RESPECT and SWAN SONG at The Neon

NEW IN-PERSON ENGAGEMENTS:

Synopsis for RESPECT: “Following the rise of Aretha Franklin’s career from a child singing in her father’s church’s choir to her international superstardom, Respect is the remarkable true story of Franklin’s journey to find her voice.” (taken from MGM/UA press notes) Starring Jennifer Hudson, Forest Whitaker, Marlon Wayans, Audra McDonald, Marc Maron, Tituss Burgess, Saycon Sengbloh, Hailey Kilgore, Heather Headley, Skye Dakota Turner, Tate Donovan and Mary J. Blige.THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER writes, “An intimate gift of love, rich in complexity, spirituality, Black pride and feminist grit rooted not in didactic speeches but in authentic experience.” Click the image below to watch the film’s trailer.

Synopsis for SWAN SONG: Critics agree that Udo Kier has never been better! “A retired hairdresser (the legendary Udo Kier, in a career-defining role) escapes his nursing home and embarks on an odyssey across his small town to style a dead woman’s hair for her funeral, confronting the ghosts of his past and rediscovering his sparkle along the way.” (Magnolia Pictures) THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER writes, “What’s most notable about Todd Stephens’ heartfelt salute to a real-life local legend is that the campiness of its outrageous plot becomes secondary to the soulful poignancy.” Click the image below to watch the trailer.

CONTINUING IN OUR VIRTUAL CINEMA

Synopsis for THE EVENING HOUR: “Cole Freeman (Philip Ettinger, FIRST REFORMED) maintains an uneasy equilibrium in his declining Appalachian mining town, looking after the old and infirm in the community while selling their excess painkillers to local addicts to help make ends meet. But when his old friend, Terry Rose (Cosmo Jarvis, LADY MACBETH), returns with dangerous plans that threaten the fragile balance Cole has crafted, his world and identity are thrown into disarray.” (Strand Releasin) Tickets are $12 for 72 hour access. This film can be viewed on your computer or mobile device or via your TV with Apple TV or Roku. Additional instructions can be found on Eventive’s HELP PAGE. Click the image below to watch the trailer and reserve access to the film.

Synopsis for NEVER GONNA SNOW AGAIN: “On a gray, foggy morning outside a large Polish city, a masseur from the East named Zhenia (Alec Utgoff, Stranger Things) enters the lives of the wealthy residents of a gated community. With his hypnotic presence and quasi-magical abilities, he is able to get a residence permit and starts plying his trade. The well-to-do residents in their cookie-cutter suburban homes seemingly have it all, but they all suffer from an inner sadness, some unexplained longing. The attractive and mysterious newcomer’s hands heal, and Zhenia’s eyes seem to penetrate their souls. To them, his Russian accent sounds like a song from the past, a memory of simpler times. The latest from writer/director Malgorzata Szumowska (Elles, In the Name of) and her longtime collaborator Michal Englert is an unclassifiable meditation on class, immigration, and global warming shot through with Lynchian touches of the otherworldly and moments of sober beauty and unexpected humor.” SCREEN DAILY wrote, “Somewhere between TWIN PEAKS and Pasolini’s TEOREMA.” – That’s was enough to get me hooked! This film can be viewed on your computer or mobile device. You can also watch via your TV (when you download the Kino Now app on Apple TV, Roku, or Amazon TV/Stick). Additional instructions can be found on the film’s landing page…just click the picture below to watch the trailer and reserve access to the film for $12.

To read more about all the films that are still available in our Virtual Cinema, please visit our WEBSITE. Here’s a LINK with a video I made about how Virtual Cinema works.

Our Virtual Cinema is slowing down, but we still want to bring new films now and again that deserve to be seen! We’re working on securing more titles, but for sure on August 20, we’ll start DRAMARAMA – a charming love letter to drama nerds. In September, we’ll have a thrilling new film with one of my favorite actors, Ben Whishaw – SURGE. More titles are on the way…stay tuned!

UPCOMING SPECIAL EVENTS:

Attention Families with Young Kids! Continuing this Saturday, August 14 at 11am, THE NEON and ThinkTV PBS will keep moving with our FREE Summer Family Film Festival. Each week, doors at THE NEON open at 10:30am, and tickets are given on a first-come, first-serve basis. Featuring episodic shorts from popular characters in the PBS Kids library, these screenings will give an opportunity for families to enjoy the movie-going experience together in a budget-friendly way while keeping kids thoughtfully engaged over the summer. Each Saturday will focus on a different program, and activity books will be available for children to take home after the screenings. This film festival is made possible from the generous support of The RubiGirls Scholarship Initiative. Week #7 (Aug 14) will be PEG & CAT. Week #8 (Aug 21) will be WILD KRATTS. (more titles coming soon…and details about a special party during week #10 of the fest!)

Back in late 2019 and early 2020, we partnered with The Human Race Theatre Company for their “Women of Influence” Season. PNC sponsored a film series for us that spoke to each of the theatre company’s productions. Unfortunately, COVID cut the series short…but we want to make good on our promises. Because LOOPED began its run at The Loft Theatre for three weeks starting on Aug. 5 (click HERE to learn more about that production), we have re-booked the film that we think best accompanies this show – DIE, DIE MY DARLING – starring Tallulah Bankhead. This film will screen Monday, August 23 at 7:30. If you had a Season Pass for this film series, we’ll still accept it…and you can reserve your spot by filling out this QUESTIONNAIRE. If you need to buy tickets to this special screening, here’s the LINK. Thank you!!

A NOTE ABOUT COVID PRECAUTIONS. Starting last week, Wednesday, August 4, THE NEON’s Board decided to make a change to our COVID protocols. Masks are once again mandatory for everyone inside THE NEON – staff and patrons. Masks may only be removed while actively eating/drinking in assigned seats. Thank you in advance for your cooperation. (Masks are not required on our patio.)