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Another Year, Barney’s Version + FREE Oscar Party!

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Hello Everyone.

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! Though RABBIT HOLE didn’t perform quite like THE KING’S SPEECH, you helped make Dayton look a lot more film savvy than many other similar-sized markets. RABBIT HOLE had a successful weekend, and I’ve heard many, many positive reviews. Therefor, RABBIT HOLE will stick around…and we’ll still manage to open 2 new films – BARNEY’S VERSION and ANOTHER YEAR.

Synopsis for ANOTHER YEAR: “British filmmaker Mike Leigh delivers another emotionally honest portrait of ordinary people trying to make sense of their lives in this comedy drama. Tom (Jim Broadbent) and Gerri (Ruth Sheen) are a couple who are drifting past middle age into their sixties; he’s a geologist and she’s a psychotherapist. Tom and Gerri have a stable and happy marriage and a grown son, Joe (Oliver Maltman), an activist lawyer who hasn’t settled down yet, much to his mother’s chagrin. One of Gerri’s co-workers and close friends is Mary (Lesley Manville), who puts up a facade of desperate good cheer despite the fact she’s been very lonely since her husband left her and has been drowning her anxieties in wine. Another Year received its world premiere at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival.” (Mark Deming, ALL MOVIE GUIDE)  OFFICIAL SITE

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Synopsis for BARNEY’S VERSION: “Barney’s Version is the story of Barney Panofsky, a seemingly ordinary man who lives an extraordinary life. A candid confessional, told from Barney’s point of view, the film spans three decades and two continents, taking us through the different acts of his unusual history. There is his first wife, Clara, a flame-haired, flagrantly unfaithful free sprit with whom Barney briefly lives la vie de Boheme in Rome. The Second Mrs. P. is a wealthy Jewish Princess who shops and talks incessantly, barely noticing that Barney is not listening. And it is at their lavish wedding that Barney meets, and starts pursuing, Miriam, his third wife, the mother of his two children, and his true love. With his father, Izzy as his sidekick, Barney takes us through the many highs, and a few too many lows, of his long and colorful life. Not only does Barney turn out to be a true romantic, he is also capable of all kinds of sneaky acts of gallantry, generosity, and goodness when we – and he – least expect it. His is a gloriously full life, played out on a grand scale. And, at its center stands an unlikely hero – the unforgettable Barney Panofsky.”
(Sony Pictures Classics)  OFFICIAL SITE

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This Sunday (Feb. 27) is our Annual OSCAR Screening Party. The show starts at 8:00 (doors open at 7:30) and admission is FREE – first come, first serve. Ballots are now available in our lobby, and prizes are arriving daily (screenplays, soundtracks, dvds, etc.). The big prize – provided by our friends at Square One Salon & Spa – will be a salon gift basket complete with champagne and movie goodies. In addition, our friends at Granola Snacks are donating lots of gourmet granola for the festivities. Join fellow movie lovers as we celebrate the “Cinephile’s Superbowl.” You must be present to win prizes.
Special thanks to the folks at ThinkTV for helping us to get a signal for the telecast!

The International College of Broadcasting & Mike Giannott have rented our theater for a special, one night only screening…complete with multiple shorts, a PSA and their centerpiece film. “ZOMBIE PUNK ATTACK is a short film written, produced and directed by Aaron Cline and Mike Giannott. It’s taken from a comic written by Aaron Cline. It, of course, has a diseased animal, a lab technician that gets bitten and a mad scientist who has the cure – sprinkle that with an all-girl punk band and what could possibly go wrong? Well, a lot. Ride the wave of undead through this tale of death, decay, punk rock and weaponry. It stars Brittany Nagy, Brian Hixon, Paige Beller, Nicki Brooks, Moriah Yux, Sarah Kouse, Nina Lombardo and Marty Velez. Come on out on Tuesday, March 1st 2011, for the World Premier and help support local filmmakers. Tickets are $5.00. There will be a raffle for dvds and the movie poster (signed by the directors and stars).” (taken from press notes)

Tickets for the documentary NORTH DIXIE DRIVE are now on sale. The film will play on Saturday, March 26 at 5:00pm and tickets are $6 each (and only $4 for members of FilmDayton). “North Dixie Drive is the portrait of a small community of businesses and people residing in the Northridge section of Dayton, OH. It is the story of big time wrestlers, mechanics, a donut salesmen, an eccentric country singer, barbers, exotic dancers and car repo men. This collection of people, from all walks of life, live and work around a traffic circle situated along highway I-75, and fight to keep their lives and careers afloat in a failing economy. This debut film by Brooklyn, NY filmmaker Eric Mahoney showcases an off beat group of characters in today’s Middle America.” (taken from official website)

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Both the Dayton Jewish International Film Festival and FilmDayton are gearing up for their annual festivals. In addition, several special events have booked screenings at THE NEON. March, April & May will have numerous opportunities for you to catch films that you otherwise wouldn’t have a chance to see. I’ll keep you posted as details are confirmed.

