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Kristen Stewart’s Thriller & Oscar Nom Coming to THE NEON This Weekend

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Hello Everyone!

Once again, we’re moving right along at THE NEON this weekend. If you still need to see Shirley MacLaine in THE LAST WORD or Woody Harrelson in WILSON, Thursday will be your last chance to catch these films at THE NEON. The gorgeous & masterful film FRANTZ (by one of my favorite directors) will stick around for one more week, and we’ll add two new films to the mix. PERSONAL SHOPPER, the new film by Olivier Assayas starring Kristen Stewart, will open Friday for one week. We’ll also open a film that was nominated for “Best Foreign Film” at this year’s Academy Awards – LAND OF MINE – for just three days beginning this Friday. For more details about our current films, please visit www.neonmovies.com

Synopsis for PERSONAL SHOPPER: “Olivier Assayas, the internationally-acclaimed director of CLOUDS OF SILS MARIA and SUMMER HOURS, returns with this ethereal and mysterious ghost story starring Kristen Stewart as a high-fashion personal shopper to the stars who is also a spiritual medium. Grieving the recent death of her twin brother, she haunts his Paris home, determined to make contact with him.” (IFC Films) Richard Roeper of CHICAGO-SUN TIMES wrote, “I can’t explain everything I saw in this film, but I was entertained and enthralled by every second of it.” This film is only scheduled to play for one week!

Synopsis for LAND OF MINE: Nominated for “Best Foreign Film” at this year’s Academy Awards, this powerful film is only scheduled to play for three days this weekend. “As World War Two comes to an end, a group of German POWs, boys rather than men, are captured by the Danish army and forced to engage in a deadly task – to defuse and clear land mines from the Danish coastline. With little or no training, the boys soon discover that the war is far from over. Inspired by real events, LAND OF MINE exposes the untold story of one tragic moment in post-war history.” (Sony Classics) Click HERE to visit the film’s official site.

Vu-Do Swing is now set to bring ALIVE AND KICKING to town on April 26 at 7:30. “ALIVE AND KICKING is a feature-length documentary that takes an inside look into the culture of swing dancing and the characters who make it special. We explore the culture surrounding Swing dance from the emergence of the Lindy Hop to the modern day international phenomenon. The film follows the growth of Swing dance from its purely American roots as an art form, to countries all over the world. Alive and Kicking looks at the lives of the Swing dancers themselves to find their personal stories and why this dance fills them with joy.” Click this LINK to watch a trailer and reserve your ticket.

The 2017 DAYTON JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL has announced their line-up, and it’s terrific. To read all about the numerous films, to watch trailers, to see the schedule of screenings and to purchase advance tickets, please visit the festival’s official website by clicking this LINK. The following list only reflects films that will be screening at THE NEON:
Apr 27 at 7:15pm – ON THE MAP
May 1 at 7:15pm – IN SEARCH OF ISRAELI CUISINE
May 4 at 7:15pm – THE KIND WORDS
May 9 at 7:15pm – KEEP QUIET
May 11 at 7:15pm – SABENA HIJACKING
May 15 at 7:15pm – PERSONA NON GRATA
May 16 at 10am – THE PEOPLE VS. FRITZ BAUER
May 18 at 7:15pm – WOMEN’S BALCONY

On Friday, April 21, we plan to clear the decks and bring two new films to town…and we’ve decided to start them both a little early. COLOSSAL (starring Anne Hathaway) and LOST CITY OF Z (based on the beloved non-fiction book and starring Tom Holland & Robert Pattinson) will both have preview screenings on Thursday, April 20.

Thanks so much for your continued support.
See you soon,
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Tuesday, April 11 – Thursday, April 20:

THE LAST WORD (R) 1 Hr 48 Min
Wednesday-Thursday (Apr 12-13): 5:10
FINAL DAY – Apr 13!

WILSON (R) 1 Hr 34 Min
Wednesday-Thursday (Apr 12-13): 3:10, 7:30
FINAL DAY – Apr 13!

FRANTZ (PG-13) 1 Hr 53 Min
Wednesday-Thursday (Apr 12-13): 2:45, 5:15, 7:40
Friday & Saturday (Apr 14 & 15): 3:00, 7:30, 9:45
Sunday (Apr 16): 3:00, 7:30
Monday – Wednesday (Apr 17-19): 2:50, 5:10, 7:30
Thursday (Apr 20): 2:50, 5:10

PERSONAL SHOPPER (R) 1 Hr 45 Min
Friday & Saturday (Apr 14 & 15): 12:15, 2:30, 4:50, 7:15, 9:30
Sunday (Apr 16): 12:15, 2:30, 4:50, 7:15
Monday – Wednesday (Apr 17-19): 3:00, 5:20, 7:40
Thursday (Apr 20): 3:00, 5:20

LAND OF MINE (R) 1 Hr 40 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday (Apr 14-16): 12:45, 5:20

THE LOST CITY OF Z (PG-13) 2 Hrs 21 Min
Preview Screening – Thursday (Apr 20): 7:30

COLOSSAL (R) 1 Hr 50 Min
Preview Screening – Thursday (Apr 20): 7:40

COMING SOON:
(All Dates Are Tentative. Dates Often Move And Sometimes Disappear)
April 21 – COLOSSAL
April 21 – LOST CITY OF Z
May 5 – THEIR FINEST
May 26 – THE LOVERS
TBD – CEZANNE ET MOI
TBD – MAUDIE
TBD – NORMAN

Paul Laurence Dunbar: Beyond the Mask

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On Saturday, April 1st, Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park will host an exclusive showing of a brand new documentary film on the life and legacy of Paul Laurence Dunbar. Paul Laurence Dunbar: Beyond the Mask is a new film showcasing the life and legacy of the internationally renowned African American poet and author. Written and directed by Frederick Lewis, and co-produced by Lewis and Joseph Slade, the film took more than eight years to create and received support from the Ohio Humanities Council and major funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

The film will be shown in the auditorium of the Wright-Dunbar Interpretive Center at 16 South Williams Street in Dayton. There will be two screenings for the public on April 1st. The first screening will begin at 1:00 P.M. and the second screening will begin at 4:00 P.M. The film is approximately two hours long. After each screening, the film’s producers will be on hand to discuss the film and to answer questions from the audience.

