reel paddling film festival

Shirley MacLaine’s LAST WORD at THE NEON This Weekend

March 21, 2017 By Jonathan McNeal

Hello Everyone!

How can you not love Shirley MacLaine? From THE TROUBLE WITH HARRY to THE APARTMENT to THE CHILDREN’S HOUR to IRMA LA DOUCE to SWEET CHARITY to TERMS OF ENDEARMENT to STEEL MAGNOLIAS to POSTCARDS FROM THE EDGE to BERNIE – there’s so much to love! This Friday, we will bring this legend’s latest film to town – THE LAST WORD – and MacLaine fans won’t be disappointed. We will also hold onto both KEDI and THE SENSE OF AN ENDING for one more week.

Synopsis for THE LAST WORD: “In THE LAST WORD, Shirley MacLaine is Harriet Lauler, a once successful businesswoman in tight control of every aspect of her life. As she reflects upon her accomplishment, she’s suddenly inspired to engage a young local writer, Anne Sherman (Amanda Seyfried), to pen her life’s story. When the initial result doesn’t meet Harriet’s high expectations, she sets out to reshape the way she is remembered, with Anne dragged along as an unwilling accomplice. As the journey unfolds, the two women develop a unique bond which alters not only Harriet’s legacy, but also Anne’s future.” (Bleecker Street) Click this LINK to visit the film’s official site.

Don’t forget about THE REEL PADDLING FILM FESTIVAL – returning to town this Thursday evening at 7:30. Advanced tickets are available on-line or at THE NEON’s box office.

“LUNAFEST, a national festival of women’s films, comes to Dayton for the 8th time this Sunday, March 26 from 3:00-5:00 pm at THE NEON. This season’s program of nine selected films will compel discussion, make you laugh, tug at your heartstrings and motivate you to make a difference in your community. Incredibly diverse in style and content, the films are united by a common thread of exceptional storytelling – by, for and about women. Two additional short films will be presented by Pens to Pictures, a local filmmaking collaborative that worked with incarcerated women at the Dayton Correctional Institute to help them make their own short films, from script to screen. Funds raised by this event will go to the Breast Cancer Fund and to Pens to Pictures. Tickets are $10.00 ($5.00 for students) and donations over this amount are gratefully accepted. The event is sponsored nationally by Luna, makers of the nutrition bar, and locally by Dayton Women’s Rights Alliance and the Dayton chapter of the American Association of University Women. Tickets are now available at THE NEON’s box office.” (Press Notes) Visit the Lunafest official site to check out clips from this year’s festival.

Equitas Health is bringing the film FREEDOM TO MARRY to town on Thursday, March 30 at 7:30. This film is “The nail-biting, untold story of how same-sex marriage became law of the land. THE FREEDOM TO MARRY follows Evan Wolfson, the architect the movement, civil rights attorney Mary Bonauto and their key colleagues on this decades long battle, culminating in a dramatic fight at the United States Supreme Court. More than the saga of one movement’s history, this is an inspiringtale of how regular people can change the world.” To watch the trailer and reserve your ticket, visit this LINK.

“On Saturday, April 8, from 9:00 am until Noon, come out to Kick-off and Celebrate MINORITY HEALTH MONTH! This event is free and open to the entire community. Starting at 9:00 am, there will be a free breakfast and health screenings (Hepatitis B, Cholesterol, Blood pressure and confidential HIV), and a live radio broadcast with WROU’s Host Faith Daniels! At 10:00 am, health leadership awards will be given to Gina McFarlane-El, CEO, Five Rivers Health Center, the 2017 Shero of Health recipient, and Richard “Clay” Dixon, for Community Action Leadership. At 10:00, watch the award-winning movie UNNATURAL CAUSES: IS INEQUALITY MAKING US SICK? How do you have good health? How do you live longer? Housing, education, community development and so much more impact choices, behaviors, health conditions, and quality of life. Get answers on how to improve health and quality of life. Free popcorn. Funded by Public Health, Buckeye Health Plan, and the Ohio Commission on Minority Health.”

Vu-Do Swing is hoping to bring ALIVE AND KICKING to town on April 26, but they still need to reserve 55 tickets by April 17 to make it happen. “ALIVE AND KICKING is a feature-length documentary that takes an inside look into the culture of swing dancing and the characters who make it special. We explore the culture surrounding Swing dance from the emergence of the Lindy Hop to the modern day international phenomenon. The film follows the growth of Swing dance from its purely American roots as an art form, to countries all over the world. Alive and Kicking looks at the lives of the Swing dancers themselves to find their personal stories and why this dance fills them with joy.” If not enough tickets are reserved by the deadline, your credit card will never be charged. Click this LINK to watch a trailer and reserve your ticket.

