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TIFF 2015 – Day #8

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Victoria_(2015_film)_POSTERHello Everyone.

Today was the first day I didn’t have to get up terribly early, and that extra 45 minutes of sleep was much appreciated.

My day started off with a screening of a film that will be on the top of my list – SPOTLIGHT, directed by Tom McCarthy.  This is a newsroom procedural of the Boston Globe uncovering the Catholic Church scandal in 2001.  Starring Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams and Liev Schreiber, this film has a great script, tight editing and at times plays like a thriller.  The material is certainly chilling – especially when one character states that when it comes to priests and pedophilia, it’s not just a few bad apples, it’s  “a recognizable psychiatric phenomenon.”  I think it could go the distance for numerous nominations this season.

VICTORIA, directed by Sebastian Schipper, was next on my list.  This 2+ hour film was done in one long, mobile take. It’s the story of a young woman who gets caught up with a group of guys after leaving a nightclub in Berlin.  She’s romantically interested in one of the guys, but the gang has a mission that night…and she ends up getting tangled up in a bank robbery.  Though the last 40 minutes are quite exhilarating, it takes a long time to get moving.  Because it’s one shot, we would never buy the protagonist’s motivations to join the guys on their heist if we didn’t have time for her to form a connection.  Thus we are forced to watch the set-up of their relationship in what would normally be trimmed down to 15 -20 minutes (instead it takes more than an hour – some of which is rather tedious).  The film is technically incredible and the performances are wonderful too…I just felt it went on too long – but I understand that’s part of the point.

JAMES WHITE, directed by Josh Mond, was my final film of the day.  Cynthia Nixon and Christopher Abbott both give incredible performances in this film about a walking powder keg who is taking care of his sick mother.  Abbott plays James –  a hot-headed, partying slacker with bursts of violence, and the performance is riveting.  The raw feel of the film truly puts us in the heart of New York without ever feeling like a triptych, and there are a couple powerful moments between mother and son which really cemented Josh Mond as a filmmaker to watch.   The director and cast were present for a Q&A, and Nixon was asked about her preparation for the part.  She spoke eloquently of having lost her mother to Cancer during the same year of shooting the film and of losing two close friends to AIDS in the 90’s…and how she was able to draw upon those bedside experiences to prepare for the role.

Only one more day!

Thanks for reading,

Jonathan

Won’t You Be Our Neighbor?

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Downtown Dayton residents share their stories on why they moved downtown and why they love it!

Housing developments in downtown Dayton have never been more popular. It seems as soon as a new project is finished, another one is announced. Who’s buying or renting these spaces and what motivates them to seek this kind of city-centric lifestyle? The Downtown Dayton Partnership showcases three families who’ve made the move. Get a glimpse into the lives of people who live downtown—and a sneak peek into some of the residential complexes featured on the Downtown Housing Tour from 1-5 p.m. September 19.

Kelly, Mike, and Noah Romano, Patterson Place

WalkingWhen Kelly and Mike Romano began shopping for a new home, they didn’t set out looking for a new-build property. “(Mike) likes the really urban looks and historic homes, I wanted something simple,” Kelly said. When they stepped into a model of Patterson Place, it seemed as though everyone would win with this home. The Charles Simms Development units combine such “urban” aesthetic as lofted ceilings and exposed brick with minimalist, clean design. The Romanos fell in love with the space, but there were still potential road blocks the Vandalia family had to confront.

The couple’s 14-year-old son, Noah, had grown up in the Vandalia-Butler school system and wasn’t keen on starting fresh at a different school. Encouraged by a family friend whose child attended Dayton Public Schools, Kelly and Noah made a trip to Stivers School for the Arts, located less than a mile and a half from the potential new downtown home. “The school was smaller for sure,” Kelly said. “There are about 900 kids in the whole school (grades 7 through 12) versus about 300 students per class at Vandalia-Butler.” The benefits of a smaller school became apparent when Kelly and Noah visited the recording studio. “There was a group of students who showed (Noah) around the studio and really started talking to him, getting to know him,” Kelly recalled. “It was a defining moment, I think.”

DiningNoah agreed and went on to describe how Stivers’ school pride impressed him. “The school had a gift shop; that was pretty different,” he said. One hurdle down: Noah auditioned and was accepted to Stivers’ choral program. He began his freshman year in August.

Finite space is another hallmark of city life. There’s not much room for sprawling McMansions in an urban environment, which is why many lofts, townhomes and condos employ a creative use of vertical space. Still, the Romanos had some downsizing to do before they could call their new urban digs home. “It’s definitely smaller than I’m used to,” Noah said. “But there are so many other things that are closer and easy to walk to bike to.” It’s true that what the Romanos sacrificed in square footage for their home, they gained in access to amenities. No space for a six-burner-stove and island prep in the kitchen? No problem—there are seven places to grab a bite to eat that are two blocks away or closer (hundreds more within walking and biking distance). Running out of room for guests at a party? Spill out into the parking lot instead. The Romanos can attest to the friendly atmosphere of their cozy dwellings. “We didn’t interact with our neighbors much (in Vandalia),” Mike said. “Here, you’re so close, it’s hard not to interact with your neighbors. It’s not uncommon to see several get-togethers blend into one big gathering (along the ground-level spaces, patios and access drive).

“Kitchen(Living downtown) feels like an on-going party that doesn’t stop!” he said.

Beyond folding them into their social circles, the Romanos said their new neighbors made them feel part of the community. “Everyone’s been so supportive of us,” Kelly said. “They ask about Noah and school. He even picked up some odd jobs for our neighbors like watering plants and walking dogs.”

Downtown’s communal atmosphere is not all the Romanos love about their new home. “We definitely walk more than we used to,” Kelly said. “We’re members of the Dayton Racquet Club and we can walk to the gym. It’s an easy walk to stores and restaurants on St. Clair or the Oregon District. We just got our Link (Dayton Bike Share) passes and we can get from place to place quickly.” Noah chimed in that he can walk to his karate lessons in the Oregon District. The 2nd Street Market, RiverScape MetroPark, and Fifth Third Field were other walkable destinations the family named among their most frequented places. “When we first moved here, our neighbors told us we couldn’t leave when there are festivals,” Kelly said. Mike agreed; “It’s so easy when they’re practically in your backyard! We go to practically every festival and every event downtown.”

patioThe slower pace of walking and biking also presents new things to discover. “You find things you never knew existed,” Mike said. “We found Urban Krag (Climbing Center in the Oregon District) that way.” Kelly echoed that sentiment and added her affinity for the shops in the St. Clair Lofts—Salon J Ladner, Pi Style Boutique, Linwood Men’s Specialty Shoppe, and Twist Cupcakery. Several blocks away at the Cannery Building, Kelly and Mike said they discovered Sherwood Florist and The Black Box Improv Theater, where they have returned many times for performances.

Now the Romanos are sharing their downtown love with friends and family. “People were surprised when we moved here,” Mike said. Kelly agreed, and added that they are happy to share their positive experiences with visitors. “We had some friends who we took to the Dayton Racquet Club, and they joined,” she said. “I think the common reaction is downtown is cooler than they expected. It was even cooler than we expected when we moved here!”

Amy and Kevin Rehfus, The Landing

Having just moved to their new digs at The Landing in June, the Rehfuses are still pretty fresh to downtown, but they’re acclimating rather quickly, particularly to their new-found free time. The couple moved from a home approximately 3,300 square feet with a huge, rolling lawn down to about 1,500 square feet with a deck and patio. Amy and Kevin leavingfound the process to be quite liberating. “(Moving from the suburbs to downtown) was freeing, if anything,” Kevin said. Amy agreed: “(At the old house) we were constantly working on the lawn and maintaining the house. We don’t miss that at all! It frees up your time so you can actually do more.”

Originally from North Canton, Amy and Kevin said they always lived in the suburbs, and the transition from their home of five years in Troy to The Landing downtown was big, but nevertheless a change they made with a clear vision for the type of lifestyle they craved. “We had to think what we wanted out of a home and community,” Amy said. The couple wanted to live somewhere affordable where they could be less dependent on a vehicle, and they wanted nearby amenities that would complement reduce car-reliance. “Dayton checked off all the items on our list,” Amy recalled. “We were surprised!”

patioEven though their new apartment home is physically smaller than their suburban digs, they said they don’t feel cramped or that they lack space. “There are so many places to visit and they’re practically in our back yard,” Kevin said. Giving one particular weekend as an example, the couple recounted attending a Big Band Nights concert at RiverScape MetroPark on Thursday, The Square Is Where Goes Over the Edge Drop Party on Courthouse Square Friday, then on Saturday, they hopped on the bike path that runs behind their apartment building and rode to Tank’s and Carillon Park, and topped that all off with a walk back to RiverScape for the Hispanic Heritage Festival. “You don’t feel like you’re exercising when you’re just traveling from place to place,” Amy said.

