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On Screen Dayton

TV Show Filmed in Springfield Airs Tonight

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This past May and June The Greater Dayton Film Commission (FilmDayton) worked with an LA production company that was shooting a tv pilot around Springfield.  As it often happens, the commission is working blind, not fully aware of what the production will be and with a non-disclosure act, that does not allow them to talk about the project until the production is ready to share the information publicly.  They use the filmmakers vision and their contacts  to help them secure  the appropriate spots.  One of the locations they secured for them was CO-Hatch.

Tonight, (Dec 14th) ABC, Disney and John Legend’s Get Lifted Film Company will debut the pilot filmed this past June. Here’s how they describe the show:

“For the last 13 years, chorus director David Brown has brought together complete strangers and healed communities by asking them to simply join a chorus. In this inspirational one-hour special, EGOT winner John Legend is calling upon David to bring his magic to his hometown of Springfield, Ohio. Will David be able to transform a fractured community into a powerhouse chorus in just one week? Audiences will see the magic of what happens when you invite complete strangers to sing together in this all-new special.”

While we’re excited to see “Finding Harmony” FilmDayton is even more excited to share the economic impact a shoot like this brings to the region.  They spent $58, 276 on hotel rooms for their crew of 55, rented $16, 381 of vehicles, contracted over $18,000 in catering and rented about $30,000 in local equipment.

Watch the pilot of the show on ABC’s Facebook page.

FilmDayton’s mission is to promote the art, craft and business of film in the region.  You can support FilmDayton by becoming a member.  Follow them on Facebook, where they often list cast and crew calls.  List your property as a possible film location in their database.

Family Holiday Film Series Returns to The Neon

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In what has become an annual December tradition, The Neon Movies will host the FAMILY HOLIDAY FILM SERIES

Admission for these films is FREE for children 12 and under and only $2 for guests over 12. Tickets will become available at 10:15am each Saturday, and there will be 1 ticket per person (aka – all patrons must be present in order to claim/purchase tickets).
Here’s this year’s line-up:

December 3 at 11am – HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER’S STONE

Harry Potter has no idea how famous he is. That’s because he’s being raised by his miserable aunt and uncle who are terrified Harry will learn that he’s really a wizard, just as his parents were. But everything changes when Harry is summoned to attend an infamous school for wizards, and he begins to discover some clues about his illustrious birthright. From the surprising way he is greeted by a lovable giant, to the unique curriculum and colorful faculty at his unusual school, Harry finds himself drawn deep inside a mystical world he never knew existed and closer to his own noble destiny.

December 10 at 11am – ELF

On Christmas Eve, a baby at an orphanage crawls into Santa Claus’ sack and is unknowingly taken back to the North Pole. After the infant is discovered at the workshop, the elves name him Buddy after his diaper’s brand label and Papa Elf adopts him. Buddy is accepted by the elf community and grows up thinking that he is an elf, but soon learns he is really a human. Papa Elf explains that Buddy was born to Walter Hobbs and Susan Wells, and that Susan put him up for adoption prior to her death. Walter now works as a children’s book publisher at the Empire State Building in New York City and is unaware of Buddy’s existence. Santa reveals that Walter is on the Naughty List due to his selfishness, but suggests Buddy could help redeem him with some Christmas spirit.

December 17 at 11am – WHITE CHRISTMAS

On Christmas Eve in Europe in 1944, at the height of World War II, former Broadway star Captain Bob Wallace and aspiring performer Private Phil Davis entertain the 151st division with a soldier’s show. The men have just received word their beloved Major General Thomas F. Waverly has been relieved of his command. Waverly arrives and delivers an emotional farewell. The men send him off with a rousing chorus of “The Old Man”. After Waverly departs, enemy bombers attack the area and everyone takes cover. Phil pulls Bob away from a collapsing wall and is wounded by debris. Bob asks how he can pay back Phil for saving his life, and Phil suggests they become a duo act. Bob is not fond of the idea but feels obliged to agree.

All seating  is general admission with no assigned or reserved seats.

The Neon

Neon Movies on Fifth Street

130 East Fifth Street
Dayton, OH 45402

Office Phone: (937) 222-8452
For Showtimes: (937) 222-7469(SHOW)

Dayton Dinner Theater announces 2022-2023 Schedule

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Get excited, The Dayton Dinner Theater is back with its much-awaited interactive movie party season for 2022 – 2023! It’s a great way to spend time with family and friends when the days are short and nights are long. Make the most of it by sipping the sublime themed drinks with your loved ones, while flaunting your movie-themed attire. What more do you need when you can have classic movies, gourmet food, and specially concocted drinks to enjoy with your friends, family, or that special someone?

What to expect from a Dayton Dinner Theater event? First off, make sure you indulge in the creatively themed food provided by Brock Masterson catering. While you indulge in the delicacies, you can feast your ears to live music and soundtrack presentations featuring acts by the likes of The University of Dayton Jazz Ensemble and acclaimed musician and producer Denny Wilson.

A big improvement from year’s past is the themed cocktail selections.The Brightside’s new Bar Manager, Suzy Switzer, has come up with a whole range of delicious offerings.

That’s not all. As it’s an interactive movie party, organizers will feature famous interactive quote and fun participation activities, pop-up fun facts, and our not-so-famous, but equally entertaining, theme-spotting drinking game. Enjoy some lip-smacking-themed desserts while you’re at it! To add the cherry on the cake, there are special surprises for the top costume contest participants.

Now let’s talk about the prices. “Inflation may have gone up, but our tickets have stayed the same price :)”. Book your tickets at just $35 but with so many added entertaining activities. Visit www.daytondinnertheater.com for more information. To make sure that we can serve you with all our scrumptious food, tickets must be booked in advance.

The annual movie series commences on Wednesday, November 30 with an all-time holiday favorite movie Elf at The Brightside Music & Event Venue from 6-9pm.

This year’s list is dominated by comedy and clever and witty classics. See the full schedule below.

Dayton Dinner Theater Season Schedule:

Wednesday, Nov 30, 2022 – Dayton Dinner Theater premiere featuring Elf movie party and live music

Wednesday, Dec 7, 2022 – Dayton Dinner Theater featuring the 80’s classic Christmas Vacation & live music

Sunday, Dec 11, 2022 – Dayton Dinner Theater featuring A Christmas Story and live music

Sunday, Jan 15, 2023 – Dayton Dinner Theater premiere featuring Raiders of the Lost Ark

Sunday, Jan 29, 2023 – Dayton Dinner Theater premiere featuring The Princess Bride & live jazz

Sunday, Feb 12, 2023 – Dayton Dinner Theater featuring Grease & live music

Sunday, Feb 26, 2023 – Dayton Dinner Theater featuring Dazed and Confused

Sunday, March 12, 2023 – Dayton Dinner Theater featuring The Big Lebowski

*All events take place at The Brightside Music & Event Venue located at 905 E 3rd St, Dayton.