The Dayton Jewish Film Festival will kick off in late April, but they’ll have a sneak peek at this year’s fest during a screening of the classic film THE FRISCO KID (starring Gene Wilder) on Sunday, April 2 at 3PM. Brochures for the entire festival are now available in our lobby, and you can visit the official site to read about the films, watch trailers and purchase tickets in advance. This year’s line-up looks pretty amazing!

We’ve added numerous films to our “Coming Soon” list, and I’m very happy that we’ve added FRANTZ (from Francois Ozon) and THEIR FINEST (a period film with Bill Nighy) to the line-up – they are films I loved in Toronto, and I know you’ll like them, too.

Thanks so much for your continued support.
See you soon,
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Tuesday, March 21 – Thursday, March 30:

KEDI (NR) 1 Hr 20 Min
Tuesday-Thursday (March 21-23): 3:10, 5:15, 7:20
Friday & Saturday (March 24 & 25): 1:00, 5:30, 9:45
Sunday (March 26): 1:00, 5:30
Monday-Wednesday (March 27-29): 3:00, 7:40
Thursday (March 30): 3:00

THE SENSE OF AN ENDING (PG-13) 1 Hr 48 Min
Tuesday & Wednesday (March 21 & 22): 2:50, 5:10, 7:30
Thursday (March 23): 2:50, 5:10
Friday & Saturday (March 24 & 25): 3:00, 7:20
Sunday (March 26): 7:20
Monday-Thursday (March 27-30); 5:10

REEL PADDLING FILM FESTIVAL (NR) 2 Hrs
Thursday (Mar 23): 7:30

THE LAST WORD (R) 1 Hr 48 Min
Friday & Saturday (March 24 & 25): 12:30, 2:50, 5:10, 7:30, 9:45
Sunday (March 26): 12:30, 2:50, 5:10, 7:30
Monday-Thursday (March 27-30): 2:50, 5:10, 7:30

LUNAFEST + PENS TO PICTURES (NR) 2 Hrs
Sunday (March 26): 3:00

FREEDOM TO MARRY (NR) 1 Hr 26 Min
Thursday (March 30): 7:30

COMING SOON:
(All Dates Are Tentative. Dates Often Move And Sometimes Disappear)
March 31 – WILSON
April 4-9 – CONTEMPORARY COLOR (limited screenings, lots of local ties)
April 7 – FRANTZ
April 21 – COLOSSAL
May 5 – THEIR FINEST
May 26 – THE LOVERS
TBD – TONI ERDMANN, THE RED TURTLE, PERSONAL SHOPPER

Susan Sarandon in THE MEDDLER, SING STREET Continues + MADONNA at THE NEON!

May 19, 2016 By Jonathan McNeal

Hello Everyone,

If you still need to see CITY OF GOLD, it won’t be at THE NEON much longer. It will only screen for one matinee per day over the weekend. On Friday, we will open a film that many of you will adore – THE MEDDLER – starring Susan Sarandon, Rose Byrne and a great supporting performance by J.K. Simmons. SING STREET is going to stick around for one more week! (If you’ve already seen this gem, please help us spread the word!)

Synopsis for THE MEDDLER: “With a new iPhone, an apartment near the Grove, and a comfortable bank account left to her by her beloved late husband, Marnie Minervini (Susan Sarandon) has happily relocated from New Jersey to LosAngeles to be near her daughter Lori (Rose Byrne), a successful (but still single) screenwriter, and smother her with motherly love. But when the dozens of texts, unexpected visits, and conversations dominated by unsolicited advice force Lori to draw strict personal boundaries, Marnie finds ways to channel her eternal optimism and forceful generosity to change the lives of others – as well as her own – and find a new purpose in life.” (Sony Pictures Classics) Click this LINK to visit the film’s official website.

