ralph fiennes

TIFF Day #1 – 2025

September 5, 2025 By Jonathan McNeal

Hello Dayton937 & NEON Friends!

I hit the ground running today. I grabbed coffee from my favorite coffee spot in Toronto (The Daily Dose), and then I hopped in line during a downpour for my first of four movies of the day. Luckily, my spot in line had a bit of coverage…dozens of other people were getting completely soaked.

In between movies, I met up with and ran into a few old friends/colleagues – which is always a fun part of the festival.

My first film of the day was THE CHORAL (dir: Nicholas Hytner – United Kingdom) “Starring Oscar nominee Ralph Fiennes (TIFF ’24’s Conclave), this heart-soaring period drama from director Nicholas Hytner (The Madness of King George) tells the story of young men raising their voices in song under the shadow of WWI.” I was really looking forward to this film. From director Nicholas Hytner and screenwriter/playwright Alan Bennet, the pair who brought us THE HISTORY BOYS and THE LADY IN THE VAN, comes a film about how art can create community, inspire during moments of crisis and even be an act of defiance. Ralph Fiennes is quite strong in this film, and the voices are lovely…but I found the tone to shift a bit too much…with some content seeming rather misplaced. Some emotional beats hit just right, but overall, it seemed too easy sometimes and trying too hard to be “adult” in others.

Next up was a film I attended because I was intrigued by its set-up. Several critics had commented that the film “shouldn’t work…but it does.” A USEFUL GHOST (dir: Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke – Thailand, France, Singapore, Germany) “Thai filmmaker Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke upends pre-existing genres with a fantastical story about a ghost that inhabits a vacuum cleaner to become useful. This humorous and visually striking debut feature was the Grand Prix winner of Cannes Critics’ Week.” (TIFF catalog) For the first 30 minutes, I was completely in. The film set up a crazy world, and I found it quite funny. Eventually, some moments became quite tender – with something rather silly becoming rather touching. But then the film wore out its welcome. By the end of the 2 hrs 10 min, it was a big eyeroll…and I wish it had been shaved to about 90 minutes.

I was a little tired going into my next film – a political thriller set in Brazil. THE SECRET AGENT (dir: Kleber Mendonça Filho – Brazil, France, Netherlands, Germany) “Winner of multiple prizes at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, TIFF veteran Kleber Mendonça Filho’s sly, genre-bending political thriller stars Wagner Moura as Marcelo, a technology expert on the lam and seeking refuge in the Brazilian city of Recife in 1977.” (TIFF Catalog) This film took a while to reveal itself. There were a couple different storylines at first…in different periods…and then more. The cast is one of the best ensembles in a long time, and it’s quite a ride that doesn’t mind taking its time. I personally would cut this film down a bit, but it takes some bold choices, and I applaud its decisions.

My last film of the night was my first public screening (meaning not just industry folks) – complete with red carpet, big stars and an awesome venue – The Princess of Wales Theatre (aka The VISA Screening Room)…and it was the best film of the day. SENTIMENTAL VALUE (dir: Joachim Trier – Norway, France, Denmark, Germany, Sweden, United Kingdom) “Stellan Skarsgård and Renate Reinsve lead an incomparable cast in Joachim Trier’s moving drama about a director’s bid to revive his career and repair his family’s broken bonds.” We played Trier’s last film – THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD – and I was quite interested to see what he would do next. This familial drama is full of wonderful performances (with Renate Reinsve & Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas having some of the most fantastic “sister chemistry” ever on screen) and has the best “first five minutes” of a movie I’ve seen in a long time – a set-up that really puts you right into the vibe of the film and gives us so much details about characters without feeling forced…it’s brilliant. The trailer below sets a great tone, and that’s what this film is really about. During the Q&A, Trier was asked about the use of music in his films. He said that he had initially wanted to be a musician but was kicked out of two bands because he was a bad drummer…but that he wants his films to feel like music…leaving you with a vibe and a temperament. The four lead actors of the film were on stage with Trier – Stellan Skarsgård, Renate Reinsve, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, and Elle Fanning – and they all brought something different to the conversation, but all shared an admiration for Trier and his process.

