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TIFF Day #4 – 2024

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Hello NEON Community!

Today was a rougher start than usual.  I knew I needed to be in a physical line by 8:00…but 8:00 is when I need to be on-line attempting to get tickets for later in the day.  And being outside in a line means that I have to use data instead of a decent internet connection…so it was a stressful start to the morning.  Regardless, I got a couple tickets for later in the day that were on my list – so then I was off to the races.

My first film of the day was NIGHTBITCH, dir Marielle Heller (USA) “An overworked stay-at-home mom (Amy Adams) tries to catch a break, any break, while caring for her rambunctious toddler. Also, she might be turning into a dog.” (taken from TIFF catalog) Heller made a film I adored at TIFF back in 2018 – CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME (with Melissa McCarthy playing Lee Israel)…so I was quite interested to see this…but I was also skeptical given the synopsis and trailer.  It turns out, I rather liked it. This is a film about a woman rediscovering herself after having dedicated a couple years of her life, without rest or instrospection, to raising a child.  It’s about motherhood being primal – and that mothers are gods who create life…and that a child’s first act is one of violence as they enter the world.  There’s a monologue at the beginning of the film that I think will be used often down the road for women auditioning for roles…it’s pretty spectacular.  Overall, I liked this film, and Amy Adams is fantastic.

Next up wasn’t a film, but a chance to sit in on an interview with a contemporary icon. IN CONVERSATION: CATE BLANCHETT.  This session was spectacular, and the interview was hosted by TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey. Blanchett is grounded, wise, and very funny.  The event took place in the Royal Alexandra Theatre – a lovely space that reminds me a bit of The Victoria.  Blanchett was asked about some career defining collaborations, the different roles she’s taken (both as an actress and as a producer), and she reflected on certain projects.  When told that we’d be looking at some different clips of her work, she asked if there was a barf bucket…then after a clip from ELIZABETH: THE GOLDEN AGE, she shrieked and gasped and exclaimed, “I keep waiting for RuPaul to ask me to be on the show.”  It was a delightful afternoon full of insight and a true desire to connect with the audience in front of her.  (And of course I loved when she talked about CAROL – and how hard it was to find funding…and how TALENTED MR. RIPLEY was one of the best gigs she’s ever had.) Such a lovely event!
I didn’t have the best seat in the house…but it was pretty good.  Here’s a little pic I snapped:

Another conversation was next…but I couldn’t stay the entire time. VISIONARIES: ALFONSO CUARÓN had Cuarón on stage being interviewed by a film critic – and the conversation got started by talking about his relationship to the other 2 very famous Mexican directors – Guillermo del Toro & Alejandro González Iñárritu.  I could only stay for about 20 minutes because 1) it got a late start & 2) I had another screening.  While on my way to this event, I stopped on the sidewalk for a quick phone call…and a car pulled up and Cate Blanchett got out.  I love little moments like this while at TIFF!

I rushed out of the Cuarón event in order to get to FIRE INSIDE, dir Rachel Morrison (USA)  “Renowned cinematographer Rachel Morrison makes her feature directorial debut with this film about boxer Claressa Shields’ true-life ascent to the Olympics. It’s a unique sports story that goes beyond the triumph of the underdog to ask what comes after.” (taken from TIFF catalog) You might recognize Rachel Morrison’s name from other projects like FRUITVALE STATION, MUDBOUND and BLACK PANTHER – this is one reason I wanted to see this film…the other reason was that it was written by Barry Jenkins.  I’m going to be completely up front with you.  I don’t like boxing (in fact, I really loathe any sport where you’re supposed to attack or strike someone – I’ve never understood the allure).  That said, this film is very well done.  The story of rising up, having a mentor and working against an oppressive system is powerful.  The film works on several levels, and it will help create an understanding to the masses just how biased and sexist the sporting world is to athletes that don’t fit certain societal “ideals.”  It’s a great little film, and I hope it gets a good release.

My last film of the night (which now has me at 16 films for the first 4 days) was ON SWIFT HORSES, dir Daniel Minahan (USA) “Set in the 1950s, this gorgeous adaptation of Shannon Pufahl’s 2019 novel follows a seemingly sensible newlywed (Daisy Edgar-Jones) and her wayward brother-in-law (Priscilla’s Jacob Elordi) as they undertake parallel journeys of risk, romance, and self-discovery.” This ambitious period film has compelling characters, lovely production design, beautiful camera work, some great costumes and one really bad wig (boy, oh boy…a bad wig can really ruin an entire scene). There are some wonderful moments in this film, and the sexual awakenings are interesting – but it just doesn’t add up. I kept watching because I liked the characters – I just wish I had liked the screenplay better.

Tomorrow is CONCLAVE – a film we’re considering for Thanksgiving.  It’s getting rave reviews, and I can’t wait.

Thanks for checking in,
Jonathan

TIFF Day #3 – 2024

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Hello NEON Community!

Today was busier than I had initially planned.  When I wasn’t able to score a ticket to the new Mike Leigh film (HARD TRUTHS), I ended up booking tickets to two films that were a little further down on my list.  In addition, I ran into a colleague in distribution who invited me to a party – so That meant that I had four films and 2 parties instead of three films and 1 party…but things can change on a dime (I’m not complaining).

My first film of the day was one I had been waiting for – ANORA, dir Sean Baker (USA) “This Palme d’Or winner follows a turbulent relationship between a New York–based exotic dancer and the son of a Russian oligarch.”  We’ve played Baker’s work in the past at THE NEON – RED ROCKET and THE FLORIDA PROJECT…and this is certainly one to watch with a lot of early award season buzz. Despite the rambunctious and exuberant nature of the first hour, there’s always a feeling of sadness under the surface. Baker’s work is very sex positive and he doesn’t judge his protagonists, but you can feel that Anora really wants more than she’s got. VARIETY wrote that this film makes PRETTY WOMAN look like a Disney movie.”  (Quite interestingly…it was.  It was made by Touchstone Pictures – a subsidiary of Disney in the 1980’s.) This film has lots of laughs, lots of sex, and lots of heartache.  It’s rough and subversive – but you’ll fall for Anora. Mikey Madison in the lead role is quite a discovery.

Next up was something I hadn’t necessarily planned to see – SKETCH, dir Seth Worley (USA) “When a young girl’s peculiar drawings come to life, leaving a wake of chaos and crayon dust, a grieving family has to band together to fight them off in this feature debut.” (taken from TIFF catalog) The screenplay for this film is great right of the bat – it feels honest and genuine.  But I have to admit that I started to roll my eyes a bit when the monsters came to life…they just seemed a little too silly for the world that had been set up for us.  But I stuck with it…and I’m glad I did.  I had a true emotional response to this little gem, and the kids were fantastic.
The director introduced this film as “INSIDE OUT meets JURASSIC PARK,” and the curator from TIFF who introduced it said we haven’t seen a group of kids work together like this since THE GOONIES.  I agree with both sentiments.   (The Q&A had me in tears when one of the cast members was asked how he related to his character.). I’m not sure where this will land, but I can see audiences getting behind it.

My next film was a surprise ticket – K-POPS, dir Anderson .Paak (USA) “A father hopes to ride the coattails of his long-lost son’s rocketing stardom in this feature debut from eight-time Grammy winner Anderson .Paak.”  This polished film had a very invested audience…and many of the people on screen who elicited cheers and screams from the audience were actors/performers I don’t know (I knew folks like Earth, Wind & Fire, but I didn’t know the K-pop icons). Though the film is really about a father connecting with the son he never knew, the setting of a “reality” talent/gameshow couldn’t be further from a setting that interests me.  Though there was a lot of talent on display, I wasn’t fully invested in the story.  And though know there’s an audience for this film (I was surrounded by people who adored it), the movie (with moments of slapstick and some animation and montage scenes that seemed like fluff and filler instead of motivated plot devices) wasn’t really for me.

Before I went to my last film of the day, I stopped by Searchlight’s NIGHBITCH PARTY – a reception celebrating the premiere of the new Amy Adams’ film NIGHTBITCH (which I will hopefully see tomorrow).  I mingled with and met people who curate other cinemas and film festivals, and I chatted with one of the actors from the film.  Amy Adams, Scoot McNairy and others were at the party and posed for a few photos with the little boys who played her child in the film.  I only stayed for about an hour because I head to get to the film I’ve been most excited to see.

