On Screen Dayton

Miami Valley Actor Appears in Christmas Themed Film BELIEVE- Opening Nationwide Today.

December 2, 2016 By Dayton Most Metro

scOtt summitt

Miami Valley native scOtt summitt represents the Gem City on the silver screen this holiday when he appears in the upcoming feature film BELIEVE, opening across the nation this December.

“I play a character named Charlie,” summitt says. “He’s a salt of the earth, no nonsense kind of fellow. A simple man with a big heart. He’s the right hand man to the lead character in his journey towards finding his hope again.”

The film was shot in Bristol and Grundy, Virginia earlier this year and completed post- production in Los Angeles in time for its December holiday release.

While the film has a holiday theme to it, summitt says the movie has an inspiring story that resonates with a lot of people and families.

“I really like the message of the film,” summitt explains. “The story’s about finding one’s hope during troubling times. It also touches on subjects like unemployment and homelessness, which provides a very timely and realistic backdrop for the story.”

Ryan O’Quinn, the star and one of the executive producers of the faith-based film, and writer- director Billy Dickson watched multiple casting auditions before seeing summitt’s audition submission for their project.

“We saw actors from New Orleans to New York and everywhere in between,” O’Quinn says. “In my opinion, one of the standouts was scOtt summitt.”

summitt’s casting came quickly via a self tape audition submitted through his talent agency.

“It was wild because it happened so fast,” summitt says. “My agent sent me the casting info on a Sunday night, I taped & submitted my scenes on Monday morning, and got the call that same evening. All within 24 hours! Later that week, I was in Bristol, Virginia for a month long shoot on the film.”

“His ability to authentically play the everyman character was a perfect compliment to my character and his genuine delivery in the film is truly a standout performance,” O’Quinn says of his co-star. “I enjoyed every minute on set with scOtt and look forward to any opportunity to work with him again.”

summitt, who grew up in the northern suburb of Vandalia, credits Dayton for giving him his unofficial start in the motion picture business.

“I’ve always loved movies since I was young, and you can say I cut my teeth on making movies growing up in Dayton,” summitt says.

“I used to shoot little films with the neighborhood kids on my Dad’s Super 8 camera,” summitt remembers. “Fantasy, spy films, silly stuff mostly. Nothing that would win any Oscars, but it certainly helped me to learn the process of film-making from the ground up.” believe_poster

The Christmas-themed film is written, produced and directed by Billy Dickson and stars Ryan O’Quinn (DAD DUDES, ALIAS, THAT THING YOU DO), Shawnee Smith (ANGER MANAGEMENT, BECKER), Danielle Nicolet (CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE), Isaac Ryan Brown (BLACKISH, HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER), Kevin Sizemore (FEAR THE WALKING DEAD, WOODLAWN), and David DeLuise (WIZARDS OF WAVERLY PLACE).

BELIEVE opens in theaters nationwide
on Friday, December 2nd.

About scOtt summitt:

scOtt summitt* is a professional actor and a proud member of SAG-AFTRA. Raised in Dayton, he has worked in theatre, film, television, regional commercials, web series, and improv comedy in LA and the Midwest. Upcoming projects include roles in the feature film BELIEVE, the upcoming mockumentary film BOY BAND, and the upcoming Comedy Central series DETROITERS in 2017.

Additional acting credits can be found on his IMDb page: www.imdb.me/scOttsummitt For information about scOtt, visit his acting website at www.scOttsummitt.com.

MAN CALLED OVE Returns and LOVING & MOONLIGHT Stay at THE NEON!

December 1, 2016 By Jonathan McNeal

Hello Everyone!

Thanksgiving weekend was bustling at THE NEON. Many thanks to everyone who came out to support our two award-winning films. Speaking of awards, we were very happy to read about MOONLIGHT cleaning up at the Gotham Awards this week (the first big awards of the season). Over the past two years, the Gotham Awards have predicted the Oscar for “Best Picture” (SPOTLIGHT and BIRDMAN)…thus we think MOONLIGHT will continue to be a major player this year.