For more information, visit: www.daytondinnertheater.com

McCoy on Movies: TILL

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Academy Award contender is unflinching, unapologetic in its depiction of a definitive American tragedy, turning point

“This is one of the few smiles that anyone watching this film will see given the gripping, emotional impact of this film.” Mamie Till Mobley (Danielle Deadwyler, left) prepares to send her son Emmitt (Jalyn Hall, right) on his ill-fated trip to visit family in Mississippi in a scene from TILL, directed by Chinonye Chukwu, released by Orion Pictures. Credit: © 2022 ORION RELEASING LLC. All rights reserved.

WATCH THE TRAILER HERE:

DIRECTOR: Chinonye Chukwu

KEY CAST MEMBERS: Danielle Deadwyler, Jalyn Hall, Sean Patrick Thomas, John Douglas Thompson, Kevin Carroll, Tosin Cole, Whoopi Goldberg, Roger Guenveur Smith, Frankie Faison and Haley Bennett

 

THE BACK STORY: Based on one of the most infamous incidents of lynching in American if not world history, TILL stars Danielle Deadwyler as Mamie Till Mobley. Living happily in Chicago, she has her own apartment, a good job and a loving son in Emmitt (Jalyn Hall), a happy-go-lucky as can be 14 year-old excited to soon visit his cousins in Mississippi. 
 

Arriving down south, Emmitt is not accustomed to the dangers of being black in 1955. That all changes, however, when he inadvertently whistles at Carolyn Bryant (Haley Bennett), a store owner who doesn’t take kindly to his “You look like a movie star” compliment. Want to know who else didn’t take it as a compliment? The white lynch mob that brutalized Emmitt to the point a closed casket funeral was recommended after his body was found in the Tallahatchie River.

Mamie, however, wanted the world to see what hate did to her only child. And oh would the world ever see …

THE REVIEW: Emmitt Till. Martin Luther King, Jr. Medgar Evers. Tamir Rice. Phillip Pernell. Yusef Hawkins. Eric Garner. The Tulsa, Okla. massacre of “Black Wall Street.” Amadou Diallo. Michael Brown. Philando Castile. Trayvon Martin. Ahmaud Arbery. And despite what Kanye West and others like him think, George Floyd. And these are just the names I can name off the top of my head in my 40+ years on earth. All assassinated, lynched and/or killed in – and this is as loosely as the word can be used – “controversial” circumstances. All black men.
Like me.
According to the NAACP, nearly 5,000 lynchings occurred in the United States between 1882-1968. And those are just the known instances. In TILL, the audience receives brutal reminders for the latter 80 minutes of the film of the savagery, brutality, frustration, exhaustion, pain and injustice that continue – albeit less overtly and fortunately nowhere near as frequently – to this day. Unfortunately, the film’s unflinching portrayals of one of the most societally impactful events in modern American history, through no fault of its own, inadvertently result in a problem the film cannot fix. For in showcasing all the aforementioned savagery, brutality, frustration, exhaustion, pain and injustice, the film inherently runs into problems: (1) The risk of feeling like 2 hours of cinematic torture for African Americans and (2) making white audiences at the very least leaving feeling guilty and, at the very worst, invoking all the common privileged responses (“That was decades ago,” “We don’t have lynchings today,” “Movies like this just make things worse,” etc.”) one might expect.
When reviewing films, I try to leave myself out of analysis as much as possible. With TILL, I can’t deny just how inherently connected my world is to his some 67 years after his murder. My parents were children at the same time Emmitt Till was alive. Like Till’s mother, my mother worries every time I travel to a different city where she isn’t there to protect me. Like Till’s would-be adoptive father, my own dad worries whenever I jog in a neighborhood where the main demographics don’t match mine. (And we won’t even get into dating in a post O.J. Simpson world.) And like Emmitt, I am my parents’ only child and they both know they can’t protect me from the world at large, despite how much they try.
TILL is one of those type of films where you wish the people that need to see it the most (self-destructive African-Americans falling into the trappings of a system where they are behind the proverbial 8-ball in far too many circumstances; whites who deny what I just wrote to justify their position or deny a societal advantage). Instead, the audiences most likely to see are older blacks who for whom the Civil Rights movement is not part of a potentially-banned textbook, but their own history and liberal whites who want to actually understand and avoid repeating history. Then again, watching the film and realizing – as it details after the final haunting frame – that the Emmitt Till Antilynching Act DID NOT BECOME LAW UNTIL THIS MARCH may have the reverse effect of the inspiration it seeks to provide.
With apologies to the film’s cast and crew, TILL is a beautifully directed, emotionally gripping film that I cannot and will not ever be able to watch again. Deadwyler will be a deserving Academy Award nominee for her performance and Chukwu should receive Best Director consideration as well.
However, given America’s history of being built on the the backs of and benefitting from black pain, I just don’t have it in me to sit through another screening of TILL. For after years of important yet heartbreaking experiences watching (and not watching) so many films of its ilk, I don’t have any more grief I can afford to expend for the sake of my mental health.
In a world where stories like this, this and this are still happening today, I just can’t. TILL is an excellent movie I can’t watch because the instances of life imitating art imitating life are simply too much to bear. Throw in the fact Till’s murderers got away with it and then ADMITTED THEY DID IT LESS THAN A YEAR AFTER HIS DEATH and Carolyn Bryant will likely NEVER have to face the music for her role in Till’s death and I just can’t take it. At the screening I was at, there was nary a dry eye in the house (for the most part). I, however, felt myself beginning to tear up and then stopped. I just don’t have any more black grief I can expend.
Then again, maybe I should apologize to the memory of Ms. Till. After all, my mother and father still have their son and I am living in a world poor Emmitt’s death (I pray) has been made better as a result of his tragedy.
OVERALL RATING (OUT OF FOUR POSSIBLE BUCKETS OF POPCORN):
 

 

 

 

McCoy on Movies: HALLOWEEN ENDS

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Horror franchise delivers most definitive chapter yet to finally bring closure to the story of Laurie Strode and Michael Myers

“This is not the yoga class I signed up for!” Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) battles her longstanding nemesis Michael Myers a.k.a. “The Shape” (James Jude Courtney) in a scene from co-writer/producer/director David Gordon Green’s final(?) installment in his trilogy, HALLOWEEN ENDS. Credit: Ryan Green/Universal Pictures © 2022 Universal Pictures

 

WATCH THE TRAILER HERE:
 

 

DIRECTOR: David Gordon Green

KEY CAST MEMBERS: Jamie Lee Curtis, James Jude Courtney, Rohan Campbell, Andi Matichak, Will Patton, Kyle Richards, Michael Barbieri, Marteen, Destiny Mone, Joey Harris, Keraun Harris and Nick Castle

 

THE BACK STORY: Over the course of 40+ years, Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) has been obsessed with one man: Michael Myers (a.k.a. “The Shape,” portrayed by both James Jude Courtney and Nick Castle), who has been killing people left and right in their (thankfully fictional) Haddonfield, Ill since the 70s.
Editor’s note: Halloween started in the late 70s and it’s now the early 2020s … But he’s only been killing people for 40+ years … The math does pan out.
Now, Michael hasn’t been seen since escaping from a mental facility and going on a murder spree where he LITERALLY WHOOPS AN ENTIRE TOWN’S COLLECTIVE *** as seen in Halloween Ends. But while Michael’s rampage became the biggest story in Haddonfield since his original one, the shattered town seemingly has needed a new boogeyman to take his place to direct their hate.

