a royal affair

A ROYAL AFFAIR + Oscar Nominated Shorts at THE NEON

February 5, 2013 By Jonathan McNeal Leave a Comment

NOTE: QUARTET has just moved up! It will now open on Valentine’s Day! Please see schedule below.

Hello Everyone,

“Intense but amazing” was how a group of my friends described RUST AND BONE after seeing it on Sunday evening. Alas, not enough Daytonians came to see the film…so it won’t be sticking around for a second week. Thursday will be your last chance to see RUST AND BONE at THE NEON. This always makes me sad – when great films have to come and go so quickly. Hurry down if you still want to catch it. Showtimes are at www.neonmovies.com.

On Friday, we will begin a one-week engagement of the Oscar nominated period drama A ROYAL AFFAIR. We will also present a few screenings of Oscar-nominated animation and live action short films over the weekend. This is the first time we’ve offered Oscar shorts (though a handful have played at festivals over the years)…if there’s enough interest, we’ll look to make it an annual engagement.

Synopsis for A ROYAL AFFAIR: “A Royal Affair is the true story of an ordinary man who wins the queen’s heart and starts a revolution. Centering on the intriguing love triangle between the ever more insane Danish King Christian VII (Mikkel Boe Folsgaard), the royal physician who is a man of enlightenment and idealism Struenseensee and the young but strong Queen Caroline Mathilda, A Royal Affair is the gripping tale of brave idealists who risk everything in their pursuit of freedom for their people…Above all it is the story of a passionate and forbidden romance that changed an entire nation.” (Magnolia Pictures) Click this LINK to visit the official site.

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A very brief description of the OSCAR NOMINATED SHORTS: Each year during the Oscars, the makers of exceptional short films are recognized for their work. We often hear our audiences saying “How do people see these films?” Until now, festivals were one of the only outlets for seeing these gems. Though I still encourage you to support the Dayton-based film festivals (where only a handful of great films are selected out of hundreds of possibilities) we’re now offering you a chance to see this year’s nominees. The animated shorts will play on Friday and Sunday at 3:00, and the live action shorts will play on Saturday at 3:00. Please help us spread the word. To read more about the films, visit the official website.

Don’t forget this Thursday’s special screening of THE CENTRAL PARK FIVE (Feb. 7 at 7:30). We still have plenty of tickets available, and we really want to see a nice turnout for us to consider doing this kind of screening down the road.

It’s getting closer to Oscar time. Feb. 24 marks the date of our Free Annual Oscar Party. Ballots are now available in our lobby and prizes have started to arrive (though you must be present at the party in order to win prizes). 15 films that are nominated for Academy Awards have screened at (or are coming soon to) THE NEON. Between these 15 films, there are 34 nominations. We hope you’ll make plans to spend this fun night with us. We will begin seating for this party as close to 7pm as possible…which is when the Red-Carpet pre-show begins. (We will begin collecting ballots on Sunday, Feb. 24 at Noon…collected ballots (only one per person present) will result in our seating priority.)

Both AMOUR and QUARTET are scheduled to open next Friday (Feb. 15)! I’ll tell you more about these two great films next week.

We hope to see you soon,
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Fri. Feb. 8 – Thur, Feb. 14:

A ROYAL AFFAIR (R) 2 Hrs 17 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:15, 5:15, 8:00
Monday – Wednesday: 2:30, 5:15, 8:00 (FINAL DAY – 2/13!)

SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK (R) 2 Hr 02 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 1:00, 4:00, 7:15, 9:45
Monday – Thursday: 3:00, 5:30, 8:00 (FINAL DAY – 2/14!)

OSCAR NOMINATED ANIMATED SHORTS (NR) 1 Hr 27 Min
Friday & Sunday: 3:00

OSCAR NOMINATED LIVE ACTION SHORTS (NR) 1 Hr 55 Min
Saturday: 3:00

QUARTET (PG-13) 1 Hr 38 Min

Thursday: 3:00, 5:15, 7:30

COMING SOON:
As always, all dates are tentative. Many of these dates will change.
In some rare cases, titles may disappear.