We will hold both LOVING and MOONLIGHT for another week. In addition, we have one more treat to rotate back into the mix – A MAN CALLED OVE. We had to let go of OVE last week because we had other commitments…but now, due to popular demand and the fact that we have space, we’re bringing OVE back for a handful of screenings. Don’t let it slip by!

This Saturday will mark the beginning of the Family Holiday Film Series . On Saturdays in December, we’ll present films that are suitable for the entire family – sponsored by The Dayton Holiday Festival, Channel 99.9 and THE NEON. These films are FREE for children 12 and under and only $2 for general admission. On December 3 at Noon, we’ll screen ARTHUR CHRISTMAS . On December 10, we’ll screen HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS – starring Jim Carrey. And lastly, on December 17, we’ll screen the holiday classic IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE (the big screen is the best way to see it). Please spread the word with your friends and neighbors…we’d like to see packed auditoriums each week.

Our friends at 4Mary.org have two more screenings of APPARITION HILL on the books. “Join 4Mary.Org for a night at the movies! A few years ago, 4Mary.Org organized screenings of the independent film THE TRIUMPH, and it was a terrific success. Now, from the same director, comes the new feature film APPARITION HILL about an unlikely group of pilgrims who journey to the same little-known village of Medjugorje. Two screenings remain: Thurs Dec 8 at 7:30pm and Mon Dec 12 at 7:30pm. Tickets are $10 each and are only available online via this LINK. All proceeds benefit the 4Mary Youth Pilgrimage to Fatima in 2017. For more info, contact [email protected]” (taken from press notes) To watch a trailer for this film, click this LINK.

We just received permission to have a preview screening of NOCTURNAL ANIMALS on Thursday, December 8 at 7:30. This was one of my “Top 3” films at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival. It’s a stylish and dark thriller from famous fashion designer Tom Ford, and I’m so glad we’re able to bring it to town. (My other 2 favorites from the festival were MOONLIGHT and LA LA LAND.) I’ll provide more details about this film in next week’s newsletter.

Don’t forget that we offer NEON Gift Certificates in $5 and $10 denominations – perfect for all of the film lovers in your life! Gift certificates are available in our lobby during traditional hours of operation.

Thanks for your continued support!
We hope to see you soon,
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Tuesday, Nov. 29 – Thursday, Dec. 8:

MOONLIGHT (R) 1 Hr 50 Min
Tues day – Thursday (Nov 29-Dec 1): 2:45, 5:15, 7:45
Friday & Saturday (Dec 2 & 3): 2:30, 7:30, 9:50
Sunday (Dec 4): 2:30, 7:30
Monday – Wednesday (Dec 5-7): 5:15, 7:45
Thursday (Dec 8): 5:15

LOVING (PG-13) 2 Hrs 3 Min
Tuesday – Thursday (Nov 29-Dec 1): 2:30, 5:10, 7:40
Friday & Saturday (Dec 2 & 3): 11:40, 2:10, 4:45, 7:20, 9:45
Sunday (Dec 4): 11:40, 2:10, 4:45, 7:20
Monday – Wednesday (Dec 5-7): 2:30, 5:10, 7:40
Thursday (Dec 8): 2:30, 5:10

A MAN CALLED OVE (PG-13) 1 Hr 56 Min
Friday (Dec 2): 12:00, 5:00
Saturday (Dec 3): 5:00
Sunday (Dec 4): 12:00, 5:00
Monday – Thursday (Dec 5-8): 2:45

ARTHUR CHRISTMAS (PG) 1 Hr 37 Min
Saturday: Noon

APPARITION HILL (PG-13) 1 Hr 55 Min
Thursday: 7:30

NOCTURNAL ANIMALS (R) 1 Hr 56 Min
Thursday: 7:30

COMING SOON:
(All Dates Are Tentative. Dates Often Move And Sometimes Disappear.)
Dec 8 – NOCTURNAL ANIMALS
TBD – MANCHESTER BY THE SEA
TBD – LA LA LAND
TBD – LION
TBD – EAGLE HUNTRESS
TBD – ELLE
Jan 27 – JACKIE

Bad Santa 2 – The Perfect Holiday Film?