The last film of the day was my most anticipated – THE ROOM NEXT DOOR, dir Pedro Almodovar (Spain) “Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore star in this visually exquisite and intimate adaptation of What Are You Going Through by Sigrid Nunez, Pedro Almodóvar’s first English-language feature.” I’m anxious to see this film again.  The story centers around two friends who are reunited after years apart…and how one of them asks the other to be “in the room next door” when she decides to take her own life instead of enduring another round of what seems like unhopeful Cancer treatment.  This film is full of references – to art, literature, film and event Almodovar’s own work (I found references to TALK TO HER, WOMEN ON THE VERGE, and PAIN AND GLORY – and I’m sure I’ll see more with another viewing). Sadly, Pedro was not in attendance…but he had good reason – only hours before, he won the Golden Lion from the Venice Film Festival…so he was in Italy accepting that award.  That said, Tilda, Julianne and John Turturro were there.  Their Q&A was pretty wonderful.  And even though a couple people asked seemingly inane questions, the ladies were able to steer their responses into philosophical and moving responses.
Almodovar films are known their production design, and Tilda said that most of the sets incorporate things from Pedro’s own apartment…the films really do seem like extensions  of his worldview and personal surroundings.
Tilda corrected one audience member when being asked about euthanasia.  She said, this film isn’t about euthanasia, it’s about someone taking their own life into their own hands and dying with dignity.  It was a powerful night.

I had one more party to stop at…but I just couldn’t bring myself to do it.  It’s already 1:00, and I knew I wanted to get this posted before too late.  I also just needed some quiet time after such a strong film.

Thanks for checking in!  Tomorrow is Cate Blanchett Day!!

Jonathan

TIFF Bound! Submerging In Cinema!

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Hello NEON Community,

Thanks so much for checking in.  I’m making a list and checking it twice…and three times…and four times…all in an effort to squeeze in as many films as possible from the 50+ films I’d like to see over the next several days at The Toronto International Film Fest.  In the end, I’ll only have room for 30-35 screenings, so some films will have to wait.

It’s early morning on Wednesday, Sept. 4, and I’m about to head to the airport.  When I get to Toronto, I’ll head right to the industry hub where I’ll get my credentials for the festival.  My pass will allow me to see a handful of public screenings (those are the ones with directors & stars in attendance with interesting Q&A’s) as well as numerous press and industry screenings (which are generally no-frills – but full of folks like me as well as some high profile journalists and studio execs…all kinds of people from the industry).

I’m staying in a condo just a couple blocks from the middle of everything,  and I’m very excited about several films…and it’s always fun to discover films I didn’t know I needed to see.

Here are couple titles I’m excited about:

THE ROOM NEXT DOOR – Pedro Almodovar’s English-language feature film debut – starring Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore.  If you’ve read my blog and newsletters before, you might know that Almodovar is my favorite director of all time.  I can’t wait for this one.  It just received a 17-minute standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival earlier this week.

WE LIVE IN TIME – the new film from John Crowley (director of BROOKLYN) – starring Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh.  I think this film looks lovely, and I’m a big fan of BROOKLYN.

MISÉRICORDE, the new film from Alain Guiraudie (director of STRANGER BY THE LAKE) is on my list as well.

In addition to movies, I’ll get to sit in on an interview with Cate Blanchett at an event called IN CONVERSATION: CATE BLANCHETT.  I’ve been a fan for years (and there was even that time when I was a co-worker of sorts)…so I’m anxious to see her in this scenario.

Every day, I’ll take notes when I’m seeing movies.  I’ll assemble those notes each night and publish my posts.  This serves as a way for me to get my thoughts down on a daily basis…and to take you along for the ride.

If you’re in Dayton, please stop in to keep my co-workers company at THE NEON.  Thanks for all of your support.

More soon,

Jonathan

McCoy on Movies: Ocean’s 8

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Star-studded female cast turns in great performances despite uneven script

WATCH THE TRAILER(S) HERE: 


 



KEY CAST MEMBERS: Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Helena Bonham Carter, Richard Armitage, Mindy Kaling, Rihanna, Awkafina, Sarah Paulson with James Corden, Carl Reiner and … Another familiar face from the other Ocean’s films.


WRITER(S): Gary Ross and Olivia Milch (screenplay); Gary Ross (story); George Clayton Johnson and Jack Golden Russell (based on characters by)

DIRECTOR(S): Gary Ross

WEB SITE: http://www.oceans8movie.com/HERE’S THE STORY: Debbie Ocean (Sandra Bullock) has spent nearly 6 years in prison in New Jersey. And now, she’s about to be released. And what does she have planned the moment she gets out of jail, other than hanging out with her friend Lou (Cate Blanchett)? A heist, of course, just like her late brother Danny would have done. Her idea? Rob the Metropolitan Museum of Art during its biggest social event of the year of a $150 million dollar necklace locked in a Cartier vault.


How is she going to do that? Well, it starts with getting fashion designer Rose Weil (Helena Bonham Carter) to convince prominent socialite Daphne Kluger (Anne Hathaway) to let her style her for the gala. Of course, Daphne will have no clue that she is being used, nor that pick pocket Constance (Awkafina), computer hacker Nine Ball (Rihanna), fencing – stolen property, not the sport – expert Tammy (Sarah Paulson) and jeweler Amita (Mindy Kahling) fit into the mix. Then again, when you have a $150 million on the line, it’s probably best to not ask a whole lot of questions. 


Given that Claude Becker (Richard Armitage), the man responsible for Debbie going to jail in the first place, is also going to be Daphne’s date for the evening, however, there are a lot of questions waiting to be answered indeed …

WHO WILL LIKE THIS FILM THE MOST? Cate Blanchett, Sandra Bullock, Rihanna, Anne Hathaway and James Corden fans; fans of heist movies; people who liked Ghostbusters: Answer the Call; feminists 

WHO WON’T (OR SHOULDN’T) LIKE THIS MOVIE? People who feel that franchise reboots/add-on movies are unnecessary; people who will miss the original – and by original, I mean modern – Ocean‘s cast; people who have difficulty accepting movies where the audience is required to continually make large and critical leaps of faith


SO IS IT GOOD, BAD OR JUST AWFUL? A film that features strong performances despite nearly being undone by a script that tries to make a major plot twist and instead creates a major script problem, Ocean’s 8 isn’t a bad film nor great film by any means …


It’s just a nice diversion from your day-to-day existence, which given the nature of the film will be more than enough to satisfy most fans.


Ocean’s 8 is fun because of the seriousness most of the cast gives their roles in terms of performing, NOT because of the situations tin which they find their selves. For much like the scathing reviews of the hot mess that was Ocean’s Twelve, Ocean’s 8 has a script that requires the audience to believe one of its characters makes a massive switch in a plot twist that only works because it has to for the entire film to work, which distracts from what otherwise would be a fun if not predictable due to its, well, predictable nature. 


Bullock, who has somehow started looking like Michael Jackson all of the sudden, keeps everything flowing smoothly with a solemn resolve while Blanchett plays up her character’s cool and confident nature. Rihanna continues her streak of picking roles where she really gets to continue develop her acting skills into a solid package and Hathaway gets the biggest spotlight, which given the discussion of her role in the film’s trailer, makes total sense seeing as how she does so much to make what could have bene a throwaway role a critical one. At least James Corden continues to prove he may be the most talented host on late night TV with his role as an insurance investigator called in post-heist as he proves there’s a lot more to him than being a more affable Ricky Gervais who does great stuff with pop culture and music. (That’s a roundabout way of saying he can act.)


And like its male-driven counterparts, Ocean’s 8 is a movie you don’t go to for a logical story; it’s one you see for its stars and their interplay with one another. There are cameos from celebrities you’d expect to see at an event involving a big gala at a major metropolitan museum, the main cast trade jokes and interplay well with each other; unfortunately co-writer/director Gary Ross plays things down the easiest path and while there are several subplots that are potentially interesting – what happened with Danny? Are Blanchett’s and Bullock’s characters more than just friends? Why is Armitage’s character even connected to Hathaway’s character in the first place? And we’re supposed to just roll with THAT explanation for Hathaway’s character?! – that are just left unexplored or that are unsatisfying that the grand potential for Ocean’s 8 never quite materialized.


But behind every great fortune is a crime … Audiences will just wish it wasn’t in robbing them of a better movie that could have been made. 

OVERALL RATING (OUT OF FOUR POSSIBLE BUCKETS OF POPCORN):

 
 

2 Hot New Films at THE NEON – THE BIG SICK and THE HERO

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Hello Everyone!