This special screening is free for the public to attend, but due to limited seating in the park’s auditorium, an RSVP is requested. To RSVP for this event, please send an email to: [email protected] with “Film RSVP” in the subject line. Please be sure to include your name, how many people total (including yourself) will be attending and which screening time (1:00 P.M. or 4:00 P.M.) you and your guests will be attending. You can also call the park at 937-225-7705 to RSVP. A light assortment of food and refreshments will be available at both screenings.

“Paul Laurence Dunbar: Beyond the Mask” features Willis “Bing” Davis, James Pate, Herbert Martin, LaVerne Sci, and a host of others, and is a production of the Central Region Humanities Center at Ohio University.

For information about other programs and events and for directions to Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park, please visit: www.nps.gov/daav. For information about the Paul Laurence Dunbar House Historic Site, please visit: go.nps.gov/dunbarhouse.

Shirley MacLaine’s LAST WORD at THE NEON This Weekend

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Hello Everyone!

How can you not love Shirley MacLaine? From THE TROUBLE WITH HARRY to THE APARTMENT to THE CHILDREN’S HOUR to IRMA LA DOUCE to SWEET CHARITY to TERMS OF ENDEARMENT to STEEL MAGNOLIAS to POSTCARDS FROM THE EDGE to BERNIE – there’s so much to love! This Friday, we will bring this legend’s latest film to town – THE LAST WORD – and MacLaine fans won’t be disappointed. We will also hold onto both KEDI and THE SENSE OF AN ENDING for one more week.

Synopsis for THE LAST WORD: “In THE LAST WORD, Shirley MacLaine is Harriet Lauler, a once successful businesswoman in tight control of every aspect of her life. As she reflects upon her accomplishment, she’s suddenly inspired to engage a young local writer, Anne Sherman (Amanda Seyfried), to pen her life’s story. When the initial result doesn’t meet Harriet’s high expectations, she sets out to reshape the way she is remembered, with Anne dragged along as an unwilling accomplice. As the journey unfolds, the two women develop a unique bond which alters not only Harriet’s legacy, but also Anne’s future.” (Bleecker Street) Click this LINK to visit the film’s official site.

Don’t forget about THE REEL PADDLING FILM FESTIVAL – returning to town this Thursday evening at 7:30. Advanced tickets are available on-line or at THE NEON’s box office.

“LUNAFEST, a national festival of women’s films, comes to Dayton for the 8th time this Sunday, March 26 from 3:00-5:00 pm at THE NEON. This season’s program of nine selected films will compel discussion, make you laugh, tug at your heartstrings and motivate you to make a difference in your community. Incredibly diverse in style and content, the films are united by a common thread of exceptional storytelling – by, for and about women. Two additional short films will be presented by Pens to Pictures, a local filmmaking collaborative that worked with incarcerated women at the Dayton Correctional Institute to help them make their own short films, from script to screen. Funds raised by this event will go to the Breast Cancer Fund and to Pens to Pictures. Tickets are $10.00 ($5.00 for students) and donations over this amount are gratefully accepted. The event is sponsored nationally by Luna, makers of the nutrition bar, and locally by Dayton Women’s Rights Alliance and the Dayton chapter of the American Association of University Women. Tickets are now available at THE NEON’s box office.” (Press Notes) Visit the Lunafest official site to check out clips from this year’s festival.

Equitas Health is bringing the film FREEDOM TO MARRY to town on Thursday, March 30 at 7:30. This film is “The nail-biting, untold story of how same-sex marriage became law of the land. THE FREEDOM TO MARRY follows Evan Wolfson, the architect the movement, civil rights attorney Mary Bonauto and their key colleagues on this decades long battle, culminating in a dramatic fight at the United States Supreme Court. More than the saga of one movement’s history, this is an inspiringtale of how regular people can change the world.” To watch the trailer and reserve your ticket, visit this LINK.

“On Saturday, April 8, from 9:00 am until Noon, come out to Kick-off and Celebrate MINORITY HEALTH MONTH! This event is free and open to the entire community. Starting at 9:00 am, there will be a free breakfast and health screenings (Hepatitis B, Cholesterol, Blood pressure and confidential HIV), and a live radio broadcast with WROU’s Host Faith Daniels! At 10:00 am, health leadership awards will be given to Gina McFarlane-El, CEO, Five Rivers Health Center, the 2017 Shero of Health recipient, and Richard “Clay” Dixon, for Community Action Leadership. At 10:00, watch the award-winning movie UNNATURAL CAUSES: IS INEQUALITY MAKING US SICK? How do you have good health? How do you live longer? Housing, education, community development and so much more impact choices, behaviors, health conditions, and quality of life. Get answers on how to improve health and quality of life. Free popcorn. Funded by Public Health, Buckeye Health Plan, and the Ohio Commission on Minority Health.”

Vu-Do Swing is hoping to bring ALIVE AND KICKING to town on April 26, but they still need to reserve 55 tickets by April 17 to make it happen. “ALIVE AND KICKING is a feature-length documentary that takes an inside look into the culture of swing dancing and the characters who make it special. We explore the culture surrounding Swing dance from the emergence of the Lindy Hop to the modern day international phenomenon. The film follows the growth of Swing dance from its purely American roots as an art form, to countries all over the world. Alive and Kicking looks at the lives of the Swing dancers themselves to find their personal stories and why this dance fills them with joy.” If not enough tickets are reserved by the deadline, your credit card will never be charged. Click this LINK to watch a trailer and reserve your ticket.

The Dayton Jewish Film Festival will kick off in late April, but they’ll have a sneak peek at this year’s fest during a screening of the classic film THE FRISCO KID (starring Gene Wilder) on Sunday, April 2 at 3PM. Brochures for the entire festival are now available in our lobby, and you can visit the official site to read about the films, watch trailers and purchase tickets in advance. This year’s line-up looks pretty amazing!

We’ve added numerous films to our “Coming Soon” list, and I’m very happy that we’ve added FRANTZ (from Francois Ozon) and THEIR FINEST (a period film with Bill Nighy) to the line-up – they are films I loved in Toronto, and I know you’ll like them, too.