November 24, 2016 By Tabari McCoy

Despicable people doing humorous things makes for raunchy fun in Bad Santa 2

“So … Just tell me: Did they REALLY cut that guy’s foot off in that one episode of Mad Men?!” Diane (Christina Hendricks) glares at Willie Soke (Billy Bob Thornton, center) as his literal partner-in-crime Marcus (Tony Cox) does the same in a scene from BAD SANTA 2. Credit: Jan Thijs for Broad Green Pictures/Miramax © 2016 Santamax Distribution, LLC. All rights reserved.

WATCH THE TRAILER(S) HERE:

KEY CAST MEMBERS: Billy Bob Thornton, Kathy Bates, Tony Cox, Christina Hendricks, Brett Kelly, Jenny Zigrino, Jeff Skowron and Ryan Hansen

WRITER(S): Johnny Rosenthal and Shauna Cross (screenplay); Glenn Ficarra and John Requa (based on characters created by)

DIRECTOR(S): Mark Waters

WEB SITE: http://www.badsanta2.com/HERE’S THE STORY: Willie Soke (Billy Bob Thornton) is tired of being a loser. To hear him tell it, he was born a loser, has been living like a loser and is ready to die a loser – which is why he’s about to kill himself in the motel he’s been living in. But just as he’s in the act of doing it, his old buddy Thurman Merman (Brett Kelly) – the kid turned now 21 year old sandwich maker who took to him as his adopted dad – walks in, not knowing what Willie is doing.

Soon thereafter, Willie gets reacquainted with another old face in the form of Marcus Skidmore (Tony Cox), his height-challenged criminal associate that he hasn’t spoken to in quite some time. Then again, when someone tries to kill you, you really don’t expect to keep in touch with them. As it turns out, however, Marcus has a big score lined up with a Chicago benefactor that needs Willie’s safecracking skills. Reluctantly going along with the plan, Willie is beyond upset when he finds out who the benefactor is: His mother Sunny (Kathy Bates), a criminal in her own right planning on ripping off the charity she’s been working for after getting out of prison. Sure, the plan might involve Marcus and Willie buddying up to Diane (Christina Hendricks), wife of the charity’s founder Regent Hastings (Ryan Hansen) and their top female security guard Gina de Luca (Jenny Zigrino) … But when there’s $2 million to be had for the taking, you do what you gotta do, right?

Which includes not killing each other … At least not with anything other than insults.

WHO WILL LIKE THIS FILM THE MOST? People who enjoyed the first film; anyone who loves off-color humor and plenty of it, especially of a sexual nature; those who like a film that doesn’t fit the mainstream but has an actual story that works from start to finish; Kathy Bates fans

WHO WON’T (OR SHOULDN’T) LIKE THIS MOVIE? People who hated the first film; those who feel that anything Christmas/holiday related should NOT be associated with anything crass, lewd and/or potentially offensive; those who feel like the film does not take alcoholism or depression seriously; activists who might view the film as promoting the verbal abuse of little people

SO, IS IT GOOD, BAD OR ABSOLUTELY AWFUL? The rare comedy sequel that surpasses the original in terms of both its storytelling, its comedy and – in this case, it’s downright disgraceful behavior – Bad Santa 2 is the perfect holiday film for anyone looking to watch bad people behaving even worse … And laugh all time they do it.

Make no mistake: Bad Santa 2 is as ribald as a rated “R” comedy can be these days, so if you are easily offended or watch the trailers and go ‘This doesn’t seem to be be for me,’ stick with that assessment. As anyone familiar with the first film might expect, Thornton’s performance in Bad Santa 2 is filled with all the crustiness, acerbic/sarcastic nature and yet, when faced with the optimism and innocence of Thurman, desire to do the right thing (in all the most wrong ways possible). Of course, one could say the same can be said for Cox and Bates as the three sling jokes with equivalency of heavyweight boxers in the 1970s. Whereas Thornton and Cox dish out insults throw profane insults at each other left and right, Bates more than holds her own, delivering crushing truths no proper mother would ever say to her son and discourse that would make even the most respectful man consider domestic violence.