LinkbikesFrom the Rehfuses’ home, perched on the banks of the Great Miami River, they will have front-row seats to watch more active lifestyle amenities come online. Construction has started on the new RiverScape River Run project, which will stabilize the banks of the river and enhance habitat. Flow control structures also will be installed, mimicking the natural flow of a healthy river. The structures will create two passageways for kayaks, canoes and other paddle sports. One will be a slow-moving channel for novice and leisure paddle sport enthusiasts, and the other will be faster for more experienced kayakers, who will be able to use the channel for dips, flips and other tricks. The removal of the dangerous low dam will create a 7-mile river trail where paddlers can put in at Eastwood MetroPark and float all the way down to Carillon Park. Construction is expected to take a year to complete.

Alongside the river, a new mural is being painted on the floodwall, adding beauty and visual interest to the cityscape. K12 Gallery, another downtown business, has been contracted to apply the design created by local artist Amy Deal.

Being so close to so many amenities and events has provided the couple with more activities than they could possibly entertain. “We’ve been so busy, we haven’t taken a vacation or even bothered to hook up the cable yet!” Kevin mused.

citywalkThe abundance of action wasn’t the only surprise downtown Dayton had in store for the Rehfuses. “We didn’t think we would experience a lot of nature (being in an urban environment), but we encounter a ton of birds and squirrels and rabbits,” Amy said. Downtown’s less furry denizens got a nod, as well. “You know, sometimes you hear about city life and how people living there are more stoic and cold,” she said. “I was surprised at just how friendly people are who live downtown!”

Local shops and restaurants rounded out the Rehfuses’ list of aspects of downtown life they love. Whether it’s walking to dinner, riding their bikes along the largest bikeway network in the country, taking in the sights and sounds of cultural festivals, or any other downtown activity, Amy said the transition has been rewarding: “Our lives have completely changed — for the better!”

April Alford, St. Clair Lofts

kitchen April Alford came to Dayton by way of New Jersey. She was working for the U.S. Postal Service when the opportunity to transfer to a higher position came up. “I applied to lots of locations, and Dayton was the first to respond,” she said. Alford moved to Dayton and took up residence initially in Shroyer Park. But when she checked out the St. Clair Lofts during an open house, it was love at first sight. “I worked downtown and I had a friend who lived in the lofts,” she said. “I thought the space was great and it put me right in the middle of arts, culture, events, food – all within walking distance of my home and work.”

Now a downtown resident for four years, Alford said she was initially surprised at how outgoing people are. “In New Jersey, people are busy, and you don’t see your neighbors a lot or really talk to each other. Moving to Dayton, I noticed people are more friendly, especially downtown,” she said.

Alford still works downtown at the Board of Elections. When she’s not at work or hanging out in her funky urban loft, Alford enjoys all the amenities downtown has to offer. “You can find me at The Neon (movie theater), Oregon Express, and probably the Schuster (Center) or Victoria Theatre,” she said. “I love plays; each year I make sure I get my Passport to the Arts from Culture Works so I can get great deals on attending performing arts events!”

livingroom She also spends her down-time volunteering with another group close to her heart – Activated Spaces. Since 2011, the program has been filling formerly vacant street-level storefronts with art and Pop-Up Shops. The latest iteration of Activated Spaces introduced the Pop-Up Office concept. Activated Spaces is managed by the Downtown Dayton Partnership and run by a team of volunteers, mostly from the UpDayton, a nonprofit focused on attracting and retaining young talent through civic engagement and volunteer initiatives, and the Dayton Chamber of Commerce’s young professional organization Generation Dayton. “I started out as a volunteer with UpDayton and from there got into (Activated Spaces),” Alford said. “I love that I get to play such a direct role in making the city where I live a better place.”

onthetownActivated Spaces’ most recent Pop-Up Shops are two eatery concepts, frozen banana dessert scoop shop Fronana, and Twist Cupcakery, a café and full-service bakery that happens to be located in the first-floor of the St. Clair Lofts. The bakery joins another Pop-Up Shop alumna, Pi Style Boutique, and three other businesses, Anthony James Painting and Contracting, J Ladner Salon & Spa and Linwood Men’s Specialty Shoppe. Alford said she loves having shopping; hair, nail and spa services, and a lunch or dessert spot steps from her loft. But really, she’s invested her time in the program to encourage Dayton’s small patiobusiness scene. “These are people with dreams of opening a shop, and those dreams are in our hands,” she said. “It’s important for me to volunteer because I can make an impact for the city and help (entrepreneurs) achieve their dreams.”

Alford invites anyone considering making a switch to living downtown to at least check out a space. “I love living here; it’s the complete package,” she said. “If you’re into the arts and culture, good food, exciting nightlife, and friendly people, come downtown!”

The Downtown Housing Tour takes place from 1-5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19. Start at any location, or at an info table. There will be an info table stationed on Don Crawford Plaza (Fifth Third Field) at Patterson Boulevard and Monument Avenue; at Monument Avenue and Wilkinson/Perry streets; and in the Oregon District at Fifth and Brown streets. See as many locations as desired. Walk or bike from spot to spot, or use the free hop-on, hop-off shuttle. More information is available at http://bit.ly/housingtour.

TIFF 2015 – Day #7

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room_posterHello Everyone.

Today was a rough start.  One of the boys at IndieWire threw a little party last night, and I got in very, very late…so getting out of bed at 6:30 was a challenge.  But I made it…and managed to squeeze in a nice nap mid day. So everything worked out fine.

First off, I saw THE MAN WHO KNEW INFINITY, directed by Matthew Brown.  This is a film about an Indian mathematician whose theories revolutionized his field…and the his hardships in having them heard due to racial tensions in England.  The movie stars Dev Patel and Jeremy Irons, and this is certainly Patel’s most subtle and best role since SLUMDOG. Though I found some material a little hokey, it’s ultimately a solid period piece that will be a crowd-pleaser. (There is not yet a trailer for this film.)

the-man-who-knew-infinity

ROOM, directed by L Abrahamson is fantastic.  This is the story of a young woman and her son who are being held captive in a small garden shack.  The little boy turns 5 early in the film, and the “Room,” his mother and the man who visits regularly (their captor) are the only things the boy knows of the world.  Though they have television, he’s been raised to believe that everything there is make-believe.  I had quite a response to this film.  My entire body was trembling during the scene when the boy’s mother created a plan for the boy to escape.  I haven’t had this type of bodily response to a film in a long, long time.  (I’m not going to tell you anything more about the plot.  Just trust me…it’s great.)

I SMILE BACK, directed by Adam Salky, was next on the list.  Sarah Silverman is getting a lot of praise for this brave, raw performance – and it’s well-deserved.  This is the story of a married mother of two who is battling mental illness and substance abuse.  It’s a gritty film, and the story is actually simple.  Though performances are strong across the board, and I think the film is well done, there was something keeping me from really connecting.

My final film of the day was MISS SHARON JONES!, directed by Barbara Kopple.  This documentary is about the legendary singer and her battle with Cancer.  Kopple is one of a handful of directors who had a film premiere at the very first Toronto Film Fest (then known as “The Festival of Festivals”) – the film was HARLAN COUNTY, USA, and it went on to win the Academy Award.  This film is full of great music and Jones’ soaring spirit.  During industry screenings, audience response is quite minimal…this one was followed by a nice round of applause.  (I’ll soon be acquiring some Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings music.)

USA - MUSIC - Sharon Jones

I no longer have to get in line super early, so I get to sleep in until 7:45 tomorrow.   I’m looking forward to that extra sleep.

Thanks for reading,

Jonathan

 

TIFF 2015 – Day #6

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21165911088_409fa65dab_oHi Again.

Thanks for coming back.  Today, in addition to 4 films and one late night party, I managed to have a window of time that allowed me to have a nice dinner and small shopping spree – so I have now contributed nicely to the Canadian economy.

First thing this morning, I saw THE DRESSMAKER, directed by Jocelyn Moorhouse and starring Kate Winslet.  Moorhouse, known for her weepie HOW TO MAKE AN AMERICAN QUILT, wasn’t quite sure which tone to give to this most recent novel adaptation…so she went with several.  What starts out as a “Screwball Western” changes genres and mood so many times, it’s difficult to explain.  Winslet, returning home after a long absence, appears as a curvaceous outlaw – her nontraditional weapons are her Singer sewing machine, a great gold swing and her feminine wiles.  Accused of killing a classmate while in grade school, she hasn’t been back to town for years.  Now she’s back to take care of her mother and set things straight.  This Australian film is completely bonkers!  It also stars the awesome Judy Davis and the terribly sexy Liam Hemsworth, and was penned by P.J. Hogan (MURIEL’S WEDDING).  Though I found this film to be an overall disaster, I couldn’t stop watching – the performances are fun and some of the material is quite hysterical.