Enter Corey Cunningham (Rohan Campbell).

Babysitting Halloween night in 2019 for a local rich couple, an accident occurs that forever changes his life. Now, in Michael’s absence and Laurie’s lack of activity – she is writing a book and trying to move on with her life – Corey’s unfortunately become the town pariah, except to everyone but one person: Allyson (Andi Matichak), Laurie’s granddaughter that she has taken in following the murder of her parents by – you guessed it – Michael.

But as Allyson and Corey get closer, Laurie starts to notice a darkness in the latter that makes her fearful of what’s to come. But since Michael hasn’t been seen in an olympics and Halloween is approaching, she might want to be a little more concerned about a man who has gone through more kitchen knives than a season of Top Chef …

 

THE REVIEW: If you’ve ever seen me do stand-up in the month of October, there’s a chance you’ve seen me eviscerate just how silly the previous installments of the modern Halloween trilogy is. From the over-the-top characters, bad foreshadowing dialogue and ridiculous yet gory kills and plots, the first two installments were for die-hard fans only.
Now, with Halloween Ends, we get an unexpected story-rich tale that is still loaded with over-the-top characters, gory/zany kills … And what may be the most definitive chapter of the series … to date.
Look, when you walk into a Halloween movie, it’s best to turn off the logical part of your brain. Halloween Kills, however, does a little to acknowledge how some of the past films have been a bit wild (to say the least), really trying to build up the idea of what makes someone evil (there are two types of evil as Laurie narrates for the audience). Likewise, the character development is unusually strong for a Halloween movie, which is weird since at least 9 out of 10 people that will be watching are coming to watch Michael fight Laurie (or vice-versa) and see who wins and/or survives (if either does).
But all those things aside, make no mistake: While Halloween Ends is the easily the best of the modern trilogy, it’s best-served for the die hards that love Halloween (either the movie or this film series), the Michael Myers character (there’s no real re-inventing the wheel there), Jamie Lee Curtis or just have to find closure after seeing the first two movies. Will all of them like it? Will all of them hate it? The answer remains to be seen – but there is definitely an ending.
Otherwise, the best thing about Halloween Ends is that it ends – and it is a definitive ending as you can have for a horror movie and a franchise that should by all accounts be over once its namesake holiday passes.
OVERALL RATING (OUT OF FOUR POSSIBLE BUCKETS OF POPCORN):

 

Englewood Cinema Celebrates First Year Under New Ownership

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Cory & Alyssa Floyd are celebrating their first anniversary of owning and operating the Englewood Cinema.  They were living in Tennessee, and Cory had always dreamed of owning a movie theater.  He was researching theaters, saw the Englewood location was for sale on a Monday night, called the owner on Tuesday and came to Dayton and bought the theater on Sunday.  Alyssa shared that they bought a house in Dayton on the drive back to to Tennessee and put their house up for sale at the same time.

They officially took over on Oct 4, 2021.  They are celebrating this weekend by hosting the 27th year of Horrorama:

 

We asked them what they have learned about running the theater in the last year. Alyssa shared that she’s learned to be cautious of the popcorn popper, having burned herself a lot.

She also shared that working with your best friend and husband is sometimes complicated, but there’s no one else she’d want to spend time with.

Cory shares that the community has been incredibly supportive of their efforts and that he loves how some of the moments he’s been able to share with their customers. He tells of a recent man who explained he’d seen his first movie at the theater as a youngster and he’d brought his young son to experience his first movie there as well. Alyssa loves how all the small businesses in their strip center stick together sharing how  one weekend while showing Batman their popcorn machine broke down, and because she couldn’t leave the theater, her neighbor Brent from Home Sweet Home went out and bought them a popcorn maker.

The Floyds said things have been going well, and the theater which was originally a second run theater, but Covid has made the studio’s more willing to work with the independent theater’s and now, for the first time ever, Englewood Cinema is showing first run films. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will be opening there in November.  However when they get these first run movies, they have to commit to showing them exclusively for 2 or 3 weeks.

As owners, Alyssa and Cory work at the theater a lot.  This weekend they anticipate 16-18 hour days, but both say they love the business and it’s their baby, so their are willing to work for what they call their dream, but it often means naps on the futon in the projector booth. Their long work days don’t leave them a lot of time to explore the Dayton region, but they’ve found some favorite restaurants like Stoney’s Munchie Bar and Cafe Terra Mediterranean Cuisine.
They told me they’d found the 937 event guide and have used it to help explore arts and craft fairs and look forward to visiting the Ohio RenFest next weekend.

Of course I had to ask them about their favorite movies, Cory’s is The Cameraman (Buster Keaton) and Halloween (John Carpenter).  “Halloween I love and it was the first movie we got to play here at the cinema when we took over,” says Cory. Alyssa’s is Easy Livning- a 1937 black and white screwball comedy, but they both agree that Whiplash is another favorite.  They even screened it for their guests after the 2017 wedding.  The Floyd’s look forward to many more years together operating the theater and also hope to have more time to explore their  Dayton region.

Englewood Cinema

320 National Road #21
Englewood, Ohio 45322

(937) 998-8188

Convention Center to Launch Halloween Movie Series

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The Dayton Convention Center will launch is 1st Annual Halloween Movie Series. Movies will begin Saturday, October 1st and run through Saturday, October 22nd in the Theater of the Convention Center. There will be several movies at various times to appeal to the entire community.

“We are delighted to add to the line-up of fall festivities, here in Dayton. We hope to see old friends and new faces this October and we present our inaugural Halloween Movie Series,” shared Kelli Donahoe, General Manager of the DCC. “By offering multiple dates and movies for all ages, we are looking to provide an alternate option to your typical movie experience.”

“In addition to our concession offerings, Warped Wing will be on-site offering a complimentary tasting of their local craft brew during the evening movies, as a way to enhance your visit,” added Donahoe. “There will also be trivia and prizes at the start of each movie. So don’t be late!”

The Dayton Convention Center

22 E. Fifth Street
Dayton, OH 45402

937.535.5300

Tickets are on sale now @ Tickets & Deals (daytonconventioncenter.com)

Adults = $10.00, Children 12 & Under = $5.00

Over 600 seats in the theatre.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dayton Independent Film Festival is This Weekend

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The Dayton Independent Film Festival (DIFF) celebrates regional filmmaking and stories from Midwestern filmmakers who offer their DIFFerent and unique vision. This weekend they host their 3rd annual Film Festival at The Neon Movies.  The festival will showcase films from established professionals, emerging filmmakers, and students.  Celebrating impactful stories from narrative, documentary or animation— everyone has a story to tell, DIFF cannot wait to showcase these films and filmmakers.

Melanie Reindl, Director of Programming festival explains that this started out a class a the Univeresity of Dayton and has now grown into a 3 day festival that runs Fri, Sept 23- Sun, Sept 25th.

Opening night on Friday starts with a welcoming ceremony for all our filmmakers on the Neon patio  followed by a local shorts 7pm screening,  from documentary to drama—that celebrates stories and filmmakers from Dayton that includes:

SHATTERED: A City Under Pressure
Directed by UD Documentary Class

What was once a booming city of innovation and creation has seen its once former glory eroded by time and circumstance. Called home by bright minds such as the Wright Brothers, Paul Laurence Dunbar, and John H. Patterson, Dayton, OH was a homing beacon for creative minds with a drive to better themselves and their community.