Not to be left out, Hendricks and Zigrino get down in their own dirty ways, the former as a sexually frustrated wife and Jenny Zigrino as a security guars with a VERY specific fetish of her own that plays for big laughs. (To say more about it would be to give too much away.) However, the x factor that keeps you from feeling horrible about enjoying watching so many terrible people be, well, terrible is the performance of Kelly as the adorably naive Thurman. Ever an optimist who simply does not understand evil, bad or indecent things, Thurman is the one positive figure in the film who represents all of the things that one is supposed to appreciate about life – a fact not lost on Thornton’s character (and in turn, the audience). While in almost any other situation Thurman’s character would be a completely annoying caricature, Kelly hits his beats with precision to make it all come together.

At least, it all comes together as best one could hope for a film loaded with explicit language, sexual situations, politically incorrect, well, everything, drug and alcohol abuse … And quite possibly the world’s worst mother and son.

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

Cleaning House – 2 New Films & MOONLIGHT (aka Oscar Season) News at THE NEON!

November 8, 2016 By Jonathan McNeal

Hello Everyone!

We’re going completely international this weekend with two exciting, new films – both of which we didn’t think we’d be able to accommodate but many of you have been asking about. At last we’re able to move forward with a film based on the beloved, international bestseller A MAN CALLED OVE as well as the new film from Park Chan-wook – THE HANDMAIDEN (based on the British novel FINGERSMITH). If you still need to see CHRISTINE, CERTAIN WOMEN or KING COBRA, Thursday will be your last chance to see them at THE NEON.

Synopsis for A MAN CALLED OVE: “Stepping from the pages of Fredrik Backman’s international best-selling novel, Ove is the quintessential angry old man next door. An isolated retiree with strict principles and a short fuse, who spends his days enforcing block association rules that only he cares about, and visiting his wife’s grave, Ove has given up on life. Enter a boisterous young family next door who accidentally flattens Ove’s mailbox while moving in and earning his special brand of ire. Yet from this inauspicious beginning an unlikely friendship forms and we come to understand Ove’s past happiness and heartbreaks. What emerges is a heartwarming tale of unreliable first impressions and the gentle reminder that life is sweeter when it’s shared. One of Sweden’s biggest locally-produced box office hits ever, director Hannes Holm finds the beating heart of his source material and Swedish star Rolf Lassgard, whose performance won him the Best Actor award at the 2016 Seattle International Film Festival, affectingly embodies the lovable curmudgeon Ove.” (Music Box Films) THE NEW YORK TIMES called this film “cinematic comfort food,” and I think our audiences are going to love it!

Synopsis for THE HANDMAIDEN: “From PARK Chan-wook, the celebrated director of OLDBOY, LADY VENGEANCE and STOKER, comes a ravishing new crime drama. PARK presents a gripping and sensual tale of two women – a young Japanese Lady living on a secluded estate, and a Korean woman who is hired to serve as her new handmaiden, but is secretly plotting with a conman to defraud her of a large inheritance. Inspired by the novel Fingersmith by British author Sarah Waters, THE HANDMAIDEN borrows the most dynamic elements of its source material and combines it with PARK Chan-wook’s singular vision to create an unforgettable viewing experience.” (Magnolia Pictures) Click this LINK to visit the film’s official site.

For descriptions and showtimes of any current attractions, please visit our website at www.neonmovies.com

The past 30 days have seen whirlwinds of visiting artists and amazing screenings. From The Dayton LGBT Film Fest to TORREY PINES and this Saturday’s incredible screening of SHORTBUS, I couldn’t be more happy with what we’ve been able to achieve right here in Dayton, Ohio. Many thanks to everyone who has supported these incredible events!

Don’t forget about this Thursday’s special screening. Dayton Tech Guide & Launch Runner are joining forces to bring GENERATION STARTUP to town for a one-time screening on Thursday, Nov. 10 at 5:30. “GENERATION STARTUP takes us to the front lines of entrepreneurship in America, capturing the struggles and triumphs of six recent college graduates who put everything on the line to build startups in Detroit…” Click this LINK to reserve your ticket on the official tugg website. If tickets remain on the day of the screening, we will be able to sell them at our box office starting one hour before the show.