We’re moving forward in a big way this weekend. If you still need to see THE BEGUILED or BEATRIZ AT DINNER, Thursday will be your last chance to catch them at THE NEON. You also have one last chance to catch Cate Blanchett in MANIFESTO on Wednesday evening. On Friday, we’ll officially begin two hot, new films – THE BIG SICK and THE HERO. (We’ll have a special preview screening of THE BIG SICK on Thursday evening with 10 extra bonus minutes of stand-up from cast members of the film.)

Synopsis for THE BIG SICK: This is the best reviewed romantic comedy in a long, long time. Critics and audiences alike are loving this film, and it’s currently rated “97% Fresh” on rottentomatoes.com! “Based on the real-life courtship between Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon, THE BIG SICK tells the story of Pakistan-born aspiring comedian Kumail (Nanjiani), who connects with grad student Emily (Kazan) after one of his standup sets. However, what they thought would be just a one-night stand blossoms into the real thing, which complicates the life that is expected of Kumail by his traditional Muslim parents. When Emily is beset with a mystery illness, it forces Kumail to navigate the medical crisis with her parents, Beth and Terry (Holly Hunter and Ray Romano) who he’s never met, while dealing with the emotional tug-of-war between his family and his heart. THE BIG SICK is directed by Michael Showalter (HELLO MY NAME IS DORIS) and producer by Judd Apatow (TRAINWRECK, THIS IS 40) and Barry Mendel (TRAINWRECK, THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS).” (Lionsgate) Click HERE to visit the film’s official site.

Synopsis for THE HERO: Many of our regulars keep asking “When is that Sam Elliott movie coming?” Well it’s finally here! “Lee Hayden (Sam Elliott) is an aging Western icon with a golden voice, but his best performances are decades behind him. He spends his days reliving old glories and smoking too much weed with his former-co-star-turned-dealer, Jeremy (Nick Offerman), until a surprise cancer diagnosis brings his priorities into sharp focus. He soon strikes up an exciting, contentious relationship with stand-up comic Charlotte (Laura Prepon), and he attempts to reconnect with his estranged daughter, Lucy (Krysten Ritter), all while searching for one final role to cement his legacy.” (The Orchard)

 

Joseph Bargdill of Broken Lamp Productions has rented our space to premiere his new film INCRUENTUS on Thursday, July 27. “Zoe finds herself trapped in a web of lies while she turns into a Vampire. Will she die or be sucked into a web of trickery from her husband and friends or overcome the poison of her infection? INCRUENTUS will have its world premier on July 27th at 7:30pm. Tickets can be purchased now for $7 at THE NEON’s box office. The film will be introduced and followed by a Q&A with the director and producer.” (Broken Lamp Productions)

Dayton filmmaker Alfred Powell is premiering his new documentary with us on Sunday, August 6 at 5:30. “WE BELIEVE IN US is an intriguing true story of a once prominent inner city football power located on the southwest side of Dayton. In a breathtaking manner this raw documentary brilliantly transports you through the daily saga and life a young black coach and his staff and his players during their unpredictable 2015 season. This story simultaneously captures the realism of generational poverty, stigma, stereotypes, and promise while embracing the power of hope and survival. Dunbar High School – where disappointment is often undefeated – provoked this team to make a promise to themselves. When no one else in the world believes in us…We Believe In Us.” (press notes) Tickets are $5 each and are currently available at THE NEON’s Box Office.

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

SHOWTIMES for Tuesday, July 11 – Thursday, July 20:

THE BEGUILED (R) 1 Hr 33 Min
Tuesday & Wednesday (July 11 & 12): 3:00, 5:15, 7:30
Thursday (July 13): 3:00, 5:15
FINAL DAY – July 13!

BEATRIZ AT DINNER (R) 1 Hr 23 Min
Tuesday (July 11): 3:15, 5:20, 7:40
Wednesday (July 12): 3:15, 5:20
Thursday (July 13): 3:15, 5:20, 7:40
FINAL DAY – July 13!

MANIFESTO (NR) 1 Hr 35 Min
Wednesday (July 12): 7:30
FINAL SCREENING!

THE BIG SICK (R) 1 Hr 59 Min
Thursday (July 13): 7:30 Preview with Bonus – THE BIG(GER) SICK
Friday & Saturday (July 14 & 15): 11:50, 2:20, 4:50, 7:30, 9:55
Sunday (July 16): 11:50, 2:20, 4:50, 7:30
Monday – Thursday (July 17-20): 2:45, 5:10, 7:40

THE HERO (R) 1 Hr 33 Min
Friday & Saturday (July 14 & 15): 12:50, 3:00, 5:10, 7:20, 9:30
Sunday (July 16): 12:50, 5:30, 7:40
Monday – Thursday (July 17-20): 3:00, 5:15, 7:30

COMING SOON:
(All Dates Are Tentative. Dates Often Move And Sometimes Disappear)
TBD – MAUDIE
TBD – A GHOST STORY
TBD – LADY MACBETH
TBD – LANDLINE

Strong Summer Line-Up at THE NEON

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Hello Most Metro!

We’ve got a lot of films to pack in this summer…so we’re moving right along this week! If you still need to see CHURCHILL, Thursday will be your last chance to see it at THE NEON. On Friday, we will open PARIS CAN WAIT – the new film by Eleanor Coppola (June is for the Coppolas! We’ll open Sofia Coppola’s new film BEGUILED later this month and we’ll even bring back a sparkling wine from Francis Ford Coppola’s vineyard at the end of the month). We’ll hold onto MY COUSIN RACHEL for another week.

Synopsis for PARIS CAN WAIT: “Eleanor Coppola’s feature film directorial and screenwriting debut at the age of 81 stars Academy Award nominee Diane Lane as a Hollywood producer’s wife who unexpectedly takes a trip through France, which reawakens her sense of self and her joie de vivre. Anne (Lane) is at a crossroads in her life. Long married to a successfully driven but inattentive movie producer (Alec Baldwin), she finds herself taking a car trip from Cannes to Paris with a business associate of her husband (Arnaud Viard). What should be a seven-hour drive turns into a journey of discovery involving mouthwatering meals, spectacular wines, and picturesque sights.” (Sony Classics) Click this LINK to visit the film’s official site.

In last week’s NEON Newsletter, I mentioned that “Tickets are flying” for A VERY SORDID WEDDING! I wasn’t kidding. As I write this paragraph, we only have 3 tickets left at our box office…so we’ve added a second screening. “It’s 2015, seventeen years after Peggy tripped over G.W.’s wooden legs and died in SORDID LIVES, and life has moved into the present for the residents of Winters, Texas. Sissy Hickey (Dale Dickey) is reading the Bible, cover to cover, trying to make some kind of sense out of what it really says about gay people. Her niece Latrelle Williamson (Bonnie Bedelia) has divorced her husband Wilson (Michael MacRae) who has taken up with a hot young gold digger (Katherine Bailess). Latrelle’s now out and proud gay son Ty (Kirk Geiger) is on his way back to town with a black man (T. Ashanti Mozelle) and news of their own. Her sister LaVonda (Ann Walker) is still cussin’ and drankin’ and is being blackmailed to sit with the sick and afflicted…As the sordid saga continues, the cast of colorful characters are all on a collision course for shenanigans and fireworks.” (from official site) Join us for a very PRIDE-ful “Encore” screening on Thursday, June 22 at 10:00. Tickets are available at THE NEON’s box office or by clicking this LINK.

Dayton native Eric Mahoney (director of NORTH DIXIE DRIVE) is coming back to town to shoot additional material for a new documentary…and we’ve sheduled a one-time screening of MADLY, a film he produced, on Thursday, July 6 at 7:30. “Six groundbreaking directors, six iconic international destinations, six visions of modern love in all of its complications. From Producer Eric Mahoney comes the award winning feature MADLY, taking viewers on a passionate trip around the world with short vignettes from acclaimed directors: Gael Garcia Bernal, Sion Sono, Sebastian Silva, Mia Wasikowska, Anurag Kashyap, and Natasha Khan. Indiewire writes, ‘the film, like love itself is hard to resist.’ Actress Radhika Apte was also awarded Best International Actress at the 2016 Tribeca Film Festival.” (taken from press notes) Proceeds from this special one time screening will go to help finance Mahoney’s current project, a documentary on the Dayton, OH band Brainiac. For more information about the new BRAINIAC film, please visit this LINK.  Tickets, just $10 each, are on sale now at THE NEON’s box office. Mahoney will be in attendance for a Q&A at this screening.

