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Jonathan McNeal

TIFF 2016 – Day #9 – Wrapping Up This Year’s Fest

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planetarium-posterHello Everyone,

My first film of my final day of screenings was PLANETARIUM – directed by Rebecca Zlotwoski and starring Natalie Portman and Lily-Rose Depp.  This is the story of two sisters who are mediums living in France and their relationship with a film producer.  Though the concept is intriguing (“sometimes you have to turn off the lights to see something” was an early quote that had promise) and I liked moments of the film, this was the biggest mess I saw at TIFF.  I don’t know what happened, but about an hour in, I felt like there were several films happening at once – and not in a good way. There were also a couple moments where Portman let out laughs that seemed like she was becoming completely unhinged…not her character, but Portman herself.  Attempts at “kinda sexy/kinda creepy” were in full swing – but the results were mostly just on the creepy end of the spectrum, and I eventually couldn’t wait for it to end.  Here’s a trailer…but you’ll have no idea what’s in store.

THE SECRET SCRIPTURE, directed by Jim Sheridan, was my second film of the day.  It was also Rooney Mara’s third film in this year’s festival.  Though Rooney was the star of the film, it was Vanessa Redgrave who shined.  This is the story of an older woman in a mental institution who has keep a journal in between the lines and in the margins of her Bible.  One of the first quotes we get from her journal is “I did not kill my child.”  Through a series of flashbacks, we see her as a younger woman in the 1940’s.  A true beauty, she turns heads everywhere she goes, and people in the town are quick to call her a whore…including the town’s priest who is clearly infatuated with her. Though I felt the story got a little muddled, it’s ultimately beautifully told and will easily find fans.  The Q&A with Jim Sheridan was a treat.  With Irish accent seemed to forgive all of his foul-mouthed responses, and the stories of working with actors (Vanessa Redgrave and the children from IN AMERICA in particular) were fantastic and full of insight.  There’s no trailer for this film yet, but here’s a still.

the-secret-scripture

My last film of the fest was THE LIMEHOUSE GOLEM, directed by Juan Carlos Medina and starring Bill Nighy & Olivia Cooke (ME AND EARL AND THE DYING GIRL).  In Victorian-era London, a detective has been given his first murder case – a case that has the city on edge as a serial killer is performing more and more heinous acts.  This beautifully styled period piece is a far cry from what you’d expect given the costumes and set-pieces.  With lots of blood and gory details of the crimes, it’s at times unsettling but ultimately rather predictable. There are some moments that should be big…but the materials isn’t there…so the decision was to over-score them – which actually ends up detracting from the scenes in question.  I wanted to like this film more, but I came out feeling it was really quite average.  There’s no trailer for this film yet, so here’s a still.  (Upon looking for images from the film, I found out that Alan Rickman was originally supposed to play the part of the detective – which would have added a different level of eeriness.)

4744

And so my screenings have come to an end.

I saw 30 films (not counting the two I walked out of), I met several great folks in the industry, I saw numerous big stars and directors, and I ate a lot of poutine.  In all, it was an incredible trip.

So here’s the wrap-up.  (All categories have films listed in the order in which I saw them.) My 3 favorites were: MOONLIGHT, NOCTURNAL ANIMALS and LA LA LAND.  Close behind were JULIETA, LOVING and SOUVENIR (BIRTH OF A NATION would be on this list, but I actually saw it several weeks ago and not at TIFF).  Some really good films that are 100% worth viewing but didn’t make it to the very top of my list are MANCHESTER BY THE SEA, FRANTZ, LION, A UNITED KINGDOM, THEIR FINEST, MAUDIE, PATERSON, JACKIE, and UNKNOWN GIRL.  For the other 15 films and how I felt about them, you’ll have to back-track through my blog.

Thanks so much for reading, and I appreciate your continued interest in THE NEON.

All the best,

Jonathan

 

TIFF 2016 – Day #8

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img_1615Hello Loyal TIFF Followers,

Unfortunately, MostMetro has been experiencing quite a bit of trouble with their website…and that’s why you haven’t heard from me for a couple days.  They’re working hard to iron out all the kinks, and I appreciate you coming back for more (some of you with multiple attempts).

My first film on Thursday was John Butler’s HANDSOME DEVIL.  Though a little light, there’s certainly an audience for this crowd-pleasing film about an outcast with bright red hair at a boarding school in Ireland.  The unlikely friendship he strikes up with his handsome roommate has them eventually entered in a talent night where they’ll sing and play guitar together…and it’s really charming.  However, the focus at this school is rugby, and the behaviors of the new guy don’t fit in with the agenda of his rugby coach.  DEAD POETS’ SOCIETY meets SCHOOL TIES meets SING STREET.  If it doesn’t get released sooner, you can certainly look for this film at next year’s PRIDE screening in June.  There is no trailer for this film, so you only get a still at this time.

handsomedevil_03

Next up was THE UNKOWN GIRL – a film by the Dardenne Brothers (KID WITH A BIKE, TWO DAYS ONE NIGHT).  The Dardennes are known for this social-realist style of filmmaking.  Always commenting on class as well as economic and social justice, this film still fills that role…but goes in a bit of different direction. This is the story of a doctor who doesn’t answer the buzzer at her office door.  It’s after hours, and she figures a person would buzz multiple times if it was an emergency.  The next day, she finds out that the girl who buzzed has been found dead across the street…she was a prostitute who buzzed the door in a panic – looking for help.  Driven by guilt, the doctor begins her own investigation to find the name of the unknown girl.  Without any scoring to trigger emotions, this mystery feels all the more real.  Though not embraced by critics like their previous two films, I found it very satisfying.

SOUVENIR, starring Isabelle Huppert and directed by Babo Defurne, this is the story of a woman who works in a pate factory.  She used to be a famous singer, but her star faded early  after coming in 2nd place during a televised European singing contest (ABBA took home first place that year).  The opening titles for the film are beautiful bubbles floating through water.  Bubbles, bubbles, more bubbles. It’s pretty and hypnotizing.  It’s light, it’s airy, it’s effervescent…it’s alka-seltzer.  Thus we get a joke right from the opening credits. This French gem – which becomes a December/May romance, won’t be embraced by everyone.  But I really like it!  There’s no trailer for this film, but here’s a clip.

After my three films, I met up with an old friend for dinner.  Then I met up with a few more friends (film programmers, PR folks, etc.) for cocktails.  This was by far the latest I stayed out…and I paid for it the next morning.  (But it was worth it.)

Thanks for reading,

Jonathan

TIFF 2016 – Day #7

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csqaun7wgaqgaq3Hello Everyone,

Thanks for coming back!  Today was my last day during this trip when I have to  wake up before 6am!  I saw three more films (which takes me to 24 total), and I had a nice dinner.  Though there was an invitation to meet up for late drinks, I had to turn it down.  I’m simply too tired and getting more than 4 hours of sleep sounds much better.