If you were lucky enough to see Djuna Wahlrab’s short film FALLING UP, don’t miss seeing her set pieces and puppets at the 5th Street Gallery at Stivers School for the Arts. The exhibit opens this Thursday and will run for a month. Call (937)542-7448 for more details.

We’re scheduled to open BIUTIFUL on March 4…so titles may come and go quickly.
We hope to see you soon,
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for February 25 – March 3:

RABBIT HOLE (PG-13) 1 Hr 31 Min
Friday, Saturday: 3:10, 7:40, 9:40
Sunday: 3:10
Monday: 3:10, 7:40
Tuesday: 3:10
Wednesday & Thursday: 3:10, 7:40

ANOTHER YEAR (PG-13) 2 Hr 09 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:30, 5:10
Monday – Thursday: 5:10

BARNEY’S VERSION (R) 2 Hr 14 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 1:00, 4:00, 7:15, 9:50
Monday – Thursday: 2:30, 5:10, 7:40

THE OSCARS
Sunday: 7:30 – Seating Begins

ZOMBIE PUNK ATTACK (NR)
Tuesday: 7:30

COMING SOON:
As always, all dates are tentative.
In some cases, titles may disappear.
March 4 BIUTIFUL
March 11 CEDAR RAPIDS
TBD I LOVE YOU PHILLIP MORRIS
TBD SOMEWHERE
TBD TINY FURNITURE
TBD CASINO JACK
TBD JANE EYRE

RABBIT HOLE is Incredible. Don’t Miss It!

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Hello Everyone.

While at The Toronto International Film Festival last September, I saw close to 30 films from around the world. Only 2 English-language films made my “Top 5.” One was THE KING’S SPEECH (you loved that, right?)…the other was RABBIT HOLE – starring Nicole Kidman & Aaron Eckhart and directed by John Cameron Mitchell. This film has not been performing very well around the country, so folks don’t have high hopes for it in Dayton…but you can help change the trend by supporting this film opening weekend. It’s true that the subject matter is sad (that’s why people are staying away) – but there’s a great deal of healing in this film…with moments of wonderful laughter and happiness. Please spread the word and support this small, indie film with beautiful, honest performances.

Synopsis for RABBIT HOLE: “RABBIT HOLE is a vivid, hopeful, honest and unexpectedly witty portrait of a family searching for what remains possible in the most impossible of all situations.
Becca and Howie Corbett (NICOLE KIDMAN and AARON ECKHART) are returning to their everyday existence in the wake of a shocking, sudden loss. Just eight months ago, they were a happy suburban family with everything they wanted. Now, they are caught in a maze of memory, longing, guilt, recrimination, sarcasm and tightly controlled rage from which they cannot escape. While Becca finds pain in the familiar, Howie finds comfort…
RABBIT HOLE is directed by John Cameron Mitchell (HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH) from a script by acclaimed playwright David Lindsay-Abaire, adapted from his Pulitzer Prize-winning play. Additional cast includes two-time Oscar winner Dianne Wiest (HANNAH AND HER SISTERS & BULLETS OVER BROADWAY), Tammy Blanchard, Miles Teller, Giancarlo Esposito, Jon Tenney and Sandra Oh.” — (C) Lionsgate
Nicole Kidman has been nominated for “Best Actress” for this role, and Dianne Wiest was robbed for not being nominated. Don’t miss it!

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http://rabbitholefilm.com/index.html

The “D” review for THE ILLUSIONIST in Friday’s Dayton Daily News really hurt at the box office this weekend. Though nominated for “Best Animated Feature” and a darling at film festivals around the world, the paper has told me that the “D” review was the only review available for them to use from their wire service. (Most of you know that no one at Dayton Daily covers film any longer…all reviews are from other papers – and critics change from week to week.) That said, it would be a crime for us not to hold such a charming, magical film. THE ILLUSIONIST will stay for one screening a day for one more week. In addition, we’ll continue Djuna Wahlrab’s lovely stop-action film FALLING UP. Read more about FALLING UP by visiting the official website at – http://fallingupmovie.com/

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Hurry down…as we’re gonna keep moving…Next week, we will open ANOTHER YEAR and BARNEY’S VERSION!