I can hardly believe it, but the documentary TRUTH OR DARE is now 25 years old! Take a Holiday with Madonna and her entourage as we celebrate the film’s anniversary on the big screen…one of the great concert films of the past 30 years…and an incredibly important film to me when I first saw it at age 17! “This documentary chronicles Madonna’s controversial 1990 ‘Blonde Ambition’ international tour (which ROLLING STONE has recently called “the best concert tour of the 1990’s”). The film is a behind-the-scenes look at Madonna’s relationships with her dancers and crew, her then-boyfriend Warren Beatty, and her family and friends, achieving an intimate glimpse into the boundary-pushing singer’s drive and individuality.” Gene Siskel said it was “One of the best and most entertaining films of the year.” Come dressed as Madonna or wear your favorite Madonna T-shirt for discounts at the Concession Stand! Tickets are now on sale. TRUTH OR DARE will screen this Thursday, May 19 at 7:30 and Saturday, May 21 at 10pm. Watch the original (“scandalous” albeit censored) trailer from 25 years ago:

“Massie Creek Paddlers and Tomfoolery Outdoors are pleased to announce the Dayton screening of THE REEL PADDLING FILM FESTIVAL WORLD TOUR. The festival is an international adventure film tour presenting the world’s best paddling films of the year – categories include: whitewater, sea kayaking, canoeing, SUP, action and lifestyle. Audiences will see hairy whitewater action, sea kayakers exploring remote coastlines, northern river canoe expeditions, international river travel films, motivating environmental documentaries, grueling kayak fishing battles and hilarious short films capturing the lighter side of paddling life. Join us on May 25 at 7:30 for the best paddling films of the year.” Tickets are $10 in advance and are only available at this LINK. If tickets remain on the day of the show, they will be $15 each and available at our box office one hour before showtime.

“LUNAFEST, a national festival of women’s films, comes to Dayton for the 7th time Sunday June 5 at 3:00 at THE NEON. The program features six award-winning short films that are international in scope, plus a short film by local filmmaker Aisha Ford. The films examine women’s stories told through the lens of women filmmakers in places ranging from Dayton, Ohio to the Philippines, Cuba and Iran. The diverse, thought-provoking stories for 2016 include challenges facing a woman boxer, a deaf woman dealing with cancer, the effects of drug addiction, raising a transgender child and more. Funds raised by this event will go to the Breast Cancer Fund and to Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio Region. Tickets are $10.00 ($5.00 for students) and donations over this amount are gratefully accepted. The event is sponsored nationally by Luna and locally by Dayton Women’s Rights Alliance & the Dayton chapter of the American Association of University Women. Tickets can be purchased in advance at THE NEON.” (taken from press notes) To read about each of this year’s films, visit this LINK. And here’s a trailer for Aisha Ford’s film WREN:

https://vimeo.com/149449892

Eric Totel has partnered with Tugg to hopefully bring the film RANGE 15 to town on Wednesday, June 15 at 7:30. As of this posting, they still need to sell 17 tickets in order to make the screening a reality. Here’s a synopsis: “A group of veterans wake up after a night of partying to find out that the zombie apocalypse has spread across the United States. Together, they must fight their way across the country in order to find a cure for the outbreak and restore freedom before it’s too late.” To watch a trailer and/or secure your ticket, visit this screening’s OFFICIAL PAGE. (If not enough tickets are reserved, the screening will not take place and your card will never be charged.)

If you were at THE NEON this weekend, you’ve already seen a sample of the chairs we’re hoping to purchase and install this September. Because we’re not a non-profit, I don’t like to seek or accept donations…but for this big project, we are going to ask for some assistance. (Interestingly, a couple people have approached me over the past year and asked how they might be able to help us financially – this is the way!) This June, I’ll start a campaign to help us raise a bit of extra money in order to make our auditoriums more comfortable for everyone – finally including our guests in wheelchairs. Stay tuned for updates!

Next week, we will bring Whit Stillman’s LOVE & FRIENDSHIP to town. This film is based on the novella LADY SUSAN by Jane Austen, and it is currently rated “100% Fresh” on rottentomatoes.com – a score that almost never happens! We will have a special sneak preview screening of the film on Thursday, May 26.

Thanks for your continued support.

See you soon!
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Tuesday, May 17- Thursday, May 26:

KRISHA (R) 1 Hr 23 Min
Tuesday – Thursday (May 17-19): 5:15
FINAL DAY – May 19!

CITY OF GOLD (R) 1 Hr 36 Min
Tuesday & Wednesday (May 17 &18): 3:00, 7:15
Thursday (May 19): 3:00
Friday, Saturday, Sunday (May 20-22): 12:30
FINAL DAY – May 22!

