News from The Neon

In the past few days, we’ve made some big decisions as to our plans for the next several weeks.  Some of our upcoming films have local connections, some are certain to be best picture contenders, and many are full of stars we love to see on screen.  One thing is clear about each – it’s Oscar season!

On Friday, we will open PAIN AND GLORY – the latest film from my favorite director of all time – Pedro Almodóvar.  Almost certain to garner a “Best International Feature Film” nomination, this one could go even further and possibly get a nod for Antonio Banderas and production design, too.  It’s truly gorgeous, and Penelope Cruz is luminous.  On our other screen, we will hold onto the stunning film from Bong Joon Ho – PARASITE – which is certain to be a big contender this year.   And just for the weekend, we will hold JOJO RABBIT for a few shows as well as bring back the much-loved HARRIET for a handful of screenings.  There is truly something for everyone this holiday weekend!

Synopsis for PAIN AND GLORY: Pedro Almodóvar’s latest film is his best in years.  Don’t miss this visually exciting (and part auto-biographical) story with stellar performances. “PAIN AND GLORY tells of a series of reencounters experienced by Salvador Mallo, a film director in his physical decline. Some of them in the flesh, others remembered: his childhood in the 60s, when he emigrated with his parents to a village in Valencia in search of prosperity, the first desire, his first adult love in the Madrid of the 80s, the pain of the breakup of that love while it was still alive and intense, writing as the only therapy to forget the unforgettable, the early discovery of cinema, and the void, the infinite void that creates the incapacity to keep on making films. PAIN AND GLORY talks about creation, about the difficulty of separating it from one’s own life and about the passions that give it meaning and hope. In recovering his past, Salvador finds the urgent need to recount it, and in that need he also finds his salvation.” (Sony Classics) Click the image below to visit the film’s official site.

Sponsored by The Dayton Holiday Festival, Mix 107.7 and THE NEON, The Family Holiday Film Series starts in less than 2 weeks.  THE WIZARD OF OZwill screen on Saturday, Dec. 7 at Noon, A CHRISTMAS STORY will screen on Saturday, Dec. 14 at Noon, and THE GRINCH (2018) will screen Saturday, Dec. 21 at Noon.  Tickets are FREE for children 12 and under and only $2 for anyone over 12.  These tickets will become available at 11:15am on the day of each screening, and they are limited to one ticket per person (aka: everyone must be present in order to pick up tickets – we can’t hold or disperse tickets for people who are not at the theater – thank you for your understanding).

Have you seen the nominations for the Independent Spirit Awards?  (This is the huge awards program that celebrates independent cinema.)  We’ve played so many of this year’s nominees – including Julia Reichert & Steve Bognar’s AMERICAN FACTORY and Chase Whiteside & Erick Stoll’s AMÉRICA!  Many congrats to these local connections (all with ties to Wright State University)!!  Also included in the nominees we’ve played are: LAST BLACK MAN IN SAN FRANCISCO, THE SOUVENIR, PARASITE, RETABLO (part of The Dayton LGBT Film Festival last year), WILD NIGHTS WITH EMILY (also part of The Dayton LGBT Film Festival last year), APOLLO 11, HONEYLAND, THE FAREWELL, JUDY & THE MUSTANG.  On December 20, we will open GIVE ME LIBERTY – which was just nominated for 4 of these awards.  This fantastic film was line-produced by Dayton’s own Karri O’Reilly!

In last week’s newsletter, I detailed a lot of the local connections associated with DARK WATERS…including my minor involvement.  It was truly special to be on a set where I was seeing so many old friends (and even a couple former students) making it all happen.  I’m currently working with Karri O’Reilly (who served as a production supervisor on the film) to assemble a small group of people for a talk-back to follow the screening on Sunday, Dec. 8 at 4:30.  DARK WATERS opens on Thursday, Dec. 5, and tickets for all of the opening weekend shows are now available on our website and in person at our box office.

Julia Reichert has been in the news a lot lately.  It was just announced that she will receive the “Women of Influence” honor from the YWCA, and the film she made with Steve Bognar – AMERICAN FACTORY – continues to be a major conversation piece in film communities, at world-renowned museums, on prestigious college campuses, and with policy-makers. It’s exciting that such an important film came from our backyard. Julia & Steve’s next film – 9 TO 5: THE STORY OF A MOVEMENT – will be part of our “Women of Influence In The Movies” series in March. I’ll have more details about this collaboration with The Human Race Theatre Company early next year.

We made some big decisions. The following is our current, anticipated slate for the next several weeks. Click any title to watch that film’s trailer.  On Dec 5, we open Todd Haynes’ new political thriller (set and shot in Cincinnati based on true events) – DARK WATERS (with lots of WSU and Dayton talent). On Dec 13 we open THE TWO POPES – a veritable acting masterclass with Anthony Hopkins and Jonathan Pryce. On Dec 20, we open GIVE ME LIBERTY – a film with local ties that just garnered 4 Independent Spirit Award nominations.  On Dec 25, we’ll open 3 films – Greta Gerwig’s exhilarating and gorgeous adaptation of LITTLE WOMEN as well as the much-anticipated film THE IRISHMAN (directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci and many more) and MARRIAGE STORY (written and directed by Noah Baumbach and starring Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver). On Jan 3, we’ll open A HIDDEN LIFE – Terrence Malick’s new masterpiece.

It’s going to be quite a season!

Jonathan