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the danish girl

CAROL Soars at THE NEON! PEGGY GUGGENHEIM Doc & Return of SPOTLIGHT Start Friday!

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5117f5ba-f6a8-4f2d-a3fa-47bb154f4766Hello Everyone,

What a fantastic weekend! Many thanks to everyone who came out for CAROL at THE NEON! This stunning film surpassed the national average for us and has already reached “hit status” in our books. Don’t forget that your ticket stub to CAROL gets you 50% off admission to America’s Packard Museum – just a few blocks away.

We’re holding everything we’ve got (CAROL, THE DANISH GIRL and TRUMBO), and we’re adding a couple more films to the line-up. First off, we’re bringing a documentary that has received several requests – but it will only play for a handful of screenings – PEGGY GUGGENHEIM: ART ADDICT. In addition, we will bring SPOTLIGHT back into the mix…we’re pretty certain it will receive numerous Oscar nominations on Thursday.

Speaking of Oscars, I’m happy to announce that our friends at ThinkTV have once again agreed to help us get a signal for our annual Oscar Party. Save the date for Sunday, February 28. More details coming soon!

Synopsis for PEGGY GUGGENHEIM: ART ADDICT: “Lisa Immordino Vreeland follows up her acclaimed debut DIANA VREELAND: THE EYE HAS TO TRAVEL with PEGGY GUGGENHEIM: ART ADDICT. A colorful character who was not only ahead of her time but helped to define it, Peggy Guggenheim was an heiress to her family fortune who became a central figure in the modern art movement. As she moved through the cultural upheaval of the 20th century, she collected not only art, but artists. Her colorful personal history included such figures as Samuel Beckett, Max Ernst, Jackson Pollock, Alexander Calder, Marcel Duchamp as well as countless others. While fighting through personal tragedy, she maintained her vision to build one of the most important collections of modern art, now enshrined in her Venetian palazzo.” (Submarine Deluxe) Click this LINK to visit the film’s official website.

Garry Harrington is bringing a cycling film to town on Wednesday, February 3 at 7:30. Sponsored by Five Rivers MetroParks, “INSPIRED TO RIDE is the followup film from the creators of the wildly popular and award-winning film RIDE THE DIVIDE, as well as their second film, REVEAL THE PATH. On June 7, 2014, forty-five cyclists from around the world set out on the inaugural TransAm Bike Race, a 4,233-mile cross-country, self-supported race from Astoria, OR, to Yorktown, VA. The route roughly follows the TransAmerica Trail as created by the Adventure Cycling Association, traversing through ten states in a transcontinental adventure of epic proportions…These athletes will endure agonizing climbs in the Rockies, driving winds in the Great Plains and sawtooth switchbacks in the Appalachians all for a pat on the back, potential bragging rights and a cold beer when it’s over. Some are out to make history and set records, while others are simply trying to finish.” Advanced tickets are $12 each and are only available at this LINK. Same day tickets (if available) will be $15 at our box office one hour before the screening.

We hope to see you soon!
Thanks for your continued support!
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Tuesday, Jan. 12 – Thursday, Jan. 21:

THE DANISH GIRL (R) 2 Hrs
Tuesday – Thursday (Jan 12-14): 2:40, 7:45
Fri, Sat, Sun (Jan 15-17): 7:15
Monday (Jan 18): 5:45
Tuesday – Thursday (Jan 19-21): 5:15

TRUMBO (R) 2 Hrs 4 Min
Tuesday – Thursday (Jan 12-14): 5:15
Fri, Sat, Sun (Jan 15-17): 4:45
Monday (Jan 18): 3:20
Tuesday – Thursday (Jan 19-21): 2:40

CAROL (R) 1 Hr 58 Min
Tuesday – Thursday (Jan 12-14): 2:50, 5:20, 7:50
Friday & Saturday (Jan 15 & 16): 11:45, 2:15, 4:45, 7:20, 9:50
Sunday (Jan 17): 11:45, 2:15, 4:45, 7:20
Monday (Jan 18): 3:15, 5:40, 8:00
Tuesday – Thursday (Jan 19-21): 2:50, 5:20, 7:50

PEGGY GUGGENHEIM: ART ADDICT (NR) 1 Hr 39 Min
ONLY 4 SCREENINGS OF THIS FILM!
Fri, Sat, Sun (Jan 15-17): Noon
Wednesday (Jan 20): 7:45

SPOTLIGHT (R) 2 Hrs 8 Min
Friday & Saturday (Jan 15 & 16): 2:10, 9:45
Sunday (Jan 17): 2:10
Monday (Jan 18): 8:10
Tuesday (Jan 19): 7:45
Wednesday (Jan 20): No Screening
Thursday (Jan 21): 7:45