Thanks so much for your continued support.
See you soon,
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Tuesday, March 21 – Thursday, March 30:

KEDI (NR) 1 Hr 20 Min
Tuesday-Thursday (March 21-23): 3:10, 5:15, 7:20
Friday & Saturday (March 24 & 25): 1:00, 5:30, 9:45
Sunday (March 26): 1:00, 5:30
Monday-Wednesday (March 27-29): 3:00, 7:40
Thursday (March 30): 3:00

THE SENSE OF AN ENDING (PG-13) 1 Hr 48 Min
Tuesday & Wednesday (March 21 & 22): 2:50, 5:10, 7:30
Thursday (March 23): 2:50, 5:10
Friday & Saturday (March 24 & 25): 3:00, 7:20
Sunday (March 26): 7:20
Monday-Thursday (March 27-30); 5:10

REEL PADDLING FILM FESTIVAL (NR) 2 Hrs
Thursday (Mar 23): 7:30

THE LAST WORD (R) 1 Hr 48 Min
Friday & Saturday (March 24 & 25): 12:30, 2:50, 5:10, 7:30, 9:45
Sunday (March 26): 12:30, 2:50, 5:10, 7:30
Monday-Thursday (March 27-30): 2:50, 5:10, 7:30

LUNAFEST + PENS TO PICTURES (NR) 2 Hrs
Sunday (March 26): 3:00

FREEDOM TO MARRY (NR) 1 Hr 26 Min
Thursday (March 30): 7:30

COMING SOON:
(All Dates Are Tentative. Dates Often Move And Sometimes Disappear)
March 31 – WILSON
April 4-9 – CONTEMPORARY COLOR (limited screenings, lots of local ties)
April 7 – FRANTZ
April 21 – COLOSSAL
May 5 – THEIR FINEST
May 26 – THE LOVERS
TBD – TONI ERDMANN, THE RED TURTLE, PERSONAL SHOPPER

Kong: Skull Island an entertaining take on the primate king

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“I HATE the album Monkey Business by The Black Eyed Peas – quit asking me about it!” The titular character lets his rage flag fly in a scene from KONG: Skull Island. Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures © 2017 Warner Bros. Pictures, Legendary Pictures’ and Ratpac-Dune Entertainment LLC. All rights reserved.

 

WATCH THE TRAILER(S) HERE:

 

 

 


 

 

 

 



KEY CAST MEMBERS: Tom Hiddleston, Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, John Goodman, Toby Kebbell, Jason Mitchell, John Ortiz, Shea Whigham, Terry Notary, Tian Jang, Eugene Cordero, Thomas Mann and John C. Reilly

WRITER(S): Dan Gilroy and Max Borenstein and Derek Connolly; story by John Gatins

DIRECTOR(S): Jordan Vogt-Roberts 

WEB SITE: http://kongskullislandmovie.com/HERE’S THE STORY: Set in 1973 near the height of the Vietnam conflict, Kong: Skull Island begins by introducing us to Bill Randa (John Goodman). Randa works for an agency known as Monarch and he believes there is something worth exploring on a recently discovered, uncharted island in the South Pacific. Fueled by a report from the Harvard education Houston Brooks (Corey Hawkins) and fellow biologist Sam Lin (Tian Jang), Randa and Brooks convinces a senator to let him piggyback on a mission by Landsat (the agency who’s satellite work discovered the remote terrain) to explore the island. And wouldn’t you know it – Randa is able to get the military escort he requests to accompany them there led by Col Preston Parker (Samuel L. Jackson), several of his best soldiers (Hawkins’ Straight Outta Compton co-star Jason Mitchell, Toby Kebbell and Shea Whigham among others) as well as the tracker (Tom Hiddleston) he hired … And an anti-war photographer in Mason Weaver (Brie Larson).


But once they arrive in the realm of the mysterious island, they are greeted by something no one (or maybe at least one of them) expected: A giant, monstrous ape (portrayed for the screen by Terry Notary) who does NOT take kindly to intrusive visitors. But despite Randa’s and Parker’s mutual desire to prove man is king, they soon learn that Kong – and the other species on the island – have a thing or two to shout about that …

WHO WILL LIKE THIS FILM THE MOST? People who enjoyed Godzilla (the Warner Bros. version, not the Matthew Broderick version as NO ONE should enjoy that); John C. Reilly fans; Jason Mitchell fans; people who enjoy well done B-movies; those who thought the Warner Bros. version of Godzilla should have had more teeth (no pun intended) to it; people who enjoy summer popcorn movies that arrive a few months early

WHO WON’T (OR SHOULDN’T) LIKE THIS MOVIE? People who hated Godzilla (both the Matthew Broderick and Warner Bros. versions) and/or The Legend of Tarzan; those who don’t enjoy monster movies; people who hate b-movie fare

SO, IS IT GOOD, BAD OR ABSOLUTELY AWFUL? A film with an awful 20 minute opening followed by an hour and 40 minutes of salvageable to actually quirky yet entertaining fare, Kong: Skull Island is a summer popcorn movie come a few months early … Because there are a couple of stale kernels mixed in with an otherwise decent bucket of fun.


There are two things that really make Kong: Skull Island fun – and those are the performance of John C. Reilly as an adopted Skull Island “native” and the presence of Kong (who is utilized properly in each instance) as portrayed by Terry Notary. Reilly’s performance is the perfect mix of fun and whimsical, giving the audience a character worth actually rooting for in a film otherwise devoid of one (save for the giant ape). Indeed, while Goodman and Jackson play their respective roles well – you KNOW what you’re getting from both within 30 seconds of seeing them – and Mitchell and Whigham add a nice bit of realistic-based humor, Reilly provides one that truly supplements the film with a sweet one while Kong is shown to only be a monster in stature, not in practice. 


That’s all you pretty much you need to know about the movie … Save for the monstrous inhabitants of the island (Peter Jackson’s take on the king in his 2005 telling of the giant gorilla’s tale is pretty much replicated here, but with a more ominous, Lone Survivor tone) and the tribal natives, Skull Island covers familiar territory. And at times, some of that territory is a bit too familiar for its own good. Save for a more-important-than-you-realize-opening-sequence, the first 20 minutes of the film is bland but necessary exposition, the cast is forced to deliver some overtly-ominous dialogue and despite receiving top billing, Hiddleston and Larson don’t do anything remarkable in their roles as much as just play them efficiently. Throw in director Jordan Vogt-Roberts’ early homages to Michael Bay action movies (there are some sequences in here that seem straight out of Transformers) and you get an entertaining – but at times, mixed – bag. 


In short, Kong: Skull Island is a lot like visiting your local zoo: There’s a lot to like … But when you pass through the monkey house, you’re gonna smell some things you wish you hadn’t before you get to the end. 

