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never let me go

Never Let Me Go AND The Big Lebowski!

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Hello Everyone.

Our 2nd projector is back up and running, so our schedule is back on track!  Thanks for all of your understanding during this frustrating time.  Friday night is the worst time for a projector to go down…it’s too late to order parts, and Tuesday morning seems forever away.

NEVER LET ME GO – a quiet and gorgeous film that has haunted me since I saw it in Toronto, started on Friday…and has gotten off to a very weak start.  In a recent podcast, Anne Thompson of “Thompson on Hollywood” said, “I embraced its slow pace and its deliberateness…it’s sort of this year’s BRIGHT STAR…with subtle, delicious qualities…”  A few of us at THE NEON have seen the film, and we’ve all responded very well to it.  Don’t let this gem slip by you!  With numbers like this weekend’s, the film won’t stick around too long.

The film comes highly recommended – based on a book by Kazuo Ishiguro (author of THE REMAINS OF THE DAY) and directed by Mark Romanek (director of ONE HOUR PHOTO).  Don’t miss it!  The cast, the score, the setting – it’s so well done.  Rex Reed wrote, “An imaginative, heartbreaking work of art that blew me away.”  Roger Ebert wrote, “A meditative, delicate film,” and Richard Corliss of TIME wrote, “NEVER LET ME GO is a superb, poignant film about everlasting love.”

Synopsis for NEVER LET ME GO: “Kathy (Carey Mulligan), Tommy (Andrew Garfield) and Ruth (Keira Knightley) live in a world and a time that feel familiar to us, but are not quite like anything we know. They spend their childhood at Hailsham, a seemingly idyllic English boarding school. When they leave the shelter of the school and the terrible truth of their fate is revealed to them, they must also confront their deep feelings of love, jealousy and betrayal that threaten to pull them apart.” (Fox Searchlight)  Charlotte Rampling and Sally Hawkins also have strong, supporting roles.

Living City Film Fest is at it again!  This year, the festival will be a celebration of the career of Jeff Bridges.  Here’s the line-up:
THE BIG LEBOWSKI (sponsored by Dublin Pub) – Oct. 18 at 7PM
THE FABULOUS BAKER BOYS (sponsored by Downtown Dayton Partnership) – Oct. 25 at 7PM
THE LAST PICTURE SHOW (sponsored by Chisano Marketing) – Nov. 1 at 7PM
THUNDERBOLT AND LIGHTFOOT (sponsored by Jeff Martin Florist) – Nov. 8 at 7PM
RANCHO DELUXE (sponsored by CityWide Development) – Nov. 15 at 7PM
Single tickets will be $8 each available before each show.  A festival pass (good for the Monday evening screenings) are just $30 and are available at our box office.

Due to the popularity of THE BIG LEBOWSKI, two additional screenings have been scheduled for this weekend. Friday & Saturday at 10PM!

On Thursday, Oct. 21, directors Directed by Shawn Fields & C.Winn will once again present their film YOUNG BREAD GETTAS.  This film played at THE NEON in 2007, but the filmmakers are anxious to bring the film back as they prepare to launch the DVD.  “In todays society its all about three things Money,Power, & Respect…” (from the filmmakers)  The film will play at 7:30, and tickets will be $10 each.

On Saturday, October 23 at 10PM, THE NEON will host a special screening of a film called THE UNIVERSE.  “THE UNIVERSE is a story focused around two misinformed friends trying to solve the mystery of women and attraction. Their encounters with equally misinformed individuals throws them into a surreal adventure of mistaken identity. THE UNIVERSE is a locally shot comedy directed by Dayton native Joseph Anderson and produced by Jarren Summers. (surreal comedy, absurdity)”  Tickets to this screening are $5 each and will be available for advanced purchase at our box office this weekend.

On October 30 at 3:30, Columbus Filmmaker Will Graver will bring his filmREVELATION and a small collection of local shorts to THE NEON.  More details will be available in the coming days.  For now, you can check out Graver’s website at www.revelationzombie.com.

On Thursday, November 18 at 8PM, New York director Gary Beeber will bring his movie DIRTY MARTINI AND THE NEW BURLESQUE to town.  In addition to the documentary, Beeber is also rounding up regional Burlesque stars to put on a show for attendees.  More details will be available in the coming days, but for now you can check out a teaser trailer by clicking HERE.  Advanced tickets for this event will cost $15 – and will be available this weekend at THE NEON’s box office.  Tickets on the day of the show will be $20

We hope to see you this weekend.
Be certain to check out our coming attractions…I’m very excited about a couple new additions…particularly one for Thanksgiving weekend!