This Saturday, June 17, we’ll be collecting money for The Alzheimer’s Association’s LONGEST DAY project – a series of events that recognize the endurance of caregivers and those living with Alzheimer’s. We’ll be asking everyone if they’d like to round up their ticket price for the day – with all extra money going to The Alzheimer’s Association (of course we’ll accept additional donations, too). We hope you’ll make it down to see us this Saturday.

I’m delighted to announce that we now have official dates for 2 more special events. MANIFESTO, the new film starring Cate Blanchett in 13 different roles, will be here for a few screenings beginning July 8 (check out the trailer below). On July 10, we will host a one-time special screening of SPRING STREET Season 1 – the new series from creator (and Dayton Native) David Beck. I’ll write more about these screenings next week…but if you can’t wait, read more now on our website – www.neonmovies.com

Thanks so much for your continued support.
See you soon,
Jonathan

 

SHOWTIMES for June 13 – June 22:

CHURCHILL (PG) 1 Hr 45 Min
Tuesday-Thursday (June 13-15): 2:50, 5:10, 7:30
FINAL DAY – June 15!

MY COUSIN RACHEL (PG-13) 1 Hr 46 Min
Tuesday-Thursday (June 13-15): 3:00, 5:20, 7:40
Friday & Saturday (June 16 & 17): 12:20, 2:40, 5:00, 7:20, 9:40
Sunday (June 18): 12:20, 2:40, 5:00, 7:20
Monday-Thursday (June 19-22): 3:00, 5:20, 7:40

PARIS CAN WAIT (PG) 1 Hr 32 Min
Friday & Saturday (June 16 & 17): 12:50, 3:00, 5:10, 7:20, 9:30
Sunday (June 18): 12:50, 3:00, 5:10
Monday-Wednesday (June 19-21): 3:00, 5:15, 7:30
Thursday (June 22): 3:00, 5:15

A VERY SORDID WEDDING (NR) 1 Hr 49 Min
Thursday (June 22): 7:30, 10:00

COMING SOON:
(All Dates Are Tentative. Dates Often Move And Sometimes Disappear)
June 23 – A QUIET PASSION
June 24, 25 & 28 – MAURICE
June 30 – THE BEGUILED
July 8, 9 & 12 – MANIFESTO
TBE – BEATRIZ AT DINNER
TBD – THE HERO
July 21 – MAUDIE
TBD – THE WEDDING PLAN
TBD – JEREMIAH TOWER
TBD – DEAN

Sally Field’s DORIS & Star-Studded Malick Film Open Friday at THE NEON!

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rs_634x939-151119112930-634-hello-my-name-is-doris-posterHello Everyone,

We’re cleaning house this week! If you need to see HITCHCOCK/TRUFFAUT, MUSTANG, SON OF SAUL or LADY IN THE VAN, Thursday will be your last chance to catch them at THE NEON. On Friday, we’ll begin a film that many of you have expressed excitement about – HELLO, MY NAME IS DORIS – starring Sally Field. In addition, we’ll begin a film by master filmmaker Terrence Malick with a star-studded cast – KNIGHT OF CUPS.

Synopsis for HELLO, MY NAME IS DORIS: “When Doris Miller meets John Fremont, her company’s hip new art director, sparks fly-at least for Doris. In the cluttered house she shared with her late mother, Doris mines the Internet for information on her one-and-only, guided by the 13-year-old granddaughter of her best pal Roz. When Doris begins showing up at John’s regular haunts, she wins over his Williamsburg friends. Her new life brings Doris a thrilling perspective, but also creates a rift between her and her longtime friends and family, who believe she’s making a fool of herself over a guy half her age. Eager for all the experiences she has missed out on, Doris throws caution to the wind and follows her heart for the very first time.” VARIETY wrote, “A showstopper. Sally Field shines.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pdn-CcRypo8

Synopsis for KNIGHT OF CUPS: “Knight of Cups follows writer Rick (Christian Bale) on an odyssey through the playgrounds of Los Angeles and Las Vegas as he undertakes a search for love and self. Even as he moves through a desire-laden landscape of mansions, resorts, beaches and clubs, Rick grapples over complicated relationships with his brother (Wes Bentley) and father (Brian Dennehy). His quest to break the spell of his disenchantment takes him on a series of adventures with six alluring women: rebellious Della (Imogen Poots); his physician ex-wife, Nancy (Cate Blanchett); a serene model Helen (Freida Pinto); a woman he wronged in the past Elizabeth (Natalie Portman); a spirited, playful stripper Karen (Teresa Palmer); and an innocent Isabel (Isabel Lucas), who helps him see a way forward. Rick moves in a daze through a strange and overwhelming dreamscape — but can he wake up to the beauty, humanity and rhythms of life around him? The deeper he searches, the more the journey becomes his destination.” THE VILLAGE VOICE wrote, “KNIGHT OF CUPS might be both the most intoxicating film [Malik] has ever made-a deluge of gorgeous, kinetic images and sounds-and, in some ways, the most perplexing.” Click this LINK to visit the film’s official site.

It’s almost time for THE DAYTON JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL, and this year’s selections look like a winning line-up! The fest begins in early April with screenings and speakers all around town. Here’s a list of films that will screen at THE NEON:
Thursday, April 7 – 7:15pm – ATOMIC FALAFEL
Sunday, April 10 – 7:15pm – THE LAST MENTSCH
Tuesday, April 12 – 9:30am – GETT: THE TRIAL OF VIVIANE AMSALEM
Tuesday, April 12 – 7:15pm – BORROWED IDENTITY
Thursday, April 14 – 7:15pm – APPLES FROM THE DESERT
Sunday, April 17 – 5:20pm – MAKING MORNING STAR
Sunday, April 17 – 7:15pm – DOUGH
Advanced tickets are available on the festival’s official site.

On Wednesday, April 20 at 7:30, “Go Wild for Earth Month at the WILD AND SCENIC FILM FESTIVAL presented by Aveda and the SierraClub. The evening will be a celebration of wilderness and waterways as we take a cinematic tour of rivers, lakes, oceans and the individuals exploring, enjoying, and protecting them. Over 15 films spanning the globe highlight why our waterways should be wild.” (taken from press notes) Tickets are $10 each and can be purchased in advance via this LINK. If tickets remain, they will be sold one hour before the event at our box office. All proceeds benefit the Sierra Club.

We hope to see you soon!
Thanks for your continued support!
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Tuesday, March 22 – Thursday, March 31:

THE LADY IN THE VAN (PG-13) 1 Hr 44 Min
Tuesday – Thursday (March 22-24): 3:00, 7:30
FINAL DAY – March 24!

SON OF SAUL (R) 1 Hr 47 Min
Tuesday-Thursday (March 22-24): 5:10
FINAL DAY – March 24!

HITCHCOCK/TRUFFAUT (PG-13) 1 Hr 19 Min
Tuesday-Thursday (March 22-24): 5:15
FINAL DAY – March 24!

MUSTANG (PG-13) 1 Hr 37 Min
Tuesday-Thursday (March 22-24): 3:15, 7:30
FINAL DAY – March 24!

HELLO, MY NAME IS DORIS (R) 1 Hr 35 Min
Friday & Saturday (March 25 & 26): 12:20, 2:40, 5:00, 7:20, 9:30
Sunday (March 27): 12:20, 2:40, 5:00, 7:20
Monday – Thursday (March 28-31): 3:00, 5:15, 7:30

KNIGHT OF CUPS (R) 1 Hr 58 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday (March 25-27): 12:30, 3:00, 5:30, 8:00
Monday – Thursday (March 28-31): 3:00, 5:30, 8:00

COMING SOON:
(All Dates Are Tentative. Dates Often Move And Sometimes Disappear.)
April 1 – I SAW THE LIGHT
April 8 – DEMOLITION
April ? – REMEMBER
April 22 – MILES AHEAD (shot in Cincinnati & Dayton)
April ? – THE DARK HORSE
April ? – KRISHA
May 6 – SING STREET
May 13 – LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP
May 27 – THE MEDDLER
June 10 – MAGGIE’S PLAN
June 17 – DARK HORSE

CAROL Soars at THE NEON! PEGGY GUGGENHEIM Doc & Return of SPOTLIGHT Start Friday!

