Dayton937

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

Waiting for Superman

Big Film Announcements at The Neon – Fair Game, 127 Hours and More!

By Leave a Comment

Hello Everyone.

Within the next several days, we will open 2 films that have garnered 100% reviews from numerous critics.  First off (only guaranteed to play for 5 days!!) is LEBANON.  This film will open on Friday and has been given a 100% review by Entertainment Weekly, Chicago Tribune, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, and many more!  Hurry down!

Next Wednesday (Nov. 24), we will have the region’s premiere engagement of Danny Boyle’s new film starring James Franco – 127 HOURS (which you’ll be hearing more about come Oscar time).  This film has been given a 100% review by Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, USA Today, Chicago-Sun Times, and many more.  Don’t miss this incredible, gripping film on the big screen.

THIS JUST IN!!    I started typing this e-mail on Wednesday evening, but I decided to hold off sending it because we were asked to consider opening another film within the next couple weeks.  As it turns out, it’s coming even sooner…we’ve got another film set to open on November 24 – the new thriller FAIR GAME – starring Naomi Watts and Sean Penn.   Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly wrote that this film “gets you riled up all over again at a deeply unpatriotic abuse of power.”  J.R. Jones of Chicago Reader wrote that the film is “easily the best fact-based Hollywood political thriller since ALL THE PRESIDENT’S MEN.”

Synopsis for LEBANON: “A handful of soldiers take a claustrophobic journey into the heart of war in this drama from Israeli writer and director Samuel Maoz.  It’s June 1982, and Israel is launching an invasion of Lebanon. Four men assigned to take part in the first strike are put on the same tank detail…After being given their orders, the men set out toward the Lebanese border, recognizing little of what goes on outside beyond what can be seen through a tiny window; they occasionally stop to help fellow Israelis hurt in battle, but for the most part, they roll relentlessly onward, occasionally arguing amongst themselves, until they arrive at their destination, a town already bombed into rubble by the Israeli Air Force. Few of their allies remain in the city, putting the soldiers in a perilous situation when a band of Syrian resistance fighters lays siege to the tank.”  (Mark Deming, All Movie Guide)
VISIT OFFICIAL WEBSITE


Synopsis for 127 HOURS: “127 HOURS is the true story of mountain climber Aron Ralston’s remarkable adventure to save himself after a fallen boulder crashes on his arm and traps him in an isolated canyon in Utah. Over the next five days Ralston examines his life and survives the elements to finally discover he has the courage and the wherewithal to extricate himself by any means necessary, scale a 65 foot wall and hike over eight miles… Throughout his journey, Ralston recalls friends, lovers, family, and the two hikers he met before his accident. Will they be the last two people he ever had the chance to meet?” (taken from Fox Searchlight Pictures)  Directed by SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE’s Danny Boyle.
VISIT OFFICIAL WEBSITE


Synopsis for FAIR GAME: “Valerie Plame and her husband face the fallout when her cover is blown as a covert CIA agent. Plame’s status as a CIA agent was revealed by White House officials allegedly out to discredit her husband after he wrote a 2003 New York Times op-ed piece saying that the Bush administration had manipulated intelligence about weapons of mass destruction to justify the invasion of Iraq.” (taken from Fandango)
VISIT OFFICIAL WEBSITE

The Downtown Holiday Festival has announced The Children’s Holiday Film Series for this year!  Films are FREE for children 12 and under…and only $2 for adults.
Dec. 4 at Noon – MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS (the gorgeous Judy Garland classic which introduced the American standard “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”)
Dec. 11 at Noon – ELF (comedy starring Will Ferrell)
Dec. 18 at Noon – THE GRINCH (the beloved Dr. Seuss tale starring Jim Carrey)

THE RUBI GIRLS have unveiled their 2011 wall calendar, and they’re now available in our lobby.  Calendars are just $20 each, and 100% of that amount will go to charities in the Miami Valley.  If you still need a 2011 calendar…or you’re looking for a fun, unique gift…check out the calendar next time you’re here.  Last year’s edition sold out, and this year’s edition is even more wonderful!
We hope to see you very soon.
Take care,
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for November 19 – November 23:

WAITING FOR SUPERMAN (PG) 111 minutes
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:30, 2:50, 5:10, 7:30, 9:45
Monday & Tuesday: 2:50, 5:00, 7:30, 9:45

INSIDE JOB (PG-13) 108 Minutes
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:40, 5:00, 7:20, 9:40
Monday, Tuesday: 5:00, 7:20, 9:40

LEBANON (R) 1 Hr 33 Min
Friday – Tuesday: 3:00

SHOWTIMES for November 24 – November 25:

127 HOURS (R) 1 Hr 34 Min
Wednesday & Thursday: 3:00, 5:10, 7:20, 9:30

FAIR GAME (PG-13) 1 Hr 48 Min
Wednesday & Thursday: 2:40, 5:00, 7:30, 9:45

COMING SOON:
As always, all dates are tentative.  Some of these dates will change.
Dec. 3 or 10  THE GIRL WHO KICKED A HORNET’S NEST
Dec. 17   TAMARA DREW
Dec. 22  BLACK SWAN
Dec. 24   MADE IN DAGENHAM
TBD:  THE KING’S SPEECH & RABBIT HOLE

INSIDE JOB & Big Announcements! (NOWHERE BOY is leaving)

By Leave a Comment

Hello Everyone.

I just returned from almost 5 full days in NYC – a perfect getaway. That said, I haven’t had a chance to see NOWHERE BOY (the period film about the young John Lennon) yet, but the few folks I’ve spoken with today have loved it. Unfortunately, the movie didn’t perform well enough to stick around. Thursday, November 11 at 5:00 will be your last chance to see it at THE NEON.
On Friday, we open INSIDE JOB. If you’ve been to THE NEON in the past few weeks, I’m guessing you’ve seen the trailer. This film has been given a 100% review from THE NEW YORK TIMES, VARIETY, THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, CHICAGO-SUN TIMES, THE BOSTON GLOBE and more!

Synopsis for INSIDE JOB: “Producer/director Charles Ferguson (NO END IN SIGHT) speaks at length with journalists, politicians, and financial insiders in order to offer a clearer picture of the economic meltdown that hit America starting in 2008. Academy Award winner Matt Damon narrates this unflinching look at the deep-rooted corruption that has left millions of middle-class Americans jobless and homeless as the major corporations get bailed out while paying millions in bonuses.” (Jason Buchanan, American Movie Guide)
www.sonyclassics.com/insidejob

There’s only 1 film left in Living City’s Festival tribute to Jeff Bridges.
RANCHO DELUXE (sponsored by CityWide Development) – Nov. 15 at 7PM
Single tickets will be $8 each – available before the show.

The Ohio Liberty Film Festival starts this week at multiple venues. This is the second year for the festival, and more information can be found by clicking HERE.
The Liberty Film Fest ia a “…celebration of freedom and liberty. The underlying idea is that man’s great achievements, whether artistic, scientific or intellectual, have come about through the exercise of freedom and opportunity. The intent will be to showcase films that show the positive use of freedom, and also the negative outcomes and conditions related to the suppression of freedom.” (taken from Liberty Film Fest’s website)
Here’s a detail I didn’t know until recently. All screenings are FREE!
Films screening at THE NEON are:
RESCUE DAWN – Thursday, November 11 at 2:30pm
THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES – Thursday, November 11 at 7:30
ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST – Sunday, November 14 at 2:30