Next up was a film that many have been quite excited about. WHERE TO INVADE NEXT, directed by Michael Moore isn’t quite what it seems.  There is no trailer yet for this film that critics are dubbing “Michael Moore’s Happy Film,” and if you watch the clip below, even the press was speculating about the subject of the film before it premiered (the young woman in the clip mentions what the film is about…and she’s completely wrong).  In what might seem to be Michael Moore’s most optimistic film, he visits various countries and gives us ideas as to how we could do things better.  From Italy’s vacation policies to school lunches in France to Slovenia’s no tuition for college system, Moore explains that these practices lead to better living conditions, a more productive work force and overall better state of affairs.  This film is a crowd-pleaser.

I then scurried across town for the under-attended MA MA, directed by Julio Medem.  Medem, known for his film LOVERS OF THE ARCTIC CIRCLE and SEX AND LUCIA, was in attendance along with the stunning lead actress Penelope Cruz.  This is the story of woman who finds out she has breast Cancer but continues to be a most compassionate, giving/forgiving woman.  Critics have not been terribly kind to this beautifully executed melodrama (but they rarely are with this genre).  Though not without its flaws, I really liked this film. (Unfortunately, I can’t find a trailer with subtitles, but you should watch this one regardless.)

ANOMALISA, directed by Charlie Kaufman & Duke Johnson, was my final film for the day.  This stop-motion puppet film, written by the much beloved Kaufman (BEING JOHN MALKOVICH, ADAPTATION, ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND), is 100% made for adults.  It’s a relatively simple story about a motivational speaker staying overnight at a hotel trying to escape his monotonous life.  There is no trailer for this film – only the Kickstarter campaign below.  The film won the Grand Jury Prize in Venice, and word has it that it is being picked up for distribution.

la-2437344-et-0904-charlie-kaufman-telluride-02-r-20150903

Thanks for reading!  Only a few days left.

More tomorrow,

Jonathan

TIFF 2015 – Day #5

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Freeheld-posterHello Again.  Thanks for coming back!

Half way through today marked the half way point of the festival.  And by the end of the day, I had seen 20 films in all…but there’s lots more to go.

My first film of the day was the thriller COLONIA, directed by Florian Gallenberger.  Starring Daniel Bruhl and Emma Watson, this film started out like a conventional political thriller about civil unrest in Chile in 1973.  But then it became an over-the-top cult escape thriller.  This is the story of Colonia Dignidad – a hideous compound in Chile that housed a religious cult and also served as a military torture prison.  Though entirely engaging, I found some of the characters to be of the Disney villain sort – thus making it seem like it couldn’t be based in reality.  That said, the story is based on fact, and seeing the actual photos at the end was a nice pay-off.  There were moments that seemed a little too much HUNGER GAMES driven – so I’m not sure who the intended audience is…serious subject but a little too young adult driven to rise to the top for me.

Next up was FREEHELD, directed by Peter Sollett and starring Julianne Moore and Ellen Page.  This was a film I was looking forward to seeing, and I was a little disappointed at first.  Though the performances are certainly quite good, the film seemed a bit flat at first.  This film is based on the short documentary of the same name.  We played it at the Dayton LGBT Film Fest several years ago, and it went on to win the Academy Award.  It’s the story of Laurel Hester and her attempt to get her police pension left to her domestic partner in New Jersey.  Though perhaps a little “one-note” in this role, it takes Steve Carell to inject some energy into the film.  The original documentary covered the material that picks up in the second half of the film, and that’s where I became most engaged.  This story was groundbreaking in its role to bring marriage equality to New Jersey…and now that marriage equality is nationwide, it serves as an important reminder of why LGBT people have been fighting so hard.

Next up was THE FAMILY FANG, directed by Jason Bateman.  This film is based on a beloved novel, adapted for the screen by David Lindsay-Abbaire (playwright of RABBIT HOLE).  Starring Bateman, Nicole Kidman and Christopher Walken, this is the story of a family who are reunited after an unlikely accident.  The parents are long-time, well-known performance artists who stage very public pieces that often come off as practical jokes.  Though certainly a very touching film, it is also terribly funny. Somewhere between FLIRTING WITH DISASTER and SAVAGES and even a little ROYAL TENENBAUMS (though more for its elements of family dynamics), this film became my biggest surprise for the festival.  I was intrigued enough to go…but was so delighted that I had.  It’s a wonderful film.  Bateman and Walken were there for a Q&A, and it was delightful.  It was clear that Bateman loved having Walken in the role, and he said “Everything Chris did was fantastic.  It was like killin’ babies in the editing room.” This film has yet to be picked up for distribution…but I bet it will be soon.

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I had about half an hour to spare this evening, so I poked into JANIS: LITTLE GIRL BLUE, directed by Amy Berg – it was not my intention to stay for the entire film (and I didn’t).  I was quick to learn that this documentary about Janis Joplin was made for PBS (I believe it will play on American Masters series).  Though intriguing subject material and certain to find a big fan base, this film wasn’t working so well for me on the big screen.  Much of the archival footage was so grainy and distorted via large format projecting…I think it will play much better on televisions.

THE ONES BELOW, directed by David Farr was my last film of the night.  “Eagerly awaiting their first child, a young couple in a tiny London suburb become involved in a psychological battle of wills with the tenants in the apartment downstairs…” (taken from the TIFF program).  Unfortunately, this film also looked like it would play much better on television – but not due to pixilation or grainy footage.  This thriller had some unintended laugh-out-loud moments…and in most other circumstances I would have left after 20 minutes.  But for some reason, I felt compelled to stay and so I could shake me head and roll my eyes at some very strange decisions in what had hoped to be a bit more of a nod to Roman Polanski.  Though there were a couple gripping moments, I ultimately found this film to be the biggest turkey of my TIFF experience so far.

75-2

And now it’s off to bed.  Thanks for checking in.

More tomorrow,

Jonathan

TIFF 2015 – Day #4

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brooklynHi Again!

My first film today was TRUMBO, directed by Jay Roach.  For the first few minutes, I had to get over its visual style.  It seemed a little cartoony, and the cinematography seemed more like television than film…but then it took its hold on me with a sharp screenplay and terrific performances.  This is the story of Dalton Trumbo, one of the “Hollywood 10” who was Blacklisted during America’s fear of people affiliated with the Communist Party. The script is terrific, and the story is playful but serious – and Brian Cranston is wonderful in his Big performance (during the Q&A, the director noted that “Trumbo didn’t just talk, he performed.”).  This is a film that had the packed house bursting into applause during certain key moments, and I think it’s a film that would certainly go over well with NEON audiences.  We’ll see what the distributor has in mind (not to mention the crowded marketplace this fall)! (NEON favorite Helen Mirren plays Hedda Hopper – and she chews up the scenery with her wickedly upsetting material.  One other supporting role that stood out was John Goodman’s.  You’ll love him.)

DISORDER, directed by Alice Winocour, was the next film of the day.  Starring Matthias Schoenaerts (a regular face at THE NEON – RUST AND BONE, THE DROP, and FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD…and possibly THE DANISH GIRL this Fall), this is the story of a man with PTSD who is hired to work security for a wealthy family while the husband is away on business.  This psychologic turned invasion thriller is marked with great performances, edge of your seat tension and incredible sound design.

Up next was MAGGIE’S PLAN, directed by Rebecca Miller.  This seemed like new territory for a Rebecca Miller film to me.  It might be in large part to Greta Gerwig’s presence, but it felt more like a Noah Baumbach/Woody Allen comedy.  That said, this love triangle comedy starring Gerwig, Ethan Hawke and Julianne Moore certainly has some wonderful moments (and Julianne Moore steals every scene she’s in as a Danish professor).  The story is about a single woman (Gerwig) who is determined to have a baby and finds herself in a relationship with a married professor.

Maggie's Plan

Lastly, I saw my favorite film of the festival so far – BROOKLYN, directed by John Crowley.  In this lovely 1950’s period film, Saoirse Ronan plays a girls who moves from Ireland to Brooklyn in order to have a better life.  We witness a wonderful transformation from reserved wallflower to a more confident, stunning woman.  With a screenplay by Nick Hornby, this film works on all levels.  The screenplay is great, the performances are wonderful, and the cinematography will make you swoon.  Saoirse Ronan, Domhnall Gleeson (seen earlier this year in EX MACHINA),  Emory Cohen (who you might recognize from THE PLACE BEYOND THE PINES) and director John Crowley were in attendance for an insightful Q&A.

After all my screenings, I met different people at a couple different locations for cocktails.  It was a nice mix of business & pleasure to cap off the day.

More tomorrow.  Thanks for reading!