SING STREET (PG-13) 1 Hr 46 Min
Monday – Thursday (May 16-19): 3:10, 5:30, 7:50
Friday (May 20): 2:50, 5:10, 7:20, 9:40
Saturday – Wednesday (May 21-25): 2:50, 5:10, 7:20
Thursday (May 26): 2:50, 5:10

MADONNA: TRUTH OR DARE (R) 2 Hrs
Thursday (May 19): 7:30
Saturday (May 21): 10:00

THE MEDDLER (PG-13) 1 Hr 40 Min
Friday & Saturday (May 20 & 21): 12:45, 3:00, 5:15, 7:30, 9:45
Sunday (May 22): 12:45, 3:00, 5:15, 7:30
Monday & Tuesday (May 23 & 24): 3:00, 5:15, 7:30
Wednesday (May 25): 3:00, 5:15
Thursday (May 26): 3:00, 5:15, 7:30

LOVE & FRIENDSHIP (PG) 1 Hr 32 Min
Thursday (May 26) – Preview Screening – 7:30

COMING SOON:
(All Dates Are Tentative. Dates Often Move And Sometimes Disappear.)
May 27 – LOVE & FRIENDSHIP
TBD – A BIGGER SPLASH
June 10 – MAGGIE’S PLAN
June 17 – DARK HORSE
TBD – HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE
TBD – SWISS ARMY MAN
TBD – CAPTAIN FANTASTIC
July 22 – ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS
July 29 – CAFE SOCIETY

2 New Gems – CITY OF GOLD & KRISHA – Open Friday + Madonna’s TRUTH OR DARE Turns 25!

May 11, 2016 By Jonathan McNeal

Hello Everyone,

I just got back from a short, revitalizing vacation, and we’re ready to tackle the next several weeks (which are currently overbooked). If you still need to see MILES AHEAD or A HOLOGRAM FOR THE KING, you only have until Thursday to see them at THE NEON. Though audiences are loving SING STREET, I’m sad to say that it didn’t perform nearly as well as I had hoped. Though it will stick around, it won’t be here for long. On Friday, we will open 2 films that will likely only play for one week. First is a film that foodies and doc lovers will devour – CITY OF GOLD. Second is a film that won big awards at SXSW last year (and also played as part of the FilmDayton Festival – one of the best reviewed films of the year) – KRISHA.

Synopsis for CITY OF GOLD: “In this richly penetrating documentary odyssey, Pulitzer Prize-winning food critic Jonathan Gold shows us a Los Angeles where ethnic cooking is a kaleidoscopic portal to the mysteries of an unwieldy city and the soul of America. Combing through colorful neighborhoods in his green pickup truck, Gold is sniffing out his next strip-mall discovery-whether Oaxacan grasshopper soup, hand-cut tonkotsu ramen, or a particularly unctuous pad see ew. As piping-hot platters are served up, so are stories of immigrants whose secret family recipes are like sacred offerings pledged for the opportunity to build their American Dream. With eternal curiosity, razor-sharp intellect, and existential longing, Gold is a culinary geographer taking us where no critic has gone before.” Click this LINK to visit the film’s official website.

Synopsis for KRISHA: One of the best reviewed films of the year and a big winner from last year’s SXSW Film Festival! ONE WEEK ONLY! “When Krisha shows up at her sister’s Texas home on Thanksgiving morning, her close and extended family greet her with a mixture of warmth and wariness. Almost immediately, a palpable unease permeates the air, one which only grows in force as Krisha gets to work cooking the turkey and trying to make up for lost time by catching up with her various relatives, chief among them her nephew, Trey. As Krisha’s attempts at reconciliation become increasingly rebuffed, tension and suspicion reach their peak, with long-buried secrets and deep-seated resentments coming to the fore as everyone becomes immersed in an emotionally charged familial reckoning.” Click this LINK to visit the film’s official website.

It’s almost time for our Madonna celebration. I can hardly believe it, but the documentary MADONNA: TRUTH OR DARE is now 25 years old! Take a Holiday with Madonna and her entourage as we celebrate the film’s anniversary on the big screen…one of the great concert films of the past 30 years…and an incredibly important film to me when I first saw it at age 17! “This documentary chronicles Madonna’s controversial 1990 ‘Blonde Ambition’ international tour (which ROLLING STONE has recently called “the best concert tour of the 1990’s”). The film is a behind-the-scenes look at Madonna’s relationships with her dancers and crew, her then-boyfriend Warren Beatty, and her family and friends, achieving an intimate glimpse into the boundary-pushing singer’s drive and individuality.” Gene Siskel said it was “One of the best and most entertaining films of the year.” Come dressed as Madonna or wear your favorite Madonna T-shirt for discounts at the Concession Stand! Tickets are now on sale. TRUTH OR DARE will screen Thursday, May 19 at 7:30 and Saturday, May 21 at 10pm.