On Thursday, November 18 at 8PM, New York director Gary Beeber (a Dayton native) will bring his movie DIRTY MARTINI AND THE NEW BURLESQUE to town – “a feature-length, independent documentary that explores the outrageous world of the performers who created the ‘new burlesque’ scene in New York City. Get to know Miss Dirty Martini and her friends Julie Atlas Muz, World-Famous *BOB*, Bambi the Mermaid, Tigger!, Scotty the Blue Bunny, and many other cult stars. The movie’s seductiveness comes from its sexy acts as well as its dark exploration of the performers’ struggle to pay their bills, quest for stable love relationships and inability to envision the future after burlesque. The relationship between sex work, burlesque and feminism are discussed. As a classically trained dancer, Dirty Martini has struggled since childhood to overcome criticism of her size. Like Bette Midler, she began her career as part of the downtown drag scene where she
was accepted for her talent. She went on to develop her act in the East Village drag clubs where the gay community appreciated her glamour and kitsch.
Dirty Martini redefines female beauty and allows other women, of all shapes and sizes, to feel uninhibited in expressing their raw sexuality.” (taken from press notes) In addition to the documentary, Beeber is also rounding up regional Burlesque stars to put on a show for attendees – including Champagne Shock, Viva Valezz!, Pandora Foxx and Nina Cherry. Check out a teaser trailer by clicking HERE. Advanced tickets for this event are $15 and are available at THE NEON’s box office. Tickets on the day of the show will be $20.

THE RUBI GIRLS have unveiled their 2011 wall calendar, and they’re now available in our lobby. Calendars are just $20 each, and 100% of that amount will go to charities in the Miami Valley. If you still need a 2011 calendar…or you’re looking for a fun, unique gift…check out the calendar next time you’re here. Last year’s edition sold out, and this year’s edition is even more wonderful. Hurry down.

As of right now, we are set to have the exclusive opening for Danny Boyle’s new film 127 HOURS – featuring a fantastic, lead performance by James Franco – on November 24. We need to make the Thanksgiving weekend a huge success, so please consider planning a screening of this incredible new film (which will certainly show up during Academy Award nominations) during your holiday plans!

We hope to see you very soon.

Take care,
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for November 12 – November 18:

WAITING FOR SUPERMAN (PG) 111 minutes
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:30, 2:50, 5:10, 7:30, 9:45
Monday: 2:50, 5:00, 9:45
Tuesday, Wednesday: 2:50, 5:10, 7:30, 9:45
Thursday: 2:50, 5:10, 7:30

INSIDE JOB (PG-13) 108 Minutes
Friday, Saturday: 12:20, 2:40, 5:00, 7:20, 9:40
Sunday: 12:20, 5:10, 7:20, 9:40
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday: 2:40, 5:00, 7:20, 9:40
Thursday: 2:40, 5:00, 9:40

ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST (NR) 133 Minutes
(Liberty Film Fest)
Sunday: 2:30

RANCHO DELUXE (NR) 93 minutes
(Living City)
Monday: 7:00

DIRTY MARTINI AND THE NEW BURLESQUE (NR)
(documentary + Live Burlesque Show)
Thursday: 8:00

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

Nov. 19 LEBANON
Nov. 24 127 HOURS
Dec. 3 THE GIRL WHO KICKED A HORNET’S NEST
Dec. 17 TAMARA DREW
Dec. 22 BLACK SWAN
Dec. 24 MADE IN DAGENHAM
TBD: THE KING’S SPEECH & RABBIT HOLE

WAITING FOR SUPERMAN and the Young John Lennon biopic

By Leave a Comment

Hello Everyone.

2 new films open this Friday at THE NEON.  We’ve had more calls about WAITING FOR SUPERMAN than any other film in recent months, and NOWHERE BOY – a film about the young John Lennon – is certainly a crowd-pleaser. We hope you’re making plans to see us this weekend!

Synopsis for WAITING FOR SUPERMAN: “Filmmaker Davis Guggenheim reminds us that education “statistics” have names: Anthony, Francisco, Bianca, Daisy, and Emily, whose stories make up the engrossing foundation of WAITING FOR SUPERMAN. As he follows a handful of promising kids through a system that inhibits, rather than encourages, academic growth, Guggenheim undertakes an exhaustive review of public education, surveying “drop-out factories” and “academic sinkholes,” methodically dissecting the system and its seemingly intractable problems.” (Sundance Film Festival) http://www.waitingforsuperman.com/