Paul Laurence Dunbar: An American Poet
Directed by Kane Alan Stratton

Dayton, Ohio 1903. A world renowned poet delivers the incomparable verse, “I know why the caged bird sings.”

Stowaway
Directed by Benjamin Hollinger

Sam, a financially struggling car thief, and his partner Mia find a toddler in the back seat of the car they just stole. Now Sam must decide between protecting the toddler or giving up the car that could save his family from financial crisis.

SIA
Directed by Ashlei Shyne

”Sia” is a poetic short film that follows Nola & Sia, a Black queer female couple whose vibrant life together is upended when a global pandemic threatens to tear apart their entire world.

Analog Rainbow
Directed by Henry Czerwonka

A young woman plagued by her past gets a chance to revisit her earliest memories and discovers her childhood may not have been as carefree as she remembers.

Nonfiction Shorts
Saturday kicks off with nonfiction shorts from 1-3pm:

Safe Haven
Directed by Faith Marsh

Monica Kelsey turns her own past into a passion for saving abandoned babies.

A Near Constant and Escalating State of Panic
Directed by Jason Polevoi

A young father grapples with the pressures of modern parenthood during a 10-day COVID-19 quarantine.

The Year That Passed

Directed by Grace Simmons

The Year That Passed (2019) is an animation about loss, addiction and togetherness. Chronicling three successive, deeply traumatic events, this narrative explores grief as a recurrent process with its own unique setbacks and silver linings.

Memoria(l)

Directed by Ian Kelly

This beautifully animated documentary takes us back to Memorial Day, 1937, when Chicago police killed ten striking steelworkers. How do we remember this history?

Never Again Para Nadie


Directed by Anna Feder, Dan Frank, Justin Reifert

A peaceful demonstration in August, 2019 coordinated by a Jewish-led organization, Never Again Action, attempted to shut down a for-profit prison holding ICE detainees, only to be met with violence by correctional officers. In the smallest and poorest city in Rhode Island, citizens took a stand and learned how difficult it is to challenge the status quo.

Sons of Toledo


Directed by Monty Cole

After receiving the early morning news of his younger brother’s murder, a mourning barber pushes through the muddy waters of grief to find the courage to do the impossible – give his brother one last cut.

Fiction Shorts 1

Followed by Fiction Shorts from 4-6pm

Last Chance Moms

Directed by Mandy Fabian

Two best friends in their 40s, one pregnant and unexpectedly dumped by her man-child boyfriend, the other unable to get pregnant despite countless efforts, decide to raise a baby together.

Snow Globe & The Cat

Directed by Rick Page

‘Twas the Day after Christmas, when all through the house, ex-wife Lydia returns to get her revenge on Frank. Poor bastard.

Got Your Back

Directed by Mitch Hudson

In the 1960s, a group of high school buddies decide to climb their local water tower… Based on a true memoir, and produced in loving memory of Steve Cruea and Jim “Turd” Swanson.

Don’t Worry About It

Directed by Melissa Kong

After her father’s death, a young woman’s obsessive-compulsive disorder spirals out of control. She enters an intensive therapy program, where she must learn to deal with his death and OCD before it takes over her life.

A Balanced Breakfast

Directed by J.W. Cox

A neurotic, workaholic father sets out to find his favorite childhood cereal during an unexpected day off with his 13 year old daughter.

The Guitar Thief
Directed by Miguel Lepe Jr

Two mariachi players cope with rent increases, a changing neighborhood and a stolen guitar.

Fiction Shorts 2
And then another block of fiction shorts from 7-9pm:

Wild Card

Directed by Tipper Newton

Two strangers are brought together by a video dating service.

Gone Gray

Directed by Spaceship, Koura Linda

An under cover Special Agent finds herself in an interrogation room, facing off an interrogator determined to get her to give up. She will never let go of what she wants the most – and she will let no one stand in her way to get there.

One Foot In

Directed by Eric Schabla, Jack Whaley

A pair of eccentric graverobbers navigate the land and their tenuous kinship in search of the score of a lifetime.

Recuperación de los Caídos (Recovery of the Fallen)
Directed by Curtis James Matzke

A lone man wanders a barren landscape on a foreign planet, salvaging items off of bodies that have fallen to the surface. Recuperación de los Caídos was shot and produced in the Canary Islands under the advice and mentorship of director Werner Herzog.

We Are Nowhere

Directed by J. Cody Spellman

After aliens abduct her husband, Minnie receives a visit from a mysterious man in black.

Last and First Woman
Directed by Adnan Siddique

A passionate astronomy student disengages from her college curriculum upon the discovery of an illusive artifact.

Special Presentation: Dayton High School Shorts
Sunday the festival concludes with a special free presentation of shorts from local Dayton High School students from noon – 1:30pm:

The lineup includes:

Catcalling by Leigha Strozier
Reflections of Myself by Makayla Curington
Deceiver by Skylar Tucker
Valentine’s Day by Caleb Earick
Mortem by Danaysha Woodard
Barber by Danaysha Woodard
Keys by Joshua Molina Guiterrez
Cat by Caleb Earick

Get tickets for the Dayton Independent Film Festival online or at the Neon’s  box office. The  2022 Winning films have been announcned:

Best Local Film: Analog Rainbow
Best Student Film: Stowaway
Best Fiction Film: Don’t Worry About It
Best Documentary Film: Memoria(l)
Best Innovative Technique: Sons of Toledo

 

Celebrate National Cinema Day with $3 Movies

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On National Cinema Day, which this year falls on Saturday, September 3rd,  movie tickets will be just $3 in the vast majority of American theaters as part of a newly launched promotion to lure moviegoers back to the theaters. Labor Day weekend is traditionally one of the slowest weekends in theaters.

The Cinema Foundation, a nonprofit arm of the National Association of Theater Owners,  announced the nationwide discount day in more than 3,000 theaters and on more than 30,000 screens. Major chains, including AMC, Cinemark and  Regal Cinemas, are participating, as are all major film studios. In participating theaters, tickets will be no more than $3 for every showing, in every format.

“After this summer’s record-breaking return to cinemas, we wanted to do something to celebrate moviegoing,” said Jackie Brenneman, Cinema Foundation president, in a statement. “We’re doing it by offering a ‘thank you’ to the moviegoers that made this summer happen, and by offering an extra enticement for those who haven’t made it back yet.”

After more than two years of pandemic, movie theaters rebounded significantly over the summer, seeing business return to nearly pre-pandemic levels. Films like “Top Gun: Maverick,””Minions: Rise of Gru,“”Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” and “Jurassic World Dominion” pushed the domestic summer box office to $3.3 billion in ticket sales as of Aug. 21, according to data firm Comscore. That trails 2019 totals by about 20% but exhibitors have had about 30% fewer wide releases this year.

Cinemark/Rave Theatres are taking the $3 price point even further, offering the following concession specials:

Organizers of National Cinema Day described the event as a trial that could become an annual fixture. While some other countries have experimented with a similar day of cheap movie tickets, the initiative is the first of its kind on such a large scale in the U.S.