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5117f5ba-f6a8-4f2d-a3fa-47bb154f4766Hello Everyone,

What a fantastic weekend! Many thanks to everyone who came out for CAROL at THE NEON! This stunning film surpassed the national average for us and has already reached “hit status” in our books. Don’t forget that your ticket stub to CAROL gets you 50% off admission to America’s Packard Museum – just a few blocks away.

We’re holding everything we’ve got (CAROL, THE DANISH GIRL and TRUMBO), and we’re adding a couple more films to the line-up. First off, we’re bringing a documentary that has received several requests – but it will only play for a handful of screenings – PEGGY GUGGENHEIM: ART ADDICT. In addition, we will bring SPOTLIGHT back into the mix…we’re pretty certain it will receive numerous Oscar nominations on Thursday.

Speaking of Oscars, I’m happy to announce that our friends at ThinkTV have once again agreed to help us get a signal for our annual Oscar Party. Save the date for Sunday, February 28. More details coming soon!

Synopsis for PEGGY GUGGENHEIM: ART ADDICT: “Lisa Immordino Vreeland follows up her acclaimed debut DIANA VREELAND: THE EYE HAS TO TRAVEL with PEGGY GUGGENHEIM: ART ADDICT. A colorful character who was not only ahead of her time but helped to define it, Peggy Guggenheim was an heiress to her family fortune who became a central figure in the modern art movement. As she moved through the cultural upheaval of the 20th century, she collected not only art, but artists. Her colorful personal history included such figures as Samuel Beckett, Max Ernst, Jackson Pollock, Alexander Calder, Marcel Duchamp as well as countless others. While fighting through personal tragedy, she maintained her vision to build one of the most important collections of modern art, now enshrined in her Venetian palazzo.” (Submarine Deluxe) Click this LINK to visit the film’s official website.

Garry Harrington is bringing a cycling film to town on Wednesday, February 3 at 7:30. Sponsored by Five Rivers MetroParks, “INSPIRED TO RIDE is the followup film from the creators of the wildly popular and award-winning film RIDE THE DIVIDE, as well as their second film, REVEAL THE PATH. On June 7, 2014, forty-five cyclists from around the world set out on the inaugural TransAm Bike Race, a 4,233-mile cross-country, self-supported race from Astoria, OR, to Yorktown, VA. The route roughly follows the TransAmerica Trail as created by the Adventure Cycling Association, traversing through ten states in a transcontinental adventure of epic proportions…These athletes will endure agonizing climbs in the Rockies, driving winds in the Great Plains and sawtooth switchbacks in the Appalachians all for a pat on the back, potential bragging rights and a cold beer when it’s over. Some are out to make history and set records, while others are simply trying to finish.” Advanced tickets are $12 each and are only available at this LINK. Same day tickets (if available) will be $15 at our box office one hour before the screening.

We hope to see you soon!
Thanks for your continued support!
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Tuesday, Jan. 12 – Thursday, Jan. 21:

THE DANISH GIRL (R) 2 Hrs
Tuesday – Thursday (Jan 12-14): 2:40, 7:45
Fri, Sat, Sun (Jan 15-17): 7:15
Monday (Jan 18): 5:45
Tuesday – Thursday (Jan 19-21): 5:15

TRUMBO (R) 2 Hrs 4 Min
Tuesday – Thursday (Jan 12-14): 5:15
Fri, Sat, Sun (Jan 15-17): 4:45
Monday (Jan 18): 3:20
Tuesday – Thursday (Jan 19-21): 2:40

CAROL (R) 1 Hr 58 Min
Tuesday – Thursday (Jan 12-14): 2:50, 5:20, 7:50
Friday & Saturday (Jan 15 & 16): 11:45, 2:15, 4:45, 7:20, 9:50
Sunday (Jan 17): 11:45, 2:15, 4:45, 7:20
Monday (Jan 18): 3:15, 5:40, 8:00
Tuesday – Thursday (Jan 19-21): 2:50, 5:20, 7:50

PEGGY GUGGENHEIM: ART ADDICT (NR) 1 Hr 39 Min
ONLY 4 SCREENINGS OF THIS FILM!
Fri, Sat, Sun (Jan 15-17): Noon
Wednesday (Jan 20): 7:45

SPOTLIGHT (R) 2 Hrs 8 Min
Friday & Saturday (Jan 15 & 16): 2:10, 9:45
Sunday (Jan 17): 2:10
Monday (Jan 18): 8:10
Tuesday (Jan 19): 7:45
Wednesday (Jan 20): No Screening
Thursday (Jan 21): 7:45

COMING SOON:
(All Dates Are Tentative. Dates Often Move And Sometimes Disappear.)
Jan. 22 – ANOMALISA (Charlie Kaufman’s new film)
Jan. 22 – YOUTH (starring Michael Caine & Harvey Keitel)
Feb. 12 – WHERE TO INVADE NEXT (Michael Moore’s new film)
TBD – OSCAR NOMINATED SHORTS
Feb. 19 – LADY IN THE VAN (Maggie Smith – need we say more?)
TBD – SON OF SAUL (almost certain to get an Oscar nomination)
TBD – 45 YEARS (Big Oscar Push for Charlotte Rampling)

Introducing McCoy on Movies: Review of CAROL

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A movie blog written by someone smart enough to know his opinions may not match yours.

 

 

“There you go … Relax those shoulders … And if this were the 1990s, I’d probably put on a little R. Kelly for how I’m about to get my groove on!”




Cate Blanchett stars as the titular character as she gets close with Therese Belivet (Rooney Mara), a shy department store clerk who may become something more in a scene from director Todd Haynes’ take on Patricia Highsmith’s novel The Price of Salt, CAROL.



Credit: © 2015 The Weinstein Company.


WATCH THE TRAILER(S) HERE:






KEY CAST MEMBERS: Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, Sarah Paulson, Kyle Chandler, Jake Lacy, Cory Michael Smith and Carrie Brownstein


WRITER(S): Phyllis Nagy (screenplay); Patricia Highsmith (novel The Price of Salt on which the film is based)


DIRECTOR(S): Todd Haynes

WEB SITE: http://carolfilm.com/

60 SECOND PLOT SUMMARY (OR AS CLOSE TO THAT TIME AS ONE CAN MAKE IT): An adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s 1952 novel The Price of Salt, Carol stars Rooney Mara as Therese Belivet, a rather quiet, introverted clerk working at a New York City department store. Then she meets Carol (Cate Blanchett), a woman that is seemingly everything she isn’t in terms of being confident and glamorous, save for one commonality between them: Attraction. The men in their lives, however – be it Carol’s head-over-heels but oblivious boyfriend (Jake Lacy) or Carol’s controlling, moral-thumping husband (Kyle Chandler) – are none too keen of the situation once they become aware something is going on between their would-be other halves.


But for Carol and Therese, an attraction as strong as the one they share is going to be hard to quell, the wishes of men or society be damned … 

WHO WILL LIKE THIS FILM THE MOST? Ohioans who worked on or know people in the film; LGBT community members and supporters; Cate Blanchett fans; people who enjoy watching portrayals of understudied segments of mid-20th century America; fans of Patricia Highsmith’s work 

WHO WON’T (OR SHOULDN’T) LIKE THIS MOVIE? Anyone upset about Cincinnati’s decision to be the first city in the nation to ban homosexual conversion therapy; people who feel a disconnect to the story because of their own personal beliefs and/or not being a member of the LGBT community, thus not having the same emotional connection to the story as others; people who believe homosexual relationships are directly related to the dissolution of the American family … And pretty much anyone else you can think of who hears the word “lesbian” or “gay” and chuckles or goes into a rage

SO, IS IT GOOD, BAD OR ABSOLUTELY AWFUL? Carol is a film about which some people will have plenty to say and others, very little. For on one hand, some could easily dismiss the film as a very nice looking tale of a May-December (or more like May–October) romance between two women that doesn’t go far enough in exploring its affects on its main characters outside of one speech in a lawyer’s office and conversation between its female protagonists. Those same people may then look to quickly say something to the effect of Blanchett is commanding of the camera as Carol, a woman who in one breath is as confident and alluring and then, in the next, vulnerable as one can be when awaiting someone to whom you want to give your heart and not knowing they will return the favor. 


Likewise, Mara – who is so adept at playing introverted or mysterious that she’s even talked about it on national television – is great at bringing at, on the surface, is a rather mundane character to life even if she seemingly spends most of the time reacting to things happening around her until she is placed into the role to make a very important decision … Even if she is guided inadvertently to that decision by Carol’s hand. 