Jonathan

TIFF 2015 – Day #3

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a5e418c00d1f88a05b2165e602f9f7f0_originalHello Again,

After my successful turn in line this morning, I was off to my first screening – MISS YOU ALREADY, directed by Catherine Hardwicke.  Many people refer to this type of a film as a “chick flick.”  Though there are many films that get this label, there are a handful of these guilty pleasures that I have absolutely adored over the years…and I was hoping to find a new BEACHES today.  Hardwicke takes the story of two best friends since childhood (Toni Collette and Drew Barrymore) and gives it the energy and style of her film THIRTEEN.  There’s lots of crazy camera moves and a series of montages in an attempt to keep it fresh, but I feel that style detracts from this already overlong story.  Though there are certain elements of this film that work (namely Collette), I was mostly disappointed.  However, I was still moved by the ending – so I still had some sort of emotional attachment.

I had only planned on 4 films today, but when I had a window of time, I snuck in another film instead of a nap.  SLEEPING GIANT, by first-time Canadian director Andrew Cividino, is a lakeside summertime coming-of-age story about a teenage boy of privilege and his friendship with two much rougher boys living with their grandmother for the season.  It’s pretty early on in the film that we feel the powder keg sensibility of what’s in store, and the story becomes a little predictable.  But the cadence of the contemporary youthful dialog is just right and the boys’  performances are all strong.   What’s especially lovely about this film is the subtext.  This is one of the stronger films I’ve seen so far…but a hard sell – teen dramas that aren’t really meant for teens are always tricky (even when they’re as wonderful as ME AND EARL AND THE DYING GIRL).

THE LADY IN THE VAN, directed by Nicholas Hytner, was next on my list.  Hytner was in attendance for this film, and the Q&A was fantastic.  Based on the memoir and subsequent play by Alan Bennett, the films stars Maggie Smith (who originated the role in the play in 1999).  As this was the world premiere, it was Hytner’s first time seeing the finished film with an audience, and he had such eloquent things to say.  Maggie Smith is divine, and I must say that it’s smarter, funnier and significantly more touching than the trailer alludes. (Sony Classics has picked this up, so it’s pretty certain it will get a NEON run.)

Then I got to see the North American premiere of THE DANISH GIRL, directed by Tom Hooper (KINGS SPEECH).  This lovely film isn’t without a couple problematic moments, and it will certainly have its LGBT detractors – harping that it’s too “easy.”  That said, I think it works.  With lovely art direction, exquisite costumes and incredible performances across the board, this is a love story about artists Lili Elbe and Gerda Wegener (Eddie Redmayne & Alicia Vikander).   Lili, first introduced to us as Einar Wegener, is known to be the first recorded person to receive sexual reassignment surgery in the 1930’s.  Her diaries, posthumously used as the basis for the book MAN INTO WOMAN, remain highly regarded work for the transgender community.  There will certainly be a lot of award season buzz for this film. (In addition to a fantastic Q&A with Tom, Eddie and Alicia, the audience at this screening included many stars from other films at the festival – including Johnny Depp (his wife Amber Heard plays a wonderful role in the film, and she was stunning tonight).)

TE PROMETO ANARQUIA, directed by Julio Hernández Cordón, was my last film for the night.  This gritty film set in Mexico City is about two skateboarder boyfriends and their attempt to make some cash.  It feels a bit like some of Gus Van Sant’s indie work (less GOOD WILL HUNTING and MILK, more PARANOID PARK and ELEPHANT).  There are a lot of scenes where we simply see people traveling through the landscapes of the town with a loud, music-driven soundtrack.  And there a handful of scenes with dudes showing off their machismo – which I understood their intent but felt were some of the weaker moments.  The storytelling was uneven and overly long, and I think some of the plot points were haphazardly executed. About 25 minutes in, I considered leaving…but I’m glad I stuck it out.

I finished up the night with cocktails and catching up with some friends from NYC.  Some high profiles films are on the docket for tomorrow – looking forward to them.

Thanks for reading!

Jonathan

TIFF 2015 – Day #2

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KillYourFriends2-600x400Hello Again!

Today started off much the way they’ll all start.  I pulled myself out of bed after 4.5 hours sleep and scurried into the industry ticket line.  (Not having to run across town each morning is really fantastic.)

The first film I saw today was from one of Canada’s most beloved filmmakers – Atom Egoyan (THE SWEET HEREAFTER, CHLOE, and many more).  REMEMBER stars Christopher Plummer as a Holocaust survivor with dementia who escapes from his nursing home to seek revenge on the Auschwitz commander who killed his family.  Though a serious and intriguing subject, with moments of great tension, the film sometimes comes off as a bit twee when dealing with Plummer’s age and condition.  There’s a good story here, but I just didn’t completely buy it.  That said, I know many people will love this film.

Next up was IN CONVERSATION WITH JULIANNE MOORE.  Clips from Moore’s career (BOOGIE NIGHTS, BIG LEBOWSKI, FAR FROM HEAVEN, THE HOURS, STILL ALICE, and more) played before she took the stage for a hour-long interview with Cameron Baily (and eventually a handful of audience questions).  As I already knew, this woman is a class act.  It was exciting to hear her insights on acting and her eloquence and command of language is so refreshing.  She mostly spoke of her career in indie films, but she still referenced all the Hollywood material (JURASSIC, HUNGER GAMES, etc) she’s done…and she attributes her years on soap opera for giving her an opportunity to really learn to work.  When asked by a young, college bound actress about seeking a career and having a “plan B” (referencing STILL ALICE), Julianne suggested always getting a college degree (even if it is in acting) and “do everything that interests you.”  I love her! (The Star covered this event.  For their story, visit this LINK…though the link might not work outside of Canada.)

After lunch and a 30 minute nap, I scurried to THE LOBSTER, directed by Yorgos Lanthimos.  This is a film set in a parallel universe – but it’s not really science fiction.  It’s the story of a man who goes to a hotel where people go to find partners.  After 45 days, if they haven’t found a partner, they get turned into an animal of their choice (OK, so maybe a hint of science fiction).  This quirky allegory is from the man who brought us DOGTOOTH – one of my favorite challenging films of the past decade.  THE LOBSTER is the director’s first English language film, and though I certainly like some of its themes and some of its moral and societal questions, I felt it was a little more disjointed than I’d prefer.  I felt like the film began to lose steam in its second and third act.  That said, I’d certainly watch it again…so there’s a testament to its strengths.

My last film for the day was KILL YOUR FRIENDS, directed by Owen Harris.  This is a super-polished and scathing look at the music industry – starring Nicholas Hoult and based on a best-selling novel.  The portrait of how things get done for record labels (though I’m sure you could substitute any number of high profile “glamorous” jobs) is relentless, and the drug use, the disregard for women (and in this over-the-top case, even violence) was terribly off-putting.  Now here’s the question.  Will some audiences simply revel in it?  Will the drug use and hookers with bare breasts seem the ultimate goal to some…or will audiences really read it as a cautionary tale?  I’m hoping for the latter. Nicholas Hoult plays the adorable maniac very well, and the movie recalls the tone and message of films like THE PLAYER and AMERICAN PSYCHO.

That’s it for today.  I’m off for a beer with some friends.  Hoping to be in bed by midnightish….we’ll see.

Thanks for reading,

Jonathan

P.S.  You can quickly look at all my Toronto posts by going to www.mostmetro.com/tag/tiff  Thank you!

TIFF 2015 – Day 1

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MV5BMTU1MDcxODk2OV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwNzA5Nzc2NTE@._V1_SY317_CR2,0,214,317_AL_Hello Daytonians & Film Lovers!

Thanks for checking in to see how everything went with my first day of screenings.  I got up early and was in the Industry Box Office line by 6:55…and there were still several people ahead of me.  This line starts a little earlier each year, and some folks have joked about possibly camping out.  I’m glad to report that I did get the tickets I desired for Saturday – including the premiere of THE DANISH GIRL.

After grabbing tickets, I went to my first screening – HITCHCOCK/TRUFFAUT, directed by Kent Jones.  This is wonderful, and film lovers will delight.  Using the famous book written by French New Wave darling Francois Truffaut as a launching pad, this film explores that famous interview and is such the careers of both Hitch and Truffaut.  We get interviews from contemporary directors who have great relationships with the book (Wes Anderson, Martin Scorsese, David Fincher, Oliver Assayas and more), and numerous sound bites from the week-long interview back in the 60’s.  Hearing Hitchcock talk about his work will delight cinema theorists…especially when he talks about what’s really happening during a certain scene in VERTIGO.  (There is no trailer available for this film yet…just one of these famous stills.)

Truffaut.Hitchcock_Photo.by.Philippe.Halsman.Courtesyof.CohenMediaGroup.3_{26725b4d-9af9-e411-8342-d4ae527c3b65}_lg

Next up, I saw 45 YEARS, directed by Andrew Haigh.  Starring Charlotte Rampling and Tom Courtenay, this is a film about a couple preparing for their 45th Wedding Anniversary party.  Early in the film, Courtenay’s character receives a letter that the body of a former girlfriend has been found in the ice (she died in an accident while hiking by a glacier decades before).  The news shakes him to his core, and his wife begins to take offense that he still seems to care so deeply about someone else.  Full of some wonderful performances and always aware of the passing of time, this film makes you realize how quickly the foundation can be shaken from below your feet.  The sound design (and lack of score except for incidental music) was particularly interesting.  Though still a little “flummoxed” with the ending, I ultimately like this quiet, slow-paced film.