Cinemark Dayton South 16

195 Mall Woods Dr,
Dayton, OH  45449

(937) 435-1806

Cinemark the Greene 14 and IMAX
4489 Glengarry Dr
Beavercreek, OH 45440
(937) 429-4130

7737 Waynetowne Blvd,
Dayton, OH 45424

Little Art Theater

47 Xenia Avenue
Yellow Springs, OH 45387

937-767-7671

The Neon Movies

130 E 5th Street
Dayton, OH 45402

 (937) 222-7469

Cinepolis

10251 Penny Lane at Austin Landing
Miamisburg, OH 45342

(937) 865-9716

McCoy on Movies: THIRTEEN LIVES

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Colin Farrell, Viggo Mortensen lead dramatic based on true events tale that should garner Academy Award contention

“Yes, there is more water up ahead … But luckily, no sharks!” (L to R) Colin Farrell as John Volanthen, Joel Edgerton as Harry Harris and Viggo Mortensen as Rick Stanton in THIRTEEN LIVES, directed by Ron Howard, a Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film. Credit: Vince Valitutti / Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures © 2022 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. All Rights Reserved
WATCH THE TRAILER HERE:
 

 

DIRECTOR: Ron Howard

KEY CAST MEMBERS: Colin Farrell, Viggo Mortensen, Joel Edgerton, Tom Bateman, Chris Jewel, Paul Gleeson, Thira ’Aum’ Chutikul, Sahajak ’Poo’ Boonthanakit, Popetorn ‘Two’ Soonthornyanakij, Thiraphat ’Tui’ Sajakul, Sukollawat ’Weir’ Kanarot and Pattrakorn ’Ploy’ Tungsupakul
THE BACK STORY: In 2018, a Thai soccer team of twelve boys and their head coach (Teeradon Supapunpinyo) ventured into a cave after practice. Then, much to their dismay, monsoon season started far earlier than expected, flooding the cave and trapping them inside. Once their families realized what had happened, their story captivated the nation and then the world, drawing attention from rescue volunteers around the globe.
Among those who find themselves motivated to help John Volanthen (Colin Farrell), the grizzled Rick Stanton (Viggo Mortensen) and anesthesiologist Harry Harris (Joel Edgerton), three veteran British cave divers. On a short list of recommended experts, the trio arrive on the scene only to discover things are far worse than they ever anticipated. But with a combination of help from the local governor (Sahajak ‘Poo’ Boonthanakit), the leader of his rescue team (Thira ‘Aum’ Chutikul) and the thousands of villagers and volunteers that come to help, the boys and their coach may have a chance to survive an extremely dire situation just yet.

THE REVIEW: There are two compliments I can give THIRTEEN LIVES that should sum up how good the Ron Howard-directed drama is: One, it’s the best work I’ve ever seen Colin Farrell do, which is high praise considering I have not always been a fan of his work (see Recall, Total) and two, the film at times feels more like a documentary than a scripted affair based on true events. There are no hokey “man up” inspirational speeches, the doubt, panic and anxiety of the situation is felt by multiple characters in a manner that never feels forced or inauthentic and the story, which is captivating on its own, features multiple insights into everything from Thai culture to the commonalities of humanity across borders. At no point in time do you feel like you’re watching characters; instead, you are watching people simply trying to help other people do something extraordinary than few of us likely could.
If the film has one flaw/deterrent, it would be it’s 2-and-a-half-hour run time. Then again, given the two-plus weeks the boys were stuck in the cave, that’s a small sacrifice to make to take in a compelling tale worthy of Academy Award consideration in several categories come next year.
THIRTEEN LIVES almost feels like a bit of a misnomer for the film title-wise. For the movie may begin with your focus on 13 lives, but by its end, it’s incredibly difficult to think about the thousands of people that came together to save them and others that will be inspired by their efforts.
OVERALL RATING (OUT OF FOUR POSSIBLE BUCKETS OF POPCORN):

 

 

 

McCoy on Movies: Bullet Train

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Brad Pitt leads ensemble cast through violent, entertaining action comedy

“So … Who’s your favorite character on Atlanta, man?” Lemon (Brian Tyree Henry, left) gets acquainted with Ladybug (Brad Pitt) in a scene from David Leitch’s BULLET TRAIN. Credit: Scott Garfield © 2022 Sony Pictures Entertainment. All rights reserved.
WATCH THE TRAILER HERE:
 
 
DIRECTOR: David Leitch
KEY CAST MEMBERS: Brad Pitt, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Brian Tyree Henry, Hiroyuki Sanada, Bad Bunny, Zazie Beets, Joey King, Logan Lerman, Andrew Koji, Michael Shannon … And three special players in small but entertaining roles
THE BACK STORY: An Americanized re-envision of the 1975 Japanese film of the same name, Bullet Train stars Brad Pitt as Ladbybug. Ladybug, of course, is a fake name, one given to Pitt’s character by his employer, a mysterious voice on the other end of a cell phone that has left him several supplies in a locker at a Japanese train station.
You see, Ladybug has been instructed to get on a bullet train heading toward Kyoto and simply grab a briefcase with a sticker on the handle. That’s it. It’s so simple, in fact, that Ladybug knows something must be wrong the job. But, having been trying to get himself in order following deep conversations with his therapists, he takes the gig as a fill in for the person who was supposed to do it and aboard the train he goes.
As fate – and trust me, fate will play a big role upon this train – would have it, Ladybug’s instincts prove right. For you see, upon this train is quite the cast of characters. There are Tangerine and Lemon (Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Brian Tyree Henry, respectively), a pair of brothers who have the briefcase in question as well as the facially-tattooed son of the White Death, a well-known Japanese crime lord.
Also on the train is Kimura (Andrew Koji), the son of the mysterious Elder (Hiroyuki Sanada), a man who knew the White Death would be, well, the death of the crime family to which they both once belonged. Kimura’s son is in the hospital after being pushed off a roof, which has driven him (at the Elder’s behest) to seek revenge … But on whom? Then there’s the Prince (Joey King), a seemingly innocent school girl who is definitely not what she seems.
And with the train stopping at stations along the way – and various characters being able to enter and exit at will – Ladybug is going to learn and learn rather quickly that he’s likely going to need a lot more therapy if he ever gets off this train.
THE REVIEW: What happens when you let the director of Deadpool 2 create a film that features just the right amount of insane violence with humor and plot twists to keep you engaged? You get Bullet Train, a near perfect thrill ride of gun, knife and swordplay, characters that should not be charismatic since they, for the most part, are all terrible people and 2 hours of turn-your-brain-off-and-just-enjoy-it fun.
As much as he has been tabloid fodder for most of his career, it’s easy to forget just how good of an actor Pitt can be. Bullet Train finds him at his comedic best, exhibiting flawless comedic timing while making you intrigued to see what his character will do (or have to deal with) next. The same can be said for Taylor-Johnson and Tyree (in what might be his best big screen role to date, presenting a character who is capable of both great violence and great sensitivity (and sometimes in the same moment).
That’s not to overlook Zoey King in her role as Prince, a character that the audience will love to hate but can’t just because of how great her performance is. Even the minor/secondary characters are given roles that add up to big laughs/moments under Leitch’s direction, a skill he utilizes as well here as he did in Deadpool 2.
Now, that’s not to suggest Bullet Train is for everyone. The language is harsh and the violence is on a Mortal Kombat level from start to finish (and I mean the video games, not the most recent movie) to the point the recent-released The Gray Man might feel competition. Unlike that film, however, Bullet Train never takes itself too seriously and instead is presented in a tongue-in-cheek fashion that knows you’re in on the jokes and balances that with characters dedicated to their cause.
In short, in a summer in short supply of competition, Bullet Train should reach no. 1 with a bullet given its high joke ratio, body count and quality of all the things that happen in between.
OVERALL RATING (OUT OF FOUR POSSIBLE BUCKETS OF POPCORN):

 

 

Local Filmmaker Victor Bonacore Debuts Woke-Exploitation Girl-Gang Thriller: THRUST!