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

 

And The Oscar Goes To…

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After last year’s OscarsSoWhite controversy condemned the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, diversity refreshingly steps into the spotlight as the 89th annual Academy Awards honors the best cinema of 2016 Sunday, Feb. 26 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Seven actors and one director of color will compete in the major categories representing a banner year for filmmaking. In an attempt to clean up old voting habits, 683 new members were added to the over 6,000 total membership including production designer Hannah Beachler, a Wright State University alumna. In fact, 46 percent of new members were female while 41 percent represented people of color. More progress should be made (the membership is still 89 percent white and 73 percent male), but the initial effects were noticeable in the nominations and could have greater impact when envelopes are opened.
As always, anything is possible on Oscar night, specifically in terms of the amount of politically-charged acceptance speeches and the suspenseful announcement of best picture. Here are my predictions in the top six categories.
BEST PICTURE
Arrival
Fences
Hacksaw Ridge
Hell or High Water
Hidden Figures
La La Land
Lion
Manchester by the Sea
Moonlight

Overlooked: 13th; 20th Century Women; American Honey; Arrival; Best Worst Thing That Ever Could Have Happened; The Birth of a Nation; Equity; Free State of Jones; Indignation; Jackie; Krisha; The Light Between Oceans; The Lobster; Loving; O.J. Made in America; Miles Ahead; Race; Remember?; Silence; Sing Street

Will Win: La La Land
Should Win: Moonlight

By and large, the Academy got it right. Nine wonderful films have been recognized and deservedly so. Will Hollywood rally to embrace lighthearted escapism (La La Land), the trials and tribulations of the African-American experience (Fences, Hidden Figures, Moonlight), touching stories of redemption and reunion (Lion, Manchester by the Sea), sci-fi contemplativeness (Arrival), or gripping accounts of battle in war (Hacksaw Ridge) and out West (Hell or High Water)? La La Land, a musical love letter to Los Angeles, seems unstoppable thanks to its imaginative originality and colorful fantasy, but if this category is about which film makes the strongest statement for our times, the coming-of-age Moonlight is a daring achievement for African-American cinema that will be studied for decades. Still, watch out for uplifting and inspiring crowd-pleaser Hidden Figures, the highest-grossing nominee raking in $142 million and counting. An upset is within reason.

BEST DIRECTOR
Damien Chazelle, La La Land
Mel Gibson, Hacksaw Ridge
Barry Jenkins, Moonlight
Kenneth Lonergan, Manchester by the Sea
Denis Villeneuve, Arrival

Overlooked: Andrea Arnold, American Honey; John Carney, Sing Street; Don Cheadle, Miles Ahead; Derek Cianfrance, The Light Between Oceans;; Yorgos Lanthimos, The Lobster; Pablo Larrain, Jackie; Ang Lee, Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk; David Mackenzie, Hell or High Water; Theodore Melfi, Hidden Figures; Meera Menon, Equity; Mike Mills, 20th Century Women; Jeff Nichols, Loving; Nate Parker, The Birth of a Nation; James Schamus, Indignation; Martin Scorcese, Silence; Trey Edward Shults, Krisha; Denzel Washington, Fences

Will Win: Chazelle
Should Win: Jenkins

Chazelle’s particularly skillful homages to bygone Hollywood musicals are of a mature pedigree far beyond his years, but the beautiful subtlety and gripping intimacy Jenkins established took realistic storytelling to captivating heights.

BEST ACTOR
Casey Affleck, Manchester by the Sea
Andrew Garfield, Hacksaw Ridge
Ryan Gosling, La La Land
Viggo Mortensen, Captain America
Denzel Washington, Fences

Overlooked: Joe Alwyn, Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk; Don Cheadle, Miles Ahead; Joel Edgerton, Loving; Colin Farrell, The Lobster; Michael Fassbender, The Light Between Oceans; Ralph Fiennes, A Bigger Splash; Ben Foster, Hell or High Water; Andrew Garfield, Silence; Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Snowden;  Tom Hanks, Sully; Alex Hibbert, Moonlight; Tom Hiddleston, I Saw the Light; Stephan James, Race; Logan Lerman, Indignation; Matthew McConaughey, Free State of Jones; Nate Parker, The Birth of a Nation; Chris Pine, Hell or High Water;  Christopher Plummer, Remember?; Trevante Rhodes, Moonlight; Ashton Sanders, Moonlight; Ferdia Walsh-Peelo, Sing Street

Will Win/Should Win: Washington

Last fall, it seemed the splendidly understated Affleck was the clear favorite, but Washington’s dynamic finesse as the scorned and disillusioned Troy Maxson (coupled with the fact that he directed himself) grew too powerful to ignore in the homestretch. Affleck could still prevail, but Washington, in top form, simply delivered one of his most tremendous, roof-raising portrayals, placing him in good standing to become the first African-American actor to win three Oscars and the sixth actor overall to receive three Oscars (joining an illustrious group consisting of Ingrid Bergman, Walter Brennan, Daniel Day-Lewis, Jack Nicholson, and Meryl Streep).

 

BEST ACTRESS
Isabelle Huppert, Elle
Ruth Negga, Loving
Natalie Portman, Jackie
Emma Stone, La La Land
Meryl Streep, Florence Foster Jenkins

Overlooked: Amy Adams, Arrival; Kate Beckinsale, Love & Friendship; Annette Bening, 20th Century Women; Emily Blunt, The Girl on the Train; Jessica Chastain, Miss Sloane; Krisha Fairchild, Krisha; Sally Field, Hello, My Name is Doris; Anna Gunn, Equity; Rebecca Hall, Christine; Taraji P. Henson, Hidden Figures; Sasha Lane, American Honey; Susan Sarandon, The Meddler; Tilda Swinton, A Bigger Splash; Alicia Vikander, The Light Between Oceans; Rachel Weisz, Denial

Will Win: Stone
Should Win: Huppert

All signs point to Stone, the darling of the awards season, for solidifying her triple threat status as aspiring actress Mia, but don’t discount French powerhouse Huppert for her compelling yet tremendously cool portrayal of a video game executive provocatively flirting with danger and desire. After all, the foreign voting block cannot be brushed aside considering British theater veteran Mark Rylance’s upset win last year for best supporting actor in Bridge of Spies against Creed favorite Sylvester Stallone. The sheer breadth of Huppert’s mesmerizing work would be a cinch in a less competitive year, but the immensely likeable Stone, so luminous and heartbreaking, will ride La La Land’s palpable momentum.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Mahershala Ali, Moonlight
Jeff Bridges, Hell or High Water
Lucas Hedges, Manchester by the Sea
Dev Patel, Lion
Michael Shannon, Nocturnal Animals

