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127 hours

The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet’s Nest & Other Great NEON News!

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THIS JUST IN!!!  BLACK SWAN has moved up!  It will now open on December 17th (instead of the 22nd)!

Hello Everyone.

First off, I need to let you know that FAIR GAME will have its last day at THE NEON on Thursday. Folks have been loving this film, but attendance fell drastically this weekend…so it has to go. For remaining showtimes, please visit our website. 127 HOURS will stick around.

Before I move forward with more of this week’s news, I’m delighted to let you know that we have managed to book a film that is destined to be a huge hit with us. THE KING’S SPEECH, which I saw and adored in Toronto, is currently scheduled to open on Dec. 25th. Between KING’S SPEECH and BLACK SWAN, all signs are good that we’ll end 2010 on a fantastic note!

On Friday, we open a film that has already garnered a following. The third and final installment about the girl with the dragon tattoo – THE GIRL WHO KICKED A HORNET’S NEST – “is positively soul-satisfying,” writes Kirk Honeycutt of The Hollywood Reporter. “The movie features a great finish, where three movies’ worth of subplots and characters dovetail into a breathtaking climax and final confrontation…”

Synopsis for THE GIRL WHO KICKED A HORNET’S NEST: “In this last installment, Lisbeth Salander (Noomi Rapace) lies in critical condition, a bullet wound to her head, in the intensive care unit of a Swedish city hospital. She’s fighting for her life in more ways than one: if and when she recovers, she’ll be taken back to Stockholm to stand trial for three murders. With the help of her friend, journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Michael Nyqvist), she will not only have to prove her innocence, but also identify and denounce those in authority who have allowed the vulnerable, like herself, to suffer abuse and violence. And, on her own, she will plot revenge – against the man who tried to kill her, and the corrupt government institutions that very nearly destroyed her life.” (Music Box Films) OFFICIAL WEBSITE

Please be certain to pay close attention to showtimes. Due to recent trends and the duration of our upcoming attractions, showtimes are not the same from day to day. Sunday through Thursday will not have late screenings. (Upcoming showtimes are listed below.)

The Children’s Holiday Film Series is already underway, and the snow last Saturday seemed to cement the idea that the holidays are upon us! Films are FREE for children 12 and under…and only $2 for adults. This week’s selection has become a holiday favorite for many!
Here’s what’s left:
Dec. 11 at Noon – ELF (comedy starring Will Ferrell)
Dec. 18 at Noon – THE GRINCH (the beloved Dr. Seuss tale starring Jim Carrey)

Most of you who frequent THE NEON know Diana – she’s our assistant manager who is responsible for the beautiful menu boards in our concession area. Way above and beyond her inventory duties, Diana decided to come up with a delicious menu of holiday drinks – ranging from traditional Eggnog (*spiked, of course*) to Candy Cane Hot Cocoa. Check out the special menu during your next visit.

Lastly, we have a special treat for those of you looking to give NEON gift certificates this holiday season. For every $50 of gift certificates you purchase, you will receive a free bag of Candy Cane Granola. This delicious, locally made snack was recently sampled by the staff…and quickly became a favorite. Loaded with peppermint schnapps, white chocolate, dried cranberries and almonds, you might end up keeping this treat for yourself.

We hope to see you very soon.

Take care,
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for December 10 – December 16:

127 HOURS (R) 1 Hr 34 Min
Friday: 12:50, 3:00, 5:10, 7:20, 9:30
Saturday: 3:00, 5:10, 7:20, 9:30
Sunday: 12:50, 3:00, 5:10, 7:30
Monday – Thursday: 3:00, 5:10, 7:30

THE GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNET’S NEST (R) 2 Hr 27 Min
Friday & Saturday: 1:00, 4:00, 7:00, 9:45
Sunday – Thursday: 2:20, 5:10, 8:00

ELF (PG) 1 Hr 37 Min
Saturday: 12:00 (noon)

COMING SOON:
As always, all dates are tentative. Some of these dates will change.

Dec. 17 BLACK SWAN
Dec. 25 THE KING’S SPEECH
Jan. 14 MADE IN DAGENHAM
TBD: RABBIT HOLE, TAMARA DREWE & SOMEWHERE

Holiday Film Series & More at THE NEON

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Hello Everyone.

This newsletter will be short and sweet. We’ve got 2 great films…and they’re both performing very well…so they’re gonna stick around. 127 HOURS and FAIR GAME were a great mix for us over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. If you still need to see either one, hurry on down!