My first film of the day was PATERSON, by Jim Jarmusch – who has a cult-like following.  This film stars Adam Driver as “a working-class poet in a small New Jersey town who practices his craft amidst the quiet magic of everyday life.” (TIFF on-line catalog)  As always, Jarmusch finds both humor and pathos in the idiosyncrasies and mundane routines of his characters.  That said, I think this film is his most accessible.  And though not a lot “happens,” I was engaged and liked peeking in on these rather charming characters.  (There is not trailer available, but here’s a clip.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWHA1lcjUt4

JACKIE, the new film about Jackie O’ starring Natalie Portman, was next on my list.  Directed by Pablo Larrain (who also has a film about Pablo Neruda at the festival), this film takes a look at the assassination of JFK through the point of view of Jackie.  The film opens with Jackie greeting a journalist just a few days after the assassination. As she answers questions, we get her version of the story – both anecdotes about the making of the TV special when she led press through the White House as well as her account of what happened in Texas and preparing for the funeral.  She is very candid, but she also makes quite clear that she’ll have the final edit on the piece that is written.  When the journalist says that he just wants the truth, it is finally said that “I will settle for a story that’s believable.”  That sentiment is the film in a nutshell.  It took me a little while to buy Portman as Jackie, but eventually she won me over.  Fox Searchlight picked up this film within the last 48 hours, and they plan to have it released in time for Oscar season.

jackie-1

My final film of the day was UNA – a new film based on the play BLACKBIRD, directed by Benedict Andrews and starring Rooney Mara & Ben Mendelsohn.  This is the story of a young woman in her mid-20’s confronting a middle-aged man at his place of work. It’s been 12 years since they’ve seen each other…and that was when she was 13 and he sexually abused her.  It’s my understanding that the play is just two characters…and adapting it for the screen seemed a bit forced to me.  From ducking behind boxes and into bathroom stalls to hide from other workers, it seemed a bit of a stretch to buy the actions of the characters.  I ultimately had really mixed feelings.  The material is intriguing and bold, but I didn’t buy the set-up (trouble with the man’s position at work is a tangent that seems oddly tacked on).  In addition, I feel like the material didn’t ring with honesty.  SPOILER ALERT…don’t read more if you don’t want to know too much! The director spoke of each character having “unfinished desire” for one another.  I’d be anxious to hear a true feminist read of this material/adaptation.  By the end, I didn’t hate it, but I also can’t recommend it.  There is no trailer for this film, but here’s a clip:

I’ve got three films tomorrow and I get to sleep in until 7:30!  I also plan to meet an old friend for dinner – someone I met in line for Almodovar’s TALK TO HER back at the festival in 2002.

Thanks for reading,

Jonathan

TIFF 2016 – Day #6

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maudie-movie-poster-lgHello!

Today’s schedule had me down for 5 films…and though I got into the fifth, I just wasn’t loving it enough to stick around (thus I won’t review it).  Instead, I’ll go over the four films I screened in their entirety.

THEIR FINEST was my first screening at 9:30am, and it was packed in one of Scotiabank’s biggest venues.  Lone Scherfig (AN EDUCATION) delivers a very solid film about the film industry in England during WWII.  The story centers around a female writer who is initially hired to help write and flesh out the female voices just as the industry is also realizing that they need to make a picture that boosts morale on the homefront.  Bill Nighy, who plays an egotistical old pro actor, is a scene-stealer…and the film will be an crowd-pleaser.  Full of nostalgic winks and nods as well as colorful characters, this is an “acquisition title,” and I believe it will get picked up.  There’s no trailer yet for THEIR FINEST…so a photo will have to do at this point.

Their Finest Hour and A Half Directed by Lone Sherfig

Their Finest Hour and A Half
Directed by Lone Sherfig

MAUDIE, a biopic about Canadian folk artist Maud Lewis, was next on my list.  With an outstanding performance by Sally Hawkins which is touching, physically demanding and full of hysterical funny moments that make Maud all the more endearing, the film is about Lewis’s relationship with her husband (played by Ethan Hawke) and her rise to fame in the art world.  Challenged by childhood rheumatoid arthritis, everything from daily chores to even holding a brush look painful for Maud – but we fall in love with her desire to paint on just about any stationary object.  Directed by Aisling Walsh (she’s done a lot of television work including FINGERSMITH with Hawkins), this is a slower character piece – but I think it could easily find an audience with Neon patrons.  There’s no trailer for this film yet, but here’s a clip.

Once in a while at TIFF, I let myself see a big, splashy Hollywood movie.  One that clearly won’t be coming to THE NEON, but one that’s receiving some critical buzz.  A couple years ago, it was GRAVITY…this year, it was another sci-fi film – ARRIVAL, directed by Denis Villeneuve.  Though I can rattle off a handful of sci-fi films that I greatly admire, this isn’t a genre that usually attracts my attention, and this alien film intrigued me because it wasn’t going to be full of explosions and battle scenes.  Amy Adams plays a linguist who is hired by the government to attempt communicating with aliens who have landed 12 ships around the world.  There’s some really lovely work happening in this film – from the central performance to terrific special effects.  But there’s also some clunky ideas (especially in the third act) that keep me from embracing the film.  I realize that many, many people will love this one…but it’s not for me.

My last full film of the day was THE SALESMAN, directed by Asghar Farhadi (A SEPARATION and THE PAST).  The film opens with people needing to evacuate their building as it is beginning to crack and may soon crash. We follow a young theatrical couple (who are mounting a production of DEATH OF A SALESMAN) as they are displaced and soon find a new apartment that was formerly inhabited by a prostitute (though they don’t know that immediately).  An incident in the new place leaves the couple forever changed, and the film then becomes a subtle thriller.  With narrative elements and themes that I greatly admire, this film is well-done and solid – though not quite up to par with his previous two films due to a somewhat strained final act. There is no trailer yet for this film, but here’s a clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VcfinMasfw

I wrapped up the night by attending a low-key party for lgbt industry folks.  I was glad to meet a few new people, and I’m crawling into bed before 2:00…so glad tomorrow is the last day I have to get up before 7:00.

Thanks for reading,

Jonathan

 

 

TIFF 2016 – Day #5

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la-la-land_poster_goldposter_com_3-jpg0o_0l_400w_70qHello Everyone.

Thanks for coming back to my blog.  I had intended to see more films today, but I got turned away from a screening of JACKIE (along with 200+ other people) because the demand was too big and being 25 minutes early wasn’t enough.  That said, there will be another screening Wednesday, so I will know to be extra early.

My first screening of the day was the latest by the prolific (especially for being quite young) Xavier Dolan –  IT’S ONLY THE END OF THE WORLD.   This is essentially a chamber piece about a gay man who comes to visit his family and tell them he’s dying…he hasn’t been home for 12 years…and it’s quickly evident why he’s been away so long.  Though I clearly understand what he’s doing, and the film is ultimately well done (though I do have some complaints about several of his choices), this is a film that’s hard to stomach.  The cast is exceptional (I love Marion & Gaspard), but shouting matches, unlikable/annoying characters…it’s not something I can highly recommend. 

LOVING, the new film by Jeff Nichols (TAKE SHELTER, MUD), was next on my list.  It’s also a film I’ve been looking forward to, and I’m happy to say that it didn’t disappoint.  This quiet and eloquent film is about the an interracial couple in Virginia whose illegal marriage and subsequent punishment (they went to D.C. to get married, but it wasn’t recognized in Virginia) eventually caught the attention of the ACLU…and eventually went to the Supreme Court to overturn miscegenation laws. For a film that’s largely about court battles, we only spend a few minutes in court rooms…and that’s refreshing.  Instead, we spend lots of time with this Mildred & Richard (stunningly and lovingly played by Ruth Negga and Joel Edgerton) – and watching a couple who are so clearly in love with each other makes such a strong case for marriage equality on many levels.

My final film of the day was LA LA LAND, directed by Damien Chazelle (WHIPLASH).  This splashy, colorful, song-and-dance musical harkens memories of a bygone era of the Hollywood studio system.  But even more, its influence is from one of my favorite musical directors – Jacques Demy.  The opening scene, shot on an L.A. highway, will blow your mind and immediately had me scribble YOUNG GIRLS OF ROCHEFORT in my notes.  Starring Emma Stone (who will clearly be nominated for an Oscar) and Ryan Gosling, this film had me on my feet immediately as the “The End” appeared on screen.  For the rest of the night, melodies swirled in my head and merely walking down the street was accompanied by the film’s infectious score.  I can’t wait to obtain the soundtrack and see the film again!

Tomorrow is an extra busy day.  Hoping I’ll be able to stay awake for all of it.

