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2 New Films, 2 “Best Actresses” at THE NEON

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Hello Dayton Most Metro!

We’re moving along in a big way this weekend. If you still need to see LA LA LAND – now the highest grossing film in THE NEON’s history – Thursday will be your last chance to catch it with us. If you still need to see 20TH CENTURY WOMEN, Sunday will be your last chance to catch this gem at THE NEON. On Friday, we will open two very different films that have something in common. JACKIE and ELLE both have lead performances that have been nominated for “Best Actress” at this year’s Academy Awards. Natalie Portman gives an incredible performance as Jackie Kennedy – one that has garnered her numerous awards this season. Isabelle Huppert, one of my favorite actresses, has never been nominated for an Oscar before (which is hard to believe given her stunning body of work) – but she just won “Best Actress” and ELLE also took home “Best Foreign Film” at this year’s Golden Globes.

Showtimes and additional information can be found on our website – www.neonmovies.com …but you can check out the trailers here:

 

In the coming weeks, we have numerous special events – from one time only screenings to our upcoming Oscar Party.  Stay tuned to our website for the latest.

See ya at the movies,

Jonathan

TIFF 2016 – Day #8

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img_1615Hello Loyal TIFF Followers,

Unfortunately, MostMetro has been experiencing quite a bit of trouble with their website…and that’s why you haven’t heard from me for a couple days.  They’re working hard to iron out all the kinks, and I appreciate you coming back for more (some of you with multiple attempts).

My first film on Thursday was John Butler’s HANDSOME DEVIL.  Though a little light, there’s certainly an audience for this crowd-pleasing film about an outcast with bright red hair at a boarding school in Ireland.  The unlikely friendship he strikes up with his handsome roommate has them eventually entered in a talent night where they’ll sing and play guitar together…and it’s really charming.  However, the focus at this school is rugby, and the behaviors of the new guy don’t fit in with the agenda of his rugby coach.  DEAD POETS’ SOCIETY meets SCHOOL TIES meets SING STREET.  If it doesn’t get released sooner, you can certainly look for this film at next year’s PRIDE screening in June.  There is no trailer for this film, so you only get a still at this time.

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Next up was THE UNKOWN GIRL – a film by the Dardenne Brothers (KID WITH A BIKE, TWO DAYS ONE NIGHT).  The Dardennes are known for this social-realist style of filmmaking.  Always commenting on class as well as economic and social justice, this film still fills that role…but goes in a bit of different direction. This is the story of a doctor who doesn’t answer the buzzer at her office door.  It’s after hours, and she figures a person would buzz multiple times if it was an emergency.  The next day, she finds out that the girl who buzzed has been found dead across the street…she was a prostitute who buzzed the door in a panic – looking for help.  Driven by guilt, the doctor begins her own investigation to find the name of the unknown girl.  Without any scoring to trigger emotions, this mystery feels all the more real.  Though not embraced by critics like their previous two films, I found it very satisfying.

SOUVENIR, starring Isabelle Huppert and directed by Babo Defurne, this is the story of a woman who works in a pate factory.  She used to be a famous singer, but her star faded early  after coming in 2nd place during a televised European singing contest (ABBA took home first place that year).  The opening titles for the film are beautiful bubbles floating through water.  Bubbles, bubbles, more bubbles. It’s pretty and hypnotizing.  It’s light, it’s airy, it’s effervescent…it’s alka-seltzer.  Thus we get a joke right from the opening credits. This French gem – which becomes a December/May romance, won’t be embraced by everyone.  But I really like it!  There’s no trailer for this film, but here’s a clip.

After my three films, I met up with an old friend for dinner.  Then I met up with a few more friends (film programmers, PR folks, etc.) for cocktails.  This was by far the latest I stayed out…and I paid for it the next morning.  (But it was worth it.)

