Wes Anderson, More Hitchcock, FLANNERY & More

Hello NEON Fans!

We’ve got a whole new slate this week!  Audiences have been loving the classic Hitchcock films, so we’re bringing two more – Tippi Hedren in THE BIRDS and Hitchcock’s personal favorite, SHADOW OF A DOUBT.  In addition, many of you chimed in and said you wanted to see Wes Anderson films back on the big screen – so we’re bringing two big hits back – MOONRISE KINGDOM and GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL (we’ll consider these the precursor to FRENCH DISPATCH – Anderson’s next film due later this year). In our Virtual Cinema, we just added a documentary about the famous author, FLANNERY, and on Friday, you’ll be able to virtually access NEVER TOO LATE.  If you need to see any of our current selections – MARNIE, REAR WINDOW, NEVER TOO LATE or BLADE RUNNER, Thursday will be your last chance to catch them at THE NEON.

In the past few days, I’ve been a part of two great virtual discussions. On Sunday, we assembled four special guests to talk about CREATING A CHARACTER.  If you’d like to check out that free discussion, click the image below.  If you haven’t yet seen CREATING A CHARACTER, here’s the LINK where you can gain 72 hour access for $12.  One of our special guests was WSU grad Jasmine Batchelor – she appeared in the documentary and is the star of another film in our Virtual Cinema THE SURROGATE.  If you haven’t seen her critically-acclaimed, incredible performance in this film, you can gain 72 hour access to THE SURROGATE by clicking this LINK.  On Monday evening, The Jewish Community Center of Greater Dayton invited me to take part in a discussion about THE TOBACCONIST.  You can watch that community discussion HERE, and you can gain 72 hour access to THE TOBACCONIST HERE.

On July 31, we will open 3 NEW films in person at THE NEON – THE FIGHT, SUMMERLAND, and GORDON LIGHTFOOT: IF YOU COULD READY MY MIND.  Please help us spread the word.  Social distancing measure will certainly still be in place…but results will help us determine how we need to proceed regarding our hours of operation.

Synopsis for THE BIRDS – In Person Screenings:  “Loosely based on the 1952 story by Daphne du Maurier, THE BIRDS focuses on a series of sudden and unexplained violent bird attacks on the people of Bodega Bay, California, over the course of a few days. The film stars Rod Taylor, Tippi Hedren in her screen debut, Jessica Tandy, Suzanne Pleshette and Veronica Cartwright. The screenplay is by Evan Hunter, who was told by Hitchcock to develop new characters and a more elaborate plot while keeping du Maurier’s title and concept of unexplained bird attacks. In 2016, The Birds was deemed “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” by the United States Library of Congress, and selected for preservation in its National Film Registry.” (wikipedia) Click the image below to watch the film’s trailer.

Synopsis for SHADOW OF A DOUBT – In Person Screenings:  We’re wrapping up our 6-film HITCHCOCK 101 Series with the film that was Hitch’s personal favorite! “Charles Oakley lives alone in a rooming house. One day, his landlady tells him that two men came looking for him; he sees the two men waiting on the street in front of his room and he decides to leave town. Charlotte (Charlie) Newton is a bored teen-age girl living in the idyllic town of Santa Rosa, California. She receives wonderful news: Her mother’s younger brother (her eponym), Charles Oakley, is arriving for a visit. Her uncle arrives and at first everyone is delighted with his visit, especially young Charlie. Uncle Charlie brings everyone presents. He gives his niece an emerald ring which has someone else’s initials engraved inside…” (wikipedia) Click the image below to watch the film’s trailer.

Synopsis for MOONRISE KINGDOM – In Person Screenings:  NEON audiences have expressed their love of Wes Anderson numerous times to us…so we’re bringing back a couple favorites! “Set on an island off the coast of New England in the summer of 1965, Moonrise Kingdom tells the story of two 12-year-olds who fall in love, make a secret pact, and run away together into the wilderness. As various authorities try to hunt them down, a violent storm is brewing off-shore – and the peaceful island community is turned upside down in every which way. Bruce Willis plays the local sheriff, Captain Sharp. Edward Norton is a Khaki Scout troop leader, Scout Master Ward. Bill Murray and Frances McDormand portray the young girl’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Bishop. The cast also includes Tilda Swinton, Jason Schwartzman, and Bob Balaban; and introduces Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward as Sam and Suzy, the boy and girl.” (Focus Features) Click the image below to watch the film’s trailer.

Synopsis for GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL – In Person Screenings:  One of our highest grossing and most beloved films of all time at THE NEON is coming back as we look at the work of Wes Anderson. See it back on the big screen the way it’s meant to be seen! “THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL recounts the adventures of Gustave H, a legendary concierge at a famous European hotel between the wars, and Zero Moustafa, the lobby boy who becomes his most trusted friend. The story involves the theft and recovery of a priceless Renaissance painting and the battle for an enormous family fortune — all against the back-drop of a suddenly and dramatically changing Continent.” (Searchlight) The all-star cast of this visually stunning film is too lengthy to list (but I can’t help myself in mentioning Saoirse Ronan and Tilda Swinton)! Click the image below to watch the film’s trailer.

Synopsis for FLANNERY – Virtual Engagement: “Winner of the first-ever Library of Congress / Lavine/Ken Burns Prize for Film, FLANNERY is the lyrical, intimate exploration of the life and work of author Flannery O’Connor, whose distinctive Southern Gothic style influenced a generation of artists and activists. With her family home at Andalusia (the Georgia farm where she grew up and later wrote her best known work) as a backdrop, a picture of the woman behind her sharply aware, starkly redemptive style comes into focus. Including conversations with those who knew her and those inspired by her (Mary Karr, Tommy Lee Jones, Lucinda Williams, Hilton Als and more), Flannery employs never-before-seen archival footage, newly discovered personal letters and her own published words (read by Mary Steenburgen) alongside original animations and music to examine the life and legacy of an American literary icon. Content Advisory: This film contains offensive language, including an ethnic slur that-in an effort to retain the integrity of the literary works examined therein-has not been muted or otherwise distorted in the presentation of the documentary. Racist language was wrong during Flannery O’Connor’s lifetime and is wrong today. This film, the filmmakers and those presenting the film do not condone, support or promote the use of racist language in any way.” Click the image below to gain 72 hour access to the film for $12.

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Continuing in our Virtual Cinema:

JOHN LEWIS: GOOD TROUBLE in our Virtual Cinema. Synopsis: “Rated “100% Fresh” on Rottentomatoes! “Using interviews and rare archival footage, JOHN LEWIS: GOOD TROUBLE chronicles Lewis’ 60-plus years of social activism and legislative action on civil rights, voting rights, gun control, health-care reform and immigration.”  Click the image below to gain 72 hour access to the film for $12.

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We hope to see you soon!

Be safe & well.

My best,

Jonathan