Thanks for reading,

Jonathan

TIFF 2016 – Day #4

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julieta620x709-1461716694Hello Everyone,

I’m up to my old TIFF tricks now.  Long days/nights…minimal sleep.

My first film today was The Weinstein Company’s big Oscar hopeful for this year – LION, directed by Garth Davis and starring Dev Patel.  This is the story of a little Indian boy who gets lost in the streets of Calcutta – hundreds of miles away from home.  After eventually being adopted by an Australian family, 20+ years later he begins a trip to find his birth family.  Once again, I found myself interested in trimming this film down.  Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that I’m watching dozens of movies…but I’m finding most material would be better if trimmed down.  This film shouldn’t be 2 Hrs & 10 Min…it should be 20-30 minutes shorter.  That said, what it accomplishes is indeed lovely, and the story is wonderful.  The final bit of archival footage at the end resulted in even more tears.

I met up with a friend to catch the next film on my list – A UNITED KINGDOM, directed by Amma Asante (director of BELLE).  This is the film about the relationship between Seretse Khama (a former African royal) and his wife Ruth Williams.  Being a black man, alarm bells go up on each side of the fence when he courts and eventually asks for a white Englishwoman’s hand in marriage.  This film feels old-fashioned in a good way.  The storytelling is very direct – nothing edgy here, just solid storytelling, and I came away feeling as though I’d just had a good (and entertaining) history lesson.  David Oyelowo is fantastic as Khama – his speeches are particularly moving and seem like they could stand alone as inspirational messages about race and patriotism.  Rosamund Pike plays Williams, and she’s lovely as usual.

After lunch with a friend from Dayton I hadn’t seen in almost a decade – who now works at Almo Drafthouse (in Austin), I took a little nap before heading to my two evening screenings.  Next up was a film I had already seen at an exhibitor screening.  I almost never see a film at TIFF that I’ve already seen…but because I got a tip that Pedro Almodovar was in town, I got a ticket to JULIETA.  Unfortunately, the tip was some bad intel. He wasn’t there. That said, I had tweeted a hopeful message that I wished Rossy de Palma would attend…and imagine my giddiness when she was introduced – her first time to Toronto.  The film was even better with a second viewing – it’s richness in color and layers of storytelling all the richer.  This is the story of a woman who decides to stay in Madrid in hopes that her daughter will return – someone who left her side 20 years before.  With an exceptional score and great performances (Julieta is played by three different actresses in different stages of her life), this film is lovely.  It’s hard to let an Almodovar film stand on its own without comparison.  When compared to his other work, it falls short of being one of Almodovar’s masterpieces…if it stood alone, it would be heralded as superb.  And P.S.  The Q&A was delightful…and Rossy was so funny, warm and personable. I got my picture taken with her at the stage door, and my day was made!

Tom Ford’s second feature film NOCTURNAL ANIMALS was my final film of the day.  I’ve been waiting 7 years since A SINGLE MAN to see what Tom Ford would do next, and this new film is exceptional!  Starring Amy Adams, Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Shannon, this is the story of a woman who receives an advanced reading copy of her ex-husband’s novel which is a terrifying story that hits a little too close to home.  The film uses certain visual devices to distinguish three different stories happening at once – the present story, the story of the novel and flashbacks to the relationship that spurred the novel.  The costume design, sets and photography are stunning, the performances are incredible, and the story is intense and emotional.  With a late 2016 release in store, I think this film will certainly begin to create some award buzz. (no trailer is available yet)

nocturnal

I then went out to meet up with a bunch of industry folks for a couple beers.  That 5:50am alarm is gonna be hard.

Thanks for reading,

Jonathan

TIFF 2016 – Day #3

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moonlight_2016_filmHello Everyone,

I got the tickets I needed this morning (for Monday), so the day was off to a great start.  I hightailed it to the Scotiabank multiplex for my first screening of the day – a movie I know we won’t play (but I felt like I wanted something ridiculous) – Christopher Guest’s MASCOTS (which will soon make its debut on Netflix).  It’s been a long time since we saw Guest and his crew, and I was delighted by the opening scenes.  I thought “he’s back!”  The set-up is an competition for mascots from around the world – and it lends itself to some really fun material.  Unfortunately, the material lost some steam…and though the movie is sprinkled with a few gems, I felt like it didn’t quite live up to previous films (though the return of one of Guest’s most famous characters was a moment that made me feel like applauding).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6hqYhcPFvw

ALL I SEE IS YOU, the new film by Marc Forster (FINDING NEVERLAND, MONSTER’S BALL) starring Blake Lively, was next on my list.  This is a dramatic film with Lively playing a woman who lost her sight in an accident when she was a child. The first 20 minutes of the film has a certain experimental tone – as Forster has us experiencing many moments as the lead character “sees” them.  It’s a lovely, interesting approach, and the film works in setting a tone (though I never understood why it was set in Thailand).  An operation is available for Lively’s character to have her vision restored, and everything changes.  With sight, she is surprised by how the world around her looks…and her husband quickly becomes disappointed in how their lives are changing.  The movie then shifts tone and becomes more of a quiet thriller.  I won’t give away more of the story, but I did feel like the tonal shift was surprising and the final 6 minutes of the film wrapped things up in a very frantic pace from what started as a slow and methodical first 90 minutes.  The sound design is incredible, and the photography is lovely. I think this film will find an audience, but it’s not incredible.

 After a short nap and a bite to eat, I went to an event – IN CONVERSATION WITH ISABELLE HUPPERT.  This 80 minute curated Q&A was incredible.  Accented with clips of Huppert’s body of work (she’s made over 100 films/television appearances), she sat with Piers Handling and talked about her craft.  From insight to how she doesn’t feel like she truly “prepare” for roles to inside stories about movies like HEAVEN’S GATE to the fact that sometimes she takes a role because she reads the script and falls in love with one line,  it’s a wonderful inside look at one of the greatest actresses working today. Here’s a treat…you can watch the taped event by visiting this LINK and clicking the image of Huppert. 

My final film of the day was also the highlight of the festival so far – Barry Jenkins’ MOONLIGHT.  This gorgeous, poetic look at the life of a black man growing up in Miami, is based on the play IN MOONLIGHT, BLACK BOYS LOOK BLUE.  The film is told in three chapters – with the protagonist played by three different actors (each giving incredible performances).  We see him grow from a bullied, guarded young boy to a hyper masculine drug dealer.  This examination of masculinity is one of the most thoughtful and beautifully told stories I’ve seen in recent years.  Performances are incredible across the board, the photography is lovely, and the screenplay is touching and heartbreaking and honest.  I think this film will see a lot of love this award season.  (Janelle Monae, one of my favorite music artists, has a small role in this film…and seeing her on screen seemed like a natural extension of her talents.  She sat across the aisle from me at the screening, and though I contained myself, I was a giddy schoolgirl inside.)  The cast, director and playwright had a Q&A after the screening, and it was also incredible.

After the screening, I met up with a friend from NYC for a couple beers and a bite to eat.  I returned to my apartment at 2:00…so my alarm going off at 5:50 will not be a welcome sound.

Thanks for reading,

Jonathan

TIFF 2016 – Day #2

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vqtmtpjy
Hi Everyone,

I was in bed by 12:30 last night, so getting up by 6:00am wasn’t so rough today (it will get much worse later in the festival).  That said, the line was already about 15 deep when I arrived at the industry box office at 6:40 (by 7:30/7:45, it was at about 100).