Thanks for reading,

Jonathan

TIFF 2016 – Day #3

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moonlight_2016_filmHello Everyone,

I got the tickets I needed this morning (for Monday), so the day was off to a great start.  I hightailed it to the Scotiabank multiplex for my first screening of the day – a movie I know we won’t play (but I felt like I wanted something ridiculous) – Christopher Guest’s MASCOTS (which will soon make its debut on Netflix).  It’s been a long time since we saw Guest and his crew, and I was delighted by the opening scenes.  I thought “he’s back!”  The set-up is an competition for mascots from around the world – and it lends itself to some really fun material.  Unfortunately, the material lost some steam…and though the movie is sprinkled with a few gems, I felt like it didn’t quite live up to previous films (though the return of one of Guest’s most famous characters was a moment that made me feel like applauding).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6hqYhcPFvw

ALL I SEE IS YOU, the new film by Marc Forster (FINDING NEVERLAND, MONSTER’S BALL) starring Blake Lively, was next on my list.  This is a dramatic film with Lively playing a woman who lost her sight in an accident when she was a child. The first 20 minutes of the film has a certain experimental tone – as Forster has us experiencing many moments as the lead character “sees” them.  It’s a lovely, interesting approach, and the film works in setting a tone (though I never understood why it was set in Thailand).  An operation is available for Lively’s character to have her vision restored, and everything changes.  With sight, she is surprised by how the world around her looks…and her husband quickly becomes disappointed in how their lives are changing.  The movie then shifts tone and becomes more of a quiet thriller.  I won’t give away more of the story, but I did feel like the tonal shift was surprising and the final 6 minutes of the film wrapped things up in a very frantic pace from what started as a slow and methodical first 90 minutes.  The sound design is incredible, and the photography is lovely. I think this film will find an audience, but it’s not incredible.

 After a short nap and a bite to eat, I went to an event – IN CONVERSATION WITH ISABELLE HUPPERT.  This 80 minute curated Q&A was incredible.  Accented with clips of Huppert’s body of work (she’s made over 100 films/television appearances), she sat with Piers Handling and talked about her craft.  From insight to how she doesn’t feel like she truly “prepare” for roles to inside stories about movies like HEAVEN’S GATE to the fact that sometimes she takes a role because she reads the script and falls in love with one line,  it’s a wonderful inside look at one of the greatest actresses working today. Here’s a treat…you can watch the taped event by visiting this LINK and clicking the image of Huppert. 

My final film of the day was also the highlight of the festival so far – Barry Jenkins’ MOONLIGHT.  This gorgeous, poetic look at the life of a black man growing up in Miami, is based on the play IN MOONLIGHT, BLACK BOYS LOOK BLUE.  The film is told in three chapters – with the protagonist played by three different actors (each giving incredible performances).  We see him grow from a bullied, guarded young boy to a hyper masculine drug dealer.  This examination of masculinity is one of the most thoughtful and beautifully told stories I’ve seen in recent years.  Performances are incredible across the board, the photography is lovely, and the screenplay is touching and heartbreaking and honest.  I think this film will see a lot of love this award season.  (Janelle Monae, one of my favorite music artists, has a small role in this film…and seeing her on screen seemed like a natural extension of her talents.  She sat across the aisle from me at the screening, and though I contained myself, I was a giddy schoolgirl inside.)  The cast, director and playwright had a Q&A after the screening, and it was also incredible.

After the screening, I met up with a friend from NYC for a couple beers and a bite to eat.  I returned to my apartment at 2:00…so my alarm going off at 5:50 will not be a welcome sound.

Thanks for reading,

Jonathan

TIFF 2016 – Day #1

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Hello Everyone.

With the pass that I have, I can screen as many “press/industry screenings” that I’d like during the festival.  That said, those screenings are just screenings.  It’s awesome to have the opportunity to see so many films with an audience, but part of the reason I come to a festival (people come for a variety of reasons) is to hear filmmakers talk about their craft.  Thus I have the opportunity to obtain two “public screening” tickets per day.  Public screenings are the fun, glamorous screenings where they roll out the red carpet and hold Q&A’s with directors, producers, screenwriters and actors. These tickets are only available two days in advance of each screening, so I find myself in line every day during the festival…usually before 7am.

This morning, I was out to obtain tickets for Barry Jenkins’ MOONLIGHT and a curated interview with Isabelle Huppert.  Both take place on Saturday…and I got both!