Before going back the apartment to get ready for Opening Night, I saw one more film – EVERYTHING WILL BE FINE, directed by Wim Wenders.  After Wenders made PINA (one of my favorite documentaries ever) in 3D, he decided that he would continue using that format for narrative film.  It’s certainly interesting to see a film where 3D is used as an artistic tool instead of an effect-driven gimmick.  That said, this film was all over the map.  Meandering, overscored, and  dotted with some bombastic moments and a weak screenplay, I found it difficult to care too much about the characters.

Last up, I went the official Opening Night film – DEMOLITION, directed by Jean-Marc Vallee (director of DALLAS BUYERS CLUB and WILD).  TIFF has a reputation for programming “not-so-great” films for Opening Night (THE JUDGE, SCORE: A HOCKEY MUSICAL, etc.).  But tonight’s film was quite good…perhaps the best they’ve programmed over the past decade.  This is the a about a man who seems to be unable to feel anything after the death of his wife (she dies in a car accident that leaves her husband unharmed).  Jake Gyllenhaal gives a wonderful performance as a man who is incapable of feeling emotions.  Driven by work, he is otherwise disconnected with the life he’s living.  Though there are moments written into the script that seem more driven by potential audience pleasure than character development, I rather liked this film.

Glenn Kiser, a director & friend who visited Dayton for The Dayton LGBT Film Festival a few years ago, invited me to the Opening Night screening and Party.  We had a great time catching up and the party was quite a sight (“people watching” is quite fun in this scenario, and complimentary booze certainly helps to make things merrier).

It’s 1:30am, and I need to be up in 5 hours.

All the best,

Jonathan

Who’s Food is Better? Italian Fest or Greek Fest?

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The Greek Fest Gyro – one of the joys of festival weekend

Two heavy hitters in the Dayton festival world go head to head every year for attendance the weekend after Labor Day.  These 2 festivals are the Greek Festival and the Italian Festival.  Why do they both hold their big events on the same weekend?  We don’t know, but we do know that when asked if they would move the festival to another weekend, both sides aren’t budging.

We decided to compare the festivals under our favorite topic.. FOOD.  What happens when these two ancient nations and cultures collide in a battle of the culinary worlds?  The food Adventures Crew asks you, Dayton…

Which festival has better food, GREEK FEST or ITALIAN FEST ?

Chef House, Hungry Jax and The Big Ragu have decided to put decades of eating experience at each festival to the test, with the most definitive and exhaustive comparison to date.   Most of these foods only come around once a year, so our mouths have been watering for months.

Which festival is the better Food Adventure?

 

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

The Cannoli from Italian Festival

— Dayton’s Italian Festival, called the “Fall Festa” by the people at the Sons of Italy is held at Bella Villa Hall at 2625 County Line Road.

     Hours are:
     Friday, Sept. 11 – 6pm to 11pm
     Saturday, Sept. 12 – Noon to 11pm
     Sunday, Sept. 13 – Noon to 8pm
***Admission and Parking are free.  Shuttle service available for parking from Reynolds & Reynolds lot.

 

— Dayton’s Greek Festival is held at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church at 500 Belmonte Park, North (next to Dayton Art Institute)

     Hours are:
     Friday, Sept. 11 – 11am to 11pm
     Saturday, Sept. 12 – 11am to 11pm
     Sunday, Sept. 13 – 11am to 6pm

***Admission: Friday from 11 am to 5 pm admission is FREE (come for lunch). The rest of the weekend, admission is  $2 per person, children 12 years and under are free,  Parking is free on streets surrounding the church.  Shuttle service available from Grandview Hospital, Shaw Avenue.  Grafton Medical Center Parking Lot on Forest Avenue and  Eye Clinic Parking Lot,Grand Avenue.

Time to lace up the gloves and put the napkins in your collar.. let’s find out who has the best food !

Loukoumades (honey puffs)

The Battle of the MUST EATS at the ITALIAN FEST vs. GREEK FEST HAS BEGUN !

 

*** ICONIC MAINSTAYS ***:

GREEK GYRO vs THE ITALIAN SAUSAGE SANDWICH
GREEK PASTITSIO vs ITALIAN CALZONES
GREEK MOUSSAKA vs ITALIAN MEATBALL SUB
GREEK PIZZAS vs ITALIAN PIZZAS

Chef House: Greece wins battle of the mainstays –
Big Ragu: Greece wins – The Gyro takes the cake and outshines them all
Hungry Jax: Italy wins battle of the mainstays – Meatball sub, please !

 

*** FULL BLOWN DINNERS*** :

ITALIAN STUFFED SHELLS DINNER vs GREEK LAMB SHANK DINNER
ITALIAN SPAGHETTI & MEATBALLS vs GREEK CHICKEN DINNER

Chef House: Greece wins battle of the dinners with the Lamb Shank choice
Big Ragu: Italy wins with Stuffed Shells all day long
Hungry Jax: Greece wins the dinner battle in a close one

 

Cavatelli – a simple pasta dish at the Italian Fall Festa

***OFF THE BEATEN FOOD PATH***:

GREEK DOLMADES (STUFFED GRAPE LEAVES) vs ITALIAN WEDDING SOUP
GREEK TRIGONAS (SPINAKOPITA) vs ITALIAN CAVATELLI

Chef House: Greece wins, I love the Spinakopita the Dolmades are wonderful !
Big Ragu: Italy wins as Cavatelli has my heart !
Hungry Jax: Italy wins the off the beaten path battle. I want some wedding soup !

 

*** WINES,  BEERS & MORE ***:

ITALIAN PERONI BEER vs GREEK MARATHON BEER
ITALIAN RED MORETTI BEER and GREEK ALFA BEER
ITALIAN WINES vs GREEK WINES
ITALIAN RASPBERRY SPARKLETINI vs OUZO

Chef House: Greece wins, fuller tasting beer, Ouzo and I love their wines
Big Ragu: Italy wins because of the Sparkletini but tell the boss that the Moretti regular lager is sorely missing
Hungry Jax: Italy wins the battle of the wines, beers and more…

 

A Spinach Pie (Spinakopita) and a Cheese Pie (Trigona) from the Greek Festival

*** DESSERTS AND PASTRIES ***:
GREEK BAKLAVA vs ITALIAN CANNOLI
GREEK LOUKOUMADES (HONEY PUFFS) vs ITALIAN TIRAMISU
GREEK PASTRY BOOTH vs ITALIAN COOKIE BOOTH

Chef House: Greece wins the dessert battle – the baklava and pastry booth is amazing.
Big Ragu: Italy wins – lock me in a room with Tiramisu and Cannoli
Hungry Jax: Italy all the way in the desserts and pastry battle

 

What is your take on who has the better food? Tell us with your comments below.

In the meantime here are 3 little known eats from each festival that are some of our favorites:

GREEK FEST  –
BAKLAVA SUNDAE – Maybe the best thing at Greek Fest
GREEK FRIES – lemon juice drizzled with seasonings make this a nice treat
GREEK LEMONADE – Refreshing on a festival day – add a little alcohol to boot 

 

ITALIAN FEST –
RASPBERRY SPARKLETINI CHAMPAGNE – this stuff is the most addicting thing at the festivals

Stuffed Shell dinner

PASTA FAGIOLI SOUP – Dark horse of good eats
SFINGI – Italian funnel cake – see if they will deep fry a cannoli for ya too !

 

On a non-food note, Chef House wants to make sure that the Greek Fest gets a shout out for the incredible dancers.  The Big Ragu loves the band led by George Karras.  Hungry Jax has been known to cut a rug at the Italian Festival to some traditional Italian American classic songs as well.

 

We learned one thing today – YOU CANT LOSE WITH A FOOD ADVENTURE TO EITHER FESTIVAL.. YOU JUST HAVE TO KNOW WHAT TO EAT !!

 

For more scoop on Dayton’s best foodie spots, “Like” Food Adventures on Facebook by clicking HERE

Browse the photos below for a full view of the festival foods !

Greek Beer

Lamb Shank Dinner

Pastitio at Greek fest

Greek Pizza

Italian Fest Raspberry Sparkletini chug

Italian cookies

Greek Baklava

Greek Fries

Italian Pizza

Greek Beers and Gyros

Ahh zoop , zoopa doop.. Italian soups 1

Italian sausages

Greek Pastries

Calzone Guy

Italian Fest Pizza

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Toronto 2015 – Day 0.5 (Pre-Festival)

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Hello Readers.

Thanks for checking out the blog where I’ll cover my adventures during the Toronto International Film Festival!