BURN YOUR MAPS, directed by Jordan Roberts, was my first film of the day.  This is a film with Jacob Tremblay (the little guy from ROOM) & Vera Farmiga, and they give really wonderful performances…unfortunately, I can’t say the same for everyone else. This is a story about how a kid begins to say that he’s actually Mongolian. He becomes “obsessed” with wearing traditional costumes and shepherding his make-believe goats.  His parents are having marital problems after the loss of a child, and the desire for the boy to connect with his “true heritage” is a pleasant distraction for his mother…and a source of frustration for his father.  The story eventually “takes” us to Mongolia, and budget restrictions rear their heads.  There were some lovely moments in this film, and it will certainly find its fans – but overall, it wasn’t a big success for me.  (There is no trailer currently available, so a photo is all I can post.)

burnyourmaps_01

 

 

FRANTZ was up next for me.  Francois Ozon is a French director who has made some of my favorite films (I adore UNDER THE SAND, 8 WOMEN, SWIMMING POOL, TIME TO LEAVE and IN THE HOUSE).  That said, he’s quite unpredictable and difficult to nail down as an auteur, and he’s made a couple magnificent clunkers, too.  Tone, themes and genres are often in flux, and this film lends itself to that sentiment quite well – as it’s his most accessible work.  Gorgeously shot in black and white, this post WWI story is about a German woman who meets the French man who has been visiting her fiancee’s grave.  The film is shrouded in mystery, and and to tell you more of the story is to reveal too much.  In both setting and a story with twists-and-turns, this film had me thinking of A VERY LONG ENGAGEMENT – a film that I admire much more than critics did.  This film has found American distribution with Music Box Films, and I hope the timing works for us to be able to bring it.

A MONSTER CALLS, directed by J.A. Bayona, was next on my list.  People may immediately want to dismiss a story about a pre-teen boy who is visited by a monster as being too fantastical or juvenile…but this lovely film connects and works on so many levels and is certainly not for children.  Dealing with repeated nightmares and constant fear of the declining health of his mother, the boy summons a monster who comes to tell him stories…and potentially save his mom (played by Felicity Jones).  Though I thought the film could use some trimming, it’s ultimately quite wonderful (albeit a challenge to market).

AMERICAN PASTORAL, the directorial debut of Ewan McGregor (based on the novel by Philip Roth), was my final film of the day.  With a story that spans from the late 40’s to the early 90’s, this beautifully shot and gorgeously art directed film stars McGregor and Jennifer Connelly.  Examining the breakdown of American society via looking at an American family who has to deal with the radicalization of a daughter who eventually becomes an underground terrorist, this film sadly falls a bit flat and didn’t live up to my hopes for the material.  Though the look of the film and the performances are solid, I came out feeling like the film never really hit the mark.

Tomorrow morning is an important one for me.  There are two tickets for Sunday that I really want to make sure I get for Monday – LOVING and LA LA LAND.  Wish me luck.

Thanks for reading,

Jonathan

TIFF 2016 – Day #1

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a-quiet-passion_poster_goldposter_com_1personal-shopper-poster

Hello Everyone.

With the pass that I have, I can screen as many “press/industry screenings” that I’d like during the festival.  That said, those screenings are just screenings.  It’s awesome to have the opportunity to see so many films with an audience, but part of the reason I come to a festival (people come for a variety of reasons) is to hear filmmakers talk about their craft.  Thus I have the opportunity to obtain two “public screening” tickets per day.  Public screenings are the fun, glamorous screenings where they roll out the red carpet and hold Q&A’s with directors, producers, screenwriters and actors. These tickets are only available two days in advance of each screening, so I find myself in line every day during the festival…usually before 7am.

This morning, I was out to obtain tickets for Barry Jenkins’ MOONLIGHT and a curated interview with Isabelle Huppert.  Both take place on Saturday…and I got both!

Then I was off to my first screening at 9:00am – Kenneth Lonergan’s MANCHESTER BY THE SEA.  This film had a lot of tonal qualities of Lonergan’s first feature – YOU CAN COUNT ON ME.  With a wonderful central performance by Casey Affleck (and a spectacularly touching small role by Michelle Williams), the story is about a man who seems to lead a rather thankless life of mundane routines (he’s a janitorial handy man for an apartment complex).  When he gets a call that his brother has passed away, he is forced to confront lingering pain from his past – told through a series of flashbacks.  Though I thought the film was a bit overscored, the drama really works and the story unfolds in a lovely way.  There were a couple moments of schtick that I thought seemed a bit out of place – but so is life.  I think this film will go far.

Olivier Assayas’ PERSONAL SHOPPER was next on my list.  This non-traditional ghost story had me teetering back and forth throughout…I was invested, I was raising my eyebrows, I was intrigued, I was disappointed…and then I ultimately was sold by the final 10 minutes.  Kristen Stewart gives a great performance as a woman who shops for high-end designer clothing and jewelry for a wealthy client who is always on the go.  She’s also a medium.  While trying to connect to the spirit world for a client, she’s also hoping to catch a sign from her recently deceased brother.  Assayas’ previous work included THE CLOUDS OF SILS MARIA (with Juliette Binoche as well as Stewart) and of my favorites from TIFF in 2008 – SUMMER HOURS.  This film won’t go down as one of my favorites, and I know many people will be quite disappointed, but I was a fan by the end.

The third film of the day for me was Terence Davies’ A QUIET PASSION – a film about Emily Dickinson starring Cynthia Nixon.  The film opens in a sort of parochial school.  A teacher asks students who have given themselves to Christ to go to one side and for students who are still working toward giving themselves to Christ to the other.  Left in the middle is one student – a young Emily Dickinson (at this point played by Emma Bell).  The dialog is sharp and thoughtful (one of the best strengths throughout the film), and the teacher eventually tell Dickinson, “You stand alone in your rebellion.” This telling line haunts the remainder of the film.  Though I found some filmmaking devices to be odd choices (one superimposed was particularly weird), it’s ultimately a thoughtful and visually stunning film with wonderful performances and some very funny moments due to razor sharp dialog.

The official “Opening Night Film” was a big Hollywood remake – THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN, directed by Antoine Fuqua (SOUTHPAW, BROOKLYN’S FINEST) and starring Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt, Ethan Hawke and many more.  Here’s the point that some of you might find disappointing…I left 20 minutes into the film.  (I almost never write about films that I don’t finish.)  I went to the Opening night with my friend Glenn Kiser – a great filmmaker who attended The Dayton LGBT Film Festival with his short film SABBATICAL.  We had “great” seats – very close to the stage…only paces from all of the stars and director.  The movie started an hour late and the speakers were above us – thus pushing the sound far behind us and bouncing off the back walls.  Having difficulty understanding any of the dialog, we decided to leave.  Not being a film I would seek out under any other circumstances, I wasn’t disappointed…it gave me a great opportunity to catch up with Glenn and finally grab dinner.

 

At the end of the day, I’ll simply say I’ve seen 3 films (and a dozen stars) so far.

Thanks for reading!

More soon,

Jonathan

TIFF 2016 – Arrival & Prep

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tiff_logo_cmykHello Everyone.

I made it to Toronto with minimal delays…and made my way to the Industry offices to pick up my credentials and begin the madness.  This is just an intro!  Watching movies actually starts tomorrow (Thursday, Sept. 8).

I always give myself a buffer day when traveling to Toronto for TIFF.  It can come in handy if you have flight delays, ridiculous lines in customs or you’re carrying an expired passport (that was a nightmare 2 years ago)…that extra day can make certain that you don’t miss any of the good stuff.

If all goes as planned, tomorrow will be a busy day with 4 films – including the splashy Opening Night film with a friend who I first met when he was a guest of The Dayton LGBT Film Festival.  If all goes as planned, tomorrow’s screenings include new work by Kenneth Lonergan, Terence Davies and Olivier Assayas.

In the next couple hours, I’ll grab a bite to eat, check into my apartment and continue to plan my schedule for the next 9 days.

Here are trailers for a few films I can’t wait to see:

Check back in Friday morning…that’s when I’ll have my Thursday wrap-up posted.

Thanks for reading!

Jonathan

SOUTHSIDE WITH YOU & New Chair Update at THE NEON

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maxresdefaultHello!