The International College of Broadcasting & Mike Giannott have rented our theater for a special, one night only screening…complete with multiple shorts, a PSA and their centerpiece film. “ZOMBIE PUNK ATTACK is a short film written, produced and directed by Aaron Cline and Mike Giannott. It’s taken from a comic written by Aaron Cline. It, of course, has a diseased animal, a lab technician that gets bitten and a mad scientist who has the cure – sprinkle that with an all-girl punk band and what could possibly go wrong? Well, a lot. Ride the wave of undead through this tale of death, decay, punk rock and weaponry. It stars Brittany Nagy, Brian Hixon, Paige Beller, Nicki Brooks, Moriah Yux, Sarah Kouse, Nina Lombardo and Marty Velez. Come on out on Tuesday, March 1st 2011, for the World Premier and help support local filmmakers. Tickets are $5.00. There will be a raffle for dvds and the movie poster (signed by the directors and stars).” (taken from press notes)

Tickets for the documentary NORTH DIXIE DRIVE are now on sale. The film will play on Saturday, March 26 at 5:00pm and tickets are $6 each (and only $4 for members of FilmDayton). “North Dixie Drive is the portrait of a small community of businesses and people residing in the Northridge section of Dayton, OH. It is the story of big time wrestlers, mechanics, a donut salesmen, an eccentric country singer, barbers, exotic dancers and car repo men. This collection of people, from all walks of life, live and work around a traffic circle situated along highway I-75, and fight to keep their lives and careers afloat in a failing economy. This debut film by Brooklyn, NY filmmaker Eric Mahoney showcases an off beat group of characters in today’s Middle America.” (taken from website) You can see a trailer and read more about the film by visiting the official site by clicking http://www.northdixiedrivemovie.com/

Plan on joining us for our Annual OSCAR Screening Party on Feb. 27. The show starts at 8:00 (doors open at 7:30) – admission is FREE – first come, first serve. Ballots are now available in our lobby, and prizes are arriving daily (screenplays, soundtracks, dvds, etc.). The big prize – provided by our friends at Square One Salon & Spa – will be a salon gift basket complete with champagne and movie goodies. In addition, our friends at Granola Snacks are donating lots of gourmet granola for the festivities. Join fellow movie lovers as we celebrate the “Cinephile’s Superbowl.” You must be present to win prizes.
Special thanks to the folks at ThinkTV for helping us to get a signal for the telecast!

Both the Dayton Jewish International Film Festival and FilmDayton are gearing up for their annual festivals. March, April & May will have numerous opportunities for you to catch films that you otherwise wouldn’t have a chance to see. I’ll keep you posted as they unveil plans for these film fests.

We hope to see you soon,
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for February 18 – February 24:

RABBIT HOLE (PG-13) 1 Hr 31 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:50, 3:10, 5:15, 7:30, 9:40
Monday – Thursday: 3:10, 5:15, 7:30

BLUE VALENTINE (R) 1 Hr 52 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:30, 5:00, 7:20, 9:40
Monday – Thursday: 5:00, 7:20

THE ILLUSIONIST (PG) 1 Hr 20 Min
Friday – Thursday: 3:00*
(*denotes preceded by FALLING UP)

COMING SOON:
As always, all dates are tentative.
Due to Oscar Season, we know that many of these dates will change.
In some cases, titles may disappear.
Feb. 25 BARNEY’S VERSION
Feb. 25 ANOTHER YEAR
March 11 CEDAR RAPIDS
TBD I LOVE YOU PHILLIP MORRIS
TBD BIUTIFUL
TBD SOMEWHERE
TBD TINY FURNITURE
TBD CASINO JACK

New Oscar Nominee Opens Friday at THE NEON

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Hello Everyone.

As many of you already know, we will open THE ILLUSIONIST on Friday (2/11). Oscar-Nominated for “Best Animated Feature,” several of you have expressed a big desire to see this film. Of course we also have the added bonus of checking out a special short film during select screenings. FALLING UP is a beautiful stop-action film made by Dayton native Djuna Wahlrab. This stunning film, with sets based on local architecture (and an opening live/animated scene shot in downtown Dayton), will play before THE ILLUSIONIST during the 3:00 and 7:30 screenings during the week of Friday, February 11 through Thursday, February 17. Read more about FALLING UP by visiting the official website at – http://fallingupmovie.com/

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Falling Up from Djuna Wahlrab on Vimeo.