On the other hand, there is a LOT one could say about Carol one could discuss at length, from the depiction of men in the film to its status as a romantic drama vs. being a “lesbian romance” film – Salon.com already took the liberty of doing that if you want to examine those issues – to less hot-button topics such as its pacing, the transformation of Cincinnati into 1950s New York City and the like. Other might lament the film not going deeper into exploring the outside forces on Carol and Therese’s relationship or explaining exactly what happened between Carol and her best gal pal Abby (Sarah Paulson). 


Then again, an infinite number of essays could be written about these topics, what the true realities of being in a lesbian relationship during this time in American history were, the ways in which different aspects of society reacted to them and others that the film does not have the time to explore in detail because – as should be evident – a significant number of them exist. Instead, Carol seeks to simply tell a story of two people who find something in each other that they have not found in the people they are already paired up with and – instead of going for something salacious or titillating, looks to present it in a more organic, simple and (perhaps most importantly) natural fashion, which may be its biggest achievement of all. As a film, however, Carol features performances that – which occasionally almost veer into “this is my big moment” territory early on before the actors find their collective grooves – seem well-fitting to the time period it depicts with settings that gorgeously reflect them. 

Thus, if you know the subject matter is not of interest to you because you have an issue with it for whatever reason, Carol will do nothing – other than trying to show you women who simply fall for one another, why and how much richer they make each other’s existence – to change your mind. That is why the film might be so successful in that task, however, with those who are not steadfast and dogmatic in their thinking as it present their relationship as nothing more than a normal relationship, which may in turn say more about such relationships are usually portrayed in media than not – and perhaps that is a sign of the progress the LGBT has been clamoring for for years in making a movie that ISN’T about being “gay,” “lesbian” or the like, but simply a love story. 

OVERALL RATING (OUT OF FOUR POSSIBLE BUCKETS OF POPCORN):

BLANCHETT & REDFORD in TRUTH + Big Changes at THE NEON!

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f15d409ef0d2dd66517a60e998226f3b74edbf29Hello Everyone,

Cate Blanchett & Robert Redford! Need I say more? If you’re like me, you’re already invested! Tomorrow (Oct. 30) we open TRUTH – the new film starring these two incredible actors! (In the coming weeks, I’ll hopefully have more details for you about CAROL – the film with Blanchett I’ve been anticipating for more than a year.) If you still need to see EXPERIMENTER or COMING HOME, you’ll need to hurry. Today is the last day for both of these films at THE NEON. If you need showtimes for today, please visit our website – www.neonmovies.com Showtimes for the upcoming weekend/week are below.

I’ve recently had several people ask me why movies aren’t sticking around longer…customers are wondering why wonderful films (like COMING HOME and PHOENIX and MERU) are leaving after such short runs. Simply put, it almost always means films aren’t performing well. We haven’t had a hit in quite a while, and the independent industry is feeling this across the board. As I write this, distributors are frantically changing their distribution strategies for upcoming films – opening dates are shifting (some forward, some backward), and some titles may disappear entirely from our “Coming Soon” list. These date moves make it all the harder on small venues like THE NEON to effectively market upcoming engagements. I truly appreciate you keeping your eyes on this newsletter (and even our website and facebook) for the latest developments.

Synopsis for TRUTH: “On the morning of September 9, 2004, veteran CBS News producer MARY MAPES (Cate Blanchett) believed she had every reason to feel proud of a broadcast journalism job well done. By the end of the day, Mapes, CBS News, and the venerable CBS News anchor DAN RATHER (Robert Redford) would be under harsh scrutiny. The evening before, 60 Minutes II had aired an investigative report, produced by Mapes and reported on-air by Rather, that purported to reveal new evidence proving that President George W. Bush had possibly shirked his duty during his service as a Texas Air National Guard pilot from 1968 to 1974.” (taken from Sony Classics) Stephen Holden of THE NEW YORK TIMES wrote, “TRUTH is a gripping, beautifully executed journalistic thriller about the events that ended Dan Rather’s career as a CBS anchorman.” Click this LINK to visit the film’s official site.

Don’t forget that we’ve just opened MEET THE PATELS!
Synopsis for MEET THE PATELS: “A laugh-out-loud real life romantic comedy about Ravi Patel, an almost-30-year-old Indian-American who enters a love triangle between the woman of his dreams…and his parents. This hilarious and heartwarming film reveals how love is a family affair.” (taken from Alchemy Releasing) VARIETY calls the film “Sharp” and “Riotously funny.” Click this LINK to visit the film’s official site.

On Thursday, Nov. 5 at 7:30, Dayton native Tann Moore is bringing a selection of short films to town. “The Dayton Onyx Cinefest (D.O.C.) is a cinefest designed to broaden the horizons of local artists by bringing the culture of film to the African- American arts community and consumers of African-American entertainment in Dayton, Ohio. The fest’s goal is to encourage, educate and enhance the fine-arts related careers of emerging and established local filmmakers of color through a public exhibition and eventual competition program. The desire is to be instrumental in the process of discovering and launching independent films and filmmakers by bringing them to the attention of the public and broader industry. Additionally, attendees will have access to informational seminars and workshops covering a variety of topics including: independent film production, writing for independent film, and will have access to online tutorial programs designed to inform and educate local actors.” Tickets are $20 each and are available via the official site or at THE NEON’s Box Office.

On Sunday, November 15 at 3:00, The Dayton International Peace Museum will have a special screening of SEEKING THE TRUTH IN THE BALKANS. This screening is in commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the Dayton Peace Accords, and tickets will be on a first come first serve basis on the day of the screening for a requested minimum donations of $10. “In the 1990s, the former state of Yugoslavia devolved into chaos as various segments of the country declared independence, inflaming age-old ethnic tensions and the worst genocide to occur in Europe since World War II. During the midst of the conflict, the UN Security Council created the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) to prosecute genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. The ICTY was the first international criminal tribunal since Nuremberg. Now, 23 years later as the ICTY is wrapping up its cases, this prize-winning documentary explores the legacy of this landmark experiment in international law and asks if truth, peace, justice or reconciliation were attained by interviewing over 100 persons most impacted by the decisions of the Tribunal. The trailer for the film can be seen by clicking this LINK.

“Up And Running of Dayton has partnered with Trails in Motion to bring exciting films and documentaries about trail running to the Dayton Area on Wednesday, November 18 at 7:30. All proceeds from this event will go to Girls On The Run of Dayton. Each year, the TRAILS IN MOTION FILM TOUR brings a collection of the finest trail running films to passionate audiences around the world. Trails in Motion strives to present a varied montage of high quality film content from dynamic film makers in this genre, and also aims to develop a global community that brings together like minded trail runners and outdoor enthusiasts in a visual celebration of the sport. All hosted by people who love to share this ‘dirty art’ with their local running communities.” (taken from press notes) Tickets, just $12 each, are available at THE NEON’s box office, at Up And Running stores in Dayton and Troy or via this Speedy Feet LINK.

I’ve already had a handful of requests regarding this year’s holiday film selections. I will announce this year’s line-up in next week’s newsletter!

Thanks for your continued support!
Hope to see you soon,
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Friday, Oct. 30 – Thursday, Nov. 5:

TRUTH (R) 2 Hr 5 Min
Friday & Saturday: 1:00, 4:00, 7:15, 9:45
Sunday: 1:00, 4:00, 7:15
Monday – Thursday: 2:45, 5:15, 7:45

MEET THE PATELS (PG) 1 Hr 18 Min
Friday & Saturday: 1:10, 3:10, 5:15, 7:20, 9:30
Sunday: 1:10, 3:10, 5:15, 7:20
Monday – Wednesday: 3:10, 5:15, 7:20
Thursday: 3:10, 5:15

DAYTON ONYX CINEFEST (NR)
Thursday: 7:30

COMING SOON:
(All Dates Are Tentative. Dates Often Move And Sometimes Disappear.)
Nov. 6 – LABYRINTH OF LIES
Nov. 13 – SUFFRAGETTE
Nov. 25 – BROOKLYN
TBD – ROOM
Possible Titles: SPOTLIGHT, THE DANISH GIRL, CAROL, TRUMBO, YOUTH

SALINGER and THE HUNT Open Friday at THE NEON!