Feb 14 – QUARTET

Feb. 15 – AMOUR

March 8 – EMPEROR
March 22 – STOKER
March 29 – THE GATEKEEPERS
April 5 – ON THE ROAD
April 12 – NO

Amazing RUST AND BONE at THE NEON

January 30, 2013 By Jonathan McNeal Leave a Comment

Hello Everyone,

We’re very excited to open a film that is edgy yet accessible. It’s a love story with incredible performances, and I hope you’ll take my word and give it a chance. RUST AND BONE has not performed terribly well in other markets, so hurry down if you want to catch it. Marion Cotillard (who won the Oscar for portraying Edith Piaf in LA VIE EN ROSE) gives a performance that is absolutely brilliant! It’s been a while since I’ve given my own, personal endorsement for a film…both this (and the upcoming AMOUR) are films that I will eventually add to my personal library.

Synopsis for RUST AND BONE: “Ali finds himself with a five-year-old child on his hands – a son he hardly knows. Homeless, penniless and friendless, Ali takes refuge with his sister in the south of France. There things improve immediately. A man of formidable size and strength, Ali gets a job as a bouncer in a nightclub. He comes to the aid of Stephanie during a nightclub brawl. Aloof and beautiful, Stephanie seems unattainable, but in his frank manner Ali leaves her his phone number anyway. Stephanie trains orca whales at Marineland. When a performance ends in tragedy, a call in the night brings them together…Ali’s direct, unpitying physicality becomes Stephanie’s lifeline, but Ali too is transformed by Stephanie’s tough resilience. As their stories intersect and diverge, they navigate a world where strength, beauty, youth and blood are commodities-but where trust, truth, loyalty and love cannot be bought and sold, and courage comes in many forms.” (taken from Sony Classics)

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This Thursday at 7:30, Peace on Fifth will present a one-time screening of NOT MY LIFE. “January 1863 marked the first legal idea of freedom for slaves in the United States of America, but 150 years later there are more slaves and humans trafficked than ever before. Ohio is #5 in the nation for the most number of humans trafficked. With a reported 27 million people enslaved in the world, many US Americans may think this is a global problem that does not touch the shores of the US. In fact, who would ever think that Dayton is at risk or involved? The film covers five continents and shows multiple forms of trafficking/slavery. You will hear from victims, advocates and abolitionists that are on the ground living and fighting for freedom every day. Come out and see about modern day slavery and learn how you can change the world…right now!” (taken from press notes) Tickets at $10 at the door or $8.50 in advance at Peace on Fifth (located at 508 E Fifth Street). To learn more about Peace on Fifth, visit their official site.

By now, I’m sure you’re aware of our upcoming screening of the new documentary directed by Ken Burns, Sarah Burns, and David McMahon – THE CENTRAL PARK FIVE. We’re set to play it thanks to your support of a new distribution model called GATHR. Because 25 people have already purchased tickets to the screening, the date and time are secure. We’ll play the film on Thursday, February. 7 at 7:30. Tickets are $9 each. Visit our box office or the Gathr site to purchase advanced tickets (this is the LINK to the gathr site).

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AehmA3hTLmA’]

ThinkTV has once again offered to help us get a signal for our FREE Annual Oscar Party. Mark you calendars for Sunday, February 24. Ballots are now available in our lobby and prizes have started to arrive (though you must be present at the party in order to win prizes). 15 films that are nominated for Academy Awards have screened at (or are coming soon to) THE NEON. Between these 15 films, there are 34 nominations. We hope you’ll make plans to spend this fun night with us. We will begin seating for this party as close to 7pm as possible…which is when the Red-Carpet pre-show begins. (We will begin collecting ballots on Sunday, Feb. 24 at Noon…collected ballots (only one per person present) will result in our seating priority.)

We hope to see you soon,
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Fri. Feb. 1 – Thur, Feb. 7:

RUST AND BONE (R) 2 Hrs
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 1:15, 4:15, 7:00, 9:30
Monday – Wednesday: 2:30, 5:00, 7:30
Thursday: 2:30, 5:00

SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK (R) 2 Hr 02 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 1:00, 4:00, 7:15, 9:45
Monday – Thursday: 3:00, 5:30, 8:00

THE CENTRAL PARK FIVE (NR) 1 Hr 59
Thursday: 7:30

COMING SOON:
As always, all dates are tentative. Many of these dates will change.
In some rare cases, titles may disappear.
Feb 8 – A ROYAL AFFAIR
Feb. 15 – AMOUR
Feb 15 – QUARTET
Feb ? – WEST OF MEMPHIS
Late Winter/Spring – NO
Late Winter/Spring – THE GATEKEEPERS
Spring – ON THE ROAD

ANNA KARENINA and HITCHCOCK are Hits At THE NEON!

