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WEEKEND This Weekend at THE NEON

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Hello Everyone,

Even though we’re going to hold both of our current attractions – THE DESCENDANTS and MELANCHOLIA – we are going to open a new film on Friday.  WEEKEND – which was the sold-out, closing film of this year’s Downtown Dayton LGBT Film Festival  – has been winning awards around the world.  In addition, it’s one of my favorite films of the year.  Eric Hynes of the The Village Voice wrote, “Naturalistic without being ineloquent, heartfelt yet unsentimental, WEEKEND is the rarest of birds: a movie romance that rings true.”  David Edelstein of New York Magazine wrote, “I hate to damage so fragile a work with overpraise, but, gay or straight, if you don’t see yourself in this movie, you need to get a life.”  This film has not screened much in Ohio…we’re hoping you’ll help support one of the small, true indie gems of the year.

Synopsis for WEEKEND:  “After meeting one lonely Friday night at a bar, Russell and Glen find themselves caught up in an lost weekend full of sex, drugs, and intimate conversation. Although they have conflicting ideas of what it is they want from life and certainly how to get it, they form a startling emotional connection that will resonate throughout their lives.” (Sundance Selects)

Click this link to visit the film’s official website.

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I’m delighted to announce that MY WEEK WITH MARILYN has now been set to open on December 23.  It seems like the date might really stick this time (but I’ll keep you posted regardless).  Just remember that we’re open 365 days a year…so we hope to be part of your plans during the holidays.

This Saturday marks the last of The Holiday Family Movie Series…sponsored by The Downtown Dayton Partnership, DP&L and THE NEON.  The film begins at noon and is free for children 12 and under; other tickets are only $2 each.  This Saturday’s movie is A CHRISTMAS STORY.  Last week’s screening was a huge success…so come early for a good seat (doors open at 11:30).  (presented via digital video projection)

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Have you tried one of our new wines?  In addition to the Woodbridge Merlot and Chardonnay, we are trying Carernet Sauvignon and Moscato.  If you want to make certain that we keep these two wines in the mix, please order a glass during your next visit.

When shopping for the holidays, don’t forget that NEON Gift Certificates are a perfect gift for film lovers…and for people who still need to be introduced to us.  For every $50 worth of gift certificates you purchase, we’ll give you a hearty-sized bag of Candy Cane Granola…making your gift all the sweeter.

NYC was a blast.  Thanks to all of you who sent well-wishes!

See you soon at THE NEON,

Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Fri. December 16 – Thur. December 22:  

THE DESCENDANTS (R) 1 Hrs 55 Min

Friday,Saturday, Sunday:  12:15, 2:40, 5:00, 7:20, 9:45

Monday – Thursday:  2:40, 5:00, 7:20

MELANCHOLIA (R) 2 Hr 16 Min

Friday: 1:00, 4:00, 9:30

Saturday: 4:00, 9:30

Sunday:  1:00, 4:00, 9:30

Monday – Thursday:  2:30, 5:15

WEEKEND (NR) 1 Hr 37 Min

Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 7:15

Mon-Thur: 8:00

A CHRISTMAS STORY  (PG) 1 Hr 40 Min

Saturday: 12:00 (Noon)

COMING SOON:

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

In some cases, titles may disappear.

Dec. 23  MY WEEK WITH MARILYN

TBD   THE HEDGEHOG

TBD   THE ARTIST

Jan. 13   TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY

Jan. 20   SHAME

Jan. 20   CARNAGE

Jan. 27   A DANGEROUS METHOD

WEEKEND – One week only!  Starts Friday!

MY WEEK WITH MARILYN…Opening Next week!

Toronto – THE FILMS – Day #3, Part 2

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Hello Again,

With less than 4 hours of sleep, I managed to crawl out of bed this morning and get to my ticket line by 7:00.  I got the tickets I desired for Tuesday (which made me happy…and I’ll make you wait until Tuesday for you to see why).  I also managed to get the last available ticket (they made a few available this morning) to a Maverick session with Tilda Swinton – which I just attended.  I’ll write more about that later – it was divine.

Yesterday’s films were a mixed bag.

First off, I saw Andrea Arnold’s WUTHERING HEIGHTS.  Though still a period piece, this is unlike any version you’ve seen before.  With a contemporary shooting style and almost entirely without scoring, this film took a little while for me to become invested.  The dialog is quite altered (I don’t recall Bronte’s text having such vulgar language), but the story remains quite similar (though no ghosts per se)…and like FISH TANK, Arnold shot the film in 4×3 – which confines the characters more than a more panoramic aspect ratio.  The film is not something I’d want to seek out to own, but it’s worth a viewing for the sake of it’s “honest” rendering of the story…though I feel it plays a little long.  Below is a clip.

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Next I saw the new film from Todd Solondz – DARK HORSE.  The story is about the ultimate man-child (played by Jordan Gelber) who still lives with his parents in a room filled with action figures and Absolut Vodka magazine ads lining the walls (in an early scene, we see him avoiding work by considering to pay $350 for a Thundercats action figure on e-bay).  Solondz revels in making movies about the socially awkward.  This is his most accessible film – and was quite funny for the first 45 minutes.  (Mia Farrow, who plays his mother, is quietly hysterical.)  Eventually, I thought the film got a bit stale – and the last 15 minutes was a bit of a puzzle (but perhaps my sleep deprivation was finally getting to me).  Below is a teaser – from a scene in which the lead character goes to visit the girl (played by Selma Blair) he recently met (and fell for) at a wedding.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zp9ueZ6rUA8′]

My next screening was THE DESCENDANTS.  This film is fantastic, and I already posted the trailer in yesterday’s post.  This film will be a hit – both at the box office and critically.  The film is about a man who is dealing with raising his daughters while his wife lays in a coma (which was a result of a speed-boat accident).  The film is as funny as it is touching, and the performances are fantastic across the board.  (Clooney, during the Q&A, was absolutely charming.)

And then there was the party – hosted by Fox Searchlight, Vanity Fair and Belvedere Vodka.  Lots of folks were there.  Clooney, Elizabeth Olsen (as well as numerous people from MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE), Juliette Lewis, Kirsten Dunst, Alexander Skarsgard, and several talk show corespondents.  I got to talk with several very interesting people in the film business – from producers, to a production designer, to people in marketing.  It was a great party!  The cocktails and food were delicious, and upon leaving, I once again ran into James Franco.  Always a great way to end the evening.

More soon!

Jonathan

P.S.  New Pedro Almodovar film tonight!!!

Toronto – THE FILMS – Day #3 Part 1

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OK…I just got home from a party…it’s 2AM…I’ll give you more details tomorrow!

Just wanted to let you know a couple quick things.

Alexander Payne’s THE DESCENDANTS – of which I saw the “official world premiere” tonight – is absolutely wonderful.  I suspect that it will be nominated for “Best Picture.” (the picture in this post is not mine – I found by doing a google image search…it’s from the National Post’s website…that said, it’s from earlier today).

I saw three films today.  Andrea Arnold’s new adaptation of WUTHERING HEIGHTS (she’s responsible for one of my favorite films of recent years – FISH TANK), Todd Solondz’s new film DARK HORSE and Alexander Payne’s THE DESCENDANTS.

I’ll write more soon.

For now, enjoy the following trailer…

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