Take care,
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for October 15 – October 21:

NEVER LET ME GO (R) 103 Minutes
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:20, 2:40, 5:00, 7:20, 9:40
Monday – Thursday: 2:40, 5:00, 7:20, 9:40

IT’S KIND OF A FUNNY STORY (PG-13) 101 Minutes
Friday, Saturday: 12:40, 2:50, 5:10, 7:30
Sunday: 12:40, 2:50, 5:10, 7:30, 9:45
Monday: 2:50, 5:10, 9:45
Tuesday & Wednesday: 2:50, 5:10, 7:30, 9:45
Thursday: 2:50, 5:10, 9:45

THE BIG LEBOWSKI (R) 117 Minutes
Friday & Saturday: 10:00
Monday: 7:00

YOUNG BREAD GETTAS (NR)
Thursday: 7:30

Farewell, Mao’s Last Dancer and The Elephant in the Living Room… plus special guests

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Hello Everyone,

Many thanks to those of you who came out this past weekend to The 5th Annual Downtown Dayton LGBT Film Festival.  I saw many familiar faces – especially during STONEWALL UPRISING, UNDERTOW, and I KILLED MY MOTHER.  I hope you enjoyed the films.  This year’s festival was our most successful yet!  A special shout out and thanks to all the festival volunteers, too…I couldn’t handle the process without the hundreds of volunteer hours you committed to the festival.

All our current films will only play through Thursday (9/30).  On Friday, we open three new films – FAREWELL, MAO’S LAST DANCER and THE ELEPHANT IN THE LIVING ROOM.  (It’s quite possible that each of these films will only play for one week…so hurry down!)

Synopsis for FAREWELL: “In the vein of The Lives Of Others…FAREWELL is an espionage film about events that changed history. In 1981, Colonel Grigoriev (Kusturica) of the KGB, disenchanted with the Communist ideal, decides he is going to change the world. Discreetly, he makes contact with Pierre (Canet), a French engineer working in Moscow and passes on documents to him – mainly concerning the United States and France – containing information which would uncover the most important Soviet Cold War espionage operation known to date. During a period of two years, French President Francois Mitterrand and US President Ronald Reagan personally vetted the documents supplied by this source in Moscow, to whom the French Secret Service gave the codename Farewell.” (taken from imdb)

Synopsis for MAO’S LAST DANCER: “From Academy Award nominees Bruce Beresford (director, TENDER MERCIES, DRIVING MISS DAISY), comes the remarkable true story of ballet dancer Li Cunxin.  MAO’S LAST DANCER stars Chi Cao, a gifted dancer and principal at the Birmingham Royal Ballet making his impressive screen debut as Li.
The story begins when a young Li is taken from his peasant home by the Chinese government and chosen to study ballet in Beijing.  Separated from his family and enduring countless hours of practice, Li struggles to find his place in the new life he has been given.  Gaining confidence from a kind teacher’s encouraging guidance and a chance trip to America, Li finally discovers that his passion has always been dance.
MAO’S LAST DANCER weaves a moving tale about the quest for freedom and the courage it takes to live your own life.  The film poignantly captures the struggles, triumphs and the intoxicating effects of first love and celebrity amid the pain of exile.” (maoslastdancer-movie.com)

Synopsis for THE ELEPHANT IN THE LIVING ROOM: “The Elephant in the Living Room is an award winning documentary about the controversial world of raising the deadliest and most exotic animals on earth as common household pets.  The story follows the journey of two men at the heart of the issue.  One, Tim Harrison, an Ohio police officer whose mission is to protect exotic animals and the public, and the other, Terry Brumfield, a big-hearted man who struggles to keep two pet African lions that he loves like his own family.
Since its premiere in Dayton, Ohio earlier this year, the movie has been playing to sold out crowds all over the country. It has been selected by no less than fifteen film festivals from New York to Chicago to Los Angeles and winning three BEST DOCUMENTARY awards, including one from  Academy Award winning director Michael Moore who called the film ‘One of the scariest, most entertaining and technically perfect documentaries.'” (taken from press notes)
For Friday and Saturday’s 7:30 screening, director Michael Webber and Tim Harrison (subject of film) will attend and hold a Q&A after the film. Advanced tickets are already available at our box office.

