Dayton937

Things to do in Dayton | Restaurants, Theatre, Music and More

senna

SENNA and LIFE, ABOVE ALL at The Neon

By Leave a Comment

Hello Everyone,

We’re opening two new films this weekend.  First is a documentary for which we have received numerous requests – perhaps as many as we received for BUCK.  This time, instead of a horse trainer, the subject is regarded as “the best driver who ever lived” – SENNA.  We will also open a small African film which will only play for one week.  If you’ve been to THE NEON recently, I’m almost certain you’ve seen a trailer for LIFE, ABOVE ALL – a film for which Robert Ebert gave a 100% review.

Synopsis for SENNA:  “Senna’s remarkable story, charting his physical and spiritual achievements on the track and off, his quest for perfection, and the mythical status he has since attained, is the subject of SENNA, a documentary feature that spans the racing legend’s years as an F1 driver, from his opening season in 1984 to his final, tragic race a decade later. Far more than a film for F1 fans, SENNA unfolds a remarkable story in a remarkable manner, eschewing many standard documentary techniques in favour of a more cinematic approach that makes full use of astounding footage, much of which is drawn from F1 archives and is previously unseen.” (Working Title Films)  Click this LINK to visit the film’s official site.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6rvBiYBL-w&feature=fvst’]

Synopsis for LIFE, ABOVE ALL: “Just after the death of her newly-born sister, Chanda, 12 years old, learns of a rumor that spreads like wildfire through her small, dust-ridden village near Johannesburg. It destroys her family and forces her mother to flee. Sensing that the gossip stems from prejudice and superstition, Chanda leaves home and school in search of her mother and the truth.” (Sony Pictures Classics) Click this LINK to visit the film’s official site.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GtWfPQ98Qk’]

Living City is gearing up for their VAMPIRE retrospective.  The series will include 5 Films over the course of 5 Mondays at 7:30 – beginning October 17.  Single tickets will be available at the door before each screening for $8 each.  A festival pass – good for all 5 screnings – will be available this weekend for just $30  (members of FilmDayton will receive $5 off the festival pass price).   Here are the dates and films:

October 17 – THE HUNGER

October 24 – DRACULA (1931, starring Bela Lugosi)

October 31 – THE LOST BOYS

November 7 – INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE

November 14 – BRAM STOKER’S DRACULA (1992).

Hope to see you this weekend,

Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for October 7 – October 13:

SENNA (PG-13) 1 Hr 46 Min

Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:20, 2:45, 5:10, 7:30, 9:45

Monday – Thursday:  3:00, 5:20, 7:50

LIFE, ABOVE ALL (PG-13) 1 Hr 40 Min

Friday, Saturday, Sunday:  12:30, 5:00

Monday – Thursday: 5:30

HIGHER GROUND (R) 1 Hr 49 Min

Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 2:40, 7:20, 9:40

Monday – Thursday: 3:10, 7:40

COMING SOON:

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

In some cases, titles may disappear.

Oct. 14  RESTLESS

Oct. 14  THE FUTURE

Oct. 21   THE DEVIL’S DOUBLE

Nov. 4  TAKE SHELTER

Nov. 18  MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE

Nov. 25   THE SKIN I LIVE IN

Nov. ?   MARGIN CALL

Dec. 2   MELANCHOLIA

TBD   WEEKEND

HIGHER GROUND & More at THE NEON

By Leave a Comment

Hello Everyone.

Many thanks to those of you who supported this year’s Downtown Dayton LGBT Film Festival.  It was the most successful festival yet!  While CAROL CHANNING: LARGER THAN LIFE received the most enthusiastic response (if you missed this, you missed a complete gem), many attendees were also in love with WEEKEND and TOMBOY.

This weekend, we’re going to hold onto THE GUARD and THE WHISTLEBLOWERwhile opening a new film both directed by and starring Vera Farmiga – HIGHER GROUND.

Synopsis for HIGHER GROUND:  “Higher Ground, depicts the landscape of a tight-knit spiritual community thrown off-kilter when one of their own begins to question her faith. Inspired by Carolyn S. Briggs’ memoir, This Dark World, the film tells the story of a thoughtful woman’s struggles with belief, love, and trust. Faith, love and honesty are the cornerstones of this story of a woman who learns that no matter how many times she loses her footing, she has within herself all that’s necessary to get to a higher place.” (Sony Pictures Classics)  Visit the film’s official site.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRpFKwJHQ7g’]

This Sunday, The India Foundation will celebrate the birthday of Gandhi by presenting a reception and a free screening of the documentary MAHATMA.  “This one-hour documentary on the life of Mahatma Gandhi contains never-before-seen archival footage from the vaults of Films Davison of India.  Come over and join in Mahatma Gandhi’s 142nd birthday celebration.  Birthday cake, coffee, samaras in the lobby from 1:30 to 2:30.  The film starts at 3:00.  Admission is FREE – on first-come, first-seated basis.”