Thanks for reading about my first day…there’s lots more to come.

Jonathan

TIM’S VERMEER Opens and GRAND BUDAPEST Holds at THE NEON!

April 2, 2014 By Jonathan McNeal Leave a Comment

Hello Everyone,

In just under 11 days, THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL became our #7 highest grossing film at THE NEON. All films above it played for a minimum of 6 weeks to reach those kind of numbers. Thank you so much for your enthusiasm and support – it has been a wonderful ride so far.

It goes without saying that we will continue our run of BUDAPEST HOTEL. That said, it will now play on just one screen. Starting Friday, we will open a documentary that many of you have been eager to see – TIM’S VERMEER.

Synopsis for TIM’S VERMEER: “Tim Jenison, a Texas based inventor, (Video Toaster, LightWave, TriCaster) attempts to solve one of the greatest mysteries in all art: How did 17th century Dutch master Johannes Vermeer (“Girl with a Pearl Earring”) manage to paint so photo-realistically – 150 years before the invention of photography? The epic research project Jenison embarks on to test his theory is as extraordinary as what he discovers. Spanning a decade, Jenison’s adventure takes him to Delft, Holland, where Vermeer painted his masterpieces on a pilgrimage to the North coast of Yorkshire to meet artist David Hockney and eventually to Buckingham Palace, to see the Queen’s Vermeer.” Visit the official site for TIM’S VERMEER by clicking this LINK.

[yframe url=’https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CS_HUWs9c8c’]

The TAB Entertainment has rented one of our auditoriums on Sunday, April 13 for a special, one-time screening of MY DREAM BESIDE ME. “MY DREAM BESIDE ME is a romantic dramedy based on the true love story of Paul Rich and Mary Kay Slesinger Rich. At 84 years young Paul lost his wife of 66 years – Mary Kay was married for 34 years and she was left a widow when she was in her mid 60’s. After a few years Paul and Mary Kay met and fell in love. This union of marriage is a testimony that people can be strong, vital and full of life at any age.” (taken from press notes) Tickets for this screening are $9 each. Advanced tickets are only available on the film’s official website (Click HERE to visit the official site). Remaining tickets will be sold at THE NEON’s box office on the day of the screening.

“The Massie Creek Paddlers will be hosting Rapid Media’s 9th annual REEL PADDLING FILM FESTIVAL showcasing the world’s best paddling films to audiences in Canada, United States and around the world. The festival inspires more people to explore rivers, lakes and oceans, push physical and emotional extremes, embrace the lifestyle and appreciate the heritage of the wild places we paddle. The Reel Paddling Film Festival is a film contest awarding winning films in 10 categories. The winners and other shortlisted films are then toured to more than 100 cities around the world, screening for an audience of more than 30,000 outdoor adventure enthusiasts and their friends and families.” Advance tickets, just $10 each, are available on the official site (click this LINK). This special, one-night screening will stop by THE NEON on Wednesday, April 16 at 7:30.

The 2014 Dayton Jewish Film Festival is preparing for an exciting line-up. The festival kicks off on Thursday, April 24 at THE NEON, and the films look excellent. With all the extras that are being planned, this promises to be a truly exciting festival. I’ll include more details in next week’s newsletter…but if you can’t wait, visit the official site by clicking this LINK.

THE NEON is currently helping AIDS Resource Center Ohio sell tickets for a special raffle. Tickets are $25 each or 6 for $100. There will be 2 great prizes – one from the Red Rock Resort & Spa in Las Vegas and the other from Elizabeth Diamond Company. Each prize is valued at $4900. Raffle tickets are available at our box office.

Thanks for your continued support of THE NEON!
We couldn’t do it without you!