Overlooked: Jovan Adepo, Fences; Kevin Costner, Hidden Figures; Garrett Hedlund, Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk; Stephen McKinley Henderson, Fences; Andre Holland, Moonlight; Russell Hornsby, Fences; Jeremy Irons, Race; Richard Jenkins, The Hollars; Jharrel Jerome, Moonlight; Nick Kroll, Loving; Yosuke Kubozuka, Silence; Shia LaBeouf, American Honey; Tracy Letts, Indignation; Mark McKenna, Sing Street; Jack Reynor, Sing Street; Timothy Spall, Denial; Patrick Stewart, Green Room; Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Nocturnal Animals; Ben Whishaw, The Lobster; Mykelti Williamson, Fences

Will Win/Should Win: Ali

A truly excellent group. It’s particularly great to see Patel included having missed the cut here for 2008’s Slumdog Millionaire. Bridges, Patel and newcomer Hedges are major threats, but this category belongs to Ali, whose poignant and soulful portrayal of Juan, a drug dealer-turned-unexpected father figure, fuels Moonlight’s pensive magic.

 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Viola Davis, Fences
Naomie Harris, Moonlight
Nicole Kidman, Lion
Octavia Spencer, Hidden Figures
Michelle Williams, Manchester by the Sea

Overlooked: Lucy Boynton, Sing Street; Linda Emond, Indignation; Tyne Daly, Hello, My Name is Doris; Elle Fanning, 20th Century Women; Greta Gerwig, 20th Century Women; Riley Keough, American Honey; Aja Naomi King, The Birth of a Nation; Margo Martindale, The Hollars; Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Free State of Jones and Miss Sloane; Janelle Monae, Hidden Figures; Alysia Reiner, Equity; Kristen Stewart, Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk; Sarah Megan Thomas, Equity; Rachel Weisz, The Light Between Oceans and The Lobster

Will Win/Should Win: Davis

Let’s face it. Davis’ Oscar was probably engraved sometime last month. It’s still shocking she didn’t win for 2011’s The Help. Barring an upset, expect Davis to receive a lengthy standing ovation for her absolutely riveting portrayal of housewife Rose Maxon. Her acceptance speech could be the highlight of the evening. Keep your tissues handy.

The 89th annual Academy Awards, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, will be telecast live Sun. Feb. 26 on ABC at 8:30 p.m.

 

 

FilmDayton invites you to make your Oscar Predictions!

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And the Oscar goes to…

Will the night belong to “Moonlight” or “La La Land”? With 14 nominations, “La La Land” has tied the Oscar nominations record with “All About Eve” and “Titanic.” Will the movie musical sweep the ceremony, matching or surpassing the Oscar record of 11 wins (by “Ben-Hur,” “Titanic” and “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King”)? While unlikely, it’s possible. “La La Land” also breaks other records. It’s the first musical with original music and story to receive a Best Picture nomination since 1979’s “All That Jazz” and 1945’s “Anchors Aweigh.” Ai-Ling Lee and Mildred Iatrou Morgan are the first female team to be nominated for Sound Editing for the film.

You can help support FilmDayton by filling out your online ballot and making a $20 donation to be in the running for our grand prize.

The ballot with the most correct answers will win a 24″ Samsung ‘Smart’ Flat screen TV, compatible Blue Ray DVD player, and a selection of Oscar Winning movies/or films featuring Oscar winners. In the case of a tie, winning ballots will be placed in a box and one winner will randomly drawn. We’ll announce our winner at FilmDayton’s Oscar Watch Party being held at the Historic Plaza Theatre located at 33 S Main St, Miamisburg, Ohio 45342. It’s free to join us to watch the Oscars, but we do request you reserve a ticket online, to make sure we’ll have enough seats for all. The concession stand will be open, we’ll have Oscar Bingo Cards for sale and a raffle to support the works of FilmDayton.

Over the past 25 years, the winner of the “feature film” category at the Directors Guild awards went on to win the Academy Award for best director 21 times. A perennial favorite to watch, Best Actress category once again looks like it’ll be competitive. A surprise win at the Golden Globes put Isabelle Huppert back in the conversation just as it looked like Natalie Portman would be dueling Emma Stone for the prize. Stone’s wins at the Screen Actors Guild Awards and the British Academy of Film and Television Arts have made her the clear leader. The Screen Actors Guild’s choice for best actor has gone on to win at the Academy Awards 18 out of the past 22 years, so that’s the show to watch. Casey Affleck has been cleaning up at the critics awards, but any category with Denzel Washington in it is far from decided.

So whether you’ve seen all the films nominated or not, do a little online research and fill out your ballot online!

 

Centerville Native Wins Award for Beyonce’s Lemonade

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Last night in Hollywood the Art Directors Guild’s held the  21st Annual Excellence in Production Design Awards.  The ADG and IATSE Local 800 announced winners in 11 categories of film, television, commercials and music videos during a black-tie ceremony at the Ray Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood and Highland.  Hosted by Patton Oswaldm “Hidden Figures,” “La La Land,” and “Passengers” won the top feature film awards at Saturday’s Art Directors Guild Awards in Los Angeles.

On a local note, Centerville native and Wright State University graduate Hannah Beachler topped the Awards or Event Special category for Beyoncé’s conceptual music video album Lemonade.  In her

(L-R) Actor Will Forte, Production Designer Hannah Beachler, and Actress Kristen Schaal celebrate at the 21st Annual Art Directors Guild Excellence In Production Design Awards at The Ray Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 11, 2017 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Mathew Imaging/WireImage)

acceptance remarks, Beachler said of Lemonade, “I am so honored to be recognized for this unique project. I loved designing for a strong woman of color [Beyoncé] on such a bold, original artistic expression.”

Lemonade’s storyline centers on the protagonist’s journey from alienation to forgiveness after a partner’s betrayal. Beachler observed that “the biggest challenge creatively was giving the 18th century plantations a modern language. For me, it was about reaching back into a time period that was not a place that holds fondness for African Americans. We wanted to flip it on its head, make it a place of knowledge and peace, which was also the best part about it.”

As for how she got the opportunity to work with Beyoncé on the project, Beachler said, “I worked on a couple commercials in Los Angeles with DP Chayse Irvin and when they decided to come to New Orleans, he threw my name out.  Kahlil Joseph, the director, gave me a call (they did not mention who it was for) and we talked a bit about the project and I was  curious and intrigued, so I signed on.  It wasn’t until I started working that I learned exactly what the project was and who it was with.  It was certainly a nice surprise.”