Then I was off to my first screening at 9:00am – Kenneth Lonergan’s MANCHESTER BY THE SEA.  This film had a lot of tonal qualities of Lonergan’s first feature – YOU CAN COUNT ON ME.  With a wonderful central performance by Casey Affleck (and a spectacularly touching small role by Michelle Williams), the story is about a man who seems to lead a rather thankless life of mundane routines (he’s a janitorial handy man for an apartment complex).  When he gets a call that his brother has passed away, he is forced to confront lingering pain from his past – told through a series of flashbacks.  Though I thought the film was a bit overscored, the drama really works and the story unfolds in a lovely way.  There were a couple moments of schtick that I thought seemed a bit out of place – but so is life.  I think this film will go far.

Olivier Assayas’ PERSONAL SHOPPER was next on my list.  This non-traditional ghost story had me teetering back and forth throughout…I was invested, I was raising my eyebrows, I was intrigued, I was disappointed…and then I ultimately was sold by the final 10 minutes.  Kristen Stewart gives a great performance as a woman who shops for high-end designer clothing and jewelry for a wealthy client who is always on the go.  She’s also a medium.  While trying to connect to the spirit world for a client, she’s also hoping to catch a sign from her recently deceased brother.  Assayas’ previous work included THE CLOUDS OF SILS MARIA (with Juliette Binoche as well as Stewart) and of my favorites from TIFF in 2008 – SUMMER HOURS.  This film won’t go down as one of my favorites, and I know many people will be quite disappointed, but I was a fan by the end.

The third film of the day for me was Terence Davies’ A QUIET PASSION – a film about Emily Dickinson starring Cynthia Nixon.  The film opens in a sort of parochial school.  A teacher asks students who have given themselves to Christ to go to one side and for students who are still working toward giving themselves to Christ to the other.  Left in the middle is one student – a young Emily Dickinson (at this point played by Emma Bell).  The dialog is sharp and thoughtful (one of the best strengths throughout the film), and the teacher eventually tell Dickinson, “You stand alone in your rebellion.” This telling line haunts the remainder of the film.  Though I found some filmmaking devices to be odd choices (one superimposed was particularly weird), it’s ultimately a thoughtful and visually stunning film with wonderful performances and some very funny moments due to razor sharp dialog.

The official “Opening Night Film” was a big Hollywood remake – THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN, directed by Antoine Fuqua (SOUTHPAW, BROOKLYN’S FINEST) and starring Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt, Ethan Hawke and many more.  Here’s the point that some of you might find disappointing…I left 20 minutes into the film.  (I almost never write about films that I don’t finish.)  I went to the Opening night with my friend Glenn Kiser – a great filmmaker who attended The Dayton LGBT Film Festival with his short film SABBATICAL.  We had “great” seats – very close to the stage…only paces from all of the stars and director.  The movie started an hour late and the speakers were above us – thus pushing the sound far behind us and bouncing off the back walls.  Having difficulty understanding any of the dialog, we decided to leave.  Not being a film I would seek out under any other circumstances, I wasn’t disappointed…it gave me a great opportunity to catch up with Glenn and finally grab dinner.

 

At the end of the day, I’ll simply say I’ve seen 3 films (and a dozen stars) so far.

Thanks for reading!

More soon,

Jonathan

Toronto – Day #1 (5 Films)

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Hello!

Today was one of those packed days…and I’m thinking I might finish typing this while in line tomorrow morning (so I can get at least 5 hours of sleep).

I saw 5 films on Day #1.

First off was an Iranian film called CLOSED CURTAIN by Jafar Panahi & Kambuzia Partovi.  This is a film about a man who goes into hiding with his dog – residing in a “friend’s house” where he blacks out all the windows and fears any sounds of people outside.  A strange woman finds her way into the house, and tensions mount.  About half way into the film, the story reveals itself.  Not everything is as it seems…for this is a story being written/imagined by a director.  This is a film about inspiration and character development…and how one creates under certain constraits.  Not knowing Panahi’s story (of being under house arrest in Iran) could make this film a little more difficult to initially understand…though I eventually found the cinematic riddles/metaphors to be a little obtuse and tedious.  (There’s a side story about how dogs are not allowed to be seen in public…and the dog in this movie steals every scene.)