Synopsis for THE ILLUSIONIST: “THE ILLUSIONIST is a story about two paths that cross. An outdated, aging magician, forced to wander from country to country, city to city and station to station in search of a stage to perform his act meets a young girl at the start of her life’s journey. Alice is a teenage girl with all her capacity for childish wonder still intact. She plays at being a woman without realizing the day to stop pretending is fast approaching. She doesn’t know yet that she loves The Illusionist like she would a father; he already knows that he loves her as he would a daughter. Their destinies will collide, but nothing – not even magic or the power of illusion – can stop the voyage of discovery.
A script for THE ILLUSIONIST was originally written by French comedy genius and cinema legend Jacques Tati as a love letter from a father to his daughter, but never produced.
Sylvain Chomet, the Oscar-nominated and critically acclaimed creator of THE TRIPLETS OF BELLEVILLE, adapted the script and brought it to life in his distinctive hand- drawn animated style.” (taken from Sony Classics press notes)

Click here to visit the official website for THE ILLUSIONIST –http://www.sonyclassics.com/theillusionist/

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Plan on joining us for our Annual OSCAR Screening Party on Feb. 27. The show starts at 8:00 (doors open at 7:30) – FREE Party…no tickets required – first come, first serve. Ballots are now available in our lobby, and prizes are arriving daily (screenplays, soundtracks, dvds, etc.). The big prize – provided by our friends at Square One Salon & Spa – will be a salon gift basket complete with champagne and movie goodies. Join fellow movie lovers as we celebrate the “Cinephile’s Superbowl.” You must be present to win prizes. Special thanks to the folks at ThinkTV for helping us to get a signal for the telecast!

Details about the regional premiere of a documentary called NORTH DIXIE DRIVE will be available soon. It is scheduled to play on Saturday, March 26.

We hope to see you soon,
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for February 11 – February 17:

BLUE VALENTINE (R) 1 Hr 52 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:15, 2:30, 4:50, 7:20, 9:40
Monday – Thursday: 2:30, 4:50, 7:20

THE ILLUSIONIST (PG) 1 Hr 20 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 1:00, 3:00*, 5:10, 7:30*, 9:30
Monday – Thursday: 3:00*, 5:10, 7:30*
(*denotes preceded by FALLING UP)

COMING SOON:
As always, all dates are tentative.
Due to Oscar Season, we know that many of these dates will change.
In some cases, titles may disappear.
Feb. 18 RABBIT HOLE
March 11 CEDAR RAPIDS
TBD ANOTHER YEAR
TBD I LOVE YOU PHILLIP MORRIS
TBD BARNEY’S VERSION
TBD BIUTIFUL
TBD SOMEWHERE
TBD TINY FURNITURE
TBD CASINO JACK

2 Hits and Events Galore at THE NEON!

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Hello Everyone.

It’s been a long, long time since we’ve had two hits with such longevity. We’re going to hold onto both BLACK SWAN and THE KING’S SPEECH for another week…and we’re currently planning to open MADE IN DAGENHAM on January 21. That said, the Golden Globes this Sunday may end up moving our entire schedule around for the coming weeks…and the upcoming Oscar nominations will also play a part. I’ll keep you posted.

BLACK SWAN Official Site. THE KING’S SPEECH Official Site.

In the next few weeks, we have numerous special events. In each case, THE NEON has been rented by a person or an organization. Ticket prices are then set by that lessee in accordance with their mission. Here are details that are ready for the press:

“Jasmine “Jazz” Taylor, a 2006 alumnus of Stivers School of the Arts and graduate of The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) in Los Angeles, will premiere the DVD of a fashion show fundraiser that helped further her educational development. The fashion show involved the community and showed the world that dreams can come true if you believe. The show focused on the “A Touch of Jazz” fashion line along with two new up and coming designers: Jamila Jones and Jamae Abney. In addition to the designers, local students were featured; doing anything from dancing, singing, and rapping, to modeling and playing instruments.
Unwrapping The Dream Fashion Show DVD Premiere Release is an opportunity for fashion show participates to fellowship with their peers, family, and friends while watching themselves on the big screen. It will be held Sunday January 16, 2011 at THE NEON – tickets are just $5.” (taken from press notes)

On Wednesday, January 19 at 7:00pm, cityfolk will present a free screening of BILL MONROE: FATHER OF BLUEGRASS MUSIC. “Steve Gebhardt’s film blends footage from rare 1990s performances by the founder of bluegrass music with a trove of interviews with Monroe, Emmy Lou Harris, Ricky Skaggs, Dolly Parton, Paul McCartney and many more. Gebhardt and scriptwriter and bluegrass expert Larry Nager will be on hand to discuss the making of the movie and Monroe’s vast legacy…General admission seating for this screening is available on a first-come, first-served basis.” (taken from press notes) Steve Gebhardt has directed and/or produced numerous music-based documentaries, including LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: THE ROLLING STONES, IMAGINE, and JOHN LENNON LIVE IN NEW YORK CITY.