All the best,
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Friday, April 4 – Thursday, April 10:

THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL (R) 1 Hr 39 Min
Friday, Saturday: 12:30, 2:45, 5:10, 7:30, 10:00
Sunday: 12:30, 2:45, 5:10, 7:30
Monday – Thursday: 2:45, 5:10, 7:30

TIM’S VERMEER (PG-13) 1 Hr 20 Min
Friday, Saturday: 1:00, 3:00, 5:15, 7:15, 9:15
Sunday: 1:00, 3:00, 5:15, 7:15
Monday – Thursday: 3:00, 5:15, 7:15

COMING SOON:
As always, all dates are tentative. Many of these dates will change.
In some rare cases, titles may disappear.
April 11 – THE RAID 2
April 18 – THE LUNCHBOX
April 25 – LE WEEK-END
May 5 – JODOROWSKI’S DUNE
May 16 – ONLY LOVERS LEFT ALIVE
May 16 – GOD’S POCKET
June 13 – FOR NO GOOD REASON
TBD – DOM HEMINGWAY
TBD – BELLE
TBD – UNDER THE SKIN

GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL Opens Exclusively at THE NEON

March 19, 2014 By Jonathan McNeal Leave a Comment

Hello Everyone,

We’re very excited about this weekend. Wes Anderson’s new film has been breaking box office records across the country, and now THE NEON gets to have the local exclusive opening of THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL. Many people in the Miami Valley have been eagerly anticipating this movie (including almost everyone at THE NEON), and we’re looking forward to our “Wes Anderson Fan Screening” on Thursday night at 8:00. (Regular ticket prices apply, and tickets are still available…with several fun prizes in store.) If you can’t make it Thursday, never fear…we’re dedicating both screens to this film for its first week.

If you still need to see any of our current attractions, you only have until Thursday for ELAINE STRITCH: SHOOT ME, THE GREAT BEAUTY and OMAR will all play for the last time on Thursday. For remaining showtimes for this week, please visit our official site – www.neonmovies.com

Synopsis for THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL: “THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL recounts the adventures of Gustave H, a legendary concierge at a famous European hotel between the wars, and Zero Moustafa, the lobby boy who becomes his most trusted friend. The story involves the theft and recovery of a priceless Renaissance painting and the battle for an enormous family fortune — all against the back-drop ofa suddenly and dramatically changing Continent.” The cast for this film is absolutely amazing. Visit the film’s official site by clicking this LINK.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hL8HEzTNmU’]

For even more flavor of the film, visit the site that is dedicated to its fictional world by clicking this LINK.

“Lion Apparel invites all area Firefighters & their friends to come to THE NEON to see the documentary BURN…’One year on the front lines of the battle to save Detroit.’ BURN is an award-winning, action-packed film that takes you closer than you’ve ever been, capturing a year in the lives of Detroit firefighters who are charged with the thankless task of saving a city that many have written off as dead. There will be 2 screenings – Tuesday April 1st and Wednesday April 2nd. Each screening starts at 7:30. Minimum $5 donation payable at the door. Money raised will go toward the Firefighter Cancer Support Network.” (taken from press notes)

Thanks for your continued support of THE NEON!
We hope to see you soon,

Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Friday, March 21 – Thursday, March 27:

THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL (R) 1 Hr 39 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday:
12:30, 1:30, 2:45, 4:30, 5:10, 7:15, 7:30, 9:40, 10:00
Monday – Thursday:
1:30, 2:45, 4:00, 5:10, 6:30, 7:30, 9:00

COMING SOON:
As always, all dates are tentative. Many of these dates will change.
In some rare cases, titles may disappear.
March 28 – TIM’S VERMEER
April 11 – THE RAID 2
April 18 – THE LUNCHBOX
April 25 – LE WEEK-END
May 5 – JODOROWSKI’S DUNE
May 16 – ONLY LOVERS LEFT ALIVE
May 16 – GOD’S POCKET
June 13 – FOR NO GOOD REASON
TBD – DOM HEMINGWAY
TBD – BELLE
TBD – UNDER THE SKIN

Ralph Fiennes’ INVISIBLE WOMAN Opens Friday at THE NEON

January 29, 2014 By Jonathan McNeal Leave a Comment

Hello Everyone,

It’s time to start moving along at THE NEON. If you still need to see AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY, tomorrow (Thursday) will be its last day with us. The Coen Brothers’ INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS will stick around for another week, and on Friday we’ll open the new film directed by (and starring) Ralph Fiennes – THE INVISIBLE WOMAN. Remaining showtimes for this week can be found at www.neonmovies.com