December 19, 2012 By Jonathan McNeal Leave a Comment

Hello Everyone,

HITCHCOCK and ANNA KARENINA are performing quite well for us, so we’ll hold both for another week!
I’m happy to announce that along with our upgrade to digital projection, we also installed hearing assisted devices. These headphones are available for check-out when you purchase your tickets, and the devices work for all titles. For select titles, “Audio Description” is available. This is a service for the blind and visually impaired…and HITCHCOCK makes use of this technology. (A person narrates the on-screen action via headphones.) Please let us know if you’d like to try these out…and please help us spread the word to people who might be interested in these services.

Check out this lovely featurette about ANNA KARENINA:

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Check out this fun scene from HITCHCOCK…it’s all about editing and makes me nostalgic for our 35mm projectors (not to mention the way I learned to edit 16mm film at WSU).

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOTq6KYDTfI’]

Do you use Facebook? If so, we’ve got a fun contest going on that uses the HITCHCOCK photobooth in our lobby. Check out our Facebook page for details on how you could win a HITCHCOCK prize pack – which includes dvds of PSYCHO and NORTH BY NORTHWEST. Only a handful of people have entered, so your chances are very good! But hurry up – the contest ends on Dec. 23! Here’s our page – www.facebook.com/neonmovies

If you were a fan of the one-night only screening of RIDE THE DIVIDE, mark your calendars now for January 23. We will host a one-night only screening of the new film REVEAL THE PATH. “REVEAL THE PATH is a genre-defying adventure film that contemplates what it means to live an inspired life using the bicycle as a mechanism to explore, dream and discover. Regions explored include Scotland’s lush valleys, Europe’s snow capped mountains, Morocco’s high desert landscapes, Nepal’s rural countryside and Alaska’s rugged coastal beaches…Meet the locals living modest yet seemingly fulfilling lives, leading us to question what it means to live an inspired life – however humble or extravagant. Join in as the creators of RIDE THE DIVIDE take you on an adventure that will leave you with an eager desire to chart your own course to far away lands or simply to discover with eyes wide open what’s right around the bend.” (taken from press notes) Check out the official site to find out more about the film and to purchase advanced tickets. (We will not be selling advanced tickets for this event at our box office…they will only be available on the official site.)

If you are in need of a fun stocking stuffer, we have day planners featuring The Rubi Girls in our lobby for $20 each or 2 for $30. The Rubi Girls are a comedic drag troupe here in Dayton who have now helped to raise over One Million Dollars for HIV Charities in Ohio. 100% of the price of the planner goes back to AIDS Resource Center Ohio. (These planners are intended for mature audiences.)

We just confirmed our line-up for the next few weeks. On December 28, we will open SMASHED for one week – featuring a fantastic performance by Mary Elizabeth Winstead (who was just nominated for an Independent Spirit Award). On January 4 we will open 2 new films – HYDE PARK ON HUDSON (with Bill Murray as FDR) and PROMISED LAND (starring Matt Damon, John Krasinski and Frances McDormand – directed by Gus Van Sant)! I think we’ll start the year off with some enthusiastic audiences.

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Thanks so much for your ongoing support!
Just a reminder – we’re open 365 Days a Year!
We hope to see you soon,
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Fri. Dec. 21 – Thur, Dec. 27:

ANNA KARENINA (R) 2 Hr 10 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 1:00, 4:00, 7:10, 9:45
Monday: 2:30, 5:15
Tuesday – Thursday: 2:30, 5:15, 8:00

HITCHCOCK (PG-13) 1 Hr 38 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:30, 2:45, 5:00, 7:20, 9:30
Monday: 3:00, 5:30
Tuesday – Thursday: 3:00, 5:30, 7:50