“RIDE THE DIVIDE, which was named best adventure film at the 2010 Vail Film Festival, is an inspiring journey about the world’s toughest mountain bike race, which traverses over 2,700 miles along the Continental Divide in the Rocky Mountains. The film weaves the story of the three characters’ experiences with immense mountain beauty and small-town culture as they attempt to ride from Banff, Canada, to a small, dusty crossing on the Mexican border. The tests of endurance and the accomplished moments throughout Ride the Divide prompt us to reflect on our inner desires to live life to the fullest.” The film will play One Night Only – Wednesday, January 26 at 7:30.
Advanced tickets – ($10 each + $1 processing) are only available by visiting this link.  Tickets the day of the show will be available at the door for $15 each.

On Thursday, February 3 at 7:15, come to THE NEON for PK Night Dayton, Volume 6. PechaKucha Night was devised in Tokyo in 2003 as an event where people meet, network, and share their creative endeavors with a lively audience. PK Nights are now held in hundreds of cities, inspiring creative people worldwide. The name comes from the Japanese term for the sound of “chit chat”, and rests on a presentation format that is based on a simple idea: 20 images x 20 seconds. It’s a format that makes presentations concise, and keeps things moving at a rapid pace. PechaKucha Night Dayton is on its sixth volume, with presentations from Samantha Enslen, Reade Faulkner, Theresa Gasper, Sherif Hedayat, Sharon Howard, Brandy King, Jay King, and Chris Wire. Following the presenations, stick around for a screening of the thought-provoking and motivating documentary DIVE! Grocery stores around the country are filling their dumpsters with food. Not rotten, spoiled food, but billions of pounds of good, edible food. Follow filmmaker Jeremy Seifert and his circle of friends as they dumpster dive in the back alleys and gated garbage receptacles of L.A.’s supermarkets. In the process, they uncover thousands of dollars worth of good food and an ugly truth about waste in America: grocery stores know they are wasting and most refuse to do anything about it. The cost for this entire event is $5. Presentations start at 7:15 and DIVE! starts at 9:00.

The line-up of films in the coming weeks at THE NEON looks terrific, and there are several that I can’t wait to share with the community. We hope to see you soon.

Take care,
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for January 14 – January 20:

BLACK SWAN (R) 1 Hr 48 Min
Friday, Saturday: 12:20, 2:40, 4:50, 7:20, 9:40
Sunday: 12:20, 2:40, 7:30, 9:40
Monday: 3:10, 5:40, 8:00
Tuesday – Thursday: 2:40, 4:50, 7:20

THE KING’S SPEECH (R) 1 Hr 51 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:10, 2:30, 5:00, 7:30, 9:50
Monday: 3:00, 5:30, 8:00
Tuesday: 2:30, 5:00, 7:30
Wednesday: 2:30, 4:50
Thursday: 2:30, 5:00, 7:30

UNWRAPPING THE DREAM – FASHION SHOW DVD RELEASE (NR)
Sunday: 5:30

BILL MONROE: FATHER OF BLUEGRASS MUSIC (NR)
Wednesday: 7:00

COMING SOON:
As always, all dates are tentative. Some of these dates will change.
In some cases, titles may disappear.

Jan. 21 MADE IN DAGENHAM
Jan. 28 I LOVE YOU PHILIP MORRIS
Feb. 4 THE ILLUSIONIST & ANOTHER YEAR
TBD: RABBIT HOLE, BIUTIFUL, SOMEWHERE
BLUE VALENTINE, TINY FURNITURE & BARNEY’S VERSION

Holiday Success at THE NEON! Thank You!!

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Hello Everyone.

I returned to Dayton on December 24 (after visiting with my folks for a couple days) to find that we had lost exclusivity with our engagement of THE KING’S SPEECH…and I’ll admit I was disappointed and a bit heartbroken. But I shouldn’t have been.
More Daytonians supported THE KING’S SPEECH at THE NEON than at any of the multiplexes…and I thank you for your support! We have had a couple sell-outs and numerous large audiences since the film opened on December 25, and people are absolutely loving the film.
If you haven’t seen it yet, we hope to see you soon!
If you’ve already seen the film, please keep spreading the word…and tell people that THE NEON has the best prices in town.
Visit the official website for the film by clicking this LINK.