After almost 12 hours of travel (a cancelled flight, a delayed flight, an extra flight, etc.), I finally made it to Toronto.  Luckily, I never really let it get me down.  And upon arriving at the apartment I rented, any possible negative vibes were wiped clean.  The view is amazing, the apartment is adorable, and I’m less than 1/2 block from where I need to go every morning (instead of several blocks and 7 subway stops).

TIFF apt

Films don’t start until tomorrow. Arriving a day early lets me get my bearings and truly begin to figure out what my screening schedule will be.  For the general public, screenings kick off tomorrow evening…but for press and industry folks, there are a number of screenings beginning first thing tomorrow morning.

Each day, I’ll get in line around 7am.  This allows me to pick 2 public screenings per day (but with 2 days advance notice).  Tomorrow morning (Thursday), I’ll get 2 tickets for Saturday (which I hope will include the premiere of THE DANISH GIRL…more about that in a moment).  In addition to those 2 public screenings, my pass allows me to watch as many P&I (“press & industry”) screenings as I’d like (but those can get a little stuffy with just industry folks – I like to hear and see true film lover responses…thus I upgraded my P&I pass to include the 2 public screenings per day).

I already picked up a couple tickets for Friday.  One ticket isn’t a movie at all – it’s a Charlie Rose-style Discussion in an intimate-ish auditorium with Julianne Moore.  Doesn’t that sound exciting?

Tomorrow’s first film will likely be HITCHCOCK/TRUFFAUT…and in the evening, I’ll head to the Opening Night Film & Party (courtesy of an invitation from Glenn Kiser – a director who visited Dayton for the LGBT Film Fest a few years ago).

Here are just a few films I’m really looking forward to over the next several days:

45 YEARS – directed by Andrew Haigh (we showed his incredible film WEEKEND at the Dayton LGBT Film Fest plus a traditional run at THE NEON, and I also adore his show LOOKING on HBO…and then there’s Charlotte Rampling to seal the deal)

THE DANISH GIRL (from the director of KING’S SPEECH comes a film that will likely have Eddie Redmayne back at the Oscars next year)

And of course a little something with Dame Maggie…

Stay tuned.

I’ll write each night/morning and review all the films I see each day (anywhere from 3 to 5 per day).

Thanks for stopping by,

Jonathan

Sundance Winner MERU & Ken Loach’s JIMMY’S HALL Open Friday!

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MV5BMTQ4MDM3NjY2Nl5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwNjkyNTIzNjE@._V1_SY317_CR2,0,214,317_AL_Hello Everyone,

If you still need to see DIARY OF A TEENAGE GIRL or THE END OF TOUR, you’ll need to hurry. Thursday will be your last chance to catch them at THE NEON. On Friday, we will open the exhilarating new film that won the Audience Award for Best Documentary at this year’s Sundance Film Festival – MERU. We will also open Ken Loach’s new film JIMMY’S HALL. In addition, we hold MISTRESS AMERICA for another week. For this week’s remaining showtimes (which are different from the upcoming times listed below), please visit our website at www.neonmovies.com.

Synopsis for MERU: “In the high-stakes pursuit of big-wall climbing, the Shark’s Fin on Mount Meru may be the ultimate prize. Sitting 21,000 feet above the sacred Ganges River in Northern India, the mountain’s perversely stacked obstacles make it both a nightmare and an irresistible calling for some of the world’s toughest climbers. In October 2008, renowned alpinists Conrad Anker, Jimmy Chin and Renan Ozturk arrived in India to tackle Meru. Their planned seven-day trip quickly declined into a 20-day odyssey in sub-zero temperatures with depleting food rations. Despite making it to within 100 meters of the elusive summit, their journey, like everyone before them, was not a successful one. Heartbroken and defeated, the trio returned to their everyday lives, where the siren song of Meru continued to beckon. By September 2011, Anker had convinced his two lifelong friends to undertake the Shark’s Fin once more, under even more extraordinary circumstances than their first attempt. MERU is the story of that journey, an expedition through nature’s harshest elements and one’s complicated inner demons, and ultimately on to impossible new heights.” (taken from Music Box Films) Click this LINK to visit the official site.

Synopsis for JIMMY’S HALL: “In 1921 Jimmy Gralton’s sin was to build a dance hall on a rural crossroads in an Ireland on the brink of Civil War. The Pearse-Connolly Hall was a place where young people could come to learn, to argue, to dream…but above all to dance and have fun. As the hall grew in popularity its socialist and free-spirited reputation brought it to the attention of the church and politicians who forced Jimmy to flee and the hall to close.” (taken from Sony Classics) Ken Loach has been making beautiful films since the late 1960’s. From KES (1969) to SWEET SIXTEEN (2002) to THE WIND THAT SHAKES THE BARLEY (2006), his films are lovely pieces of work that showcase his naturalistic craftsmanship. Click on this LINK to visit the official site for JIMMY’S HALL.

Observe International Peace Day with family, friends and neighbors by meeting up at THE NEON for I AM BIG BIRD: THE CAROLL SPINNEY STORY – an engaging and heartwarming film brought to you by the Dayton International Peace Museum. The Peace Museum is celebrating 11 years of helping people throughout Miami Valley and beyond explore the question, “What does a more peaceful world look like for you?” “For 45 years, Caroll Spinney has been beloved by generations of children as the man behind Sesame Street’s Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch – and at 80 years old, he has no intention of stopping. A loving portrait of the man in the yellow suit, I AM BIG BIRD features extraordinary footage of Spinney’s earliest collaborations with Jim Henson as it traces his journey from bullied child to childhood icon. And as the yellow feathers give way to grey hair, it is the man, not the puppet, who will steal your heart.” Tickets are first come, first serve. Suggested donation – $10. I saw this film at the Cleveland International Film Festival – it’s a real treat. Don’t miss it! Sunday, Sept. 20 at 3:00.

The Deaf Community Resource Center is bringing a special, one-time screening of THE DEAF CLUB to town on Thursday, Sept. 24 at 7:30. This movie is completely done in sign language (though subtitles are available for those who don’t sign). “Deaf people have it all – friends, romance, fights, etc. – at their own club, where everyone uses sign language. Suddenly, the members face a situation where their precious club may have to close. Can they save the deaf club? Almost the entire production team is deaf or hard of hearing.” (taken from press notes) Tickets, just $10 each, will be available at THE NEON’s box office beginning Monday, Aug 24.

On Saturday, September 26 at Noon, Twentig, Inc. will host a special benefit screening and discussion of the film BELLE. “BELLE is a historical fictionalization of a true story about Dido Elizabeth Belle who was born of mixed race in the West Indies. She lived with her great uncle William Murray, the first Earl of Mansfield, Lord Chief Justice of England. Lord Mansfield’s decision on a case in 1786 in the English Courts led to the abolition of slavery in Britain. The film was inspired by the 1779 painting of Belle beside her cousin Lady Elizabeth Murray at Kenwood House.” (taken from press notes) Tickets are $30 each and come with admission to the film, the post-film discussion, a glass of wine and popcorn. They are now available at our box office.

“THE UNRULY MYSTIC is an inspirational documentary of how the filmmaker reaffirms his life’s work when he fell in love with a 12th century Saint. Saint Hildegard of Bingen evokes a calling, that sweet spot of creativity that we all yearn to play in, which is also spiritual in nature. She is venerated for her widely recognized impact on today’s theologians, artists, musicians, doctors and educators. She is indeed the unruly mystic. Her story, invites us all to embrace the connection between God, Nature and Art. This is the story of a powerful muse who invites us to create magic in our own lives by letting the ordinary touch the divine. Join us in connecting more deeply with your own spiritually and creativity.” The film will screen on Thursday, Sept. 30 at 7:30. There will be a Q/A after the screening with the Colorado-based Director Michael Conti and Dayton local Rev. Mary Reaman (who also participated in the film). Tickets are $12 each and are only available on-line at this LINK.

Filmmaker Tony West will bring his Award Winning Documentary, THE SAFE SIDE OF THE FENCE, to THE NEON on Sunday Oct 4 at 5:00. “World War II’s Manhattan Project required the refinement of massive amounts of uranium, and St. Louis-based Mallinckrodt Chemical Works took on the job. As a result, the chemical company’s employees would become some of the most contaminated nuclear workers in history. This documentary explores the legacy that St. Louis is still coping with, from workers who became ill – to the challenges of dealing with the fallout of creating some of the world’s first nuclear waste. The story is not unique to St. Louis, as more than 300 facilities across America would become part of the race to build the bomb, and be forced to deal with the same issues. A detailed look at worker safety and the handling of nuclear waste, from the past to present day.” Tickets are available at THE NEON’s Box Office or on-line by by visiting the official site.