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Local film crew Tranzient Pictures brings you their first feature length film THRUST! A low budget, exploitation film shot almost entirely in and around Dayton, Ohio. After a year of production the movie is ready for an audience! THRUST! Takes place in a dystopian world run by girl gangs.

The story centers on two lovers, Aloe & Vera hailing from The Punk Boiz as they embark on a mariujana fueled, revenge journey. Weaving their way through the colorful apocalypse to try and rid the world of the last scumbag alive, who is wreaking havoc amongst the female, fronted future. THRUST!

THRUST! Will make its OHIO PREMIERE at The Little Art Theater in Yellow Springs Ohio on Saturday August 6th 2022 at 10pm. This screening will be presented by the cast & crew live in person including scream queen legend Linnea Quigley, director Victor Bonacore (Diary of a Deadbeat) and star Erin Brown, Allison Egan, Scarlett Storm, Sadie Tate, Felicia Fisher & more surprises!  THRUST! Runs 1:59:00 Minutes long, unrated & for mature audiences only!

THRUST! Will have its Ohio encore showing on Sunday August 7th at 7pm at The Neon located in downtown Dayton, Ohio. Linnea, cast & crew will be in attendance for this show as well! THRUST!

Stars a plethora of local talent lead by a cast of indie starlets including Erin Brown (The artist formerly known as Misty Mundae) Allison Egan (Primordial, Eat it Up) Linnea Quigley (Return of the Living Dead, Night of the Demons) Ellie Church (Headless,Harvest Lake) Roni Jonah (Space Babes from Outer Space) Sadie Tate (Feaster Sunday) Independent wrestlers Queen Aminata (AEW) Jessicka Havok (Impact Wrestling) Ace Austin (Bullet Club) and Madman Fulton (EX-WWE,Impact).

Featuring a score from local new wave artists Dirty/Clean and featuring songs and more from Yellow Springs electro punk duo Yikes A Band! THRUST!

Kick off show!
Friday August 5th, 8pm
Yellow Cab Tavern, featuring live performances from:

Mike Hunchback
(guitarist of Screeching Weasel and ex-Nightbirds)

Weedghost
(Ohio Noise)

Yikes A Band!
(first show in 3 years)

McCoy on Movies: The Gray Man

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Ryan Gosling, Chris Evans star in the Russo’ brothers shootout-heavy live-action video game that isn’t one

“Say something else about Drive and you’re gonna get it!” Six (Ryan Gosling) in a scene from Anthony and Joe Russo’s action thriller THE GRAY MAN. © 2022 Netflix. All rights reserved.
WATCH THE TRAILER HERE:

 

DIRECTOR: Anthony and Joe Russo

KEY CAST MEMBERS: Ryan Gosling, Chris Evans, Billy Bob Thornton, Regé-Jean Page, Ana de Armas, Dhanush, Jessica Henwick, Alfre Woodard and Julia Butters
 
THE BACK STORY: Based on the novel of the same name by Mark Greaney, THE GRAY MAN stars Ryan Gosling as Six. Serving time in a Florida prison, he is offered a chance to leave by the mysterious Donald Fitzroy (Billy Bob Thornton) … But there’s a catch: He must work for the FBI as an assassin called in to take out the worst of the worst – but as a shadow operative, working “in the gray” allows them to disavow any knowledge of his existence.
After a job goes sideways, however, Six learns that what he thought he knew to be true may not exactly be the truth – and now, his life may be in danger as a result. So once he starts digging for answers, CIA Director Carmichael (Regé-Jean Page) starts intensifying his efforts to stop him – which results in bringing in the loosest canon possible: Lloyd Hansen (Chris Evans), a washout of the same program that birthed Six. Lloyd is determined to bring down Six by any means necessary … And if that means involving Six’s former partner (Ana de Armas), Fitzroy or even Fitzroy’s niece Claire (Julia Butters) in his scheme, so be it.
But Six is going to do whatever he has to do to survive and protect those closest to him, no matter how high the body count may be.
THE REVIEW: Ever wonder what would happen if you could make a movie that was 1/2 standard spy thriller and 1/2 a live action video game with guns a’blazing? Well, if so, THE GRAY MAN – which by its end feels like an AR-15 lovers’ best dream – delivers on that premise exponentially.
Gosling does the thing you would expect him to do fairly well, mixing his “I’m good looking, but I can be serious and brooding” thing well against Evans’ absolute playful yet psychopathic Lloyd. If there was ever a role to make people not just think of him as Steve Rogers’ alter-ego, this would be it as Captain America would likely vomit in disgust at what Lloyd does from the moment he gets on screen to the final credits. The ladies of THE GRAY MAN get in their fair share of moments as well, be it de Armas in the standard sexy-yet-serious-and-troubled foreign spy operative you’re not supposed to be sure of who’s side she’s on or young Butters in the too smart for her own age until gunplay starts Dakota Fanning/Man on Fire role.

Seriously though: THE GRAY MAN‘s tonal shift from worldwide spy thriller to live-action video game is so dramatic that it almost – almost – becomes comically enjoyable. Then again, in a country where 330-plus mass shootings have occurred this year, it might be either the best-or-worst timed release this summer. Having not read the source material, I cannot speak to whether or not the novel on which THE GRAY MAN is as standard issue as it is on film, but once the bullets start flying and body count piles up sky-high, it really doesn’t matter.

What will matter is how much you enjoy watching good-looking people in wild, crazy shootouts (replace the cars in the Fast & Furious franchise with bullets) … And given its mix of humor and gunplay coupled with our current national vibe, THE GRAY MAN will likely add up to plenty of views in theaters and streaming smart devices nationwide.