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Salinger_Poster_embed_article-1Hello Everyone,

We’re moving right along, and I think it’s fair to say that we’ve got something for everyone this weekend. In addition to holding AUSTENLAND and BLUE JASMINE for one more week, we will open the documentary SALINGER and the highly acclaimed film from Denmark –THE HUNT. For remaining showtimes for this week, visit our official site at www.neonmovies.com.

Synopsis for SALINGER: “SALINGER features interviews with 150 subjects including Salinger’s friends, colleagues and members of his inner circle who have never spoken on the record before as well as film footage, photographs and other material that has never been seen. Additionally, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Edward Norton, John Cusack, Danny DeVito, John Guare, Martin Sheen, David Milch, Robert Towne, Tom Wolfe, E.L. Doctorow, Gore Vidal and Pulitzer Prize winners A. Scott Berg and Elizabeth Frank talk about Salinger’s influence on their lives, their work and the broader culture. The film is the first work to get beyond the Catcher in the Rye author’s meticulously built up wall: his childhood, painstaking work methods, marriages, private world and the secrets he left behind after his death in 2010.” (taken from The Weinstein Company) Click HERE to visit the film’s official site.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oUHn0lZFy8′]

Synopsis for THE HUNT: “Mads Mikkelsen (NBC’s Hannibal, A ROYAL AFFAIR) won the Best Actor Award at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival for his penetrating portrayal of Lucas, a former school teacher who has been forced to start over having overcome a tough divorce and the loss of his job. Just as things are starting to go his way, his life is shattered when an untruthful remark throws his small community into a collective state of hysteria. As the lie spreads, Lucas is forced to fight a lonely fight for his life and dignity.” (taken from Magnolia Pictures) Click HERE to visit the film’s official site.

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

THE DAYTON LGBT FILM FESTIVAL is heading into its 8th year, and we’ve just secured flights for 2 visiting filmmakers (with hopefully more to come). The dates are set for October 11-13, and the line-up is fantastic. The committee has been working on this year’s festival since April, and we’re proud of the response – festival passes are already flying. The official site is up and running, and you can visit our Facebook Page for last-minute and fun postings. We hope you’ll look at our site and find something you’d like to see…if you’re into thought-provoking documentaries or period films or satirical comedies, we’ve got it covered. Single tickets go on sale this Wednesday, Sept. 25…it’s certain to be an amazing festival!

I’m sure many of you have seen the trailer for one of the best reviewed comedies of the year – Nicole Holofcener’s ENOUGH SAID, starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus and James Gandolfini. I’m delighted to announce that it has moved up…it is now set to open next Friday (Oct. 4).

Thanks for your continued support!
We hope to see you soon,

Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Fri, Sept. 27 – Thurs, Oct. 3:

BLUE JASMINE (PG-13) 1 Hr 38 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 2:50, 9:45
Monday – Thursday: 5:30

THE HUNT (R) 1 Hr 55 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:30, 5:00, 7:20
Monday – Thursday: 3:10, 7:50

AUSTENLAND (PG-13) 1 Hr 37 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:45, 5:10
Monday – Thursday: 5:20

SALINGER (PG-13) 2 Hrs
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 2:50, 7:15, 9:45
Monday – Thursday: 3:00, 7:45

COMING SOON:
As always, all dates are tentative. Many of these dates will change.
In some rare cases, titles may disappear.
Oct. 4 – ENOUGH SAID
Oct. 11 – THE PATIENCE STONE
Oct. 18 – INEQUALITY FOR ALL
Oct. 25 – WADJDA
Nov. 22- KILL YOUR DARLINGS
Nov. 22 –DALLAS BUYERS CLUB
TBD – CUTIE AND THE BOXER

THE SPECTACULAR NOW Opens & BLUE JASMINE Continues at THE NEON!

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The_Spectacular_Now_4Hello Everyone,

Wow! What an incredible weekend! FilmDayton had some nice crowds over the weekend (their line-up was awesome), and BLUE JASMINE became one of our biggest openings of the year! Many thanks to all of you who came out. We were busy, and it felt great!

If you still need to see THE WAY WAY BACK, you only have a couple more days. In addition, I hope many of you will come down for our special 4-day engagement of IN THE HOUSE – one of my absolute favorite films of the year (only a few people turned out on Monday). Thursday will be the last day for both films, and you can see their schedules on our official site – www.neonmovies.com. While BLUE JASMINE will certainly stick around, we have another hot, new film opening this weekend – THE SPECTACULAR NOW. This film has garnered high praise from The Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, Entertainment Weekly, USA Today, Variety, Chicago Sun-Times and many more. We hope you’ll support it!

Synopsis for THE SPECTACULAR NOW: “This is the tale of Sutter Keely, a high school senior and effortless charmer, and of how he unexpectedly falls in love with “the good girl” Aimee Finecky. What starts as an unlikely romance, becomes a sharp-eyed, straight-up snapshot of the heady confusion and haunting passion of youth – one that doesn’t look for tidy truths.” (taken from A24) This film stars Shailene Woodley – she played a daughter to George Clooney’s character in THE DESCENDANTS. She’s really wonderful. Click this LINK to visit the official site.

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“James Booker, the ‘Piano Prince of New Orleans,’ is resurrected in Lily Keber’s superb new documentary film – BAYOU MAHARAJA: THE TRAGIC GENIUS OF JAMES BOOKER. The documentary features concert footage, eyewitness accounts of the outrageous Booker in action and reflections from fellow New Orleans musicians Harry Connick Jr., Allen Toussaint, Dr. John, Aaron Neville and others. 2013’s most talked-about music documentary, the movie captures the essence of this underappreciated virtuoso. Meet Lily Keber at THE NEON when she introduces her film and leads a Q&A session following the screening.” (taken from VSOP Press Notes) This film will play one time only – Wednesday, September 18 at 7:30. Tickets are already on sale at THE NEON’s box office.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tV8zi0uwChk’]

I’m sad to announce that THE NEON has lost a good friend. Harish Trivedi of The India Foundation passed away earlier this month. He was such a lover of film, and he provided the community with a wealth of knowledge and passion for Indian cinema. He was a great collaborator, and his spirit and drive were infectious. He will be greatly missed.

Unfortunately, Saturday’s screening of SALMA has been cancelled. We hope it will be rescheduled for a future event, but no further details are available at this time.

Thanks for your continued support!

We hope to see you soon!
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Fri, Aug. 30 – Thurs, Sept. 5:

BLUE JASMINE (PG-13) 1 Hr 38 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:30, 2:45, 5:00, 7:15, 9:30
Monday: 12:30, 2:45, 5:00, 7:15
Tuesday – Thursday: 3:10, 5:20, 7:30

THE SPECTACULAR NOW (R) 1 Hr 35 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:40, 3:00, 5:15, 7:30, 9:40
Monday: 12:40, 3:00, 5:15, 7:40
Tuesday – Thursday: 3:00, 5:15, 7:40

COMING SOON:
As always, all dates are tentative. Many of these dates will change.
In some rare cases, titles may disappear.
TBD – BLACKFISH
TBD – THE HUNT
Sept. 13 – SALINGER
TBD – THE PATIENCE STONE
TBD – AUSTENLAND
TBD – WADJDA
Oct. 18 – ENOUGH SAID
Oct. 18 – INEQUALITY FOR ALL
TBD – CUTIE AND THE BOXER

BLUE JASMINE, IN THE HOUSE, FilmDAYTON & More Great News at THE NEON!

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pic_giant_081613_SM_Blue-Jasmine-Woody-Allen_Returns_0Hello Everyone,

We’ve got so much happening over the next week…I’m absolutely certain that there is something for everyone at THE NEON! In addition to FilmDayton‘s great line-up (including gems like IN A WORLD, SHORT TERM 12 and REMOTE AREA MEDICAL), we will open one of the most talked about indies of the year – Woody Allen’s BLUE JASMINE (featuring one of the most outstanding performances of Cate Blanchett’s incredible career). And it doesn’t stop there. Next Monday through Thursday, we will bring one of my favorite films of the year – Francois Ozon’s IN THE HOUSE – for a 4-day run!

Next Friday, August 30, we will open a coming of age story that critics and audiences alike are loving – THE SPECTACULAR NOW.

Synopsis for BLUE JASMINE: “After everything in her life falls to pieces, including her marriage to wealthy businessman Hal, elegant New York socialite Jasmine moves into her sister Ginger’s modest apartment in San Francisco to try to pull herself back together again.” (taken from Sony Classics) Click THIS LINK to visit the official site.