Living City Film Fest is at it again!  This year, the festival will be a celebration of the career of Jeff Bridges.  Here’s the line-up:
THE BIG LEBOWSKI (sponsored by Dublin Pub) – Oct. 15, 16 at 10PM, Oct. 18 at 7PM
THE FABULOUS BAKER BOYS (sponsored by Downtown Dayton Partnership) – Oct. 25 at 7PM
THE LAST PICTURE SHOW (sponsored by Chisano Marketing) – Nov. 1 at 7PM
THUNDERBOLT AND LIGHTFOOT (sponsored by Jeff Martin Florist) – Nov. 8 at 7PM
RANCHO DELUXE (sponsored by CityWide Development) – Nov. 15 at 7PM
Single tickets will be $8 each available before each show.  A festival pass (available soon) will be just $30 for all five screenings.

Until we find our next round of hits, movies will be coming and going quickly.  We hope to see you soon and often.

Take care,
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for October 1 – October 7:

FAREWELL (NR) 113 Minutes
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:20, 2:40, 5:00, 7:20, 9:50
Monday – Thursday: 2:40, 5:00, 7:20

MAO’S LAST DANCER (PG) 117 Minutes
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:30, 5:00
Monday – Thursday: 5:00

THE ELEPHANT IN THE LIVING ROOM (NR) 104 Minutes
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 3:00, 7:30, 9:45
Monday – Thursday: 3:00, 7:30


COMING SOON:

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

Oct. 8   IT’S KIND OF A FUNNY STORY
Oct. 8   LEBANON
Oct. 8  ANIMAL KINGDOM
Oct. 15   NEVER LET ME GO
Oct. 15   A WOMAN, A MAN & A NOODLE SHOP
Oct. 22   YOU WILL MEET A TALL DARK STRANGER
Nov. 5   CAIRO TIME
Nov. 12   INSIDE JOB
Nov. 19   TAMARA DREW
Dec. 24   MADE IN DAGENHAM


Toronto – THE FILMS – Day #3 (and THE STARS (galore))

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Today was minimal in regards to number of films screened…due to circumstances beyond my control.  But the 2 films I did screen were wonderful.  (I paid $15 for a cab to get me to a screening of 127 HOURS on time…only to find out that it had been pushed back – which conflicted with my next screening.)  Alas, I only saw two films and attended one hell of a party!

First off, I saw a film that Weinstein Co. has picked up – THE KING’S SPEECH – starring Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham Cater.  The film is fantastic!  Based on a true story of the relationship between the stammering Duke of York and his speech therapist, the title refers not only to the speeches given by the Duke (& future King)…but also to the everyday speaking voice of the protagonist.  If we manage to get it at THE NEON, it will be a hit!  The audience was applauding during the film…and certainly after.  It’s truly wonderul – with award-worthy performances all around.  The film was directed by Tom Hooper (director of DAMNED UNITED).

Later in the day, I attended Mark Romanek’s NEVER LET ME GO – based on the novel by Kazuo Ishiguro (Mark directed ONE HOUR PHOTO and numerous incredible music videos).  The film is a revisionist historical piece…but also science-fiction.  That said, the “science-fiction” element doesn’t contain monsters or aliens, but rather a different evolution of medicine.  The movie stars Carey Mulligan (AN EDUCATION), Andrew Garfield (IMAGINARIUM OF DOCTOR PARNASUS), and Keira Knightley (ATONEMENT), and it is beautifully done.  It’s a quiet film with a strong punch that is quite clearly about all of us (and with strong supporting actors, too).

Lastly, I just got home from a party sponsored by Fox Searchlight – a distributor who has been a great partner with THE NEON (responsible for SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE, SIDEWAYS, YOUNG @ HEART, LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE, ONCE, THE WRESTLER, (500) DAYS OF SUMMER, and CRAZY HEART).  This was the star-sighting party of the year!!  Upon arrival, I grabbed a cocktail and struck up a conversation with Mark Olsen of the L.A. Times.  He’s a really nice guy, and we talked about the arthouse cinema and the decline of the young demographic.  I then chatted with Danny Boyle (director of SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE).  I told him of my admiration for many of his films (especially MILLIONS – which he said “was a dry-run for SLUMDOG”…and of our gratitude for the success of SLUMDOG.  Once again, a nice guy.  I spoke briefly with  James Franco (we talked about MILK, HOWL, and his grandmother who lives in Shaker Heights), Marion Cotillard (she’s so sweet and down-to-earth), and I had numerous people compliment me on my jacket including Mark Romanek (it really is pretty wonderful…I’d been saving it for a special occasion).  Leonard Maltin was there, a radiant Hillary Swank was there.  An adorable Carey Mulligan was there.  I got a wink from Andrew Garfield.  The adorable Justin Long was there.  The list goes on and on.  In fact, I know there were several more stars who I recognized…but simply can’t name.  It was quite a night…and I love that my bar-tab essentially only amounted to my taxi ride back to the B&B.

Off to bed.  More soon!