We opened SOUTHSIDE WITH YOU this weekend – the charming and inspiring film about Barack & Michelle Obama’s first date…and we still have HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE and INDIGNATION for a couple more days (Thursday will be your last chance to catch them at THE NEON).

Synopsis for SOUTHSIDE WITH YOU : From executive producer John Legend comes a charming and inspiring film about a wonderful couple. “Inspired by Barack and Michelle Obama’s first date, SOUTHSIDE WITH YOU recounts the eventful summer day in 1989 when a young law firm associate named Barack Obama (Parker Sawyers) tried to woo lawyer Michelle Robinson (Tika Sumpter) during a daylong date that took them from the Art Institute of Chicago to a screening of Spike Lee’s DO THE RIGHT THING to the site of their first kiss outside of an ice cream parlor.” (taken from Roadside Attractions) Click this LINK to visit the film’s official site.

YARN ticket sales have passed the threshold and the screening will move forward as planned! The Miami Valley Knitting Guild is bringing the film YARN to town on Wednesday, August 31 at 7:30. ” Meet the artists who are redefining the tradition of knit and crochet, bringing yarn out of the house and into the world. Reinventing our relationship with this colorful tradition, YARN weaves together wool graffiti artists, circus performers, and structural designers into a visually-striking look at the women who are making a creative stance while building one of modern art’s hottest trends.” Click this LINK to reserve your advanced ticket. If tickets remain, they will be available at our box office one hour before the screening.

“Join us for a special screening of 91%: A Film About Guns in America. A film collaboration between John Richie and Dayton Native Ian Cook. 91% is a documentary that examines U.S. gun policies with a focus on the background check system. 91% of Americans are for background checks on all gun sales, yet Congress continues to fail to close the loophole. Why is that and how does that undermine our public safety? The hour long film will be followed by a discussion afterwards. Please join us for this important event!” (taken from 91% press notes) This film will screen on Sunday, September 4 at 7:30, and tickets are now on sale at THE NEON’s box office – traditional ticket prices apply.

“NEON Lumbar Supporter” Update: Amazing news! We made our Goal!!! Replacing our 30 year-old chairs will cost us $50,000, and we hoped to raise at least half of that through your generous donations. As of this weekend, we have sold 113 chairs at $250 each! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!! You can read all about this project by clicking this LINK, and we’ll keep the campaign running until the end of August. Donations can be accepted on-line, but we can also take donations in person — where we’d love to chat with you about the new chairs and have you try out the samples in our lobby.

We’ve had many requests for the new film from Mike Birbiglia – DON’T THINK TWICE. I’m happy to let you know that this new comedy (rated “99% Fresh” on rottentomatoes) is slated to open Sept. 9!

EQUITY – a film about women on Wall Street – opens Friday!!

I’ll be heading to The Toronto International Film Festival again this year…and I’ll be there Sept. 7-17.  You can check in on all my screenings and parties and sightings by visiting www.mostmetro.com/tag/tiff 

Thanks so much for your continued support.
We hope to see you soon,
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Tuesday, Aug. 30 – Thursday, Sept. 1:

HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE (PG-13) 1 Hr 41 Min
Tuesday-Thursday (Aug 30-Sept 1): 5:20

INDIGNATION (R) 1 Hr 50 Min
Tuesday (Aug 30): 3:00, 7:45
Wednesday (Aug 31): 3:00
Thursday (Sept 1): 3:00, 7:45

SOUTHSIDE WITH YOU (PG-13) 1 hr 24 Min
Tuesday-Thursday (Aug 30-Sept 1): 3:00, 5:15, 7:30

YARN (NR) 1 Hr 16 Min
Wednesday (Aug 31): 7:30

COMING SOON:
(All Dates Are Tentative. Dates Often Move And Sometimes Disappear.)
Sept 2 – EQUITY
Sept 9 – DON’T THINK TWICE
Sept 16 – THE INNOCENTS
Sept 23 – COMPLETE UNKNOWN
Sept 23 – THE HOLLARS
Oct 7-9 – DAYTON LGBT FILM FEST
Oct 7 – BIRTH OF A NATION

ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS & Lots of Fun News at THE NEON!

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absolutely-fabulous-posterHello Everyone,

I’m sorry to say that TICKLED tanked this weekend…but interestingly, folks have loved it! (Some of our staffers have even said it’s one of their favorites we’ve shown this year.) If you still need to see it, Thursday will be your last chance to see it with us. We will hold MUSIC OF STRANGERS and DARK HORSE for one final week! On Thursday evening, we will open the highly anticipated comedy ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS – a film based on the beloved British sitcom. (On Friday, July 29, we’ll open Woody Allen’s latest – CAFE SOCIETY.)

Synopsis for ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS: “Edina and Patsy are still oozing glitz and glamor, living the high life they are accustomed to; shopping, drinking and clubbing their way around London’s trendiest hot-spots. Blamed for a major incident at an uber fashionable launch party, they become entangled in a media storm and are relentlessly pursued by the paparazzi. Fleeing penniless to the glamorous playground of the super-rich, the French Riviera, they hatch a plan to make their escape permanent and live the high life forever more!” (Fox Searchlight) Join us on Sunday afternoon at 12:50 & 3:00 (we’ll open at 11:30am) for AN ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS BUBBLY BRUNCH! We’ll have bottles of bubbly for sale and you can grab a bite from Pa’s Pork Foodtruck! Amelia Robinson & Alexis Larsen will be your “Patsy & Edina” for the afternoon – giving lots of fun prizes! (Many thanks to Lisa Grigsby of Dayton Most Metro for putting us in touch with Pa’s Pork!) Click this LINK to visit the film’s official website.

PUSH Dayton has rented our space to bring a one-time screening of TRAPPED to THE NEON on Thur, Aug. 4 at 7:30. “On June 27, 2016, the Supreme Court ruled in Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt, that restrictions on abortion clinics in Texas posed an undue burden on women seeking abortions. TRAPPED, a documentary by Dawn Porter, follows the struggles of the clinic workers and lawyers who are on the front lines of a battle to keep abortion safe and legal for millions of American women. US. reproductive health clinics are fighting to remain open. Since 2010, 288 TRAP (Targeted Regulations of Abortion Providers) laws have been passed by conservative state legislatures. Unable to comply with these far-reaching and medically unnecessary measures, clinics have taken their fight to the courts. What do these restrictions mean for the women of the United States? Their doctors? What’s the collateral damage when legislation plays politics with women’s health? PUSH (Professionals United for Sexual Health) is a Dayton-based advocacy group that raises funding and awareness for Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio.” Ticket details coming soon. Sponsored by Harmony Creek United Church of Christ, Drunk Think Tank, Blue Jacket Books, and Mark E. Owens, Dayton Clerk of Court.” Tickets are $5 each and are only available by clicking this LINK. If tickets remain, they will be available in our lobby one hour before the screening.

Local filmmaker Gino Pasi and his team are hosting a special screening of his new film on Thursday, August 11. “THE ARCHIVIST, a short-film written, produced, and directed by Pasi, tells the story of the brief and unusual relationship of Virginia Hirsch and Archie Vecchio, two people unable to forsake the past. The halcyon days of Virginia Hirsch’s youth are quickly fading no matter how hard she tries to hold on to them. For Archie Vechhio, history is much easier to navigate than the complicated present. When these two people meet, however, the past is buried and the present engaged. And both Virginia and Archie come to realize that living life to the fullest in the “here and now” means taking action – action that won’t come easy for either. Tickets available now at THE NEON’s box office for $5. One Time Only Public Showing! 9PM, Thursday, August 11, 2016.” (This film will screen earlier in the evening for invited guests.)