The Downtown Holiday Festival will begin this year’s Children’s Holiday Film Series on Saturday! Films are FREE for children 12 and under…and only $2 for adults. This week’s selection is a film that is absolute magic on the big screen. Though not often thought of as a holiday film, MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS is a perfect film for the whole family – and how can you go wrong with Judy Garland singing the bittersweet American standard “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas?”
Here’s the full line-up:
Dec. 4 at Noon – MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS (“Clang, clang, clang went the trolley…”)
Dec. 11 at Noon – ELF (comedy starring Will Ferrell)
Dec. 18 at Noon – THE GRINCH (the beloved Dr. Seuss tale starring Jim Carrey)

December 1st  was World AIDS Day…a day to reflect on the lives of those who have passed from HIV/AIDS complications…and a day to remember that the fight isn’t over. New cases, especially in young demographics, are on the rise. THE RUBI GIRLS, known for their work with various HIV/AIDS charities, have unveiled their 2011 wall calendar – and they’re now available in our lobby. Calendars are just $20 each, and 100% of that amount will go to charities in the Miami Valley. If you still need a 2011 calendar…or you’re looking for a fun, unique gift…check out the calendar next time you’re here. Last year’s edition sold out, and this year’s edition is even more wonderful! If you’re an out-of-town subscriber to this newsletter, you can always visit www.arcohio.org to buy your calendar on-line – where 100% stays with AIDS Resource Center Ohio.
Special thanks to those of you who wrote to me upon hearing the story about The Rubi Girls during “All Things Considered” on WYSO.

We hope to see you very soon.

Take care,
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for December 3 – December 9:

127 HOURS (R) 1 Hr 34 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:50, 3:00, 5:10, 7:20, 9:30
Monday – Thursday: 3:00, 5:10, 7:20, 9:30

FAIR GAME (PG-13) 1 Hr 48 Min
Friday: 12:20, 2:40, 5:00, 7:30, 9:45
Saturday: 2:50, 5:00, 7:30, 9:45
Sunday: 12:20, 2:40, 5:00, 7:30, 9:45
Monday – Thursday: 2:40, 5:00, 7:30, 9:45

MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS (NR) 1 Hr 54 Min
Saturday: 12:00 (noon)

COMING SOON:
As always, all dates are tentative. Some of these dates will change.

Dec. 10 THE GIRL WHO KICKED A HORNET’S NEST      Dec. 17 TAMARA DREW
Dec. 22 BLACK SWAN    Dec. 25 THE KING’S SPEECH     Jan. 14 MADE IN DAGENHAM

TBD: RABBIT HOLE

Film Review – 127 Hours

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127 Hours

I haven’t been forced to look away while watching a movie since the frat boys eating dog semen-filled donuts scene from “Van Wilder” nearly made me vomit in 2002. Like I’m sure most members of the modest afternoon Neon Movies crowd seeing “127 Hours” on the Friday after Thanksgiving, I was familiar with the Aron Ralston story and expected that the inevitable self-amputation scene might force my eyes away from the screen for the first time in eight years of steady movie going.

I was also concerned that a movie about a hiker/rock climber getting stuck in a canyon for five days, only to free himself by hacking off his own right arm, might be mostly dull, then needlessly gruesome. I’d imagine director Danny Boyle (“Slumdog Millionaire,” “Sunshine”) might have shared those concerns. It turned out that James Franco’s (“Milk,” “General Hospital”) portrayal of Ralston’s five days in the canyon were actually quite entertaining and endearing because Franco does a terrific job conveying Ralston’s humanity, humor, and most importantly, his will to live.

Ultimate Solitude

Ralston is a self-sufficient nature lover and adventurer who was as much in search of solitude as natural beauty. When, while hiking in Utah, Ralston falls down a narrow canyon and gets his right arm pinned between a boulder and the canyon wall, he is forced into solitude for five days, all the while contemplating how his independent, possibly selfish personality may have as much to do with his agonizing predicament as does the rock that keeps him from leaving the canyon.

Because the Ralston story received such attention, the audience knows that he must amputate his right arm in order to free himself and avoid dying in the canyon. Of course, cutting off his own arm was not Ralston’s first attempt at escape and because Franco’s Ralston is so easy to root for, I found myself foolishly hoping that he’d be able to chip away enough of the boulder with his pocketknife to escape, or that the pulley system he fashioned would do the trick, or that the flash flood that loosened the boulder was reality and not just a hallucination brought on by exhaustion and despair.