COMING SOON:
As always, all dates are tentative. Many of these dates will change.
In some rare cases, titles may disappear.
Dec. 28 – SMASHED
Jan. 4 – HYDE PARK ON HUDSON
Jan. 4 – PROMISED LAND
Jan. 11 – DIANA VREELAND: THE EYE HAS TO TRAVEL
Jan 25 – RUST AND BONE
Jan. ? – A ROYAL AFFAIR
Feb. 8 – ON THE ROAD
Feb. 15 – AMOUR
Feb ? – WEST OF MEMPHIS

THE SESSIONS + A LATE QUARTET Opening at THE NEON

November 14, 2012 By Jonathan McNeal Leave a Comment

Hello Everyone,

We’re opening 2 new films at this weekend, and we hope they’ll attract big crowds. This is a lucrative weekend/week at THE NEON. Thanksgiving business can often set the tone for the remaining weeks of the year…and we’re really hoping to end 2012 with a bang! Like many of the films we’ve played at this time, we think some Oscar nominations could arise from our selections. (Here are some films that we’ve played during Thanksgiving in past years: AMELIE, CAPOTE, THE QUEEN, BOY IN THE STRIPED PAJAMAS, 127 HOURS and THE DESCENDANTS.) If you need to see any of our current attractions, Thursday will be your last chance to see them at THE NEON (visit our website for current showtimes). On Friday, we will open THE SESSIONS and A LATE QUARTET.

Synopsis for THE SESSIONS: “The Sessions tells the story of a man confined to an iron lung who is determined at age 38 to lose his virginity. With the help of his therapists and the guidance of his priest, he sets out to make his dream a reality.” (from Fox Searchlight) Starring the amazing John Hawkes and a fearless Helen Hunt, this film is certain to get Oscar attention this year! Click this link to visit the official site. I LOVE THIS FILM!

Synopsis for A LATE QUARTET: “When the beloved cellist of a world-renowned string quartet receives a life changing diagnosis, the group’s future suddenly hangs in the balance: suppressed emotions, competing egos, and uncontrollable passions threaten to derail years of friendship and collaboration. As they are about to play their 25th anniversary concert, quite possibly their last, only their intimate bond and the power of music can preserve their legacy. Inspired by and structured around Beethoven’s Opus 131 String Quartet in C-sharp minor, A LATE QUARTET pays homage to chamber music and the cultural world of New York.” (taken from rottentomatoes.com) Starring Catherine Keener, Christopher Walken, Mark Ivanir, and Philip Seymour Hoffman Click this link to visit the official site.

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[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1VCyikozys’]

On Sunday, November 18 at 3:00, The Dayton International Peace Museum, Wright State Peace Lecture Committee, Pi Beta Phi at the University of Dayton and The Dayton Council on World Affairs will present a special, free screening of IN THE LAND OF BLOOD AND HONEY.
“Dayton has made its place in history as the host city for the Dayton Peace Accords. A historic achievement in 1995, the Accords helped bring an end to the tragic civil war of the Former Yugoslavia. With the end in fighting, a horrific reality of ethnic cleaning and genocide was revealed, especially after the international community had pledged ‘No More’ after the end of the Holocaust in 1945. The Angelina Jolie-directed movie, IN THE LAND OF BLOOD AND HONEY portrays a bittersweet love story during the war. It brings to light the tragic reality of war and its impact on our humanity. In the aftermath of the conflict in the former Yugoslavia, a major trial at the International Criminal Court at The Hague took place that led to
international recognition of rape as a weapon of war. At this screening, we will be commemorating the historic Dayton Peace Accords and how Dayton was instrumental in the process. There will also be a Q&A panel after the movie to discuss ongoing violence issues against women that sadly continue domestically and internationally. Please join us for this important movie and stimulating discussion on how we can contribute to peace and humanity in our world today.” (taken from press notes) Visit the film’s official site.

The first three Saturdays at Noon in December will mark the return of the Family Holiday Film Series – sponsored by The Dayton Holiday Festival, DP&L, Channel 99.9 and THE NEON. Here is this year’s line-up:
DEC. 1 at Noon – PRANCER
DEC. 8 at Noon – IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE
DEC. 15 at Noon – ARTHUR CHRISTMAS
These films are free for children 12 & under and only $2 for everyone else.