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Synopsis for IN THE HOUSE: “Sixteen-year-old Claude insinuates himself into the house of fellow high school student, writing about his family in essays that perversely blur the lines between reality and fiction for his jaded literature teacher. Intrigued by this gifted and unusual student, Germain rediscovers his taste for teaching, but the boy’s intrusion sparks a series of uncontrollable events.” This was one of my Top 3 Films at last year’s Toronto Film Festival…it stars Fabrice Luchini and Kristin Scott Thomas. Be sure to check out the trailer below.

house

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The FilmDayton Festival is ready to go! Film screenings will take place at THE NEON, but the festival is about a whole lot more. Check out their complete line-up on their official site.
Films/Events at THE NEON are:
Friday, Aug. 23 at 7:00 – IN A WORLD
Friday, Aug. 23 at 9:00 – FLICK MY CLIP COMEDY SHORTS
Friday, Aug. 23 at 11:00 – FRIDAY NIGHT FRIGHT
Saturday, Aug 24 at 11:00am – WYSO SCREENLESS SCREENING
Saturday, Aug 24 at 1:00 – JACK, JULES, ESTHER AND ME
Saturday, Aug 24 at 3:30 – SHORTS BLOCK #1
Saturday, Aug 24 at 6:00 – SUNDOG FESTIVAL (FREE!)
Saturday, Aug 24 at 8:30 – SHORT TERM 12
Sunday, Aug. 25 at 1:00 – SHORTS BLOCK #2
Sunday, Aug 25 at 3:30 – REMOTE AREA MEDICAL
Sunday, Aug 25 at 6:00 – BIG WORDS
Sunday, Aug 25 at 8:00 – FilmDayton AWARDS

As an FYI, Tickets to both screenings of WSU’s BIG LENS FILM FESTIVAL are completely sold out!

In next week’s week’s newsletter, I’ll have more details about VSOP’s special screening of BAYOU MAHARAJA: THE TRAGIC GENIUS OF JAMES BOOKER – slated for Wed, Sept. 18 at 7:30.

We’ve got so much going on!
We hope to see you soon!
All the best,
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Fri, Aug. 23 – Thurs, Aug. 29:

BLUE JASMINE (PG-13) 1 Hr 38 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:30, 2:45, 5:00, 7:15, 9:30
Monday – Thursday: 3:10, 5:20, 7:30

IN THE HOUSE (R) 1 Hr 45 Min
Monday – Thursday: 3:00, 7:45

THE WAY WAY BACK (PG-13) 1 Hr 43 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: NO SCREENINGS
Monday – Thursday: 5:30

THE FILMDAYTON FESTIVAL
Friday: 7:00, 9:00, 11:00
Saturday: 11:00am, 1:00, 3:30, 6:00, 8:30
Sunday: 1:00, 3:30, 6:00, 8:00

COMING SOON:
As always, all dates are tentative. Many of these dates will change.
In some rare cases, titles may disappear.
Aug. 30 – THE SPECTACULAR NOW
TBD – THE HUNT
Sept. 13 – SALINGER
Sept. ? – BLACKFISH
TBD – THE PATIENCE STONE
TBD – AUSTENLAND
TBD – WADJDA
Oct. 18 – ENOUGH SAID
Oct. 18 – INEQUALITY FOR ALL
TBD – CUTIE AND THE BOXER

FRUITVALE STATION and THE WAY WAY BACK Open at THE NEON!

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The-Way-Way-Back-Liam-James-620x339Hello Everyone,

As much as we’d like to hold THE KINGS OF SUMMER (it performed very well over the weekend, and audiences loved it), we have to keep moving (otherwise we’d have to skip this weekend’s titles). On Friday (July 26), we will open 2 of the biggest indie hits of the summer – FRUITVALE STATION and THE WAY WAY BACK. Thursday will be your last chance to see 20 FEET FROM STARDOM and THE KINGS OF SUMMER. For this week’s remaining showtimes, visit our website at www.neonmovies.com.

Synopsis for FRUITVALE STATION: “Winner of both the Grand Jury Prize for dramatic feature and the Audience Award for U.S. dramatic film at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival, director Ryan Coogler’s FRUITVALE STATION follows the true story of Oscar Grant (Michael B. Jordan), a 22-year-old Bay Area resident who wakes up on the morning of December 31, 2008 and feels something in the air. Not sure what it is, he takes it as a sign to get a head start on his resolutions: being a better son to his mother (Octavia Spencer), being a better partner to his girlfriend Sophina (Melonie Diaz), and being a better father to Tatiana (Ariana Neal), their beautiful four year-old daughter. His resolve takes a tragic turn, however, when BART officers shoot him in cold blood at the Fruitvale subway stop on New Year’s Day. Oscar’s life and tragic death would shake the Bay Area – and the entire nation – to its very core.” (The Weinstein Company) With production design from WSU Motion Picture Alum Hannah Beachler! Beachler will be available for Q&As after screenings on Friday (July 26) at 7:30 and Saturday (July 27) at 5:10. Click THIS LINK to visit the film’s official site.

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Synopsis for THE WAY WAY BACK: “THE WAY, WAY BACK is the funny and poignant coming of age story of 14-year-old Duncan’s (Liam James) summer vacation with his mother, Pam (Toni Collette), her overbearing boyfriend, Trent (Steve Carell), and his daughter, Steph (Zoe Levin). Having a rough time fitting in, the introverted Duncan finds an unexpected friend in gregarious Owen (Sam Rockwell), manager of the Water Wizz water park. Through his funny, clandestine friendship with Owen, Duncan slowly opens up to and begins to finally find his place in the world – all during a summer he will never forget.” The cast in this film is terrific – featuring one of Dayton’s own – Allison Janney! Click THIS LINK to visit the film’s official site.

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“Roger Brown — the greatest basketball player Dayton has ever known — will be inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame on Sept. 8. Without the love and sacrifice of 84-year-old Daytonian Arlena Smith, it wouldn’t be happening. Join us at THE NEON on Aug. 15 at 7:30 for a benefit screening of the acclaimed documentary UNDEFEATED: THE ROGER BROWN STORY, with all proceeds going toward Arlena Smith’s trip to Springfield, Mass., for Brown’s Hall of Fame induction. Arlena and her late husband Azariah could not have children of their own, so they regularly welcomed troubled teenagers into their modest West Side home. One of those was Roger Brown. Among the greatest young basketball players in New York City history, Brown in 1961 had been unfairly implicated in a gambling scandal just as he was finishing his freshman year at the University of Dayton. Though never charged with a crime, he was kicked out of school and banned for life by the NBA. The Smiths came to the rescue. They opened up their home, found Brown a job, gave him the strength to move on. And finally, Brown bloomed anew. In 1967, he became the first player of the ABA’s Indiana Pacers. He led them to three championships, and became an Indianapolis City Councilman. All along, until his death at age 54 of cancer, Brown credited the Smiths — his ‘second parents’ — for making it possible.” (taken from press notes) Mark your calendars now! Tickets, just $10 each, are now available at our box office and at EbonNia Gallery.

“The Libertarian Party of Ohio is hosting an evening of film, food, and discussion in support of the rights of individuals, families, and farmers to make healthy choices about what to grow and eat without interference from government. Food, Freedom and Farmageddon begins at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 8, with the film Farmageddon: The Unseen War on American Family Farms screening at 7:30 p.m at the The Neon, 130 E. Fifth St., Dayton. Fressa and Harvest Mobile Cuisine, two of Dayton’s most popular food trucks, will be parked right outside, and local food vendors will have their goods for sale. Also co-sponsoring the event is The Heights Cafe of Huber Heights. Admission is $5.” (taken from Libertarian Party Press Notes) Click THIS LINK to reserve your seat.
Hope to see you this weekend!

All the best,
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Fri. July 26 – Aug 1:

FRUITVALE STATION (R) 1 Hr 25 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:50, 3:00, 5:10, 7:30, 9:45
Monday – Thursday: 3:00, 5:10, 7:30, 9:45

THE WAY WAY BACK (PG-13) 1 Hr 43 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:30, 2:45, 5:00, 7:15, 9:30
Monday – Thursday: 2:45, 5:00, 7:15, 9:30

COMING SOON:
As always, all dates are tentative. Many of these dates will change.
In some rare cases, titles may disappear.
TBD – FILL THE VOID
TBD – IN THE HOUSE
Aug. 2 – I’M SO EXCITED
Aug. 23 – BLUE JASMINE
TBD – BLACKFISH
TBD – THE HUNT