By the time Ralston is forced to accept the fact that he must cut off his own arm or die, I knew that my eyes would be glued to the screen during the amputation. At that point, the audience is so invested in Ralston’s survival, I’m sure I was not alone in thinking that it’d be insulting to Franco’s performance and Aron Ralston himself to look away. And, while the amputation scene is graphic and difficult to watch, I found it more an emotional display of Ralston’s intense need to survive, rather than shock and awe gore.

The Real Aron Ralston

Like many of the best movies made, “127 Hours” is only showing in Dayton at The Neon. If you’re considering seeing “127 Hours” but are concerned about being able to make it through the amputation scene without fainting, just know that it’s more beautiful than grotesque and that The Neon, as always, has alcoholic beverages available.

127 HOURS & FAIR GAME – A Great Combo at THE NEON

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Hello Everyone.

We’ve cleaned house…and have moved into awards season – hopefully a busy time for us.
We have just opened the region’s premiere engagement of Danny Boyle’s new film starring James Franco – 127 HOURS (which you’ll be hearing more about come Oscar time). This film has been given a 100% review by Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, USA Today, Chicago-Sun Times, and many more.
Don’t miss this incredible, gripping film on the big screen.

In addition, we opened the new thriller FAIR GAME – starring Naomi Watts and Sean Penn. Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly wrote that this film “gets you riled up all over again at a deeply unpatriotic abuse of power.” J.R. Jones of Chicago Reader wrote that the film is “easily the best fact-based Hollywood political thriller since ALL THE PRESIDENT’S MEN.”

Synopsis for 127 HOURS: “127 HOURS is the true story of mountain climber Aron Ralston’s remarkable adventure to save himself after a fallen boulder crashes on his arm and traps him in an isolated canyon in Utah. Over the next five days Ralston examines his life and survives the elements to finally discover he has the courage and the wherewithal to extricate himself by any means necessary, scale a 65 foot wall and hike over eight miles… Throughout his journey, Ralston recalls friends, lovers, family, and the two hikers he met before his accident. Will they be the last two people he ever had the chance to meet?” (taken from Fox Searchlight Pictures) Directed by SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE’s Danny Boyle.
http://www.foxsearchlight.com/127hours/


Synopsis for FAIR GAME: “Valerie Plame and her husband face the fallout when her cover is blown as a covert CIA agent. Plame’s status as a CIA agent was revealed by White House officials allegedly out to discredit her husband after he wrote a 2003 New York Times op-ed piece saying that the Bush administration had manipulated intelligence about weapons of mass destruction to justify the invasion of Iraq.” (taken from Fandango)
http://www.fairgame-movie.com/


The Downtown Holiday Festival has announced The Children’s Holiday Film Series for this year! Films are FREE for children 12 and under…and only $2 for adults.
Dec. 4 at Noon – MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS (the gorgeous Judy Garland classic which introduced the American standard “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”)
Dec. 11 at Noon – ELF (comedy starring Will Ferrell)
Dec. 18 at Noon – THE GRINCH (the beloved Dr. Seuss tale starring Jim Carrey)

THE RUBI GIRLS have unveiled their 2011 wall calendar, and they’re now available in our lobby. Calendars are just $20 each, and 100% of that amount will go to charities in the Miami Valley. If you still need a 2011 calendar…or you’re looking for a fun, unique gift…check out the calendar next time you’re here. Last year’s edition sold out, and this year’s edition is even more wonderful!

Over the past several years, we’ve built a following of loyal, NEON customers…and we’re very thankful for your support and interest in our programing. Thank You so much!
Being that we’re open 365 days a year, we thought we should spread our thanks to folks who come out on Thanksgiving (this will be my 10th year that I’ll be here on Thanksgiving). If you come to THE NEON to see a movie on Thanksgiving Day, mention this newsletter for a free small popcorn.

We hope to see you very soon.

Take care & Happy Thanksgiving,
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for November 24 – December 2:

127 HOURS (R) 1 Hr 34 Min
Wednesday & Thursday (11/24 & 25): 3:00, 5:10, 7:20, 9:30
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:50, 3:00, 5:10, 7:20, 9:30
Monday – Wednesday: 3:00, 5:10, 7:20, 9:30
Thursday: 3:00, 7:20, 9:30

FAIR GAME (PG-13) 1 Hr 48 Min
Wednesday & Thursday (11/24 & 25): 2:40, 5:00, 7:30, 9:45
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:20, 2:40, 5:00, 7:30, 9:45
Monday – Wednesday: 2:40, 5:00, 7:30, 9:45
Thursday:7:30, 9:45

COMING SOON:
As always, all dates are tentative. Some of these dates will change.