It’s Year 10 for THE DAYTON LGBT FILM FESTIVAL, and we’re pulling out all the stops. In addition to the best LGBT Films touring the world on the festival circuit, we’ll have special guests, throw a great party and bring back a campy classic with a crazy, fun spin (HINT: You might want to bring a wire hanger). Some films have familiar faces (like SNL’s Kristen Wiig or GLEE’s Chord Overstreet), but many films might star people you’ve never seen before. Take a chance! We previewed over 100 films to curate this weekend…so it truly is a few days of nothing but great material. Click on this LINK to visit the official site – where you’ll find descriptions of the films, trailers and just a hint of what we’ve got up our sleeves! Festival passes go on sale this Saturday. Single Tickets go on sale Saturday, Sept. 19. Here’s a trailer for the Friday night film – GUIDANCE:

Early tomorrow morning, I will be heading to the Toronto International Film Festival. Over the course of 9 days, I plan to see more than 30 films. As usual, I’ll chronicle my adventures via a daily blog post. Here’s the LINK to follow my adventures (first post should be available by Thursday morning): http://www.mostmetro.com/tag/tiff

Please keep THE NEON busy while I’m gone.
See you soon,
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Friday, Sept. 11 – Thursday, Sept. 17:

JIMMY’S HALL (PG-13) 1 Hr 49 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday:12:40, 5:00
Monday – Thursday: 5:20

MISTRESS AMERICA (R) 1 Hr 24 Min
Friday, Saturday: 3:00, 7:30, 9:40
Sunday: 3:00, 7:30
Monday – Thursday: 3:20, 7:40

MERU (R) 1 Hr 27 Min
Friday, Saturday: 12:50, 3:00, 5:10, 7:20, 9:30
Sunday: 12:50, 3:00, 5:10, 7:20
Monday – Thursday: 3:15, 5:30, 7:45

COMING SOON:
(All Dates Are Tentative. Dates Often Move And Sometimes Disappear.)
Sept. 18 – LEARNING TO DRIVE
Sept. 25 – GRANDMA
Oct. 2 – PHOENIX

Haunted Dayton Beer Dinner Returns to Amber Rose

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“Rhinegeists and Poltergeists 2” is coming BACK to the Amber Rose on Friday night October 2nd.  This is the long awaited return of the successful 4 course, 4 beer dinner. Tickets are pre-pay only (CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS).  Earlier this year, the event sold out and over 110 people packed the private, upstairs area of the “haunted” Amber Rose Restaurant.

 

POLTERGEISTS:

For the last 20 years, staff at the restaurant say that there are ghosts and apparitions that appear at all times of the day.  There are also claims of unexplained phenomena such as glasses and dishes being tossed, lights going on and off and more.  One of the ghosts  is believed to be the daughter of the former house owner.  She is a playful spirit named Genevieve Ksiezopolski aka “Chickie.”  Does she haunt the restaurant?  Take for example this incident, where a cook claimed to see a full apparition of a lady in a long dress who walked into the room, then turned and walked away. When the frightened cook alerted the staff, they quickly pulled the security surveillance camera footage.  CLICK HERE TO SEE WHAT THEY SAW ON THE SECURITY CAMERA.

Join us and 100 foodies for Rhinegeists and Poltergeists

 

NEW FINDINGS:

For the last couple of months, an independent paranormal investigating team has been taking sound samples, photos, and kinetic energy studies and have made some new findings.  We unveil the new evidence on October 2nd,  and also highlight some of the discoveries from the past investigations done by the three person team.    Independent Paranormal Investigators Kat Powell and Shelly Suittor met in 1999 as tour guides for the Ohio State Reformatory, Prospect Place, and Snow Hill Country Club and teamed up with Alicia Soich in 2012,  This “ghost hunter” crew has appeared on National Television!  Their work has been featured in “America’s Most Haunted,” “My Ghost Story”, and Haunted Ohio VI. They’ve logged hundreds of hours of field research and private investigations across the state.

What will their findings be?  Will they be contacted by “Chickie” or some other poltergeist?

This promises to be one the biggest and goosebump raising Food Adventures to date. We are expecting a sellout crowd of over 100 foodies, beer lovers and fans of the supernatural.

Hunter Schnitzel

Hungry Jax, The Big Ragu and Chef House will stick  after the dinner for some cash bar drink specials and a keg tapping.  We will be talking beers and ghosts with attendees.  The paranormal investigators will answer questions as well.

Prepare to be creeped out !!

 

WHAT:  “Rhinegeists and Poltergeists” Food Adventure 4 course dinner, with 4 beer pairings.  Seating is limited to 100 frightful foodies!

WHERE:  The Amber Rose Restaurant on 1400 Valley Street in Dayton

WHEN:  Friday Night, October 2nd, 2015 at  7pm

COST: $35 per person – includes gratuity

TICKETS ARE PRE-PAY ONLY and ARE ONLY AVAILABLE HERE – seating is LIMITED !!

***FEATURES: EVERY attendee gets a souvenir pint glass from Rhinegeist Brewery.  There will also be door prizes, trivia and of course the “PARANORMAL FINDINGS” and evidence presentations!  Do ghosts exist at Amber Rose?  You be the judge!

 

FOOD MENU:

Owner Joe Castellano and Chef TJ have put together the following four course meal:

Rhinegeist Brewers will be in the house talking about their beers

COURSE 1:  Sauerkraut Balls and German Bier Cheese Dip
COURSE 2: Beer Braised Bratwurst & Knock-wurst with Hot German Potato Salad
COURSE 3: Hunter Schnitzel with Amber Rose Bacon Sauerkraut
COURSE 4: Black Forest Strudel

 

Trevor from Rhinegeist Brewery will be on hand educating the crowd about his Cincinnati Brewery and their philosophy on beer.

RHINEGEISTS: 
BEER 1: Rhinegeist – German Style Hefeweizen
BEER 2: Rhinegeist – Oktoberfest
BEER 3: Rhinegeist – Seasonal Special Release!
BEER 4: Rhinegeist – A Surprise Tapping!

AFTER PARTY:  Cash Bar Downstairs, Special Keg Tapings, Drink Specials

Join the Food Adventure crew for RHINEGEISTS and POLTERGEISTS – get your tickets for this beer dinner here!

Make sure you “like” Food Adventures on Facebook by clicking HERE

Chef House and Hungry Jax at RhineGeists and Poltergeists #1 in April 2015

The ghost thought to haunt AMBER ROSE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chef House and Hungry Jax take in the ghostly evidence

Rhinegiests and Poltergeists 2 !

You may see a GHOST

Madame Ragu believes in ghosts

Hey tiger – grab a Rhinegeist on Oct 2nd with us

Hungry Jax, Trevor from Rhinegeist, Paranormal investigator Shelly, Big Ragu and Amber Rose owner Joe Castellano

Door prizes from our last event

Independent Paranormal Investigative team of Alicia, Shelly and Kat

Chef House and Hungry Jax at the first Rhinegeist & Poltergeists dinner !

The food at Amber Rose is Lithuanian Style and delicious

Grab your Wiener Schnitzel with us October 2nd

HAUNTED ! Don’t believe us? See for yourself !

Amber Rose – good food and ghosts inside

October 2nd – we cross the streams

Bier Cheese – we want a bucket of this stuff

Who ya gonna call ??

Bratwurst and Sweet Sauerkraut

Cougars are welcome

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Noah Baumbach’s MISTRESS AMERICA at THE NEON!

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mistress_america_xlgHello Everyone,

If you still need to see our biggest hit of 2015, you’ll need to hurry. MR. HOLMES will play for the last time today (Thursday, Sept. 3). Tomorrow, we will begin the new comedy by Noah Baumbach which premiered at Sundance in January – MISTRESS AMERICA. We will also hold both DIARY OF A TEENAGE GIRL and THE END OF THE TOUR for one more week. For this week’s remaining showtimes (which are different from the upcoming times listed below), please visit our website at www.neonmovies.com.

Synopsis for MISTRESS AMERICA: “Tracy (Lola Kirke) is a lonely college freshman in New York, having neither the exciting university experience nor the glamorous metropolitan lifestyle she envisioned. But when she is taken in by her soon-to-be stepsister, Brooke (Greta Gerwig) – a resident of Times Square and adventurous gal about town – she is rescued from her disappointment and seduced by Brooke’s alluringly mad schemes.” (taken from Fox Searchlight) Starring Greta Gerwig, one of the best comedic actresses working today, the film has been receiving rave reviews particularly for her performance. Joe Morgenstern of Wall Street Journal wrote, “…Ms. Gerwig’s performance is a comic diamond, and not in the rough. Her timing is flawless, her delivery is droll.” Click this LINK to visit the site and watch trailers.