Our “NEON Lumbar Supporter” campaign is off to a pretty good start. Many thanks to those of you who have contributed to the cause! So far, we’ve “sold” 21 chairs toward our goal of 100. This project will cost us $50,000, and you can read all about it by clicking this LINK. Donations can be accepted on-line, but we can also take donations in person…we’d love to chat with you and have you try out the new sample chairs in our lobby.

Thanks so much for your continued support,
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Tuesday, July 19 – Thursday, July 28:

TICKLED (R) 1 Hr 32 Min
Tuesday-Wednesday (July 19-20): 3:10, 7:20
Thursday (July 21): 3:10
FINAL DAY – July 21!

DARK HORSE (PG) 1 Hr 25 Min
Tuesday-Thursday (July 19-21): 5:15
Friday, Saturday, Sunday (July 22-24): 5:00
Monday-Thursday (July 25-28): 5:20
FINAL DAY – July 28!

THE MUSIC OF STRANGERS (PG-13) 1 Hr 36 Min
Tuesday-Thursday (July 19-21): 3:00, 5:20, 7:40
Friday & Saturday (July 22 & 23): 12:30, 2:45, 7:20, 9:30
Sunday (July 24): 12:30, 2:45, 7:20
Monday-Thursday (July 25-28): 3:00, 7:40

ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS (R) 1 Hr 30 Min
Thursday (July 21 – Sneak Preview): 7:30
Friday & Saturday (July 22 & 23): 12:50, 3:00, 5:15, 7:30, 9:45
Sunday (July 24): 12:50, 3:00, 5:15, 7:30
Monday-Thursday (July 25-28): 3:00, 5:15, 7:30

COMING SOON:
(All Dates Are Tentative. Dates Often Move And Sometimes Disappear.)
July 29 – CAFE SOCIETY
Aug 5 – HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE
Aug 12 – EAT THAT QUESTION
Aug 19 – GLEASON
Aug 26 – OUR LITTLE SISTER
Sept 2 – EQUITY
Sept 23 – THE HOLLARS

Beloved DARK HORSE Opens Friday at THE NEON! WEINER and MAN WHO KNEW INFINITY Continue!

By

dark-horse-poster-lgHello Everyone,

We had a great holiday weekend at THE NEON. Thanks to everyone who came out. Though critics had luke-warm reviews of OUR KIND OF TRAITOR, many of our regulars truly enjoyed the film. In addition, THE MAN WHO KNEW INFINITY had a couple sell-outs over the weekend – it’s a film that has incredible word-of-mouth business. And then there’s WEINER – a documentary like you’ve never seen before. We will keep all three films for another week, and we’ll add a brand new film into the mix – DARK HORSE. This delightful documentary is currently rated “97% Fresh” on rottentomatoes.

Synopsis for DARK HORSE: “Set in a former mining village in Wales, DARK HORSE is the inspirational true story of a group of friends from a working men’s club who decide to take on the elite ‘sport of kings’ and breed themselves a racehorse. Raised on a slagheap allotment, their foal grows into an unlikely champion, beating the finest thoroughbreds in the land, before suffering a near fatal accident. Nursed back to health by the love of his owners – for whom he’s become a source of inspiration and hope – he makes a remarkable recovery, returning to the track for a heart-stopping comeback.” (Taken from Sony Classics) Click this LINK to visit the film’s official website.

 

Many thanks for everyone who came out to see CLOSET MONSTER last week. Though it wasn’t a sell-out, audience response was fantastic.  And I’m happy to report that we raised over $650 to send to victims’ families of the Orlando nightclub tragedy.

PUSH Dayton has rented our space to bring a one-time screening of TRAPPED to THE NEON on Thur, Aug. 4 at 7:30. “On June 27, 2016, the Supreme Court ruled in Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt, that restrictions on abortion clinics in Texas posed an undue burden on women seeking abortions. TRAPPED, a documentary by Dawn Porter, follows the struggles of the clinic workers and lawyers who are on the front lines of a battle to keep abortion safe and legal for millions of American women. US. reproductive health clinics are fighting to remain open. Since 2010, 288 TRAP (Targeted Regulations of Abortion Providers) laws have been passed by conservative state legislatures. Unable to comply with these far-reaching and medically unnecessary measures, clinics have taken their fight to the courts. What do these restrictions mean for the women of the United States? Their doctors? What’s the collateral damage when legislation plays politics with women’s health? PUSH (Professionals United for Sexual Health) is a Dayton-based advocacy group that raises funding and awareness for Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio.” Ticket details coming soon. Sponsored by Harmony Creek United Church of Christ, Drunk Think Tank, Blue Jacket Books, and Mark E. Owens, Dayton Clerk of Court.” Tickets are $5 each and are only available by clicking the official link above.

Local filmmaker Gino Pasi and his team are hosting a special screening of his new film on Thursday, August 11. “THE ARCHIVIST, a short-film written, produced, and directed by Pasi, tells the story of the brief and unusual relationship of Virginia Hirsch and Archie Vecchio, two people unable to forsake the past. The halcyon days of Virginia Hirsch’s youth are quickly fading no matter how hard she tries to hold on to them. For Archie Vechhio, history is much easier to navigate than the complicated present. When these two people meet, however, the past is buried and the present engaged. And both Virginia and Archie come to realize that living life to the fullest in the “here and now” means taking action – action that won’t come easy for either. Tickets available now at THE NEON’s box office or at the door the night of the showing for $5. One Time Only Public Showing! 9PM, Thursday, August 11, 2016.” (This film will screen earlier in the evening for invited guests.)

If you’re a FaceBook user and a fan of ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS, be sure to visit our FaceBook page…There’s a contest you’ll likely want to enter. (More AbFab contests to come!)

Next week, I will roll out our campaign to assist with installing brand new chairs at THE NEON. A handful of people have already mentioned that they’d like to help – and that makes me quite hopeful. If you’d like to become a “NEON Lumbar Supporter,” you’ll find out all about it in next week’s newsletter.

We hope to see you soon!
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Tuesday, July 5 – Thursday, July 14:

THE MAN WHO KNEW INFINITY (PG-13) 1 Hr 48 Min
Tuesday – Thursday (July 5-7): 3:00, 7:20
Friday, Saturday, Sunday (July 8-10): 3:00
Monday-Thursday (July 11-14): 5:15

WEINER (R) 1 Hr 36 Min
Tuesday – Thursday (July 5-7): 5:15
Friday, Saturday, Sunday (July 8-10): 5:00
Monday-Thursday (July 11-14): 5:20

OUR KIND OF TRAITOR (R) 1 Hr 47 Min
Tuesday – Thursday (July 5-7): 3:00, 5:20, 7:40
Friday & Saturday (July 8 & 9): 12:20, 2:40, 7:20, 9:40
Sunday (July 10): 12:20, 2:40, 7:20
Monday-Thursday (July 11-14): 3:00, 7:40

DARK HORSE (PG) 1 Hr 25 Min
Friday & Saturday (July 8 & 9): 12:50, 5:20, 7:30, 9:30
Sunday (July 10): 12:50, 5:20, 7:30
Monday-Thursday (July 11-14): 3:10, 7:30

COMING SOON:
(All Dates Are Tentative. Dates Often Move And Sometimes Disappear.)
July 15 – MUSIC OF STRANGERS
July 22 – ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS
July 29 – CAFE SOCIETY
TBD – CAPTAIN FANTASTIC
Aug 5 – HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE
Aug 12 – EAT THAT QUESTION
Aug 26 – OUR LITTLE SISTER
Sept 2 – EQUITY
Sept 23 – THE HOLLARS

One-Time CLOSET MONSTER Screening – Proceeds Benefit Orlando

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ep_closetmonster_onesheetx750

Dayton PRIDE will close out month-long events with the screening of the award-winning film CLOSET MONSTER…and 100% of the proceeds will go to victims’ families of the horrendous massacre in Orlando. “CLOSET MONSTER tells the story of Oscar Madly, a creative and driven teenager who hovers on the brink of adulthood. Destabilized by his dysfunctional parents, unsure of his sexuality, and haunted by horrific images of a tragic gay bashing he witnessed as a child, Oscar dreams of escaping the town he feels is suffocating him.” (taken from press notes) Tickets available now at THE NEON’s box office – just $8 each. (Editors Note: the showing for CLOSET MONSTER is Thurs, June 30th at 7:30pm)

THE NEON is located at 130 E. 5th St. in downtown Dayton.  The box office opens daily by 2:30 and by Noon on weekends. For additional information, call (937)222-8452 or visit THE NEON’s official site – www.neonmovies.com

 

 

 

Susan Sarandon in THE MEDDLER, SING STREET Continues + MADONNA at THE NEON!