Dec. 10 THE GIRL WHO KICKED A HORNET’S NEST
Dec. 17 TAMARA DREW
Dec. 22 BLACK SWAN
Dec. 24 MADE IN DAGENHAM
TBD: THE KING’S SPEECH & RABBIT HOLE

Big Film Announcements at The Neon – Fair Game, 127 Hours and More!

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Hello Everyone.

Within the next several days, we will open 2 films that have garnered 100% reviews from numerous critics.  First off (only guaranteed to play for 5 days!!) is LEBANON.  This film will open on Friday and has been given a 100% review by Entertainment Weekly, Chicago Tribune, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, and many more!  Hurry down!

Next Wednesday (Nov. 24), we will have the region’s premiere engagement of Danny Boyle’s new film starring James Franco – 127 HOURS (which you’ll be hearing more about come Oscar time).  This film has been given a 100% review by Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, USA Today, Chicago-Sun Times, and many more.  Don’t miss this incredible, gripping film on the big screen.

THIS JUST IN!!    I started typing this e-mail on Wednesday evening, but I decided to hold off sending it because we were asked to consider opening another film within the next couple weeks.  As it turns out, it’s coming even sooner…we’ve got another film set to open on November 24 – the new thriller FAIR GAME – starring Naomi Watts and Sean Penn.   Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly wrote that this film “gets you riled up all over again at a deeply unpatriotic abuse of power.”  J.R. Jones of Chicago Reader wrote that the film is “easily the best fact-based Hollywood political thriller since ALL THE PRESIDENT’S MEN.”

Synopsis for LEBANON: “A handful of soldiers take a claustrophobic journey into the heart of war in this drama from Israeli writer and director Samuel Maoz.  It’s June 1982, and Israel is launching an invasion of Lebanon. Four men assigned to take part in the first strike are put on the same tank detail…After being given their orders, the men set out toward the Lebanese border, recognizing little of what goes on outside beyond what can be seen through a tiny window; they occasionally stop to help fellow Israelis hurt in battle, but for the most part, they roll relentlessly onward, occasionally arguing amongst themselves, until they arrive at their destination, a town already bombed into rubble by the Israeli Air Force. Few of their allies remain in the city, putting the soldiers in a perilous situation when a band of Syrian resistance fighters lays siege to the tank.”  (Mark Deming, All Movie Guide)
VISIT OFFICIAL WEBSITE


Synopsis for 127 HOURS: “127 HOURS is the true story of mountain climber Aron Ralston’s remarkable adventure to save himself after a fallen boulder crashes on his arm and traps him in an isolated canyon in Utah. Over the next five days Ralston examines his life and survives the elements to finally discover he has the courage and the wherewithal to extricate himself by any means necessary, scale a 65 foot wall and hike over eight miles… Throughout his journey, Ralston recalls friends, lovers, family, and the two hikers he met before his accident. Will they be the last two people he ever had the chance to meet?” (taken from Fox Searchlight Pictures)  Directed by SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE’s Danny Boyle.
VISIT OFFICIAL WEBSITE


Synopsis for FAIR GAME: “Valerie Plame and her husband face the fallout when her cover is blown as a covert CIA agent. Plame’s status as a CIA agent was revealed by White House officials allegedly out to discredit her husband after he wrote a 2003 New York Times op-ed piece saying that the Bush administration had manipulated intelligence about weapons of mass destruction to justify the invasion of Iraq.” (taken from Fandango)
VISIT OFFICIAL WEBSITE

The Downtown Holiday Festival has announced The Children’s Holiday Film Series for this year!  Films are FREE for children 12 and under…and only $2 for adults.
Dec. 4 at Noon – MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS (the gorgeous Judy Garland classic which introduced the American standard “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”)
Dec. 11 at Noon – ELF (comedy starring Will Ferrell)
Dec. 18 at Noon – THE GRINCH (the beloved Dr. Seuss tale starring Jim Carrey)

THE RUBI GIRLS have unveiled their 2011 wall calendar, and they’re now available in our lobby.  Calendars are just $20 each, and 100% of that amount will go to charities in the Miami Valley.  If you still need a 2011 calendar…or you’re looking for a fun, unique gift…check out the calendar next time you’re here.  Last year’s edition sold out, and this year’s edition is even more wonderful!
We hope to see you very soon.
Take care,
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for November 19 – November 23:

