Lebowski, Fargo & How To Build A Girl!

Hello NEON Fans!

We’ve got to keep moving.  This Friday, we’re bringing 3 films for in-person screenings – one is a new movie that I loved at last year’s Toronto International Film Fesitval and 2 are contemporary classics.  In addition, we’ve got some new selections in our Virtual Cinema!  If you still need to see MADE IN ITALY, it will screen for one show per day this weekend, and BURNT ORANGE HERESY will stick around for one more week.

Regarding new films, Beanie Feldstein is quite spectacular in HOW TO BUILD A GIRL (if you haven’t seen her in last year’s BOOKSMART, I highly recommend it – perhaps the best teenage comedy of the last decade).  HOW TO BUILD A GIRL is a great coming-of-age story that’s funny, heartbreaking and quite a trip.  It’s based on the much-loved, semi-autobiographical novel by Caitlin Moran. In addition, we’re bringing 2 Coen Brothers films that audiences adore – THE BIG LEBOWSKIand FARGO.  Our virtual cinema just added 2 new offerings – the rock ‘n’ roll magazine documentary CREEM and the recently restored classic doc JAZZ ON A SUMMER’S DAY.  On Friday, we’ll virtually open an inspiring new documentary about three women running for office – REPRESENT.

Almost everyone who has attended an in-person screening at THE NEON over the past 5 weeks has expressed how safe they have felt coming into our lobby and auditoriums.  We appreciate that, but we know that so many people still aren’t comfortable coming out to public spaces yet.  Please remember that when you watch one of the films that we’re offering virtually, you’re still supporting THE NEON…and that helps so much.  If you haven’t watched any of our films virtually yet, please give them a try. Do you need a little tutorial regarding how you can access films on our virtual cinema?  Here’s a LINK for a brand new video I just shot with our new website features. You can easily watch any of our virtual offerings on your computer or laptop…but it only takes a couple more steps to watch via Roku, AppleTV or even via an HDMI cable.

___________________________

___________________

New In-Person Screenings:

Synopsis for HOW TO BUILD A GIRL – In-Person Engagement: “Johanna Morrigan (Beanie Feldstein) is a bright, quirky, 16-year-old who uses her colorful imagination to regularly escape her humdrum life in Wolverhampton. Desperate to break free from the overcrowded flat she shares with her four brothers and eccentric parents, she submits an earnestly penned and off-beat music review to a group of self-important indie rock critics at a weekly magazine. Despite being brushed off initially, Johanna clamors to the top of the 90s rock music scene by reinventing herself as Dolly Wilde – a venerable, impossible-to-please music critic with an insatiable lust for fame, fortune, and men. It isn’t long before the rapid pace at which Johanna’s life is changing becomes overwhelming. Co-starring Alfie Allen, Paddy Consindine, Chris O’Dowd, and Emma Thompson.” (IFC Films) Click the image below to watch the trailer.

Synopsis for FARGO – In-Person Engagement:  “Jerry Lundegaard is a car salesman in Minneapolis who has landed himself deep into debt. Desperate for money, he hires two inept crooks to kidnap his own wife in the hope that her wealthy father will pay the ransom, giving him enough cash to pay off his associates and clear his debts. But Jerry’s plan goes horribly wrong when the thugs kill a highway patrolman and two innocent bystanders, and the murders fall under the jurisdiction of Marge Gunderson; a pregnant but persistent police chief in rural Minnesota who starts to unravel the deadly scheme.” (Park Circus) Click the image below to watch the “vintage” trailer.

Synopsis for THE BIG LEBOWSKI – In-Person Engagement:  “‘The Dude,’ Jeff Lebowski is unemployed and as laid-back as they come. That is until he becomes a victim of mistaken identity, and two thugs break into his apartment with the errant belief that they’re strong-arming Jeff Lebowski – the Pasadena millionaire. In the hope of getting a replacement for his soiled carpet, ‘the Dude’ pays a visit to his wealthy namesake…” (Universal Pictures) Click the image below to watch the trailer.