Next time you’re in our lobby, make sure to take your picture in our HITCHCOCK Screaming Booth. We’ll soon have a contest on facebook where you’ll be able to post your picture and vote on your favorite scream! (HITCHCOCK – about the making of PSYCHO – is slated to start in December…and it’s lots of fun.)

Thanks so much for your ongoing support!
We hope to see you soon,
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Fri. Nov. 16 – Thur, Nov. 22:

THE SESSIONS (R) 1 Hr 35 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:45, 3:00, 5:15, 7:30, 9:45
Monday – Thursday: 3:00, 5:15, 7:30, 9:45

A LATE QUARTET (R) 1 Hr 45 Min
Friday & Saturday: 12:20, 2:40, 5:00, 7:20, 9:40
Sunday: 12:20, 5:50, 8:00
Monday – Thursday: 2:40, 5:00, 7:20, 9:40

IN THE LAND OF BLOOD AND HONEY (R) 2 Hr 7 Min
Sunday: 3:00

COMING SOON:
As always, all dates are tentative. Many of these dates will change.
In some rare cases, titles may disappear.
Nov. 30 ANNA KARENINA
Dec. TBD – HITCHCOCK
Dec. ? – SMASHED
Dec. ? – A ROYAL AFFAIR
Jan. 4 – HYDE PARK ON HUDSON
Jan ? – RUST AND BONE
Jan ? – ON THE ROAD
Feb ? – WEST OF MEMPHIS
Feb. ? – AMOUR
TBD – DIANA VREELAND: THE EYE HAS TO TRAVEL

Toronto Film Fest – Day #4

September 10, 2012 By Jonathan McNeal Leave a Comment

Hello!

I’m gonna try and make this short and sweet…as it’s already late and I need to wake by 6am again tomorrow.

It was quite a day. 4 films…all (mostly) good.

First off, I saw David O. Russell’s SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK (Russell did I HEART HUCKABEES, FLIRTING WITH DISASTER and – starring Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence and Robert DeNiro. This dysfunctional family comedy about mental illness was full of laughs – mostly due to honest observations. I wish it had been a little shorter, but ultimately I think it will be crowd-pleaser. (editorial note – I think that the pairing of obsessing over sports paired mental illness issues is an interesting marriage)

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A ROYAL AFFAIR is a period drama about Queen Caroline of Denmark in the late 18th Century. She married into the monarchy, and her husband was a childish, self-absorbed man. Caroline had an affair with the royal physician, and they managed to make numerous changes to government. The photography and set/costume design of this film are delicious, and the lead actress – Alicia Vikander – is absolutely stunning (she’s also in ANNA KARENINA).

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This evening, I saw the film that will undoubtedly be dubbed “The Next Marigold Hotel.” QUARTET – Dustin Hoffman’s directorial debut – stars Maggie Smith, Bill Connolly, Pauline Collins, and Tom Courtenay. This little film is an absolute delight! It’s about a retirement home for retired musicians…and in addition to the 4 lead actors, it stars numerous singers and musicians in their 70’s 80’s and 90’s (Hoffman wanted real musical artists to live in his scenes – not just actors playing musicians) . Tonight was it’s world premiere, and I must confess something…. I’ve seen people go insane for movie stars over the years. Johnny Depp. Brad Pitt. Angelina Jolie. People scream, the jump up and down, and sometimes they even cry. Tonight, when Maggie Smith was standing 10 feet away from me, tears streamed down my face. From THE PRIME OF MISS JEAN BRODIE to ROOM WITH A VIEW…from THE V.I.P.s to DOWNTON ABBEY, I have loved Dame Maggie for decades, and it was a complete thrill to see her in person! The Q&A with the principal cast as well as Hoffman was a night to remember, and the film is going to be a hit with our audience.

Lastly, I saw LOVE IS ALL YOU NEED – the latest film from Sussane Bier (director of BROTHERS, IN A BETTER WORLD and OPEN HEARTS). (Interestingly, the original Danish title would be translated into THE BALD HAIRDRESSER.) This film is much lighter than Bier’s recent work. There are some serious subjects on the table – but there are also a lot of laughs. Bier, along with lead actress Trine Dyrholm (also in A ROYAL AFFAIR) and Pierce Brosnan, introduced the film and did a Q&A. Though I liked most of this film, I also thought it was a little too long given the subject/story. That said, Dyrholm is a joy to watch.