BLACK SWAN has flooded the marketplace over the past several days, and our extraordinary ticket sales have started to fall…so we may open MADE IN DAGENHAM a bit earlier than planned (Jan. 7 instead of Jan. 14)…but all that depends on business during the upcoming weekend. I’ll keep you posted.

Here are a couple notes on upcoming special events:

“Jasmine “Jazz” Taylor, a 2006 alumnus of Stivers School of the Arts and graduate of The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) in Los Angeles, will premiere the DVD of a fashion show fundraiser that helped further her educational development. The fashion show involved the community and showed the world that dreams can come true if you believe. The show focused on the “A Touch of Jazz” fashion line along with two new up and coming designers: Jamila Jones and Jamae Abney. In addition to the designers, local students were featured; doing anything from dancing, singing, and rapping, to modeling and playing instruments.
Unwrapping The Dream Fashion Show DVD Premiere Release is an opportunity for fashion show participates to fellowship with their peers, family, and friends while watching themselves on the big screen. It will be held Sunday January 16, 2011 at THE NEON – tickets are just $5.” (taken from press notes)

“RIDE THE DIVIDE, which was named best adventure film at the 2010 Vail Film Festival, is an inspiring journey about the world’s toughest mountain bike race, which traverses over 2,700 miles along the Continental Divide in the Rocky Mountains. The film weaves the story of the three characters’ experiences with immense mountain beauty and small-town culture as they attempt to ride from Banff, Canada, to a small, dusty crossing on the Mexican border. The tests of endurance and the accomplished moments throughout Ride the Divide prompt us to reflect on our inner desires to live life to the fullest.” The film will play One Night Only – Wednesday, January 26 at 7:30. Advanced tickets are only available by visiting this LINK. The official site of the film can be found at www.ridethedivide.com.

Have a Safe & Happy New Year!
(And don’t miss THE KING’S SPEECH!!)

Take care,
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for December 31 – January 6:

BLACK SWAN (R) 1 Hr Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:20, 2:40, 4:50, 7:20, 9:40
Monday – Thursday: 2:40, 4:50, 7:20

THE KING’S SPEECH (R) 1 Hr 51 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:10, 2:30, 5:00, 7:30, 9:50
Monday – Thursday: 2:30, 5:00, 7:30

COMING SOON:
As always, all dates are tentative. Some of these dates will change.
In some cases, titles may disappear.

Jan. 7 MADE IN DAGENHAM
Feb. 4 THE ILLUSIONIST & ANOTHER YEAR
TBD: I LOVE YOU PHILLIP MORRIS, TINY FURNITURE, BIUTIFUL,
BLUE VALENTINE, RABBIT HOLE & SOMEWHERE

THE KING’S SPEECH – Exclusively at THE NEON!

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Hello Everyone.

I’m absolutely thrilled to announce that THE KING’S SPEECH will open exclusively at THE NEON on December 25. Being that the 25th is a Saturday, our schedule is a bit strange this week. THE GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNET’S NEST will play through Friday, THE KING’S SPEECH starts Saturday, and BLACK SWAN will hold.

And speaking of BLACK SWAN…Wow! What a weekend! For a film that opened on multiple screens, BLACK SWAN was our biggest opening of the year. (That said, CRAZY HEART – which we had exclusively for one week back in January – was still our best.)

Synopsis for THE KING’S SPEECH: “England’s Prince Albert (Colin Firth), soon to become King George VI, is plagued by a crippling speech impediment. With her husband soon to take over the throne, Elizabeth (Helena Bonham Carter) hires Lionel Logue, an Australian actor and speech therapist, to help Albert overcome his stammer. An extraordinary friendship develops between the pair as Logue uses unconventional means to teach Albert how to speak with confidence.” (Weinstein Co.) 7 Golden Globe Nominations including BEST PICTURE!

Click here for the official site – http://kingsspeech.com/

We have a special treat for those of you looking to give NEON gift certificates this holiday season. For every $50 of gift certificates you purchase, you will receive a free bag of Candy Cane Granola. This delicious, locally made snack was recently sampled by the staff…and quickly became a favorite. Loaded with peppermint schnapps, white chocolate, dried cranberries and almonds, you might end up keeping this treat for yourself.