“LUNAFEST, a national festival of women’s films, comes to Dayton for the 7th time Sunday June 5 at 3:00 at THE NEON. The program features six award-winning short films that are international in scope, plus a short film by local filmmaker Aisha Ford. The films examine women’s stories told through the lens of women filmmakers in places ranging from Dayton, Ohio to the Philippines, Cuba and Iran. The diverse, thought-provoking stories for 2016 include challenges facing a woman boxer, a deaf woman dealing with cancer, the effects of drug addiction, raising a transgender child and more. Funds raised by this event will go to the Breast Cancer Fund and to Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio Region. Tickets are $10.00 ($5.00 for students) and donations over this amount are gratefully accepted. The event is sponsored nationally by Luna and locally by Dayton Women’s Rights Alliance & the Dayton chapter of the American Association of University Women. Tickets can be purchased in advance at THE NEON.” (taken from press notes) To read about each of this year’s films, visit this LINK. A trailer for Aisha Ford’s film WREN can be viewed below.

https://vimeo.com/149449892

Eric Totel has partnered with Tugg to hopefully bring the film RANGE 15 to town on Wednesday, June 15 at 7:30. As of this email, they still need to sell 22 tickets in order to make the screening a reality. Here’s a synopsis: “A group of veterans wake up after a night of partying to find out that the zombie apocalypse has spread across the United States. Together, they must fight their way across the country in order to find a cure for the outbreak and restore freedom before it’s too late.” To watch a trailer and/or secure your ticket, visit this screening’s OFFICIAL PAGE. (If not enough tickets are reserved, the screening will not take place and your card will never be charged.)

Next week, we plan to bring Susan Sarandon’s new film THE MEDDLER to town – a film that Rex Reed called “Charming, Insightful and Funny.”

Thanks for your continued support.

See you soon!
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Tuesday, May 10- Thursday, May 19:

MILES AHEAD (R) 1 Hr 40 Min
Tuesday – Thursday (May 10-12): 5:10
FINAL DAY – May 12!

A HOLOGRAM FOR THE KING (R) 1 Hr 37 Min
Tuesday (May 10): 2:50
Wednesday (May 11): 2:50, 7:30
Thursday (May 12): 2:50
FINAL DAY – May 12!

SING STREET (PG-13) 1 Hr 46 Min
Tuesday – Thursday (May 10-12): 3:10, 5:30, 7:50
Friday & Saturday (May 13 & 14): 12:30, 2:50, 5:10, 7:30, 9:45
Sunday (May 15): 12:30, 2:50, 5:10, 7:30
Monday – Thursday (May 16-19): 3:10, 5:30, 7:50

CITY OF GOLD (R) 1 Hr 36 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday (May 13-15): 12:50, 3:00, 7:15
Monday – Wednesday (May 16-18): 3:00, 7:15
Thursday (May 19): 3:00

KRISHA (R) 1 Hr 23 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday (May 13-15): 5:15, 9:30
Monday – Thursday (May 16-19): 5:15

MADONNA: TRUTH OR DARE (R) 2 Hrs
Thursday (May 19): 7:30

COMING SOON:
(All Dates Are Tentative. Dates Often Move And Sometimes Disappear.)
May 20 – THE MEDDLER
May 27 – LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP
TBD – A BIGGER SPLASH
TBD – THE CONGRESSMAN
June 10 – MAGGIE’S PLAN
June 17 – DARK HORSE
TBD – HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE
TBD – SWISS ARMY MAN
TBD – CAPTAIN FANTASTIC
July 22 – ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS
July 29 – CAFE SOCIETY

MR. TURNER Opens and Fun MARIGOLD HOTEL News at THE NEON!