WAITING FOR SUPERMAN (PG) 111 minutes
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:30, 2:50, 5:10, 7:30, 9:45
Monday & Tuesday: 2:50, 5:00, 7:30, 9:45

INSIDE JOB (PG-13) 108 Minutes
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:40, 5:00, 7:20, 9:40
Monday, Tuesday: 5:00, 7:20, 9:40

LEBANON (R) 1 Hr 33 Min
Friday – Tuesday: 3:00

SHOWTIMES for November 24 – November 25:

127 HOURS (R) 1 Hr 34 Min
Wednesday & Thursday: 3:00, 5:10, 7:20, 9:30

FAIR GAME (PG-13) 1 Hr 48 Min
Wednesday & Thursday: 2:40, 5:00, 7:30, 9:45

COMING SOON:
As always, all dates are tentative.  Some of these dates will change.
Dec. 3 or 10  THE GIRL WHO KICKED A HORNET’S NEST
Dec. 17   TAMARA DREW
Dec. 22  BLACK SWAN
Dec. 24   MADE IN DAGENHAM
TBD:  THE KING’S SPEECH & RABBIT HOLE

WAITING FOR SUPERMAN and the Young John Lennon biopic

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Hello Everyone.

2 new films open this Friday at THE NEON.  We’ve had more calls about WAITING FOR SUPERMAN than any other film in recent months, and NOWHERE BOY – a film about the young John Lennon – is certainly a crowd-pleaser. We hope you’re making plans to see us this weekend!

Synopsis for WAITING FOR SUPERMAN: “Filmmaker Davis Guggenheim reminds us that education “statistics” have names: Anthony, Francisco, Bianca, Daisy, and Emily, whose stories make up the engrossing foundation of WAITING FOR SUPERMAN. As he follows a handful of promising kids through a system that inhibits, rather than encourages, academic growth, Guggenheim undertakes an exhaustive review of public education, surveying “drop-out factories” and “academic sinkholes,” methodically dissecting the system and its seemingly intractable problems.” (Sundance Film Festival) http://www.waitingforsuperman.com/

Synopsis for NOWHERE BOY: “The drama tells the story of Lennon’s teenage years and the start of his journey to becoming a successful musician. The story also examines the impact on his early life and personality of the two dominant females in his childhood – his Aunt Mimi, and his mother, Julia. In addition, the film shows the first meeting of Lennon with future Beatle Paul McCartney, and the development of their friendship and musical partnership. British actor Aaron Johnson portrays Lennon, and Thomas Brodie Sangster plays Paul McCartney. Aunt Mimi is portrayed by Kristin Scott Thomas and Anne-Marie Duff plays Julia.” (Wikipedia)  http://nowhereboy.com

Only 2 films left in Living City’s Festival! Here are the remaing films in the Jeff Bridges retrospective:
THUNDERBOLT AND LIGHTFOOT (sponsored by Jeff Martin Florist) – Nov. 8 at 7PM
RANCHO DELUXE (sponsored by CityWide Development) – Nov. 15 at 7PM
Single tickets will be $8 each available before each show.

The Ohio Liberty Film Festival starts next week at multiple venues. This is the second year for the festival, and more information can be found by clicking  http://www.ohiolibertyfilmfestival.com/aboutthefestival.htm.  The Liberty Film Fest ia a “…celebration of freedom and liberty. The underlying idea is that man’s great achievements, whether artistic, scientific or intellectual, have come about through the exercise of freedom and opportunity. The intent will be to showcase films that show the positive use of freedom, and also the negative outcomes and conditions related to the suppression of freedom.” (taken from Liberty Film Fest’s website)

Films screening at THE NEON are:
RESCUE DAWN – Thursday, November 11 at 2:30pm
THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES – Thursday, November 11 at 7:30
ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST – Sunday, November 14 at 2:30