Beachler has served as a production designer on director Ryan Coogler’s Fruitvale Station, Creed and the upcoming Black Panther. She also handled production design for Miles Ahead, the biopic on jazz great Miles Davis starring, directed and written by Don Cheadle filmed here in Ohio  and was the Production Designer for Moonlight and will be in town this weekend to talk about her experiences on the Oscar nominated film.

 

MOONLIGHT with Special Guest Hannah Beachler!
Sunday, Feb. 19 at Noon at The Neon

Ms. Beachler will be in town this coming Sunday and will be present at  an encore screening of the incredible film MOONLIGHT featuring a special talk-back with the film’s production designer. Hosted by Dr. W. Stuart McDowell, Wright State University Dept. of Theatre, Dance & Motion Pictures.

“A timeless story of human connection and self-discovery, Moonlight chronicles the life of a young black man from childhood to adulthood as he struggles to find his place in the world while growing up in a rough neighborhood of Miami. At once a vital portrait of contemporary African American life and an intensely personal and poetic meditation on identity, family, friendship, and love, Moonlight is a groundbreaking piece of cinema that reverberates with deep compassion and universal truths.”

Tickets just $7.50 each ($5 for WSU students).
Advanced tickets are available now at THE NEON’s box office during traditional operating hours.

2 New Films, 2 “Best Actresses” at THE NEON

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Hello Dayton Most Metro!

We’re moving along in a big way this weekend. If you still need to see LA LA LAND – now the highest grossing film in THE NEON’s history – Thursday will be your last chance to catch it with us. If you still need to see 20TH CENTURY WOMEN, Sunday will be your last chance to catch this gem at THE NEON. On Friday, we will open two very different films that have something in common. JACKIE and ELLE both have lead performances that have been nominated for “Best Actress” at this year’s Academy Awards. Natalie Portman gives an incredible performance as Jackie Kennedy – one that has garnered her numerous awards this season. Isabelle Huppert, one of my favorite actresses, has never been nominated for an Oscar before (which is hard to believe given her stunning body of work) – but she just won “Best Actress” and ELLE also took home “Best Foreign Film” at this year’s Golden Globes.

Showtimes and additional information can be found on our website – www.neonmovies.com …but you can check out the trailers here:

 

In the coming weeks, we have numerous special events – from one time only screenings to our upcoming Oscar Party.  Stay tuned to our website for the latest.

See ya at the movies,

Jonathan

Numerous Oscar Nominations for Films at THE NEON

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Hello Most Metro!

We were all set to move forward with JACKIE this weekend, but the execs at Lionsgate (the distributor for LA LA LAND) were insistent that we hold their hit for another week…and with good reasons. 1) LA LA LAND is still performing well. 2) LA LA LAND just scored the highest number of Oscar nominations ever received – 14 in all (tying with ALL ABOUT EVE and TITANIC). 3) In just under 4 weeks, LA LA LAND has become our #2 “Highest Grossing Film Ever” at THE NEON. Over the course of this upcoming weekend, it will likely move into the #1 spot! All that said, we will hold both LA LA LAND and 20TH CENTURY WOMEN for another week. I know that many of you are anxious to see Natalie Portman’s Oscar-nominated performance, but we promise that JACKIE will open on Feb. 3.

Speaking of Oscars, NEON titles performed very well this year. Past/current films that received nominations are: MOONLIGHT, MANCHESTER BY THE SEA, LOVING, NOCTURNAL ANIMALS, A MAN CALLED OVE, THE LOBSTER, 20TH CENTURY WOMEN, LA LA LAND, and LIFE, ANIMATED. Nominees that are still on their way to us include JACKIE, ELLE, THE RED TURTLE, I AM NOT YOUR NEGRO, TONI ERDMANN, and all of the OSCAR NOMINATED SHORTS (and possibly more). Of all the nominations, a couple “snubs” stood out to me. Annette Bening is absent from the list for 20TH CENTURY WOMEN. The film was recognized for “Best Screenplay,” but her role deserved recognition. Secondly, I was disappointed to not see EAGLE HUNTRESS among the nominations. Though “Best Documentary” is full of heavy hitters, I think this stunning but subtle, quiet film speaks to many issues and deserved more recognition.

For showtimes and descriptions of numerous special events at THE NEON, visit our official site: www.neonmovies.com

We hope to see you soon!

Jonathan

 

Oscar Nominations Are Out And Dayton Is Represented

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This morning at 8:18 am the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the nominees for the 89th annual Academy Awards.

LA LA Land leads the pack with the most nominations- 14 tying the record set by All About Eve in 1950 and Titanic in 1997.  The Miami Valley connection to this movie is John Legend, who served as an Executive Producer as well as an actor in the film.

Neon Manager Jonathan McNeal predicted the success of LA LA Land in his report from the Toronto International Film Festival this past Sept right here on MostMetro:

This splashy, colorful, song-and-dance musical harkens memories of a bygone era of the Hollywood studio system.  But even more, its influence is from one of my favorite musical directors – Jacques Demy.  The opening scene, shot on an L.A. highway, will blow your mind and immediately had me scribble YOUNG GIRLS OF ROCHEFORT in my notes.  Starring Emma Stone (who will clearly be nominated for an Oscar) and Ryan Gosling, this film had me on my feet immediately as the “The End” appeared on screen.  For the rest of the night, melodies swirled in my head and merely walking down the street was accompanied by the film’s infectious score.  I can’t wait to obtain the soundtrack and see the film again! 

Another Oscar nominated film with a Dayton connection is Moonlight.  Nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay,Best Supporting Actor and Actress and Best Cinematography,this film  chronicles the life of a young black man from childhood to adulthood as he struggles to find his place in the world while growing up in a rough neighborhood of Miami.

 

Centerville native Hannah Beachler, who was a Wright State graduate served as the Production Designer for Moonlight. As reported by Refinery 29, the 46-year-old mother of one spends her days mood-boarding whimsical worlds, decorating imaginary homes, offices, and neighborhoods, and working with the director as well as set dressers, hair, makeup, and costume departments to achieve just the right vibes for each story. “Everything you’re seeing on screen is the production designer, outside of the camera work and lighting,” she explains. “I’m basically the architect of a movie’s visuals.”

To see the full list of all nominees click here.