 

OVERALL RATING (OUT OF FOUR POSSIBLE BUCKETS OF POPCORN):
 

 

 

McCoy on Movies: Minions: The Rise of Gru

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Minions: The Rise of Gru offers more of friendly-if-not-familiar animated entertainment

“Fine, fine – I’ll tell you the story of my how the guy who voices me once did a sequel to a popular Jim Carrey he’d rather forget about!” Gru (Steve Carrel) finds himself flanked by Bob (left) and Kevin (right) in a scene from Illumination’s MINIONS: THE RISE OF GRU.  Credit: © 2022 Universal Studios. All rights reserved.
WATCH THE TRAILER HERE:

 

DIRECTOR: Kyle Balda

KEY CAST MEMBERS: Steve Carell, Taraji P. Henson, Alan Arkin, Lucy Lawless, Dolph Lundgren, Russell Brand, Michelle Yeoh, Danny Trejo, Julie Andrews and Pierre Coffin
 
THE BACK STORY: While we know him as the world’s greatest supervillain now, Gru (Steve Carell) was once a 10 year-old boy who just aspired to one day be known as such. His inspiration? The Vicious 6, a band of villains led by his hero Wild Knuckles (Alan Arkin). But as fate would have it, for as little as Gru knows about how to be a world-class villain, Knuckles is just as aloof how his status of the Vicious 6’s leader may soon be up for grabs. For Belle Bottom (Taraji P. Henson) has her own ideas for who should be in charge and the rest of the crew – giant robotic-claw armed Jean Clawed (Jean-Claude Van Damme), evil sister Nunchuck (Lucy Lawless), Swedish roller-skating champ Svengeance (Dolph Lundgren) and Stronghold (Danny Trejo) – does as well.
So, when young Gru ends up in San Francisco with his hero facing the wrath of the Vicious 6, it’s going to be up to his minions to save him … If they can get their act together first.
THE REVIEW: Can you believe it’s been more than a decade since Steve Carell’s animated villainous alter-ego came into our lives? Well, if three Despicable Me movies and its subsequent two Minions spinoffs hadn’t made you aware, the lovable little yellow, goggled creatures have been entertaining audiences for a dozen years.
And, as much as I wish minions were real so I could have one or two of my own, the series is starting to become a bit stale as the bananas they covet.
At an hour and 30 minutes, Minions: The Rise of Gru isn’t a long affair – and for good reason. The story is a bit minimalistic and feels very familiar from start to finish. That’s not to say the film isn’t without its moments, however. The backstory of Dr. Nefario is entertaining and Michelle Yeoh as an acupuncturist with a secret life helps make Bob, Kevin and Stuart’s martial arts escapades fun enough and San Francisco feels as alive as it ever has in animated form.
That being said, there’s really no new ground being broken in the The Rise of Gru and it likely won’t win the franchise any new fans that weren’t enthralled with the first four films. Then again, it’s simplicity might help keep it light years (pun intended) ahead of the competition.
Maybe next time out, they’ll just think of bringing a ripe banana to the show instead of one that is starting to turn a little brown.

 

OVERALL RATING (OUT OF FOUR POSSIBLE BUCKETS OF POPCORN):
 

 

 

Midnight Showing of Rocky Horror Picture Show

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Many of the audience will bring props, or in this case, they’ll have participation bags at the door you can purchase, while you’re picking up a beer.

Rice To throw at newlyweds Ralph Hapschatt and Betty Munroe at the beginning of the show. Many fans will bring rice, though there is concern it will harm birds that eat it (snopes.com says it won’t, but you decide). It also can beslick onstage. American Stage’s kit includes a bubblemaker instead.

Confetti or bubbles At the end of the I Can Make You a Man (the Charles Atlas song) reprise, the Transylvanians throw confetti as Rocky and Frank head toward the bedroom. Or you could blow bubbles instead — easier to clean up.

Newspaper* When Brad and Janet are caught in the storm, Janet covers her head with a newspaper, and you should do the same. Oh look, you have a good one in your hands. Take it!

Flashlight or glow stick* Light up the place during the “There’s a light” verse of Over at the Frankenstein Place. Refrain from using lighters — you have a newspaper on your head.

Rubber glove During and after the creation speech, Frank snaps his rubber gloves three times. Do the same in synch each time for an awesome sound effect.

Water gun To mimic the rainstorm Brad and Janet are caught in. Good thing you have a newspaper on your head!

Toast What’s an audience member to do when Frank-N-Furter proposes a toast? Throw a piece on stage!

Bell During the song Planet Schmanet — Wise Up Janet Weiss, ring the bell when Frank sings “Did you hear a bell ring?” (Shaking keys also work.)

Noisemakers At the end of the creation speech, the Transylvanians respond with applause and noisemakers. Go for it.

Toilet paper When Dr. Scott enters the lab, Brad cries out “Great Scott!” That’s your cue to toss rolls of toilet paper — purists prefer the Scott brand. American Stage’s kit includes a piece of plaid instead.

Playing cards* During the song I’m Going Home, Frank sings “Cards for sorrow, cards for pain.” Let the cards fly.

 

This list comprises recommended items to bring to the theater, but be advised that some props, such as the hot dogs and a water gun, will not be allowed.

Commit these scenes to memory and use them as a prop guide.

  • Wedding bells! (rice)
  • Brad and Janet get caught in a thunderstorm (water guns) while looking for help, so Janet takes cover underneath a newspaper (newspaper). Fortunately, Janet sees a light up ahead (flashlight).
  • Dr. Frank-N-Furter introduces his creation (gloves).
  • The Transylvanians welcome Rocky with confetti and noisemakers.
  • “Great Scott!” (toilet paper, Scotts preferably)
  • What’s an audience member to do when Frank-N-Furter proposes a toast? Throw a piece on stage! (toast)

Rocky Horror Picture Show
Midnight Showing

The Fairborn Phoenix

34 S. Broad Street, Fairborn

The show starts at Midnight, but Doors will open at 9pm for people to meet cast, have a drink and grub down in the historic theater.
Get Your Tickets Online · $15

Cannes Hit ELVIS and Crowd-Pleasing PHANTOM OF THE OPEN at The Neon

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We’ve got to keep moving. If you still need to see the wonderful Sundance-winning comedy CHA CHA REAL SMOOTH – you’ve only got a few more chances. We found a way to keep EIFFEL for a few screenings over the weekend…but June 26 will be its last day. Baz Luhrmann’s ELVIS opens Thursday night and the crowd-pleasing golf comedy THE PHANTOM OF THE OPEN (which is based on a true story) starts Friday.

