend is that the campiness of its outrageous plot becomes secondary to the soulful poignancy.” Click the image below to watch the trailer.
CONTINUING IN OUR VIRTUAL CINEMA
Synopsis for THE EVENING HOUR: “Cole Freeman (Philip Ettinger, FIRST REFORMED) maintains an uneasy equilibrium in his declining Appalachian mining town, looking after the old and infirm in the community while selling their excess painkillers to local addicts to help make ends meet. But when his old friend, Terry Rose (Cosmo Jarvis, LADY MACBETH), returns with dangerous plans that threaten the fragile balance Cole has crafted, his world and identity are thrown into disarray.” (Strand Releasin) Tickets are $12 for 72 hour access. This film can be viewed on your computer or mobile device or via your TV with Apple TV or Roku. Additional instructions can be found on Eventive’s HELP PAGE. Click the image below to watch the trailer and reserve access to the film.
Synopsis for NEVER GONNA SNOW AGAIN: “On a gray, foggy morning outside a large Polish city, a masseur from the East named Zhenia (Alec Utgoff, Stranger Things) enters the lives of the wealthy residents of a gated community. With his hypnotic presence and quasi-magical abilities, he is able to get a residence permit and starts plying his trade. The well-to-do residents in their cookie-cutter suburban homes seemingly have it all, but they all suffer from an inner sadness, some unexplained longing. The attractive and mysterious newcomer’s hands heal, and Zhenia’s eyes seem to penetrate their souls. To them, his Russian accent sounds like a song from the past, a memory of simpler times. The latest from writer/director Malgorzata Szumowska (Elles, In the Name of) and her longtime collaborator Michal Englert is an unclassifiable meditation on class, immigration, and global warming shot through with Lynchian touches of the otherworldly and moments of sober beauty and unexpected humor.” SCREEN DAILY wrote, “Somewhere between TWIN PEAKS and Pasolini’s TEOREMA.” – That’s was enough to get me hooked! This film can be viewed on your computer or mobile device. You can also watch via your TV (when you download the Kino Now app on Apple TV, Roku, or Amazon TV/Stick). Additional instructions can be found on the film’s landing page…just click the picture below to watch the trailer and reserve access to the film for $12.
To read more about all the films that are still available in our Virtual Cinema, please visit our WEBSITE. Here’s a LINK with a video I made about how Virtual Cinema works.
Our Virtual Cinema is slowing down, but we still want to bring new films now and again that deserve to be seen! We’re working on securing more titles, but for sure on August 20, we’ll start DRAMARAMA – a charming love letter to drama nerds. In September, we’ll have a thrilling new film with one of my favorite actors, Ben Whishaw – SURGE. More titles are on the way…stay tuned!
UPCOMING SPECIAL EVENTS:
Attention Families with Young Kids! Continuing this Saturday, August 14 at 11am, THE NEON and ThinkTV PBS will keep moving with our FREE Summer Family Film Festival. Each week, doors at THE NEON open at 10:30am, and tickets are given on a first-come, first-serve basis. Featuring episodic shorts from popular characters in the PBS Kids library, these screenings will give an opportunity for families to enjoy the movie-going experience together in a budget-friendly way while keeping kids thoughtfully engaged over the summer. Each Saturday will focus on a different program, and activity books will be available for children to take home after the screenings. This film festival is made possible from the generous support of The RubiGirls Scholarship Initiative. Week #7 (Aug 14) will be PEG & CAT. Week #8 (Aug 21) will be WILD KRATTS. (more titles coming soon…and details about a special party during week #10 of the fest!)
Back in late 2019 and early 2020, we partnered with The Human Race Theatre Company for their “Women of Influence” Season. PNC sponsored a film series for us that spoke to each of the theatre company’s productions. Unfortunately, COVID cut the series short…but we want to make good on our promises. Because LOOPED began its run at The Loft Theatre for three weeks starting on Aug. 5 (click HERE to learn more about that production), we have re-booked the film that we think best accompanies this show – DIE, DIE MY DARLING – starring Tallulah Bankhead. This film will screen Monday, August 23 at 7:30. If you had a Season Pass for this film series, we’ll still accept it…and you can reserve your spot by filling out this QUESTIONNAIRE. If you need to buy tickets to this special screening, here’s the LINK. Thank you!!
A NOTE ABOUT COVID PRECAUTIONS. Starting last week, Wednesday, August 4, THE NEON’s Board decided to make a change to our COVID protocols. Masks are once again mandatory for everyone inside THE NEON – staff and patrons. Masks may only be removed while actively eating/drinking in assigned seats. Thank you in advance for your cooperation. (Masks are not required on our patio.)