Synopsis for THE INVISIBLE WOMAN: “Nelly (Felicity Jones), a happily-married mother and schoolteacher, is haunted by her past. Her memories, provoked by remorse and guilt, take us back in time to follow the story of her relationship with Charles Dickens (Ralph Fiennes) with whom she discovered an exciting but fragile complicity.” (Taken from Sony Pictures Classics) This lovely film, also starring NEON-favorite Kristin Scott Thomas, will delight our regulars who love period costume dramas…but it goes beyond that. Giving the film a 100% review, Scott Foundas of VARIETY wrote, “So tastefully mounted and brilliantly acted that it wears down even the corset-phobic’s innate resistance to such things.” Click on this LINK to visit the film’s official site.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDMHb3GetIc’]

Fans of THE NEON have requested a special screening of a fantasy film called KNIGHTS OF BADASSDOM (a films about Live Action Role Playing starring Peter Dinklage and Steve Zahn). They worked with Tugg to see if there was enough interest in screening the film in Dayton…and the required reservations crossed the threshold. This means that the screening will happen on Wednesday, February 5 at 8:30. To buy tickets in advance, visit this LINK. If any tickets remain, they will be sold at the door on the night of the screening.

“The Junior Leaguers Club of Dayton, an African American based organization, will hold a fundraiser with the film SANKOFA on Saturday, Feb. 22 at Noon. This film is about an African American model on a photo shoot in Africa who has an ancestral experience which transforms her life and consciousness. ‘Sankofa’ is an Akan word that means ‘we must go back and reclaim our past so that we can move forward.’ The profit from this event will fund scholarships to graduating seniors in the Miami Valley. Applications will be available at the event in case you know a worthy student to submit to the organization. Tickets may be purchased at the Neon for $30. (Student tickets are $15 each.) The price includes a movie ticket, popcorn, soda, and a glass of wine for adults.” (Taken from press notes.)

Thanks for your continued support.
Mark your calendars for our annual Oscar Party – March 2! More details coming soon.
We hope to see many of you this weekend!

Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Friday, Jan. 31 – Thursday, Feb. 6:

THE INVISIBLE WOMAN (R) 1 hrs 51 min
Friday, Saturday: 12:20, 2:40, 5:00, 7:20, 9:40
Sunday: 12:20, 2:40, 5:00, 7:20
Monday – Thursday: 2:50, 5:15, 7:40

INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS (R) 1 hr 45 min
Friday, Saturday: 12:30, 2:50, 5:15, 7:30, 9:50
Sunday: 12:30, 2:50, 5:15, 7:30
Monday & Tuesday: 3:00, 5:20, 7:45
Wednesday: 3:00, 5:20
Thursday: 3:00, 5:20, 7:45

KNIGHTS OF BADASSDOM (R) 1 Hr 26 Min
Wednesday: 8:30

COMING SOON:
As always, all dates are tentative. Many of these dates will change.
In some rare cases, titles may disappear.
TBD – OSCAR NOMINATED SHORTS
Feb. 7 – THE ARMSTRONG LIE
TBD – THE PAST
TBD – GLORIA
TBD – GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL
TBD – TIM’S VERMEER
TBD – LE WEEK-END
TBD – THE LUNCHBOX

Toronto – Day #5 – 2013

September 10, 2013 By Jonathan McNeal Leave a Comment

Hello!

Yesterday ended up being not as productive as I had planned. I only saw 3 films in their entirety…and the festival is officially starting to wear me out. The early morning line-up is dwindling. Some industry folks have already left town, and some of this drop-off is due merely to communal exhaustion.

First off, I saw a film called BELLE – a Fox Searchlight film (which means we’ll more than likely play it…but it won’t come out until next Spring) set in 18-century Britain about a mixed-race woman who is accepted by her affluent father and is brought up in high class society. Though not given all the same treatment due to her skin color and the fact that she is “illegitimate,” she is given a good education and is rather free-spirited. After asking lots of questions and meeting an idealistic son of the town vicar, she becomes instrumental in ending slavery in England. This film is beautifully shot and will be a crowd-pleaser – on par with films like YOUNG VICTORIA and THE DUCHESS.