Below is a small collage of photos I took during this year’s Toronto International Film Festival.  Sadly, I didn’t always have my camera with me…and in some instances, I didn’t want to be “that guy” snapping pictures at a big party.  How many people can you name?

Living City is putting the final details in place for this Fall’s VAMPIRE retrospective.  Ticketing details will be available soon.  That said, you can mark your calendars now for October 17 – THE HUNGER, October 24 – DRACULA (starring Bela Lugosi), October 31 – THE LOST BOYS, November 7 – INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE, and November 14 – BRAM STOKER’S DRACULA (1992).

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

Next Friday (Oct. 7), we plan to open SENNA.  We’ve had numerous calls and e-mails about this film…so we hope that we’ll soon have another documentary hit on our hands!

Hope to see you this weekend,

Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Sept. 30 – October 6:

THE WHISTLEBLOWER (R) 1 Hr 52 Min

Friday, Saturday: 2:40, 7:15

Sunday: 7:15

Monday – Thursday:  3:10, 7:50

THE GUARD (R) 1 Hr 36 Min

Friday, Saturday, Sunday:  12:30, 5:00, 9:40

Monday – Thursday: 5:30

HIGHER GROUND (R) 1 Hr 49 Min

Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:20, 2:45, 5:10, 7:30, 9:45

Monday – Thursday: 3:00, 5:20, 8:00

MAHATMAN (NR) 1 Hr

Sunday: 3:00 (reception begins at 1:30)

COMING SOON:

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

In some cases, titles may disappear.

Oct. 7   SENNA

Oct. 7 RESTLESS

Oct. 14  THE FUTURE

Nov. 4  TAKE SHELTER

Nov. 18 MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE

Nov. 25   THE SKIN I LIVE IN

TBD   LIFE ABOVE ALL

Movies Galore This Weekend at THE NEON!

By Leave a Comment

Hello Everyone.

I’m back from Toronto and throwing myself right into details for the upcoming weekend at THE NEON.  Toronto was fantastic – 34 Films, a couple great parties and a chance to meet numerous people in the industry.  If you want to catch up on my daily blogs from the festival, click HERE.  In addition to my reaction to each film, I posted trailers, clips and pictures (and in the coming days, I’ll manage to upload some personal photos I took – including pictures of Tilda Swinton, Antonio Benderas, Jessica Chastain and more.)

If you still need to see SARAH’S KEY , you only have until Thursday to see it at THE NEON (visit our site for remaining showtimes).  THE GUARD – starring Brendan Gleeson & Don Cheadle – had a solid opening weekend.  It will stick around.  In addition to this weekend’s LGBT Film Festival, we will open THE WHISTLEBLOWER – starring Rachel Weisz, Vanessa Redgrave and David Strathairn on Friday.

Synopsis for THE WHISTLEBLOWER:  “Inspired by actual events, Kathy is an American police officer who takes a job working as a peacekeeper in post-war Bosnia. Her expectations of helping to rebuild a devastated country are dashed when she uncovers a dangerous reality of corruption, cover-up and intrigue amid a world of private contractors and multinational diplomatic double-talk.” (Samuel Goldwyn Pictures)  Visit the official website to read more about the film.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=al3anBiHwmI’]

The 6th Annual Downtown Dayton LGBT Film Festival is ready to go, and festival passes & single tickets are currently on sale at our box office.  Our closing movie on Sunday afternoon – a British film called WEEKEND – just received a fantastic review in The Village Voice.  To visit the official website for the festival, click HERE .  Trailers for each feature are on the site.  And don’t forget…if you get a ticket to the opening night film, you’re invited to the opening night party at Sidebar – which will include appetizers and complimentary sangria.  A movie starring Cheyenne Jackson & Julia Ormond + food & cocktails for only $8???  Almost too good to be true!

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4fZqbMrd2E’]

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jb-Oys-IcWE’]

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUU_WzRBHX4′]

On Thursday, September 29 at 7:30, director Lee Zellars has rented one of our auditoriums for the Dayton premiere of his Cincinnati-based film PURPLE HAZE. “Damian Ship was a talented musician in Haiti. He dreamed of coming to American and becoming a famous musician. This was made possible by CEO Sam Lucci – who signed him to his label but had no intention to living up to the agreement… When Damian is swindled out of monies due to him, he brings a wrath on Sam Lucci like nothing he ever experienced in all his shady dealings before. Damian Ship, later known as Purple Haze, brought forth a horror that would keep any record executive in check.”  Tickets are $10 each and are available at our box office.