Lastly, I want to remind you about 2011 calendars from The Rubi Girls. Calendars are available in our lobby for $20 each – 100% of which goes to local charities. And now we’re offering a special deal so you can stuff everyone’s stockings this year…Calendars are now 2 for $30!
If you’d like to see a little video I put together about the calendar, click on this LINK. If you want to know more about The Rubi Girls, visit www.rubigirls.com.

“Jasmine “Jazz” Taylor, a 2006 alumnus of Stivers School of the Arts and graduate of The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) in Los Angeles, will premiere the DVD of a fashion show fundraiser that helped further her educational development. The fashion show involved the community and showed the world that dreams can come true if you believe. The show focused on the “A Touch of Jazz” fashion line along with two new up and coming designers: Jamila Jones and Jamae Abney. In addition to the designers, local students were featured; doing anything from dancing, singing, and rapping, to modeling and playing instruments.
Unwrapping The Dream Fashion Show DVD Premiere Release is an opportunity for fashion show participates to fellowship with their peers, family, and friends while watching themselves on the big screen. It will be held Sunday January 16, 2011 at THE NEON – tickets are just $5.” (taken from press notes)

I’ll be here all day on the 25th, so I’m sure I’ll see some of you.
Have a wonderful, warm and safe holiday season.

Take care,
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for December 24 – December 30:

BLACK SWAN (R) 1 Hr Min
Friday: 12:20, 2:40, 4:50, 7:20
Saturday: 2:40, 4:50, 7:20, 9:40
Sunday: 12:20, 2:40, 4:50, 7:20, 9:40
Monday – Thursday: 2:40, 4:50, 7:20

THE GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNET’S NEST (R) 2 Hr 27 Min
Friday: 12:15, 3:00, 6:00

THE KING’S SPEECH (R) 1 Hr 51 Min
Saturday: 2:30, 5:00, 7:30, 9:50
Sunday: 12:10, 2:30, 5:00, 7:30, 9:50
Monday – Thursday: 2:30, 5:00, 7:30, 9:50

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

Jan. 14 MADE IN DAGENHAM
Feb. 4 THE ILLUSIONIST & ANOTHER YEAR
TBD: BLUE VALENTINE, RABBIT HOLE & SOMEWHERE

The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet’s Nest & Other Great NEON News!

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THIS JUST IN!!!  BLACK SWAN has moved up!  It will now open on December 17th (instead of the 22nd)!

Hello Everyone.

First off, I need to let you know that FAIR GAME will have its last day at THE NEON on Thursday. Folks have been loving this film, but attendance fell drastically this weekend…so it has to go. For remaining showtimes, please visit our website. 127 HOURS will stick around.

Before I move forward with more of this week’s news, I’m delighted to let you know that we have managed to book a film that is destined to be a huge hit with us. THE KING’S SPEECH, which I saw and adored in Toronto, is currently scheduled to open on Dec. 25th. Between KING’S SPEECH and BLACK SWAN, all signs are good that we’ll end 2010 on a fantastic note!

On Friday, we open a film that has already garnered a following. The third and final installment about the girl with the dragon tattoo – THE GIRL WHO KICKED A HORNET’S NEST – “is positively soul-satisfying,” writes Kirk Honeycutt of The Hollywood Reporter. “The movie features a great finish, where three movies’ worth of subplots and characters dovetail into a breathtaking climax and final confrontation…”

Synopsis for THE GIRL WHO KICKED A HORNET’S NEST: “In this last installment, Lisbeth Salander (Noomi Rapace) lies in critical condition, a bullet wound to her head, in the intensive care unit of a Swedish city hospital. She’s fighting for her life in more ways than one: if and when she recovers, she’ll be taken back to Stockholm to stand trial for three murders. With the help of her friend, journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Michael Nyqvist), she will not only have to prove her innocence, but also identify and denounce those in authority who have allowed the vulnerable, like herself, to suffer abuse and violence. And, on her own, she will plot revenge – against the man who tried to kill her, and the corrupt government institutions that very nearly destroyed her life.” (Music Box Films) OFFICIAL WEBSITE

Please be certain to pay close attention to showtimes. Due to recent trends and the duration of our upcoming attractions, showtimes are not the same from day to day. Sunday through Thursday will not have late screenings. (Upcoming showtimes are listed below.)