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(CONTINUED at 7:00am Friday morning)

Francois Ozon’s latest film – YOUNG AND BEAUTIFUL – is a sexually charged film about a girl losing her virginity over the summer…and how she eventually is drawn into the power-play of sexuality.  At 17, while still in high school and living at home, she begins leading a double life of a prostitute.  She uses on-line pornography as tutorials, and she steals her mother’s clothes to look more sophisticated.  Told over the course of 4 seasons, this film has a couple clunky moments and on-the-nose song choices (and a little too overscored – though I do love the score).  It even visually references BELLE DE JOUR – which is clearly loved by Ozon.  Overall, I rather liked the sexual politics of the film…and I loved the ending.  (Last year, I saw Ozon’s last film  – IN THE HOUSE…it ended up being one of my favorites.)

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMSiEhAw4PA’]

ABUSE OF WEAKNESS is Catherine Breillat’s latest film – based loosely on her personal story of dealing with the aftermath of a stroke and being swindled by a man who she came to admire (who was supposed to star in her next film).  This film stars Isabelle Huppert, and she is out of this world!  The control of her body and speech are unbelievable!  Though a bit too long and sometimes a bit frustrating (though I’m guessing that might be the point…as dealing with an illness and its physical challenges can be much the same).  The psychology of what makes people do things that seem out of character is a driving force of this film, and it’s worth seeing just for Huppert’s incredible performance.

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KILL YOUR DARLINGS stars Daniel Radcliffe as Allen Ginsberg – which should seal the deal to mainstream America that Radcliffe can do a lot more than play a boy wizard (many already knew this given EQUUS and other examples).  Though produced by Killer Films (known for a variety of indie gems over the years – BOYS DON’T CRY, FAR FROM HEAVEN, and many many more), this film seemed more “Hollywood” than anything I saw on Day #1.  This is due mostly to its simplistic script.  The visual style is rather nice, and most of the performances are really quite good, but it seemed a little too easy and I found myself rolling my eyes a lot – especially in the first 20 minutes (and the use of some contemporary music killed a few moments instead of making them relatable).  Overall, I came away liking several things about the film – but it’s far from being a masterpiece.  (Part biopic, part thriller!…you didn’t see that coming, did you?  Without the opening scene set in prison, you wouldn’t really guess the film was heading that direction.)

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6i4XR5Z4lU’]

ONLY LOVERS LEFT ALIVE was my final film of the day.  Jim Jarmusch’s vampire movie isn’t what many might suspect.  It’s not at all a horror film!  This is a love story about 2 sophisticated  people who have lived for hundreds of years.  Told in a bit of a hallucinogenic haze, this film is actually full of humorous moments and thoughtful insights to today’s world.  (Tom Hiddleston’s character – who plays opposite Tilda Swinton – is contemplating suicide…due mostly to being so disenchanted with the monstrous actions of today’s human beings – who he refers to as “zombies”).  Told in a languid, poetic fashion, this is a character driven film with lots of long, slowly moving scenes with beautiful music and photography.  Some might find the film boring (especially if they’re looking for a traditional genre film), but I thought it was rather lovely.  Tilda was NOT there!  Though disappointing, it was nice to see and hear Jarmusch and Hiddleston discuss the film (I didn’t previously know who Hiddleston was…but fans were shrieking with delight when he emerged from his car).  Mia Wasikowska was also in attendance.  She had little to say.

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3 Films today.  Maybe 4!

More later!  Thanks for reading!

Toronto Film Fest – Day #1

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Hello Everyone,

It has been a busy day full of screenings and fun run-ins.  I’ve seen 4 films, chatted with a few people who I met at this year’s ArtHouse Convergence in Utah, spotted a couple of my favorite critics, and secured more tickets for the next couple days.

I woke this morning at 6:00am and hopped on the subway by 6:45 in order to secure myself a place in line for tickets.  I got my first picks and then headed into a screening of a South Korean film called IN ANOTHER COUNTRY with the always fantastic Isabelle Huppert.  The story is about a girl who is writing a screenplay about a vacation town and a series of visitors – all played by Huppert.  Though there are moments of charm and an understanding of what it’s like to be foreign (communication gaps, inability to read certain characters of handwriting, etc.), this movie didn’t work entirely for me.  Some of the camera work turned me off, and the repetition of thematic material (though I understand that was the point) between each tourist was a little exhausting.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYwxpcuyuG0′]