The 2017 Academy Awards will be hosted by Jimmy Kimmel and take place at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood. ABC will broadcast the show live on Sunday, Feb. 26, starting at 7:30 pm. Look for local watch parties at The Neon, Little Art Theatre as well as The Plaza Theater in Miamisburg.

 

Rebel, Jedi, Princess, Queen: Star Wars™ and the Power of Costume

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Take a unique journey into the Star Wars™ universe as characters are brought to life through a dramatic presentation of more than 70 original costumes. Star Wars™ and the Power of Costume will closely examine the captivating process of costume design for iconic outfits featured in all seven films of the Star Wars series—from Queen Amidala’s lavish gowns to Darth Vader’s imposing black armor.

You’ll have your chance to view this collection when it opens  May 25 at the Cincinnati Museum Center.  Advance tickets will go on sale on Feb. 6. For more information visit the website here or call (513) 287-7001.

 

You’ll be able to watch  the designers and actors through several exhibition videos. Learn cultural and historic context as interpreted by Smithsonian scholars. Experience the processes of concept artists and costume designers with interactive encounters. Explore the artistry of the world’s most recognized cinematic costumes, including Queen Amidala, Chewbacca, X-Wing Pilots, and Droids, including C-3PO and R2-D2.

This exhibition goes beyond the chronological, literary, or filmic order often used to chronicle Star Wars. It focuses instead on the creative process, encompassing the essence of George Lucas’ vision and the exciting challenge of translating his iconic characters into a dynamic reality.

Pulled from the collection of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, Star Wars and the Power of Costume is a partnership of the museum, the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES) and Lucasfilm.

LA LA LAND is Huge Hit at THE NEON!

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Hello MostMetro,

We’re very excited at THE NEON.  In less than two weeks, LA LA LAND has become our #5 highest grossing film of all time.  To put that in perspective, every other film in our Top 10 played at THE NEON for at least six weeks…so LA LA LAND has performed exceptionally well.  Many thanks to everyone who has helped to make the end of 2016 and the beginning of 2017 such a success.

This weekend, we are holding both LA LA LAND and MANCHESTER BY THE SEA – both of which are certain to be “Best Picture” contenders during this year’s Oscar Race.

To read about everything that’s happening at THE NEON in the next few weeks (as well as to find showtimes for this weekend), please check out our weekly newsletter by following this LINK.

Many thanks for your support!

Jonathan

 

Young Actors Wanted for ThinkTV Project

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Know someone between the ages of 8 and 12 who might be interested in acting in our new web series, “Anything I Want To Be, A to Z”? Share this information with them:

We need actors between the ages of 8 and 12 to play our A to Z Career Lab team! Interested? The auditions are from 4pm to 7pm January 3, 4 and 5 at our studio at 110 South Jefferson Street.

If you want to audition, email [email protected] with your preferred audition date and bring your 1-minute comedic monologue as well as your headshot and resume, if you have them. We’ll be doing call backs on January 18 and 19 and then shooting between February 11 and 20!

Passengers on a Troubled Interplanetary Flight

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PASSENGERS- Chris Pratt, Jennifer Lawrence take a ride on a less-than-fantastic-but-not-that-bad voyage in Passengers

 
“Man – is THIS where they store all the unsold copies of MOVIE 43 (I was in that, remember?!) Jim (Chris Pratt) and Aurora (Jennifer Lawrence) take in the severity of the challenge facing them in a scene from director Morten Tyldum’s PASSENGERS. Credit: Jaimie Trueblood © 2016 Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. All rights reserved. 

 

WATCH THE TRAILER(S) HERE:


 

KEY CAST MEMBERS: Chris Pratt, Jennifer Lawrence, Michael Sheen, Lawrence Fishburne … and about 5 unnecessary seconds of Andy Garcia

WRITER(S): Jon Spaihts 

DIRECTOR(S): Morten Tyldum

WEB SITE: http://www.passengersmovie.com/HERE’S THE STORY: Jim Preston (Chris Pratt) is like many people – or more accurately, he is like all the other 4,999 passengers and 280+ crew members currently hibernating aboard the Avalon. What is the Avalon? It is a ship run by the Homestead company that is en route to Homestead II, a new colonized planet like several of the others that have popped up in the galaxy following what some consider to be the overcrowding of earth. And given that it will take 120 years to get there, Jim and his fellow passengers/crew should be asleep for awhile.


Jim, however, has woken up unexpectedly about 90 years too soon. Which, as you might imagine, is quite a dilemma.


Discovering that the only other person awake on the ship isn’t a person after all but an android bartender named Arthur (Michael Sheen), Jim is horrified at the prospect of dying alone aboard a ship with no potential help or rescue to be had. That is, however, he discovers the presence of Aurora Lane (Jennifer Lawrence), a writer from New York who was planning to travel to Homestead II for a year, hibernate, and return to earth to write about her experience after all her friends and family are long gone. There’s just one small problem that may complicate Aurora’s plans …


She’s awake now, too – and neither she nor Jim have any idea how to get back to sleep.

WHO WILL LIKE THIS FILM THE MOST? Chris Pratt fans; Michael Sheen fans; Jennifer Lawrence fans happy to have her doing anything that doesn’t involve the word “Hunger;” those who enjoy space travel movies in general and/or the idea of undertaking a journey and then having to overcome a problem; those who find the exploration of Pratt’s character’s life interesting

WHO WON’T (OR SHOULDN’T) LIKE THIS MOVIE? Those who will find the ending as a bit of a romantic drama cop-out; those looking for more of a supernatural/scientific element to the story; people who eviscerate plot holes (or at the very least, scenarios in films that would seem to be ridiculous or at the very least dumb for someone to find themselves in); people who hate what happens to characters of a certain ilk in movies like this all the time; single people who can’t find anyone on earth to spend their lives with

SO, IS IT GOOD, BAD OR ABSOLUTELY AWFUL? “Imagine the movie Gravity with less eye-popping visual, a romantic plot and more upbeat tone.” – That would be the bare-bones way one could summarize Passengers for someone interested in getting a general feel for the film, one which aspires to be inspirational with a “live in the moment message.”


Problem is, it’s final moments kind or blur that message while giving one of that essentially feels like the filmmakers giving in to something familiar and safe to wrap things up.