The Children’s Holiday Film Series is already underway, and the snow last Saturday seemed to cement the idea that the holidays are upon us! Films are FREE for children 12 and under…and only $2 for adults. This week’s selection has become a holiday favorite for many!
Here’s what’s left:
Dec. 11 at Noon – ELF (comedy starring Will Ferrell)
Dec. 18 at Noon – THE GRINCH (the beloved Dr. Seuss tale starring Jim Carrey)

Most of you who frequent THE NEON know Diana – she’s our assistant manager who is responsible for the beautiful menu boards in our concession area. Way above and beyond her inventory duties, Diana decided to come up with a delicious menu of holiday drinks – ranging from traditional Eggnog (*spiked, of course*) to Candy Cane Hot Cocoa. Check out the special menu during your next visit.

Lastly, we have a special treat for those of you looking to give NEON gift certificates this holiday season. For every $50 of gift certificates you purchase, you will receive a free bag of Candy Cane Granola. This delicious, locally made snack was recently sampled by the staff…and quickly became a favorite. Loaded with peppermint schnapps, white chocolate, dried cranberries and almonds, you might end up keeping this treat for yourself.

We hope to see you very soon.

Take care,
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for December 10 – December 16:

127 HOURS (R) 1 Hr 34 Min
Friday: 12:50, 3:00, 5:10, 7:20, 9:30
Saturday: 3:00, 5:10, 7:20, 9:30
Sunday: 12:50, 3:00, 5:10, 7:30
Monday – Thursday: 3:00, 5:10, 7:30

THE GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNET’S NEST (R) 2 Hr 27 Min
Friday & Saturday: 1:00, 4:00, 7:00, 9:45
Sunday – Thursday: 2:20, 5:10, 8:00

ELF (PG) 1 Hr 37 Min
Saturday: 12:00 (noon)

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

Dec. 17 BLACK SWAN
Dec. 25 THE KING’S SPEECH
Jan. 14 MADE IN DAGENHAM
TBD: RABBIT HOLE, TAMARA DREWE & SOMEWHERE

Toronto – THE FILMS – Day #5 (+ An Old Friend)

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After getting some needed tickets early this morning, I met up for lunch with a friend – Bill Taylor.  We met in line for TALK TO HER at TIFF in 2002, and we’ve stayed in touch all these years. He’s a talented filmmaker, and we will screen one of his films – THE YOUNG PRIME MINISTER – at this year’s LGBT Film Fest (it plays with I KILLED MY MOTHER on opening night – Friday, Sept. 24).  Do you already have tickets?

In regards to screenings, I saw three films today.

First off was Susanne Bier’s IN A BETTER WORLD.  Bier is an incredible filmmaker.  The first film I saw by her was also at the 2002 festival – OPEN HEARTS.  She is also responsible for the original BROTHERS (the superior film on which the American remake was based).  IN A BETTER WORLD is quite wonderful.  The film goes back and forth from a refugee camp in Africa to a small town in Denmark…and follows two families along the way (one of the protagonists is a doctor who makes trips to aid with medicine at the camp).  There are lots of details to the plot, but the film is essentially an examination of ethics while pursuing justice.  The photography is lovely, and the performances are great.  Being that Sony Classics has picked it up, I imagine we will bring it to THE NEON.  (sorry…no subtitles on the trailer)

Next up was Julian Schnabel’s MIRAL – starring Freida Pinto (from SLUMDOG) and with smaller parts by Hiam Abbass (from LEMON TREE and THE VISITOR) and Vanessa Redgrave.  The film is the true story of an orphaned Palestinian girl growing up in the volatile Arab-Israeli War.  Though not his best work, the story is of epic scale and is a strong story.  With Schnabel as a Jew and the author of the book – Rual Jebreal (the main character of the story) – as a Palestinian, the creation of the film already nods toward peace.  The final credit states, “This film is dedicated to everyone, on both sides, who still believe peace is possible.”  This film will certainly spur discussion.

MIRAL was introduced by Schnabel, Pinto, Abbass, Jebreal and a couple other supporting actors.  Their Q&A after the film made the film have even more impact.

Lastly, I saw John Cameron Mitchell’s RABBIT HOLE – based on the Pultizer Prize-Winning play by David Lindsay-Abaire.  The film stars Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart as parents who are grieving the loss of their 4-year old boy who was hit by a car.  The film opens 8 months after the accident, and though the film is full of sadness, it has very funny moments as well.  The film is honest and beautifully photographed.  I loved it!  As an added bonus, Mitchell, Kidman and Eckhart introduced the film (and many other cast & crew were in the audience).  This was the world premiere.

In addition to stars at their screenings, I also saw Dev Patel and Harvey Weinstein today.  (And I forgot to mention in an earlier post that Josh Brolin asked me for directions the other night.)

More highly anticipated films coming soon!

Thanks for reading.