COMING SOON:
(All Dates Are Tentative. Dates Often Move And Sometimes Disappear.)
Jan. 22 – ANOMALISA (Charlie Kaufman’s new film)
Jan. 22 – YOUTH (starring Michael Caine & Harvey Keitel)
Feb. 12 – WHERE TO INVADE NEXT (Michael Moore’s new film)
TBD – OSCAR NOMINATED SHORTS
Feb. 19 – LADY IN THE VAN (Maggie Smith – need we say more?)
TBD – SON OF SAUL (almost certain to get an Oscar nomination)
TBD – 45 YEARS (Big Oscar Push for Charlotte Rampling)

TIFF 2015 – Day #3

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a5e418c00d1f88a05b2165e602f9f7f0_originalHello Again,

After my successful turn in line this morning, I was off to my first screening – MISS YOU ALREADY, directed by Catherine Hardwicke.  Many people refer to this type of a film as a “chick flick.”  Though there are many films that get this label, there are a handful of these guilty pleasures that I have absolutely adored over the years…and I was hoping to find a new BEACHES today.  Hardwicke takes the story of two best friends since childhood (Toni Collette and Drew Barrymore) and gives it the energy and style of her film THIRTEEN.  There’s lots of crazy camera moves and a series of montages in an attempt to keep it fresh, but I feel that style detracts from this already overlong story.  Though there are certain elements of this film that work (namely Collette), I was mostly disappointed.  However, I was still moved by the ending – so I still had some sort of emotional attachment.

I had only planned on 4 films today, but when I had a window of time, I snuck in another film instead of a nap.  SLEEPING GIANT, by first-time Canadian director Andrew Cividino, is a lakeside summertime coming-of-age story about a teenage boy of privilege and his friendship with two much rougher boys living with their grandmother for the season.  It’s pretty early on in the film that we feel the powder keg sensibility of what’s in store, and the story becomes a little predictable.  But the cadence of the contemporary youthful dialog is just right and the boys’  performances are all strong.   What’s especially lovely about this film is the subtext.  This is one of the stronger films I’ve seen so far…but a hard sell – teen dramas that aren’t really meant for teens are always tricky (even when they’re as wonderful as ME AND EARL AND THE DYING GIRL).

THE LADY IN THE VAN, directed by Nicholas Hytner, was next on my list.  Hytner was in attendance for this film, and the Q&A was fantastic.  Based on the memoir and subsequent play by Alan Bennett, the films stars Maggie Smith (who originated the role in the play in 1999).  As this was the world premiere, it was Hytner’s first time seeing the finished film with an audience, and he had such eloquent things to say.  Maggie Smith is divine, and I must say that it’s smarter, funnier and significantly more touching than the trailer alludes. (Sony Classics has picked this up, so it’s pretty certain it will get a NEON run.)

Then I got to see the North American premiere of THE DANISH GIRL, directed by Tom Hooper (KINGS SPEECH).  This lovely film isn’t without a couple problematic moments, and it will certainly have its LGBT detractors – harping that it’s too “easy.”  That said, I think it works.  With lovely art direction, exquisite costumes and incredible performances across the board, this is a love story about artists Lili Elbe and Gerda Wegener (Eddie Redmayne & Alicia Vikander).   Lili, first introduced to us as Einar Wegener, is known to be the first recorded person to receive sexual reassignment surgery in the 1930’s.  Her diaries, posthumously used as the basis for the book MAN INTO WOMAN, remain highly regarded work for the transgender community.  There will certainly be a lot of award season buzz for this film. (In addition to a fantastic Q&A with Tom, Eddie and Alicia, the audience at this screening included many stars from other films at the festival – including Johnny Depp (his wife Amber Heard plays a wonderful role in the film, and she was stunning tonight).)

TE PROMETO ANARQUIA, directed by Julio Hernández Cordón, was my last film for the night.  This gritty film set in Mexico City is about two skateboarder boyfriends and their attempt to make some cash.  It feels a bit like some of Gus Van Sant’s indie work (less GOOD WILL HUNTING and MILK, more PARANOID PARK and ELEPHANT).  There are a lot of scenes where we simply see people traveling through the landscapes of the town with a loud, music-driven soundtrack.  And there a handful of scenes with dudes showing off their machismo – which I understood their intent but felt were some of the weaker moments.  The storytelling was uneven and overly long, and I think some of the plot points were haphazardly executed. About 25 minutes in, I considered leaving…but I’m glad I stuck it out.

I finished up the night with cocktails and catching up with some friends from NYC.  Some high profiles films are on the docket for tomorrow – looking forward to them.

Thanks for reading!

Jonathan