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The_Meddler_-_PosterHello Everyone,

If you still need to see CITY OF GOLD, it won’t be at THE NEON much longer. It will only screen for one matinee per day over the weekend. On Friday, we will open a film that many of you will adore – THE MEDDLER – starring Susan Sarandon, Rose Byrne and a great supporting performance by J.K. Simmons. SING STREET is going to stick around for one more week! (If you’ve already seen this gem, please help us spread the word!)

Synopsis for THE MEDDLER: “With a new iPhone, an apartment near the Grove, and a comfortable bank account left to her by her beloved late husband, Marnie Minervini (Susan Sarandon) has happily relocated from New Jersey to LosAngeles to be near her daughter Lori (Rose Byrne), a successful (but still single) screenwriter, and smother her with motherly love. But when the dozens of texts, unexpected visits, and conversations dominated by unsolicited advice force Lori to draw strict personal boundaries, Marnie finds ways to channel her eternal optimism and forceful generosity to change the lives of others – as well as her own – and find a new purpose in life.” (Sony Pictures Classics) Click this LINK to visit the film’s official website.

I can hardly believe it, but the documentary TRUTH OR DARE is now 25 years old! Take a Holiday with Madonna and her entourage as we celebrate the film’s anniversary on the big screen…one of the great concert films of the past 30 years…and an incredibly important film to me when I first saw it at age 17! “This documentary chronicles Madonna’s controversial 1990 ‘Blonde Ambition’ international tour (which ROLLING STONE has recently called “the best concert tour of the 1990’s”). The film is a behind-the-scenes look at Madonna’s relationships with her dancers and crew, her then-boyfriend Warren Beatty, and her family and friends, achieving an intimate glimpse into the boundary-pushing singer’s drive and individuality.” Gene Siskel said it was “One of the best and most entertaining films of the year.” Come dressed as Madonna or wear your favorite Madonna T-shirt for discounts at the Concession Stand! Tickets are now on sale. TRUTH OR DARE will screen this Thursday, May 19 at 7:30 and Saturday, May 21 at 10pm.  Watch the original (“scandalous” albeit censored) trailer from 25 years ago:

“Massie Creek Paddlers and Tomfoolery Outdoors are pleased to announce the Dayton screening of THE REEL PADDLING FILM FESTIVAL WORLD TOUR. The festival is an international adventure film tour presenting the world’s best paddling films of the year – categories include: whitewater, sea kayaking, canoeing, SUP, action and lifestyle. Audiences will see hairy whitewater action, sea kayakers exploring remote coastlines, northern river canoe expeditions, international river travel films, motivating environmental documentaries, grueling kayak fishing battles and hilarious short films capturing the lighter side of paddling life. Join us on May 25 at 7:30 for the best paddling films of the year.” Tickets are $10 in advance and are only available at this LINK. If tickets remain on the day of the show, they will be $15 each and available at our box office one hour before showtime.

“LUNAFEST, a national festival of women’s films, comes to Dayton for the 7th time Sunday June 5 at 3:00 at THE NEON. The program features six award-winning short films that are international in scope, plus a short film by local filmmaker Aisha Ford. The films examine women’s stories told through the lens of women filmmakers in places ranging from Dayton, Ohio to the Philippines, Cuba and Iran. The diverse, thought-provoking stories for 2016 include challenges facing a woman boxer, a deaf woman dealing with cancer, the effects of drug addiction, raising a transgender child and more. Funds raised by this event will go to the Breast Cancer Fund and to Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio Region. Tickets are $10.00 ($5.00 for students) and donations over this amount are gratefully accepted. The event is sponsored nationally by Luna and locally by Dayton Women’s Rights Alliance & the Dayton chapter of the American Association of University Women. Tickets can be purchased in advance at THE NEON.” (taken from press notes) To read about each of this year’s films, visit this LINK. And here’s a trailer for Aisha Ford’s film WREN:

https://vimeo.com/149449892

Eric Totel has partnered with Tugg to hopefully bring the film RANGE 15 to town on Wednesday, June 15 at 7:30. As of this posting, they still need to sell 17 tickets in order to make the screening a reality. Here’s a synopsis: “A group of veterans wake up after a night of partying to find out that the zombie apocalypse has spread across the United States. Together, they must fight their way across the country in order to find a cure for the outbreak and restore freedom before it’s too late.” To watch a trailer and/or secure your ticket, visit this screening’s OFFICIAL PAGE. (If not enough tickets are reserved, the screening will not take place and your card will never be charged.)

If you were at THE NEON this weekend, you’ve already seen a sample of the chairs we’re hoping to purchase and install this September. Because we’re not a non-profit, I don’t like to seek or accept donations…but for this big project, we are going to ask for some assistance. (Interestingly, a couple people have approached me over the past year and asked how they might be able to help us financially – this is the way!) This June, I’ll start a campaign to help us raise a bit of extra money in order to make our auditoriums more comfortable for everyone – finally including our guests in wheelchairs. Stay tuned for updates!

Next week, we will bring Whit Stillman’s LOVE & FRIENDSHIP to town. This film is based on the novella LADY SUSAN by Jane Austen, and it is currently rated “100% Fresh” on rottentomatoes.com – a score that almost never happens! We will have a special sneak preview screening of the film on Thursday, May 26.

Thanks for your continued support.

See you soon!
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Tuesday, May 17- Thursday, May 26:

KRISHA (R) 1 Hr 23 Min
Tuesday – Thursday (May 17-19): 5:15
FINAL DAY – May 19!

CITY OF GOLD (R) 1 Hr 36 Min
Tuesday & Wednesday (May 17 &18): 3:00, 7:15
Thursday (May 19): 3:00
Friday, Saturday, Sunday (May 20-22): 12:30
FINAL DAY – May 22!

SING STREET (PG-13) 1 Hr 46 Min
Monday – Thursday (May 16-19): 3:10, 5:30, 7:50
Friday (May 20): 2:50, 5:10, 7:20, 9:40
Saturday – Wednesday (May 21-25): 2:50, 5:10, 7:20
Thursday (May 26): 2:50, 5:10

MADONNA: TRUTH OR DARE (R) 2 Hrs
Thursday (May 19): 7:30
Saturday (May 21): 10:00

THE MEDDLER (PG-13) 1 Hr 40 Min
Friday & Saturday (May 20 & 21): 12:45, 3:00, 5:15, 7:30, 9:45
Sunday (May 22): 12:45, 3:00, 5:15, 7:30
Monday & Tuesday (May 23 & 24): 3:00, 5:15, 7:30
Wednesday (May 25): 3:00, 5:15
Thursday (May 26): 3:00, 5:15, 7:30

LOVE & FRIENDSHIP (PG) 1 Hr 32 Min
Thursday (May 26) – Preview Screening – 7:30

COMING SOON:
(All Dates Are Tentative. Dates Often Move And Sometimes Disappear.)
May 27 – LOVE & FRIENDSHIP
TBD – A BIGGER SPLASH
June 10 – MAGGIE’S PLAN
June 17 – DARK HORSE
TBD – HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE
TBD – SWISS ARMY MAN
TBD – CAPTAIN FANTASTIC
July 22 – ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS
July 29 – CAFE SOCIETY

2 New Gems – CITY OF GOLD & KRISHA – Open Friday + Madonna’s TRUTH OR DARE Turns 25!

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getmovieposter_city_of_goldHello Everyone,

I just got back from a short, revitalizing vacation, and we’re ready to tackle the next several weeks (which are currently overbooked). If you still need to see MILES AHEAD or A HOLOGRAM FOR THE KING, you only have until Thursday to see them at THE NEON. Though audiences are loving SING STREET, I’m sad to say that it didn’t perform nearly as well as I had hoped. Though it will stick around, it won’t be here for long. On Friday, we will open 2 films that will likely only play for one week. First is a film that foodies and doc lovers will devour – CITY OF GOLD. Second is a film that won big awards at SXSW last year (and also played as part of the FilmDayton Festival – one of the best reviewed films of the year) – KRISHA.