__________________________________________

New to our Virtual Cinema:

Synopsis for CREEM – Virtual Cinema:  “Capturing the messy upheaval of the ’70s just as rock was re-inventing itself, CREEM: AMERICA’S ONLY ROCK ‘N’ ROLL MAGAZINE explores CREEM Magazine’s humble beginnings in post-riot Detroit, follows its upward trajectory from underground paper to national powerhouse, then bears witness to its imminent demise following the tragic and untimely deaths of its visionary publisher, Barry Kramer, and its most famous alum and genius clown prince, Lester Bangs, a year later. Fifty years after publishing its first issue, “America’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll Magazine” remains a seditious spirit in music and culture.” Click the image below to watch the trailer and gain 72 hour access to the film for $9.99.

Synopsis for JAZZ ON A SUMMER’S DAY – Virtual Cinema:  “Filmed at the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival in Rhode Island and directed by world-renowned photographer, Bert Stern. JAZZ ON A SUMMER’S DAY features intimate performances by an all-star line-up of musical legends including Louis Armstrong, Thelonius Monk, Gerry Mulligan, Anita O’Day, Chuck Berry, Dinah Washington, and closes with a beautiful rendition of ‘The Lord’s Prayer’ by Mahalia Jackson at midnight to usher in Sunday morning. This 1959 classic is considered one of the most extraordinary and possibly the first concert film ever made. Its sparkling new  restoration by IndieCollect, recently premiered at the 57th New York Film Festival. The film was named to the National Film Registry in 1999, and its restoration was funded by the National Film Preservation Board of the Library of Congress in time to celebrate the film’s 60th Anniversary.” (Kino Lorber) Click on the image below to visit the site where you can watch the trailer and gain 5 day access to the film for $10.

Synopsis for REPRESENT – Virtual Cinema:  “Equal parts personal and political, REPRESENT follows three women on both sides of the aisle who share the singular goal of improving their community through public service. Myya attempts to spark a youth movement and unseat the incumbent mayor of Detroit; Bryn, a farmer and working mother in Granville, OH, runs for township trustee; and Julie walks a tightrope between her identities as a Korean immigrant and Republican candidate for State Representative in a liberal Chicago suburb.” (Music Box Films) Click the image below to watch the trailer and pre-order 72 hour access to the film for $12.  (This film will be available starting Friday.)

Synopsis for OUT STEALING HORSES – Virtual Cinema:  “Adapted from the bestselling novel, OUT STEALING HORSES follows 67-year-old Trond (Stellan Skarsgård) in the winter of 1999, still grieving the death of his wife as he retires to a solitary life in the Norwegian woods. Trond prepares to welcome the new millennium alone, until a chance encounter with his only neighbor, Lars, rekindles dormant memories from the summer of 1948-the summer Trond grew up.” (Magnolia Pictures)  Click the image below to watch the trailer and pre-order 72 hour access to the film for $12.  The film will be available starting this Friday! Immediately following the film there ix a pre-recorded discussion between Stellan Skarsgård and filmmaker Hans Petter Moland. This conversation is exclusive to in-person & virtual cinemas!

Synopsis for GORDON LIGHTFOOT: IF YOU COULD READ MY MIND – Virtual Cinema:  When in-person screenings end on Thursday, our virtual engagement of this film will start Friday. “An exploration into the career, music and influence of the iconic musician. With unprecedented access to the artist and featuring interviews with Sarah McLachlan, Alec Baldwin and more, this intimate documentary follows Lightfoot’s evolution from choirboy in rural Canada to troubled troubadour.” (Greenwich Entertainment) Click the image below to watch the film’s trailer and pre-order 72 hour access to the film for $12.

Check out all the titles we’re currently offering in our Virtual Cinema HERE.

_______________________

__________________________________________

We hope to see you soon!

Be safe & well.

My best,

Jonathan