On Thursday, November 18 at 8PM, New York director Gary Beeber (a Dayton native) will bring his movie DIRTY MARTINI AND THE NEW BURLESQUE to town – “a feature-length, independent documentary that explores the outrageous world of the performers who created the ‘new burlesque’ scene in New York City. Get to know Miss Dirty Martini and her friends Julie Atlas Muz, World-Famous *BOB*, Bambi the Mermaid, Tigger!, Scotty the Blue Bunny, and many other cult stars. The movie’s seductiveness comes from its sexy acts as well as its dark exploration of the performers’ struggle to pay their bills, quest for stable love relationships and inability to envision the future after burlesque. The relationship between sex work, burlesque and feminism are discussed. As a classically trained dancer, Dirty Martini has struggled since childhood to overcome criticism of her size. Like Bette Midler, she began her career as part of the downtown drag scene where she
was accepted for her talent. She went on to develop her act in the East Village drag clubs where the gay community appreciated her glamour and kitsch.
Dirty Martini redefines female beauty and allows other women, of all shapes and sizes, to feel uninhibited in expressing their raw sexuality.” (taken from press notes) In addition to the documentary, Beeber is also rounding up regional Burlesque stars to put on a show for attendees. More details will be available in the coming days, but for now you can check out a teaser trailer by clicking  HERE.  Advanced tickets for this event will cost $15 – and will be available this weekend at THE NEON’s box office. Tickets on the day of the show will be $20.

We hope to see you very soon.

Take care,
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for November 5 – November 11:

WAITING FOR SUPERMAN (PG) 111 minutes
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:30, 2:50, 5:10, 7:30, 9:45
Monday – Thursday: 2:50, 5:10, 7:30, 9:45

NOWHERE BOY (R) 98 Minutes
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:40, 2:45, 5:00, 7:20, 9:30
Monday: 2:45, 5:00, 9:30
Tuesday & Wednesday: 2:45, 5:00, 7:20, 9:30
Thursday: 5:00

THUNDERBOLT & LIGHTFOOT (R) 115 minutes (Living City)
Monday: 7:00

RESCUE DAWN (R) 126 Minutes (Liberty Film Fest)
Thursday: 2:30

THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES (NR) 172 Minutes
Thursday: 7:30

COMING SOON:
As always, all dates are tentative. Some of these dates will change.

Nov. 12 INSIDE JOB & LEBANON
Nov. 19 TAMARA DREW
Nov. 24 127 HOURS
TBD This Fall: THE GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNET’S NEST
Dec. 24 MADE IN DAGENHAM
Dec. 24 BLACK SWAN
TBD: THE KING’S SPEECH & RABBIT HOLE

Toronto – THE FILMS – Day #8

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It was a great day – My last full day of films…capped off with a couple beers with old and new friends.  I write this entry with mixed feelings.  I love Toronto and would love screening movies and running from event to event all the time, but I’m also exhausted and want to sleep in my own bed.

First off, I saw 127 HOURS – the new film from Danny Boyle (director of MILLIONS and SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE) starring James Franco.  This film about a rock climber who gets his arm trapped by a rock – and subsequently spends the next 127 hours alone with little in the way of rations – is an engaging and touching film.  Franco does an incredible job – as he is in about 98% of the film.  It might sound a bit monotonous, but in the hands of Boyle, the film is fresh, vivid and gripping.  WARNING…this film has a scene that is absolutely not for the faint of heart – some have fainted at recent screenings.

Next up, I saw THAT GIRL WITH YELLOW BOOTS – and Indian film about a mixed-race girl who is on a quest to find her never-seen father in India.  While searching, she takes up massage training and earns extra money by providing massages (often with extras) for all kinds of men.  Though well-told and well-shot, I was never entirely engaged in this film.  Some of the characters seems a bit trite & flat, and I was often disappointed in the decisions the main character made (she seemed so gutsy – yet continued to allow herself to be in bad situations).  (There was also a device used at the end that I felt was “unfair” to the audience.)  That said, the film did take unexpected turns – so I give it credit for not being predictable.

Lastly, I saw 3 (THREE) – the new film from Tom Tykwer – director of RUN LOLA RUN and PERFUME.  This new film deals with the relationship of a man and woman who have been together for several years.  Their relationship isn’t bad, it’s just that they’ve become more like siblings than lovers.  Through the course of the film, they each meet a man (the same man – though unbeknownst to the other) who awakens a part of their souls.  This film is provocative, sexy, and quite modern – albeit a bit “busy” and “cluttered” at time.  Ultimately, it was a great way to end the fest.  (Tykwer did a Q&A after the screening…and he repeatedly talked about how great audiences have been to him and his work in Toronto over the years.  He mentioned that several men walked out of the screening in Venice a few weeks ago…and that audiences in Toronto seemed much more sophisticated and engaged.  This sentiment was voiced by numerous directors over the past several days.)