Next I saw LAURENCE ANYWAY – the new film from Xavier Dolan (director of I KILLED MY MOTHER and HEARTBEATS).  This is the story of the relationship between a man and woman…and what happens to their relationship once the man announces that he will have a sex change.  There’s an interesting movie inside this movie…but at 2 hours and 40 minutes, it’s way too long and a bit of a tonal mess…with long stretches of realism, several moments of editing like an 80’s music video (ala HEARTBEATS) and a handful of visual metaphors that are lovely – but didn’t sync with the film (like W.E. last year, I’d like the opportunity to re-edit this film).  All that said, the last 10 minutes are magical (I’m glad I stuck around).  Though Melvil Poupaud (from TIME TO LEAVE) does nice work as the transgender male to female character, Suzanne Clement who does the best work in this film (she was the mother in I KILLED MY MOTHER, she was also in a great Canadian film called IT WASN’T ME, I SWEAR).  Though not a huge fan of this film, I’ll be anxious to see what Dolan does next.  I loved his first 2 films, and he’s only in his early 20’s.

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

Then I saw AMOUR – the latest and most accessible film from Michael Haneke (THE WHITE RIBBON, FUNNY GAMES, BENNY’S VIDEO, THE PIANO TEACHER, and more).  This Cannes winner is terribly heartbreaking and the most realistic, lovely, devastating, sweet, and honest depiction of an older couple I have ever seen.  In this case, they’re dealing with a recently onset illness…and the wife’s desire to never be taken to the hospital again.  (Isabelle Huppert has a small role…so she’s in the lead for most films I’ve seen with the same actress at TIFF.)  This film is being released by Sony Classics, so I’m sure THE NEON will bring it to town.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekjfj8sLFqs’]

Lastly, I saw RUST AND BONE – the film I mentioned in yesterday’s update.  I was not a big fan of A PROPHET – the director’s last film.  And though I don’t completely embrace this film (physical, bloody violence almost always turns me off), I do see the brilliant artistry at work.  It’s really nice to see that a director that is so full of a need to portray hideous violence is also able to show us warmth and gentleness.  This film is about a father who is down on his luck and the orca trainer he meets at a club one night (brilliantly played by Marion Cotillard).  Within the first act, there’s an accident at Marineland, and Cotillard’s character loses both her legs.  This film is brutal…but it’s filled with honesty and wonderful moments.  The photography is fantastic and the sound design is out of this world.  Because Sony Classics has picked it up, I’m guessing it will come our way at THE NEON…and I’m guessing you’ll hear more about it come award season.  Cotillard, Mattias Schoenaerts (the lead male) and director Jacques Audiard were all at the screening.  Check out the newer trailer for this film at imdb.com

Thanks for reading.  I’m off to bed.

More tomorrow,

Jonathan

Toronto – THE FILMS – Day 7 & 8

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Hello!

Last night, I saw a film that I’ve been quite interested to see for a while.  Several months ago, I first saw a trailer for SLEEPING BEAUTY – an Australian film that is “presented by Jane Campion.”  The film is a first feature for director Julia Leigh, and the story follows a college student who takes a job providing “silver service.”   The job is one in which the socially elite are served dinner and cocktails by beautiful, exposed women – and the service requires lots of protocal and particulars.  During the interview process, the woman in charge (a very sophisticated & beautifully dressed woman played by Rachael Blake) states “Your vagina will never be penetrated.  Your vagina is a temple.”  (I’ve noticed a couple recurring themes during this festival…bridges that can’t be crossed, “it’s him or me” has been stated in a few films, and now college girls becoming prostitutes to pay for tuition.)  Though captivated for the entire film, I must admit that parts of the film puzzled me…and several questions were left unanswered.

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This morning, I saw a comedy – MY WORST NIGHTMARE – by Anne Fontaine starring Isabelle Huppert (one of my favorite actresses).  The comedy is a class clash between an icy, uppity woman and the father of a boy who attends her son’s school.  Though very funny in parts (and nobody plays an ice queen like Huppert), the third act was a big dissapointment.

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I just walked out of a film.  At this point, I’m too tired to sit through films now that aren’t capturing my attention.  I’ve got 2 more films today – then I’m meeting an old friend for dinner.  He and I met in line for Almodovar’s TALK TO HER back in 2002.

1.5 days left.

More soon,

Jonathan