February 26, 2015 By Jonathan McNeal

Hello Everyone,

I’m sad to report that TIMBUKTU did not fare very well for us at THE NEON. Though it was an award winner at Cannes and it nearly swept the Cesar Awards last week (the “French Oscars” – it won 7 awards including “Best Picture”), today (Feb. 25) will be your last chance to catch it at THE NEON. On Friday, we will open a film that many art enthusiasts have been anxious to see – MR. TURNER. We’ll also hold onto the film that just garnered Julianne Moore her first Oscar – STILL ALICE. Remaining showtimes for this week are available on our website – www.neonmovies.com.

Synopsis for MR. TURNER: Given 100% reviews by The Wall Street Journal, NPR, Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times and many more! “This film explores the last quarter century of the great if eccentric British painter J.M.W. Turner (1775-1851). Profoundly affected by the death of his father, loved by a housekeeper he takes for granted and occasionally exploits sexually, he forms a close relationship with a seaside landlady with whom he eventually lives incognito in Chelsea, where he dies. Throughout this, he travels, paints, stays with the country aristocracy, visits brothels, is a popular if anarchic member of the Royal Academy of Arts, has himself strapped to the mast of a ship so that he can paint a snowstorm, and is both celebrated and reviled by the public and by royalty.” (taken from Metacritic.com) Click this LINK to visit the film’s official site.

“The Junior Leaguers Club of Dayton will sponsor a special screening of DEAR WHITE PEOPLE this Saturday at noon. DEAR WHITE PEOPLE is a 2014 American satirical film written and directed by Justin Simien. The film focuses on African American students who attend a predominately white university. This is the fourth annual movie sponsored by the Junior Leaguers of Dayton as a fundraiser for scholarships. The film will be followed by a community discussion led by Jeannette Taylor, program coordinator for NCCJ. The cost is $30 per ticket which includes the cost of movie, soda, a glass of wine, popcorn and the discussion.” (Taken from event press notes.) Tickets can now be purchased at THE NEON’s box office.

The ReelAbilities Film Festival is happening at numerous venues around Cincinnati, but one special screening is coming to Dayton on Wednesday, March 4 at 7:30 – ON BEAUTY. “Rick Guidotti, who after 15 years of working for clients such as Yves Saint Laurent, Elle, and Harper’s Bazaar, grew tired of seeing the same ideal of beauty ‘spit up at us constantly.’ In a moment of serendipity, Rick walked by a young woman with Albinism at a New York City bus stop, and wondered why she wasn’t considered beautiful in his other world. This exploration resulted in a show-stopping magazine spread for Life Magazine called ‘Redefining Beauty.’ The Cincinnati ReelAbilities Film Festival, organized by LADD and presented by Macy’s, is our region’s largest film festival celebrating the stories, lives and art of people who experience disability; all of the film screenings benefit local nonprofit organizations.” For more information or to order advanced tickets, click this LINK to the official site.

On Sunday, March 8 at 3:00 (Please Note – the date/time in a previous newsletter was incorrect!), Taller Trees Productions will premiere THE FALL LEAGUE – a locally produced documentary about seniors, softball and life. “This heart-warming documentary captures the story of a Dayton senior league (all players are over age 63), but it goes much further, exploring the impact of the sport in regard to family relationships, the bonding and camaraderie between players, and topics of aging that are necessary considerations for active seniors…the movie has been accepted for the Indy Sports Film Fest Experience in Toronto…and Louisvilles’ International Festival of Film.” (taken from press notes) To read more about the film and its production and to view the trailer, visit the film’s official site by clicking this LINK. Tickets, just $7 each, are now available at THE NEON’s box office. Many people involved with the production of the film will attend the screening.

“On Sunday, March 15 at 3:00, The Turkish American Society is proud to present a special, one-time screening of director Hasan Kiraç’s TWO HEARTS AS ONE (Birlesen Gönüller). This powerful film – one of the most expensive productions in Turkish film history – is based on a true story. Starting in 1940’s Soviet Russia, and continuing into 1990’s, this is the story of four hearts which couldn’t be stopped by distances and years. Newlyweds Niyaz and Cennet are forced to separate when war rears a violent and chaotic head. Niyaz is taken to Red Army to fight on the Soviet side, while Cennet is sent to a camp when the Nazis took over their village…Woven into the narrative is the story of Yunus and Dilek, a loving couple from Turkey who leave for Almaty, then the capital of Kazakhstan, in the 1990’s. Ambitious Yunus is planning to build a school, but he has no resources at all. His wife Dilek sympathizes and supports him, but their enduring poverty wears her patience and resolve – until a chance encounter provides some much-needed perspective. Tickets for this special event are $10 and are now available at THE NEON’s box office. Presented in Turkish, with English subtitles.” (Taken from press notes) Check out the trailer – It looks lovely!