Synopsis for NOWHERE BOY: “The drama tells the story of Lennon’s teenage years and the start of his journey to becoming a successful musician. The story also examines the impact on his early life and personality of the two dominant females in his childhood – his Aunt Mimi, and his mother, Julia. In addition, the film shows the first meeting of Lennon with future Beatle Paul McCartney, and the development of their friendship and musical partnership. British actor Aaron Johnson portrays Lennon, and Thomas Brodie Sangster plays Paul McCartney. Aunt Mimi is portrayed by Kristin Scott Thomas and Anne-Marie Duff plays Julia.” (Wikipedia)  http://nowhereboy.com

Only 2 films left in Living City’s Festival! Here are the remaing films in the Jeff Bridges retrospective:
THUNDERBOLT AND LIGHTFOOT (sponsored by Jeff Martin Florist) – Nov. 8 at 7PM
RANCHO DELUXE (sponsored by CityWide Development) – Nov. 15 at 7PM
Single tickets will be $8 each available before each show.

The Ohio Liberty Film Festival starts next week at multiple venues. This is the second year for the festival, and more information can be found by clicking  http://www.ohiolibertyfilmfestival.com/aboutthefestival.htm.  The Liberty Film Fest ia a “…celebration of freedom and liberty. The underlying idea is that man’s great achievements, whether artistic, scientific or intellectual, have come about through the exercise of freedom and opportunity. The intent will be to showcase films that show the positive use of freedom, and also the negative outcomes and conditions related to the suppression of freedom.” (taken from Liberty Film Fest’s website)

Films screening at THE NEON are:
RESCUE DAWN – Thursday, November 11 at 2:30pm
THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES – Thursday, November 11 at 7:30
ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST – Sunday, November 14 at 2:30

On Thursday, November 18 at 8PM, New York director Gary Beeber (a Dayton native) will bring his movie DIRTY MARTINI AND THE NEW BURLESQUE to town – “a feature-length, independent documentary that explores the outrageous world of the performers who created the ‘new burlesque’ scene in New York City. Get to know Miss Dirty Martini and her friends Julie Atlas Muz, World-Famous *BOB*, Bambi the Mermaid, Tigger!, Scotty the Blue Bunny, and many other cult stars. The movie’s seductiveness comes from its sexy acts as well as its dark exploration of the performers’ struggle to pay their bills, quest for stable love relationships and inability to envision the future after burlesque. The relationship between sex work, burlesque and feminism are discussed. As a classically trained dancer, Dirty Martini has struggled since childhood to overcome criticism of her size. Like Bette Midler, she began her career as part of the downtown drag scene where she
was accepted for her talent. She went on to develop her act in the East Village drag clubs where the gay community appreciated her glamour and kitsch.
Dirty Martini redefines female beauty and allows other women, of all shapes and sizes, to feel uninhibited in expressing their raw sexuality.” (taken from press notes) In addition to the documentary, Beeber is also rounding up regional Burlesque stars to put on a show for attendees. More details will be available in the coming days, but for now you can check out a teaser trailer by clicking  HERE.  Advanced tickets for this event will cost $15 – and will be available this weekend at THE NEON’s box office. Tickets on the day of the show will be $20.

We hope to see you very soon.

Take care,
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for November 5 – November 11:

WAITING FOR SUPERMAN (PG) 111 minutes
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:30, 2:50, 5:10, 7:30, 9:45
Monday – Thursday: 2:50, 5:10, 7:30, 9:45

NOWHERE BOY (R) 98 Minutes
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:40, 2:45, 5:00, 7:20, 9:30
Monday: 2:45, 5:00, 9:30
Tuesday & Wednesday: 2:45, 5:00, 7:20, 9:30
Thursday: 5:00

THUNDERBOLT & LIGHTFOOT (R) 115 minutes (Living City)
Monday: 7:00

RESCUE DAWN (R) 126 Minutes (Liberty Film Fest)
Thursday: 2:30

THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES (NR) 172 Minutes
Thursday: 7:30

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

Nov. 12 INSIDE JOB & LEBANON
Nov. 19 TAMARA DREW
Nov. 24 127 HOURS
TBD This Fall: THE GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNET’S NEST
Dec. 24 MADE IN DAGENHAM
Dec. 24 BLACK SWAN
TBD: THE KING’S SPEECH & RABBIT HOLE