Pratt, like Lawrence, does an acceptable job in his role as a man facing a serious prospect of dying and dying alone once he awakens far too early on his journey. Unfortunately, the depth of that harrowing experience is offset with montages of general “woe is me” platitudes and conversations with a delightfully glib Michael Sheen. Keep in mind of course that you know what he is going to do about three scenes before he does at every turn and much of the build up that should be building in Passengers often fails to have more than an expected “and here we are” finish. Instead of building, many scenes feel like they are plateauing – a notion that will take away from one’s potential enjoyment. Much the same can be said for Lawrence’s character, which plays out more as a damsel in distress and the force that drives Pratt’s character to mature (and not in a vice-versa, mutual sense). Saying too much about Fishburne’s role would be to give away too much of a story where there is not much to dive too deeply into; all you need to know is that he serves a very specific – and convenient – purpose (a purpose which drove a fellow critic friend hilarious up a proverbial wall at the screening, mind you).Conveniences such as Fishburne’s role are the other major knock on Passengers attempt at smooth sailing, for there are just many things that seem and/or are illogical even in the world in which the film exists. (EVERYONE aboard the ship is asleep?! Not one person was kept awake with the option of going on a shift with another hibernating crew member? The ship is supposed to be this perfect that NOTHING could go wrong? Ever?!) Again, these aren’t enough to completely throw the film off course (pun intended), but they are enough to make one take pause.

But if you’re looking for a movie with two pretty people trying to deliver an inspirational romantic drama, you could do worse than to hitch a ride with Passengers.

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

The Force Returns: Rogue One

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The first stand-alone (kind of) story that is not considered an official episode in the Star Wars canon but one that fits in between episodes III and IV, Rogue One is centered around Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones). Jyn is the daughter of Galen Erso (Mads Mikkelsen), a man who has tried to leave his life as a top weapons engineer for the Empire behind. 

“All right troops … We’ve got to get ready for those after Christmas sales quick!” Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones, center in vest), and Cassian Andor (Diego Luna, in brown jacket) prepare to head out on a mission that may change the galaxy – and their lives – in a scene from ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY. Credit: Film Frame © 2016 Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved.

WATCH THE TRAILER(S) HERE:


 

 

 



KEY CAST MEMBERS: Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Mads Mikkelsen, Forest Whitaker, Ben Mendelsohn, Donnie Yen, Riz Ahmed, Jimmy Smits, Ian McElhinney, Wen Jiang, and the motion capture talents of Alan Tudyk 

WRITER(S): Chris Weitz and Tony Gilroy (screenplay); John Knoll and Gary Whitta (story by) and George Lucas (based on characters created by)

DIRECTOR(S): Gareth Edwards

WEB SITE: http://www.starwars.com/films/rogue-oneHERE’S THE STORY:   Unfortunately for our would-be defector and his family, Orson Krennic (Ben Mendelsohn) is determined to do his job and bring Galen back, which results in a young Jyn having to flee until she is rescued by Saw Gerrera (Forest Whitaker). A former member of the Rebel army, Saw has become deemed an extremist who trusts very few people as he maintains his focus on taking down the Empire by any means necessary despite the great cost to him personally. But while many people are out searching for Jyn and Galen, there is a pilot named Bodhi Rook (Riz Ahmed) that is soon one of the most sought after plans in the galaxy. Why? Because he apparently has seen the Empire’s plans to build a weapon – the infamous Death Star as it is known to longstanding Star Wars fans – capable of wiping out entire planets with just one blast. And since Galen is the man Orson needs to finish building it, it only makes sense why Jyn hasn’t seen her father in 15 years …


But once Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) and K-2SO (performed for motion capture by the versatile Alan Tudyk) come to rescue Jyn in hopes of finding her father first, all the players and their roles come into focus. For if Cassian and K-2SO can’t stop Galen, the Death Star may live up to its name in horrifying fashion … Especially if the Empire gets its way. But what they don’t know, however, is the fact that since a version of the Death Star already exists, the expression “the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry” is about to take on a whole new meaning in a battle for intergalactic supremacy …

WHO WILL LIKE THIS FILM THE MOST? Die-hard Star Wars fans – especially those who love extended battle scenes; little girls who are enjoying the female-friendly expansion of the franchise’s universe; people who love diversity in film;  those who would rather stick with the familiar aspects of the Star Wars universe vs. the newer elements or those from the less-than-stellar prequel trilogy

WHO WON’T (OR SHOULDN’T) LIKE THIS MOVIE? Those who have never cared about the Star Wars franchise as this film won’t make them begin to do so now; casual Star Wars fans who will find it to be more of the same; those who hate films with a lot of long, droll verbal expositions; those who find the film to be full of battle sequences to make up for the lack of character development; anyone who hates a cookie-cutter fed to the audience hero

SO, IS IT GOOD, BAD OR ABSOLUTELY AWFUL? Despite being a long at 2-hours plus epic, Rogue One delivers enough of what Star Wars fans enjoy to make this trip into a galaxy far, far away worthwhile in between episodes.


Rogue One doesn’t really do anything spectacularly well at all; instead, it stays the course by delivering justenough of what fans have come to enjoy to keep things moving in telling the story of how the Rebels were able to get the intelligence needed to later blow up its crowning achievement. Luna is capable enough at hitting his marks as is Jones in providing the Han Solo-like accompaniment to her young Skywalker-esque hero. (Don’t worry – there are no training montages as no Jedi-like training figure is to be found her for young Jyn’s journey.) Character-wise, the highlights are found no in our leads nor Mendelsohn’s rather paint-by-numbers villain but instead in the form of Wen Jiang and Donnie Yen. Whereas Jiang excels in playing the strong, dedicated gun toting soldier Baze Malbus, Yen brings out the strongest emotional connection to the audience as a blind, non-lightsaber toting Jedi* (*it’s never made clear if he truly is or not) who is certain to never forget that the force is with him even when things appear to be at their most bleak.


Throw in some homages to the previous films and cameos by some of the galaxy’s best-known and beloved characters and Rogue One lives up to its billing as a Star Wars story. It would just be a better story if it didn’t feel so familiar as you watch it. Whereas the ways in which our heroes cheat death and then formulate their plans will likely enthrall younger fans, they – just like the extended battle sequences – will feel like familiar territory to older, wiser viewers. It’s not a bad thing, it’s just a “we’re sticking with what we know works so we’re not re-inventing the wheel or in this case, lightsaber” thing.


But it’s a thing that works well enough that it will keep fanboys from going rogue and blasting yet another Lucasfilm production on the Internet in a galaxy far, far closer than the one he created. 
OVERALL RATING (OUT OF FOUR POSSIBLE BUCKETS OF POPCORN):