Save the date for this year’s REEL PADDLING FILM FESTIVAL. It is set for Thursday, March 19 at 7:30. More details will be available soon.

And here’s the fun news! THE SECOND BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL is slated to officially open on March 6. But if you just can’t wait, we’ve managed to get the film a day early. There will be a special screening on Thursday, March 5 at 7:40! Regular ticket prices will apply, but bragging rights are free! (Plus we’ll have some fun prizes!)

Thanks for your continued support.
See you soon,
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Friday, Feb. 27 – Thursday, Mar. 5:

MR. TURNER (R) 2 Hr 30 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 1:00, 4:00, 7:15
Monday – Thursday: 3:00, 7:15

STILL ALICE (PG-13) 1 Hr 41 Min
Friday: 12:40, 3:00, 5:15, 7:30, 9:40
Saturday: 3:00, 5:15, 7:30, 9:40
Sunday: 12:40, 3:00, 5:15, 7:30
Monday – Tuesday: 3:15, 5:30, 7:45
Wednesday & Thursday: 3:15, 5:20

DEAR WHITE PEOPLE (R) 1 Hr 48 Min + Discussion
Saturday: Noon

ON BEAUTY (NR) 32 Minutes + Discussion
Wednesday: 7:30

THE SECOND BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL (PG) 2 Hr 2 Min
Thursday: 7:40

COMING SOON:

(All Dates Are Tentative. Dates Often Move And Sometimes Disappear.)

March 6 – THE SECOND BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL
March ? – WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS
March ? – LEVIATHAN
March ? – RED ARMY
April 3 – WOMAN IN GOLD
TBD – MOMMY
April ? – WILD TALES
April ? – GREY GARDENS

BUDAPEST HOTEL, TIM’S VERMEER and Other NEON News

April 10, 2014 By Jonathan McNeal Leave a Comment

Hello Everyone,

THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL continues to hit milestones. In less than 3 weeks, the film is already at #4 on our “Highest Grossing Films” list. (The Top 3 are SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE, SIDEWAYS and MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING – each of these films played at least 12 weeks). This is really spectacular, and we truly appreciate your support and positive word-of-mouth.

This week, we are going to hold both current attractions. Though TIM’S VERMEER didn’t have record attendance, it did well enough to stick around. With all the kudos from audience members, we think it’s worth holding for a 2nd week. That said, we plan to move forward with THE LUNCHBOX on April 18. Hurry down if you need to see TIM’S VERMEER. Details and showtimes for each of our current films are available at www.neonmovies.com

If you haven’t already seen the trailer for this wonderful little movie, take a look at the website for THE LUNCHBOX by clicking this LINK.

The TAB Entertainment has rented one of our auditoriums this Sunday 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 has prepared an exciting line-up for this year’s festival. It 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. Click this LINK to visit the festival’s official site…details for buying advanced tickets can be found there. Here are a list of films that are screening at THE NEON:

Thursday, April 24 at 7:30 – THE ZIG ZAG KID
Tuesday, April 29 at 7:15 – AFTERMATH
Thursday, May 1 at 7:15 – BETHLEHEM
Tuesday, May 6 at 7:20 – QUALITY BALLS: THE DAVID STEINBERG STORY
Thursday, May 8 at 7:15 – SUESKIND
Monday, May 12 at 7:15 – THE PRIME MINISTERS: THE PIONEERS
Tuesday, May 13 at 9:30am – ESTHER BRONER: A WEAVE OF WOMEN
Thursday, May 15 at 7:15 – WHITE PANTHER
Sunday, May 18 at 7:15 – THE THIRD HALF
Program guides are currently available in our lobby!

Take a look at the trailer from the opening film – THE ZIG ZAG KID. It looks like great fun:

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

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 11 – Thursday, April 17:

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, 5:30, 7:15
Monday, Tuesday: 3:00, 5:15, 7:15
Wednesday: 3:00, 5:15
Thursday: 3:00, 5:15, 7:30

MY DREAM BESIDE ME (NR) 1 Hr 24 Min
Sunday: 3:00

REEL PADDLING FILM FESTIVAL (NR) 2+ Hrs
Wednesday: 7:30

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

April 18 – THE LUNCHBOX
April 25 – LE WEKK-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

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 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.

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