Synopsis for CITY OF GOLD: “In this richly penetrating documentary odyssey, Pulitzer Prize-winning food critic Jonathan Gold shows us a Los Angeles where ethnic cooking is a kaleidoscopic portal to the mysteries of an unwieldy city and the soul of America. Combing through colorful neighborhoods in his green pickup truck, Gold is sniffing out his next strip-mall discovery-whether Oaxacan grasshopper soup, hand-cut tonkotsu ramen, or a particularly unctuous pad see ew. As piping-hot platters are served up, so are stories of immigrants whose secret family recipes are like sacred offerings pledged for the opportunity to build their American Dream. With eternal curiosity, razor-sharp intellect, and existential longing, Gold is a culinary geographer taking us where no critic has gone before.” Click this LINK to visit the film’s official website.

Synopsis for KRISHA: One of the best reviewed films of the year and a big winner from last year’s SXSW Film Festival! ONE WEEK ONLY! “When Krisha shows up at her sister’s Texas home on Thanksgiving morning, her close and extended family greet her with a mixture of warmth and wariness. Almost immediately, a palpable unease permeates the air, one which only grows in force as Krisha gets to work cooking the turkey and trying to make up for lost time by catching up with her various relatives, chief among them her nephew, Trey. As Krisha’s attempts at reconciliation become increasingly rebuffed, tension and suspicion reach their peak, with long-buried secrets and deep-seated resentments coming to the fore as everyone becomes immersed in an emotionally charged familial reckoning.” Click this LINK to visit the film’s official website.

It’s almost time for our Madonna celebration. I can hardly believe it, but the documentary MADONNA: TRUTH OR DARE is now 25 years old! Take a Holiday with Madonna and her entourage as we celebrate the film’s anniversary on the big screen…one of the great concert films of the past 30 years…and an incredibly important film to me when I first saw it at age 17! “This documentary chronicles Madonna’s controversial 1990 ‘Blonde Ambition’ international tour (which ROLLING STONE has recently called “the best concert tour of the 1990’s”). The film is a behind-the-scenes look at Madonna’s relationships with her dancers and crew, her then-boyfriend Warren Beatty, and her family and friends, achieving an intimate glimpse into the boundary-pushing singer’s drive and individuality.” Gene Siskel said it was “One of the best and most entertaining films of the year.” Come dressed as Madonna or wear your favorite Madonna T-shirt for discounts at the Concession Stand! Tickets are now on sale. TRUTH OR DARE will screen Thursday, May 19 at 7:30 and Saturday, May 21 at 10pm.

“Massie Creek Paddlers and Tomfoolery Outdoors are pleased to announce the Dayton screening of THE REEL PADDLING FILM FESTIVAL WORLD TOUR. The festival is an international adventure film tour presenting the world’s best paddling films of the year – categories include: whitewater, sea kayaking, canoeing, SUP, action and lifestyle. Audiences will see hairy whitewater action, sea kayakers exploring remote coastlines, northern river canoe expeditions, international river travel films, motivating environmental documentaries, grueling kayak fishing battles and hilarious short films capturing the lighter side of paddling life. Join us on May 25 at 7:30 for the best paddling films of the year.” Tickets are $10 in advance and are only available at this LINK. If tickets remain on the day of the show, they will be $15 each and available at our box office one hour before showtime.

“LUNAFEST, a national festival of women’s films, comes to Dayton for the 7th time Sunday June 5 at 3:00 at THE NEON. The program features six award-winning short films that are international in scope, plus a short film by local filmmaker Aisha Ford. The films examine women’s stories told through the lens of women filmmakers in places ranging from Dayton, Ohio to the Philippines, Cuba and Iran. The diverse, thought-provoking stories for 2016 include challenges facing a woman boxer, a deaf woman dealing with cancer, the effects of drug addiction, raising a transgender child and more. Funds raised by this event will go to the Breast Cancer Fund and to Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio Region. Tickets are $10.00 ($5.00 for students) and donations over this amount are gratefully accepted. The event is sponsored nationally by Luna and locally by Dayton Women’s Rights Alliance & the Dayton chapter of the American Association of University Women. Tickets can be purchased in advance at THE NEON.” (taken from press notes) To read about each of this year’s films, visit this LINK. A trailer for Aisha Ford’s film WREN can be viewed below.

https://vimeo.com/149449892

Eric Totel has partnered with Tugg to hopefully bring the film RANGE 15 to town on Wednesday, June 15 at 7:30. As of this email, they still need to sell 22 tickets in order to make the screening a reality. Here’s a synopsis: “A group of veterans wake up after a night of partying to find out that the zombie apocalypse has spread across the United States. Together, they must fight their way across the country in order to find a cure for the outbreak and restore freedom before it’s too late.” To watch a trailer and/or secure your ticket, visit this screening’s OFFICIAL PAGE. (If not enough tickets are reserved, the screening will not take place and your card will never be charged.)

Next week, we plan to bring Susan Sarandon’s new film THE MEDDLER to town – a film that Rex Reed called “Charming, Insightful and Funny.”

Thanks for your continued support.

See you soon!
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Tuesday, May 10- Thursday, May 19:

MILES AHEAD (R) 1 Hr 40 Min
Tuesday – Thursday (May 10-12): 5:10
FINAL DAY – May 12!

A HOLOGRAM FOR THE KING (R) 1 Hr 37 Min
Tuesday (May 10): 2:50
Wednesday (May 11): 2:50, 7:30
Thursday (May 12): 2:50
FINAL DAY – May 12!

SING STREET (PG-13) 1 Hr 46 Min
Tuesday – Thursday (May 10-12): 3:10, 5:30, 7:50
Friday & Saturday (May 13 & 14): 12:30, 2:50, 5:10, 7:30, 9:45
Sunday (May 15): 12:30, 2:50, 5:10, 7:30
Monday – Thursday (May 16-19): 3:10, 5:30, 7:50

CITY OF GOLD (R) 1 Hr 36 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday (May 13-15): 12:50, 3:00, 7:15
Monday – Wednesday (May 16-18): 3:00, 7:15
Thursday (May 19): 3:00

KRISHA (R) 1 Hr 23 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday (May 13-15): 5:15, 9:30
Monday – Thursday (May 16-19): 5:15

MADONNA: TRUTH OR DARE (R) 2 Hrs
Thursday (May 19): 7:30

COMING SOON:
(All Dates Are Tentative. Dates Often Move And Sometimes Disappear.)
May 20 – THE MEDDLER
May 27 – LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP
TBD – A BIGGER SPLASH
TBD – THE CONGRESSMAN
June 10 – MAGGIE’S PLAN
June 17 – DARK HORSE
TBD – HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE
TBD – SWISS ARMY MAN
TBD – CAPTAIN FANTASTIC
July 22 – ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS
July 29 – CAFE SOCIETY