Hope to see you this weekend,

Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Sept. 23 – September 29:

THE WHISTLEBLOWER (R) 1 Hr 52 Min

Friday: 12:30, 2:50, 5:10, 7:30, 9:45

Saturday: 12:30, 5:10, 7:30

Sunday: 12:30, 2:50, 5:10, 7:30, 9:45

Monday – Thursday:  3:00, 5:30, 8:00

THE GUARD (R) 1 Hr 36 Min

Friday:  12:40, 2:50, 5:00, 9:50

Saturday: 2:50, 5:15, 9:50

Sunday: 5:10, 7:20, 9:30

Monday – Wednesday: 3:10, 5:30, 7:50

Thursday:  3:10, 5:30

DOWNTOWN DAYTON LGBT FILM FESTIVAL

Friday at 7:30 – THE GREEN

Saturday at 12:30 – GEN SILENT

Saturday at 3:00 – TOP DRAWER SHORTS

Saturday at 7:30 – TOMBOY

Saturday at 9:30 – GOING DOWN IN LA-LA LAND

Sunday at 12:30 – CAROL CHANNING: LARGER THAN LIFE

Sunday at 3:00 – WEEKEND

PURPLE HAZE (NR) 1 Hr 26 Min

Thursday: 7:30

COMING SOON:

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

In some cases, titles may disappear.

Sept 30   HIGHER GROUND

Sept. 30   THE FUTURE

Oct. 7   RESTLESS

Oct. 7   SENNA

Nov. 4  TAKE SHELTER

Nov. 18  MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE

Nov. 25   THE SKIN I LIVE IN

TBD   LIFE ABOVE ALL

TRIBE CALLED QUEST Documentary Opens + Toronto-Bound

By Leave a Comment

Hello Everyone.

THE TRIP did moderate business over the weekend…just enough to stick around for another week.  That said, SARAH’S KEY is still performing quite well.  In addition to these two films, we will open something new for one week only…a music documentary by actor and filmmaker Michael Rapaport.

Synopsis for BEATS, RHYMES & LIFE – THE TRAVELS OF A TRIBE CALLED QUEST: “Michael Rapaport sets out on tour with A Tribe Called Quest in 2008, when they reunited to perform sold-out concerts across the country, almost ten years after the release of their last album, The Love Movement. As he travels with the band members, Rapaport captures the story of how tenuous their relationship has become; how their personal differences and unresolved conflicts continue to be a threat to their creative cohesion. When mounting tensions erupt backstage during a show in San Francisco, we get a behind-the-scenes look at their journey and contributions as a band and what currently is at stake for these long-time friends collaborators.” (Sony Picture Classics)  Click this LINK to visit the official site.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbCT6_HAOmM’]

On Friday, September 16 at 9:30pm, come to THE NEON for PK Night Dayton, Volume 8– sponsored by AIA Dayton, a chapter of The American Institute of Architects.  Pecha Kucha 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, including Dayton. Presenters share 20 images but with only 20 seconds per image, the timed format keeps presentations lively and concise.  Volume 8 will feature architects from around the region along with Dayton’s own Jane Black, London Coe, and Terry Welker.  The cost for this event is $5, and tickets are already available at our box office.

The 6th Annual Downtown Dayton LGBT Film Festival is in the final prep stages, and festival passes are currently on sale at our box office (single tickets go on sale Sept. 8).  5 visiting artists are already booked to visit the festival (all 5 are being flown in from L.A.), and our opening night party is shaping up to be something special.

To visit the official website for the festival, visit www.daytonlgbt.com.  The image above is from a French movie called TOMBOY – the film has one of the best child performances you will ever see.  Here’s the trailer:

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onYkjprd-t8′]

I leave for the Toronto International Film Festival Wednesday morning…and I can hardly wait!  If you’d like to read about the films I’m seeing, the stars I’ve sighted, and the parties I’m attending, please visit DaytonMostMetro’s site by visiting the link starting on Thursday:  http://www.daytonmostmetro.com/tag/toronto-film-fest Just a few of the films I’m terribly excited to see are SHAME (with Michael Fassbender), ALBERT NOBBS (with Glenn Close), Almodovar’s THE SKIN I LIVE IN, Cronenberg’s A DANGEROUS METHOD, a new silent film from France called THE ARTIST, and the new film from Nadine Labaki (director of CARAMEL).

Please keep the staff busy in my absence.

Take care,

Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Sept. 9 – September 15:

SARAH’S KEY (PG-13) 1 Hr 51 Min

Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:20, 2:40, 5:00, 7:20, 9:40

Monday – Thursday:  3:00, 5:30, 8:00

BEATS, RHYMES & LIFE:

THE TRAVELS OF A TRIBE CALLED QUEST (R) 1 Hr 37 Min

Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 5:10, 9:50

Monday – Thursday: 8:15

THE TRIP (NR) 1 Hr 47 Min

Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:30, 2:50, 7:30

Monday – Thursday: 3:30, 6:00

COMING SOON:

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

In some cases, titles may disappear.

Sept. 16  THE GUARD

Sept 23   HIGHER GROUND

Sept. 30   THE FUTURE

Oct. 7   RESTLESS

Oct. 7   SENNA

Nov. 4  TAKE SHELTER

Nov. 18  MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE

Nov. 25   THE SKIN I LIVE IN

TBD   THE WHISTLEBLOWER

TBD   LIFE ABOVE ALL