Observe International Peace Day with family, friends and neighbors by meeting up at THE NEON for I AM BIG BIRD: THE CAROLL SPINNEY STORY – an engaging and heartwarming film brought to you by the Dayton International Peace Museum. The Peace Museum is celebrating 11 years of helping people throughout Miami Valley and beyond explore the question, “What does a more peaceful world look like for you?” “For 45 years, Caroll Spinney has been beloved by generations of children as the man behind Sesame Street’s Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch – and at 80 years old, he has no intention of stopping. A loving portrait of the man in the yellow suit, I AM BIG BIRD features extraordinary footage of Spinney’s earliest collaborations with Jim Henson as it traces his journey from bullied child to childhood icon. And as the yellow feathers give way to grey hair, it is the man, not the puppet, who will steal your heart.” The film screens Sunday, September 20 at 3:00, and tickets are first come, first serve. Suggested donation – $10. I saw this film at the Cleveland International Film Festival – it’s a real treat. Don’t miss it!

The Deaf Community Resource Center is bringing a special, one-time screening of THE DEAF CLUB to town on Thursday, Sept. 24 at 7:30. This movie is completely done in sign language (though subtitles are available for those who don’t sign). “Deaf people have it all – friends, romance, fights, etc. – at their own club, where everyone uses sign language. Suddenly, the members face a situation where their precious club may have to close. Can they save the deaf club? Almost the entire production team is deaf or hard of hearing.” (taken from press notes) Tickets, just $10 each, will be available at THE NEON’s box office beginning Monday, Aug 24.

On Saturday, September 26 at Noon, Twentig, Inc. will host a special benefit screening and discussion of the film BELLE. “BELLE is a historical fictionalization of a true story about Dido Elizabeth Belle who was born of mixed race in the West Indies. She lived with her great uncle William Murray, the first Earl of Mansfield, Lord Chief Justice of England. Lord Mansfield’s decision on a case in 1786 in the English Courts led to the abolition of slavery in Britain. The film was inspired by the 1779 painting of Belle beside her cousin Lady Elizabeth Murray at Kenwood House.” (taken from press notes) Tickets are $30 each and come with admission to the film, the post-film discussion, a glass of wine and popcorn.

Due to the holiday weekend, we will have a couple extra shows. We’ll stay open a bit later on Sunday and open extra early on Monday. Please help us spread the word. Showtimes are below.

On Sept. 9, I will be heading to the Toronto International Film Festival. Over the course of 9 days, I plan to see more than 30 films. As usual, I’ll chronicle my adventures via a daily blog post. Stay tuned to next week’s newsletter for the link.

Thanks for your continued support.
We hope to see you this weekend!
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Friday, Sept. 4 – Thursday, Sept. 10:

THE END OF THE TOUR (R) 1 Hr 46 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday: 12:20, 5:00
Tuesday – Wednesday: 5:15

MISTRESS AMERICA (R) 1 Hr 24 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 1:00, 3:10, 5:20, 7:30, 9:40
Monday: 1:00, 3:10, 5:20, 7:30
Tuesday – Wednesday: 3:10, 5:20, 7:30

THE DIARY OF A TEENAGE GIRL (R) 1 Hr 42 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 2:30, 7:20, 9:30
Monday: 2:30, 7:20
Tuesday – Wednesday: 2:50, 7:40

COMING SOON:
(All Dates Are Tentative. Dates Often Move And Sometimes Disappear.)
Sept. 11 – MERU
Sept. 18 – LEARNING TO DRIVE
Sept. 18 – GRANDMA
Oct. 2 – PHOENIX
TBD – JIMMY’S HALL

Say It Ain’t So, Rinaldo !

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Rinaldo’s Bakery – 45 years comes to a close

One of Dayton’s Iconic bakeries is closing September 14th.  No more huge elephant ears, half moon cookies, Italian wedding cake, tiramisu, or “adult” birthday cakes.  Rinaldo’s Bake Shoppe, located just north of downtown at  at 910 Fairview Ave., plans on closing its doors forever in less than 2 weeks.

The Food Adventure is over for Rinaldo and Anna Stolfo, who came to Dayton from Italy and have been making baked goods for 45 years.  The bakery has been a staple for local Italian specialties and Kosher items.    The closing will come a day after the Dayton Italian Festival weekend aka “Fall Festa,” which depends on Rinaldo’s Bakery for many dessert items.  The date of closing also coincides with  the first day of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.

Rinaldo and Anna’s son, John had taken over most of the operations of the bakery, but John’s health concerns and the work load proved too much for the family to keep bearing.   Daytonians will miss this one of a kind bakery.

We at Dayton Most Metro and Food Adventures would like to congratulate the Stolfo family on the success of their life’s work, since opening the bakery in 1970.  Every time we visited we were met with a smile, and treated like family.  We have enjoyed spending time with the family at the Bella Villa Hall as club members, and appreciate all the specialty cookies they made for us and each specialty cake that made our party a success.

Want more scoop on local food places in Dayton?  Are you a foodie?  Then like Food Adventures here on Facebook.

Italian Wedding Cake

Half Moons

Florentine Cookies

Pizzelles

Inside the bakery

Pinwheels

Wedding Cakes

Ginger Bread Men

Cookies, Cookies

Bakery

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DIARY OF A TEENAGE GIRL & Important Parking News at THE NEON

By

tumblr_ns5h6aSYxx1rkkyz2o1_1280

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=teenage+girl+trailer+sony+classics
Hello Everyone.

A new, wonderful film that has garnered amazing critical response is now playing at THE NEON – THE DIARY OF A TEENAGE GIRL. In addition, we are holding the incredible film with Jason Segel – THE END OF THE TOUR as well as our biggest hit of 2015 – MR. HOLMES. To read more about our held-over titles, please visit our website at www.neonmovies.com.

Synopsis for THE DIARY OF A TEENAGE GIRL: “Like most teenage girls, Minnie Goetze (Bel Powley) is longing for love, acceptance and a sense of purpose in the world. Minnie begins a complex love affair with her mother’s (Kristen Wiig) boyfriend, “the handsomest man in the world,” Monroe (Alexander Skarsgard). What follows is a sharp, funny and provocative account of one girl’s sexual and artistic awakening, without judgment.” (taken from Sony Classics) Given 100% reviews from The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, Washington Post and many more. Entertainment Weekly wrote, “…there are moments you’ll ache for Minnie and other ones where you’ll want to lock her away – it rings much truer than most coming-of-age stories.” Peter Travers of Rolling Stone wrote, “Powley is sensational, expertly blending hilarity and heartbreak. Her scenes with Wiig, sublime in her hard-won gravity, are unique and unforgettable. Just like the movie.” Click this LINK to visit the film’s official website.

The Deaf Community Resource Center is bringing a special, one-time screening of THE DEAF CLUB to town on Thursday, Sept. 24 at 7:30. This movie is completely done in sign language (though subtitles are available for those who don’t sign). “Deaf people have it all – friends, romance, fights, etc. – at their own club, where everyone uses sign language. Suddenly, the members face a situation where their precious club may have to close. Can they save the deaf club? Almost the entire production team is deaf or hard of hearing.” (taken from press notes) Tickets, just $10 each, will be available at THE NEON’s box office beginning Monday, Aug 24.

On Saturday, September 26 at Noon, Twentig, Inc. will host a special benefit screening and discussion of the film BELLE.” BELLE is a historical fictionalization of a true story about Dido Elizabeth Belle who was born of mixed race in the West Indies. She lived with her great uncle William Murray, the first Earl of Mansfield, Lord Chief Justice of England. Lord Mansfield’s decision on a case in 1786 in the English Courts led to the abolition of slavery in Britain. The film was inspired by the 1779 painting of Belle beside her cousin Lady Elizabeth Murray at Kenwood House.” (taken from press notes) Tickets are $30 each and come with admission to the film, the post-film discussion, a glass of wine and popcorn.

As many of you have noticed, we now share our parking lot with Drake’s Gym (a boxing and CrossFit gym now located in the former Greyhound building). This Saturday, the gym is hosting a big fundraising boxing match in our shared parking lot. This means that parking will not be available in that lot all day on Saturday. Please remember that we do validate for the Convention Center Parking Lot on Saturdays…so give yourselves a little extra time to find parking if you’re coming to see a film on Saturday afternoon/evening.

Thanks for your continued support.
We hope to see you this weekend!
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Friday, August 28 – Thursday, September 3:

THE END OF THE TOUR (R) 1 Hr 46 Min
Friday, Saturday: 2:30, 7:15, 9:40
Sunday: 2:30, 7:15
Monday – Thursday: 2:45, 7:40

MR. HOLMES (PG) 1 Hr 45 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:15, 4:50
Monday – Thursday: 5:15

THE DIARY OF A TEENAGE GIRL (R) 1 Hr 42 Min
Friday, Saturday: 12:20, 2:40, 5:00, 7:20, 9:40
Sunday: 12:20, 2:40, 5:00, 7:20
Monday – Thursday: 3:00, 5:20, 7:40

COMING SOON:
(All Dates Are Tentative. Dates Often Move And Sometimes Disappear.)
Sept. 4 – MISTRESS AMERICA
Sept. 11 – MERU
Sept. 18 – LEARNING TO DRIVE
Sept. 25 – GRANDMA
Oct. 2 – PHOENIX
TBD – JIMMY’S HALL