Our friends at 4Mary.org are bringing APPARITION HILL to Dayton. “Join 4Mary.Org for a night at the movies! A few years ago, 4Mary.Org organized screenings of the independent film THE TRIUMPH, and it was a terrific success. Now, from the same director, comes the new feature film APPARITION HILL about an unlikely group of pilgrims who journey to the same little-known village of Medjugorje. Three screenings have been scheduled at THE NEON: Mon Nov 21 at 7:30pm, Thurs Dec 8 at 7:30pm, and Mon Dec 12 at 7:30pm. Tickets are $10 each and are only available online via this LINK. All proceeds benefit the 4Mary Youth Pilgrimage to Fatima in 2017. For more info, contact [email protected]” (taken from press notes) To watch a trailer for this film, click this LINK.

And now for some great news! MOONLIGHT is set to open on Nov. 18. This incredible film was one of my “Top 3” films at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival…and it is one of the absolute best reviewed films of the year. I think this film clearly marks the beginning of Oscar Season, and we’ve been able to secure a preview screening on Thursday, Nov. 17 at 7:40. Tickets will be on sale this weekend. Visit the film’s OFFICIAL WEBSITE to learn all about it.

It’s almost time for the Family Holiday Film Series. On Saturdays in December, we’ll present films that are suitable for the entire family…for only $2 a ticket (and FREE for children 12 and under). I’ll provide more details in next week’s newsletter.

Thanks so much for your continued support!

We hope to see you soon,
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Tuesday, Nov. 8 – Thursday, Nov. 17:

CERTAIN WOMEN (R) 1 Hr 47 Min
Monday-Thursday (Nov 8-10): 2:50, 7:30
FINAL DAY – Nov. 10!

CHRISTINE (R) 1 Hr 55 Min
Tuesday, Wednesday (Nov 8 & 9): 2:45, 5:20, 7:50
Thursday (Nov 10): 2:45, 7:50
FINAL DAY – Nov. 10!

KING COBRA (NR) 1 Hr 31 Min
Tuesday-Thursday (Nov 8-10): 5:20
FINAL DAY – Nov. 10!

GENERATION STARTUP (NR) 1 Hr 33 Min
Thursday (Nov 10): 5:30
One Screening Only!

A MAN CALLED OVE (PG-13) 1 Hr 56 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday (Nov 11-13): 12:00, 2:30, 5:00, 7:30
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday (Nov 14-16): 2:45, 5:15, 7:40
Thursday (Nov 17): 2:45, 5:15

THE HANDMAIDEN (NR) 2 Hrs 25 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday (Nov 11-13): 1:00, 4:00, 7:00
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday (Nov 14-16): 3:30, 7:15
Thursday (Nov 17): 3:30

MOONLIGHT (R) 1 Hr 50 Min
Thursday (Nov 17) – Preview Screening – 7:40

COMING SOON:
(All Dates Are Tentative. Dates Often Move And Sometimes Disappear.)
Nov. 23 – LOVING
Dec. 21 – LION
TBD – EAGLE HUNTRESS
TBD – NOCTURNAL ANIMALS
TBD – LA LA LAND
TBD – MANCHESTER BY THE SEA
TBD – JACKIE

Marvel’s Sorcerer Supreme Arrives on the Big Screen in Magic Fashion

November 4, 2016 By Tabari McCoy

“This window needs to be cleaned … But I ain’t gonna be the one to do it!” Benedict Cumberbatch stars as the titular character in a scene from director Steve Derrickson’s take on Marvel’s “sorcerer supreme,” DOCTOR STRANGE. Credit: Jay Maidment © 2016 Marvel Studios. All rights reserved.