Be sure to check out the trailers below for WILDHOOD (which is currently rated “100% Fresh” on rottentomatoes) and KINKY BOOTS (the uplifting musical that has quite a large fan-base)!
On Monday, June 27, both of our films – ELVIS and THE PHANTOM OF THE OPEN – will be presented with open captions (where captions will be projected on the screen).
We’ve got a booking in the works for July 1…so stay tuned to our official website and social pages for an announcement later in the week.
NEW IN-PERSON ENGAGEMENTS:
Synopsis for ELVIS: At the Cannes Film Festival in May, ELVIS received a 12-minute standing ovation…and numerous critics have predicted that Austin Butler will be a part of the Oscar race next year!! “ELVIS is an epic, big-screen spectacle from Warner Bros. Pictures and visionary, Oscar-nominated filmmaker Baz Luhrmann that explores the life and music of Elvis Presley, starring Austin Butler and Oscar winner Tom Hanks. A thoroughly cinematic drama, Elvis’s story is seen through the prism of his complicated relationship with his enigmatic manager, Colonel Tom Parker. As told by Parker, the film delves into the complex dynamic between the two spanning over 20 years, from Presley’s rise to fame to his unprecedented stardom, against the backdrop of the evolving cultural landscape and loss of innocence in America. Central to that journey is one of the significant and influential people in Elvis’s life, Priscilla Presley (Olivia DeJonge).” (Warner Brothers) Click the image below to watch the film’s second trailer.
Synopsis for THE PHANTOM OF THE OPEN: “THE PHANTOM OF THE OPEN follows Maurice Flitcroft (Mark Rylance), a dreamer and unrelenting optimist who managed to gain entry to The British Open Golf Championship Qualifying in 1976 and subsequently shot the worst round in Open history, becoming a folk hero in the process.” The LA TIMES writes, “Rylance makes golf irresistible in inspiring true story! Rylance compels as the star of his own kooky fable,” and THE WASHINGTON POST writes, “A sly little gem grounded in a fantastic performance by Rylance!” Click the image below to watch the film’s trailer.
UPCOMING SPECIAL EVENTS:
THE DAYTON JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL is heading toward the finish line with three more films! The festival is back in person this year (and additionally being offered virtually). You won’t find these films on a big screen anywhere else in town…so don’t miss your chance to see them this week!
Here’s the remaining line-up of films playing at THE NEON:
Tuesday, June 21 at 7pm – 200 METERS
Thursday, June 23 at 7pm – I AM HERE
Sunday, June 26 at 7pm – WET DOG
For more details about all the films, click the image below to visit the festival’s official site.
For the last 2 weeks, in partnership with ThinkTV and The Dayton Metro Library, we’ve had really nice turn-outs for our FREE Family Summer Film Festival…but there’s room for more! Please help us spread the word!  Each week, doors will open at 10:30am, and tickets will be given on a first-come, first-serve basis. Events will start with Read-Along videos with Dayton Metro Library’s Ms. Winnie and continue with programming from the PBS Kids library. Children will leave each screening with activity books and other materials to promote continued learning over the summer. Parents and caregivers will also be provided with resources to keep learning happening at home and prevent the “summer slide.” These materials are courtesy of ThinkTV and The Dayton Metro Library.
Featuring episodic shorts from popular characters in the PBS Kids library, screenings will give an opportunity for families to enjoy the movie-going experience together in a budget-friendly way while keeping kids thoughtfully engaged. Each Saturday will focus on a different program. Here are the four programs that remain:
June 25 – “Jungle Animal Day” with THE WILD KRATTS
July 2 – “Be My Neighbor Day” with DANIEL TIGER – this screening will be preceded by a hands-on event on THE NEON’s patio hosted by The Dayton International Peace Museum
July 9 – “Exploring the Library” with CURIOUS GEORGE – this screening will be followed by a post-screening “hands on” event at the Dayton Metro Library Main Branch where children will have an opportunity to meet “Curious George” at 12:30
July 16 – “Nature Day” with NATURE CAT
Click the image below to watch this year’s preview.
We’ve booked a wonderful, award-winning film for PRIDE Night at THE NEON on Thursday, June 30 at 7pm – WILDHOOD – and tickets are already on sale! This film is currently rated “100% Fresh” on rottentomatoes, and THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER writes, “WILDHOOD combines the foundation of heartrending coming-of-age narratives with the feel-good elements of road trip flicks to create a delicate, not to mention visually appealing, sophomore film.” Here’s a brief synopsis: “In a rural east-coast trailer park, Link lives with his toxic father and younger half-brother Travis. When Link discovers his Mi’kmaw mother could still be alive, it lights a flame and they make a run for a better life. On the road they meet Pasmay, a pow wow dancer drawn to Link. As the boys journey across Mi’kma’ki, Link finds community, identity, and love in the land where he belongs.” (Wolfe Releasing) Click the image below to watch the film’s trailer. EVERYONE is Welcome to PRIDE Night at THE NEON!
After our recent successful screenings of ANYTHING GOES, many folks have been asking for more musicals…and now you’ve got ’em! Save the dates! On Wed, July 6 at 7pm & Sun, July 10 at 4pm, we will present KINKY BOOTS – beautifully captured from the London stage. On August 10 & 14, we’ll present 42ND STREET – also captured from the West End. Tickets are $12.50 each and available now! Click the image below to watch a short trailer for KINKY BOOTS.
“Scripted In Black is back at it again with some of our favorite Black movie classics + community social hours! This time around, we’re coming more live + personal with timeless Black classics while giving homage to local Black talent and businesses, Whether you’re in the mood to search for true love, plotting to make it big by any means necessary, or getting well-versed with the dynamic nature of hood politics, this year’s film series allows us to collectively experience the art of Black cinema, together. This movie night series is a chance to celebrate as a community the importance of Black storytelling and the way it honors the multi-dimensional layers of our culture, experience, and perspective. This movie night series is the perfect way to close out a busy work week or end the weekend with nothing but high-vibes.”  (Scripted in Black press release) Tickets to each event will cost $28 and include admittance to the pre-screening social hour, a voucher for popcorn & soda, and admission to the film. Social hour will begin 90 minutes before each screening on THE NEON’s patio. LOVE JONES will screen on Sunday, July 29 at 4:30. B*A*P*S will s screen on Sunday, Aug 28 at 4:30, NEW JACK CITY will screen on Thursday, Sept. 29 at 7:30. Tickets for each event are available via THE NEON’s website and box office. Click the image below to visit Scripted In Black’s official website.
Thank you for all of your continued support!
We hope to see you soon,
Jonathan
IN-PERSON SHOWTIMES for Tuesday, June 21 – Thursday, June 30:
EIFFEL (R) 1 Hr 48 Min
Tuesday & Wednesday (June 21 & 22): 3:30, 7:00
Thursday (June 23): 3:30
Friday, Saturday, Sunday (June 24-26): 4:15
FINAL DAY – June 26!
CHA CHA REAL SMOOTH (R) 1 Hr 47 Min
Tue (June 21): 3:15
Wed (June 22): 3:15, 7:15
Thurs (June 23): 3:15
FINAL DAY – June 23!
FAMILY SUMMER FILM FESTIVAL with PBS KIDS (NR) approx. 1 Hr
Saturday (June 25): 11:00 – THE WILD KRATTS
DAYTON JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL
Tuesday, June 21 – 200 METERS – 7pm
Thursday, June 23 – I AM HERE – 7pm
Sunday, June 26 – WET DOG – 7pm
ELVIS (PG-13) 2 Hrs 39 Min
Thursday (June 23): 7:15
Fri, Sat, Sun (June 24-26): 12:30, 4:00, 7:30
Monday-Thursday (June 27-30): 3:15, 7:00
THE PHANTOM OF THE OPEN (PG-13) 1 Hr 46 Min
Friday & Saturday (June 24 & 25): 1:15, 7:20
Sunday (June 26): 1:15
Monday-Wednesday (June 27-29): 3:30, 7:20
Thursday (June 30): 3:30
COMING SOON – In-Person Screenings:
(All Dates Are Tentative. Dates Often Move And Sometimes Disappear)
July 1 – Booking in Progress – TBA Soon!
July 15 – MRS. HARRIS GOES TO PARIS
July 15 or 22: MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON
TBD: MEMORIA