PINOCCHIO

We’ve got a great weekend in store at THE NEON. In addition to the new “definitive” edition of PINOCCHIO, we are bringing back an old friend. I am now in my 20th year of managing THE NEON, and AMELIE was our first big hit when I took over operations of the cinema. She was the film that made us breathe a little easier – knowing that we could handle crowds and that people knew we were here. We’re delighted to bring her back to the big screen this weekend! AMELIE will only be here for 5 days because a week from today, we will open a personal favorite from Sundance this year – HERSELF…and special thanks to our friends at Artemis Center who are helping us spread the word. Today is the last day for MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM (which we’ll be hearing a lot about this Oscar season) and George Clooney’s THE MIDNIGHT SKY – hurry down if you want to see them on the big screen.

We also have two new films in our Virtual Cinema. LOVE SARAH, a film I know so many of you will love, is a heartwarming British comedy starring Celia Imrie (from BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL). DEEP IN VOGUE, presented in part with The Dayton LGBT Film Festival, is an hour-long documentary that comes with Q&A’s and a Virtual After-Party!

In addition to hearing your responses to our Virtual Cinema, we’ve been reading a lot about several of our virtual offerings in year-end round-ups. DRIVEWAYS (a film so many of you loved this summer) has been noted as a favorite from many. ANOTHER ROUND(just included on Pedro Almodovar’s list of best films this year) and 76 HOURS (a doc that just had a great story on NPR) are still available in our Virtual Cinema.

Synopsis for PINOCCHIO: “Shot in stunning Italian locations, Matteo Garrone’s rich world of mystery and wonder stars Academy Award® winning actor Roberto Benigni as Geppetto, the old woodcarver whose puppet creation, Pinocchio, magically comes to life with dreams of becoming a real boy. Easily led astray, Pinocchio tumbles from one misadventure to another as he is tricked, kidnapped and chased by bandits through a wonderful world full of imaginative creatures – from the belly of a giant fish, to the Land Of Toys and the Field Of Miracles.” (Roadside Attractions) FYI – this version is in English.

Synopsis for AMELIE: We re-opened our doors in October 2001 after being closed all summer for major renovations – going from one screen to two. Attendance was minimal for the first few weeks, but then she arrived. AMELIE broke records, and she stole our hearts. Come see this dazzling film, back on the big screen for 5 days, opening Dec. 25! “Amélie is an innocent and naive girl in Paris with her own sense of justice. She decides to help those around her and, along the way, discovers love.” The colors, the characters, the whimsy…don’t miss this film on the big screen…the way it was meant to be seen. Click the image below to watch the film’s original trailer.

Synopsis for HERSELF – Opening January 30!: “HERSELF tells the story of Sandra, a young mother who seeks to rebuild her life from scratch, and provide a safe home for her two young daughters. In order to do so, she must escape the grip of a possessive ex-partner, circumnavigate a broken housing system, and bring together a community of friends who can support her and lend a helping hand.” (Amazon) During our run of HERSELF, we will have literature in our lobby about the services provided by an organization we care so much about – Artemis Center. You can find out all about how you can help (financially or by volunteering) on their website. Click the image below to watch the trailer for this powerful and empowering film.

Synopsis for LOVE SARAH: A sweet British film is just what so many of us need for the holidays. “Determined to fulfill her late mother’s dream of opening a bakery in charming Notting Hill, 19-year-old Clarissa enlists the help of her mother’s best friend Isabella and her eccentric estranged grandmother Mimi(played by Celia Imrie from THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL). These three generations of women will need to overcome grief, doubts and differences to honour the memory of their beloved Sarah while embarking on a journey to establish a London store filled with love, hope and colourful pastries from all over the world.” (Samuel Goldwyn Films) This film can be watched on your computer or mobile device as well as via Chromecast or via an HDMI cable attached to your television. For additional notes regarding connectivity, you can visit the film’s HELP PAGE. Click the picture below to watch the trailer and purchase 72 hour access to this film for $12.

Synopsis for DEEP IN VOGUE: The Dayton LGBT Film Festival is helping us present DEEP IN VOGUE – complete with a virtual after-party and Q&A. “DEEP IN VOGUE celebrates the colorful, queer, emotional and political stories of Northern Vogue in Manchester, UK and the black, gay ballrooms of 1980s New York City. The documentary had its UK premiere at BFI Flare and its US premiere at NewFest NYC. Over the course of a year, film makers Dennis Keighron-Foster and Amy Watson charted the buildup to the Manchester ICONS Vogue Ball and explore universal themes and the unique styles from both sides of the Atlantic including the sometimes dramatic internal politics of Vogue to external politics including the disenfranchisement of black youth, LGBT issues, the dearth of art spaces and modes of expression, the over-commercialized gay scene, and the lack of safe spaces for the truly different. DEEP IN VOGUE is an electric, informative, and entertaining celebration of people coming to love and accept themselves, finding a new family through Vogue.” (FilmRise) This movie can be watched on your computer or mobile device. Click on the image below to watch the trailer and gain access to the film for $12.

CONTINUING IN OUR VIRTUAL CINEMA:

Synopsis for FINDING YINGYING: This award-winning film was produced by WSU Motion Picture graduate Brent Huffman. “Yingying Zhang, a 26-year-old Chinese student, comes to the U.S. to study. In her detailed and beautiful diaries, the aspiring young scientist and teacher is full of optimism, hoping to also be married and a mother someday. Within weeks of her arrival, Yingying disappears from the campus. Through exclusive access to Yingying’s family and boyfriend, Finding Yingying closely follows their journey as they search to unravel the mystery of her disappearance and seek justice for their daughter while navigating a strange, foreign country. But most of all, Finding Yingying is the story of who Yingying was: a talented young woman loved by her family and friends.” This film can be watched on your computer or mobile device or via your Roku or AppleTV. For additional information regarding accessibility of the film, please visit this Eventive HELPpage. Here is a LINK where you can watch at trailer. Click the image below to purchase 72 hour access to this film for $12.

Synopsis for THAT CLICK: “A man at the cutting edge of fashion, photojournalism and portraiture, photographer to the stars Douglas Kirkland has, with his camera, portrayed over sixty years of pop culture. Famed for his legendary shoots with Hollywood favourites including Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, Angelina Jolie and the stars of over 150 motion pictures – The Sound of Music, Moulin Rouge, Titanic and The Great Gatsby to name a few – Kirkland’s unique style and approach have resulted in hundreds of beautiful, immortal images that still influence the world today, decades after that first fateful click of the camera. This fascinating feature takes a closer look into the astonishing career of one the most important photographers of the last century, from his very first assignments at Look magazine in the 50’s to Vanity Fair in the present, with contributing cast including Sharon Stone, Nicole Kidman, Michelle Williams, Baz Luhrmann and Andy Garcia amongst many others.” This film can be watched on your computer or mobile device as well as via Chromecast or via an HDMI cable attached to your television. For additional notes regarding connectivity, you can visit the film’s HELP PAGE. Click the picture below to watch the trailer and purchase 72 hour access to this film for $10.