WATCH THE TRAILER(S) HERE:

KEY CAST MEMBERS: Benedict Cumberbatch, Chitewel Ejiofor, Tilda Swinton, Mads Mikkelsen, Benedict Wong, Rachel MacAdams and Benjamin Bratt

WRITER(S): Jon Spaith, C. Robert Carghill and Steve Derrickson (screenplay); Stan Lee and Steve Ditko (Comic book characters on which the film is based)DIRECTOR(S): Steve Derrickson

WEB SITE: http://marvel.com/doctorstrangepremiereHERE’S THE STORY: The first “new” character (not new if you are a fan of the comic book) in Marvel Studios Phase Three plan, Doctor Strange stars Benedict Cumberbatch as Steven Strange, a renowned neurosurgeon. Working alongside his on-again, off-again girlfriend Christine (Rachel McAdams), Strange is as skilled as he is full of himself – which is to say very.

Then, he crashes his expensive sports car in an accident that shreds his divine tools (his hands) to pieces, leaving both his career and his life in shambles.

Desperate to save his life’s work, Strange seeks out treatment from just about everyone he can think to no avail, each attempt leaving him more bitter and broken. It’s only then that he happens to hear about and then seek out Johnathan Pangborn (Benjamin Bratt), a once paralyzed man who miraculously is not only no longer paralyzed, but back to playing pick-up basketball at a local park. Pangborn tells him about a mysterious place in Nepal that may be able to help him, leaving Strange to spend his last dime to travel there in search or refuge. But once he’s there, Strange discovers just how strange the place he has come is compared to anything he has ever encountered before.

Meeting up with a bald woman known simply as “The Ancient One” (Tilda Swinton) and her main assistants Wong (Benedict Wong) and Mordo (Chitewel Ejiofor), Strange undergoes a major transformation that, while it does not affect his hands in the way he foresees, affects his understaning of the world and his place in it forever.

And that’s a good thing, especially since Kaecillius (Mads Mikkelsen) – a.k.a. The Ancient One’s former apprentice – has taken his knowledge of her teachings and plans to apply them for a very nefarious purpose …

WHO WILL LIKE THIS FILM THE MOST? Benedict Cumberbatch fans; people who will enjoy the Inception-like scene shape shifting; those who generally enjoy Marvel films

WHO WON’T (OR SHOULDN’T) LIKE THIS MOVIE? Those who feel the film is a bit “whitewashed” or, ironically, too ethnically diversified given the actors playing certain roles in the film that were not those ethnicities in the comic; religious people who feel the film dives too much into things like the black arts, etc.

SO, IS IT GOOD, BAD OR ABSOLUTELY AWFUL? A Marvel origin story film that actually focuses on developing its lead character well to the point you almost crave some more information about the secondary characters, Doctor Strange is another win for the premier comic book movie studio.

Cumberbatch fully throws himself into the character of Steven Strange, giving him a complete evolution, if you will, as man who goes from arrogant, self-serving should-be hero to humbled, thrust into action actual hero. While that story in and of itself is nothing new, Cumberbatch delivers a needed mix of ego, humor and disbelief along his journey, which makes his character’s eventual 360 transformation believable, honest and most importantly given his character’s nature, smart. His responses to his situation are completely normal, a factor which is important in making the character believable and both heroic as he does progress. While Swinton and Ejiofor deliver solid performances in their supporting roles as the guides of Strange’s journey – Wong, however, is hilarious in his role – it is Cumberbatch who succeeds in channeling the story through him in a fashion that thoroughly works. This is a movie about a man’s journey on the road to becoming a hero, not a good guy vs. bad guy movie and the film plays out that way. While one could argue all superhero origin stories are that way, Doctor Strange digs deep into its protagonist’s life with the action sequences only existing when feeling necessary and not because he quote-unquote “kicks ass.”

While the beginning of the film may have a bit of a slower pace atypical of most Marvel films, Director Scott Derrickson deserves a good amount of credit for making the mystical world of Doctor Strange accessible for the non-comic book viewer, breaking down the things that need to be for the casual observer while leaving enough insider nods for the die hard fan. While the talk of magic, mystic arts and the like might be a bit much at first, the strength of the tale told under Derrickson’s director will start to hook you before eventually delivering a satisfying cinematic experience.

Then again, Marvel’s been making movie magic with that formula now for years, so why would they stop doing it now?