THE INVISIBLE WOMAN is based on the true story of Charles Dickens and his secret relationship with a younger woman. Directed by and starring Ralph Fiennes, this is a lovely, intelligent film about a strong-willed woman facing her past. The lead character is played with a rich, layered performance by Felicity Jones (she had a small part in the under-appreciated HYSTERIA), and Sony Classics is positioning this film for a limited Christmas release – which makes it clear that they will push for some Oscar attention. The art direction, the costumes, and the performances are all lovely, and though the pacing is slow, lovers of mid-career Merchant Ivory films (like THE BOSTONIANS and MAURICE) will be delighted. Fiennes and Jones were present for a Q&A after the screening.

UNDER THE SKIN is the new, highly anticipated film by Jonathan Glazer – director of SEXY BEAST and BIRTH. (It’s been a decade since his last film.) Each of his films is distinctly different, and UNDER THE SKIN is partially experimental in form. The movie is about a young woman who stalks the streets of Scotland – looking for single, unattached men. The film is sexually charged and absolutely captivating. There’s very little dialog in this film, but the images and score create poetry. A lot more could be added in describing the plot to this film, but as the catalog states, “it’s best to allow UNDER THE SKIN to reveal itself.” Lead actress Scarlett Johansson and director Jonathan Glazer were in attendance for an insightful Q&A. I can’t remember the last time I saw such an abstract film with over 1500 people…it was a nice feeling…but it won’t be appreciated by the masses. (That said, there will certainly be a cult-like following for this film.) Watch the teaser to get a small sense of tone for this film.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGDnbcq0BkU’]

More soon!

Thanks for reading!

Toronto Film Fest – Day #9

September 15, 2012 By Jonathan McNeal Leave a Comment

Hello Everyone,

I saw 2 final films today…which took my final count to 29 full screenings (there were 3 partial screenings, too).

First off, I saw a lovely new adaptation of GREAT EXPECTATIONS by Mike Newell (director of ENCHANTED APRIL, FOUR WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL, and a whole lot more). This adaptation, though clearly condensed in order to be told in 2 hours, is an old-school, literal adaptation with lovely photography, great costumes and a wonderful score. The cast is wonderful – Ralph Fiennes as Magwitch, Helena Bonham Carter as Miss Havisham and Jeremy Irvine as “older” Pip (he was the star of WAR HORSE). Interestingly, Young Pip is played by Jeremy Irvine’s younger brother Toby, and he’ll have quite a career should he decide to continue acting. Sally Hawkins (who is always delightful to see) plays Mrs. Joe. This adaptation will be well received by NEON regulars…though it has been picked up by a brand new distributor – so we hope we can establish a good relationship with them.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10W1rOJ6aME’]

For my last film of the festival, I saw Lee Daniels’ (director of PRECIOUS) latest film – THE PAPERBOY. Though Nicole Kidman and Zac Efron give “nice” performances, the material is all over the map. The film is seriously fractured with tone and themes shifting from scene to scene. Some of the cutting seems strange and forced – leading me to believe that coverage wasn’t good or performances weren’t always up to par. Eric Kohn of IndieWire wrote, “Lee Daniels’ THE PAPERBOY is a rare case of serious commitment to outright silliness…It’s possible to enjoy aspects of THE PAPERBOY if you assume a certain self-awareness behind the campier bits, but even then, the movie drowns in an overwhelming barrage of excess.” Though Efron was present at the screening, Kidman was not. Is she distancing herself from the picture? We’ll never know.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2GMwWaDSr0′]

In the coming days, I’ll write one last Toronto wrap-up…and I’ll include some personal photographs from the trip. So check back again on Tuesday or Wednesday – once I’ve had a bit of time to catch up on sleep, wash my clothes, get back to work and process all 29 films I screened.

Thanks for reading!

Jonathan