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

McCoy on Movies: The Girl On The Train

October 7, 2016 By Tabari McCoy

“Man, I should have just taken an Uber to work … But then again, ‘The girl in the Uber’ just doesn’t have the same ring to it!” Rachel (Emily Blunt) peers out as she passes the home of the seemingly perfect couple … Only to discover something completely unexpected in a scene from director Tate Taylor’s take on the best-selling novel THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN. Credit: DreamWorks Pictures © 2016 Storyteller Distribution Co.

WATCH THE TRAILER(S) HERE:

KEY CAST MEMBERS: Emily Blunt, Rebecca Ferguson, Haley Bennett, Justin Theroux, Luke Evans, Allison Janney, Edgar Ramirez, Lisa Kudrow and Laura Prepon

WRITER(S): Erin Cressida Wilson (screenplay); Paula Hawkins (based on the novel by)DIRECTOR(S): Tate Taylor

WEB SITE: http://www.thegirlonthetrainmovie.com/HERE’S THE STORY: Based on the book of the same name, The Girl on the Train stars Emily Blunt as Rachel, a divorcee who still not over her ex Tom (Justin Theroux), who has since moved on to marry and have a child with Anna (Rebecca Ferguson). A recovering alcoholic, Rachel has been staying with her friend Cathy (Laura Prepon) for the past 2 years trying to get back on her feet, which mostly consists of her riding the train from the suburbs into Manhattan Monday–Friday.

The most exciting part of Rachel’s existence, though, is the part of her train ride that passes by a seemingly perfect couple of Scott Hipwell (Luke Evans) and his wife Megan (Haley Bennett). Seeing Megan embrace Scott on weekly if not daily basis, Rachel is fascinated by the woman she sees as still having the life she lost in her divorce, a part of herself she can’t imagine ever getting back. Then, one day, she sees Megan kissing a different man who turns out to be Dr. Kamal Abdic (Edgar Ramirez), who also just so happens to be Megan’s therapist. Becoming more and more obsessed with Megan while trying to deal with losing her old relationship, Rachel finds herself in a precarious position once she sees Megan walking one day into a tunnel, determined to confront her about her apparent affair.

But what Rachel doesn’t know is while she thinks the woman she has been obsessing over has such a perfect existence, the truth of Megan’s life is revealed one moment at a time … All of which comes to a head the moment Rachel decides to follow her into the tunnel …

WHO WILL LIKE THIS FILM THE MOST? Fans of thrillers; Emily Blunt fans; those who enjoy watching films that delve into the lives of damaged characters and watching how to they try to piece together their existence; people who like stories with twists

WHO WON’T (OR SHOULDN’T) LIKE THIS MOVIE? Recovering alcoholics; women in abusive relationships; depressed people who obsesses over strangers; people who hate films that have slow pacing; anyone who can’t buy into the film’s story

SO, IS IT GOOD, BAD OR ABSOLUTELY AWFUL? A film that could be best described in some way as a spiritual cousin to Gone Girl, The Girl on the Train is a thriller that delivers emotionally-strong performances to satisfy those looking for twisty “what’s going on here” tale … Even if there are times the film’s slow pace and twisty tale.

Blunt captures the essence of Rachel with skilled acumen, a necessity in a film of this type with so many slow reveals. Weaving between the present and the past, The Girl on the Train requires an actresses able to not only showcase the best and worst of times in Rachel’s life but also how she is unable to cope with her own life when she knows she’s being self-destructive. Blunt truly shows her skill as an actress in revealing and showing all of these various aspects of Rachel to bring out sympathy and empathy to her character as she tries to make sense of the world around her.

Likewise, Bennett does an extraordinary job at stripping away the supposed perfect image that Blunt’s character constructs, bringing the “the grass is NOT always greener” cliché out to full blossom. While possessing all the physical attributes Rachel rambles about and wishes she still possessed, Bennett brings out a sadness in her character that shows how much in common the two women have. Of course, this helps act as fine balancing line between the two to keep the film’s emotional undercurrent steady. While Ferguson’s performance accomplishes what needs to be done to move the story forward, it isn’t exactly as memorable as Blunt or Bennett’s, which provide an emotionally necessary juxtaposition. The guys in the film fit in like jigsaw pieces to fill in the bigger picture, but they fit into the story well enough to hit all the necessary beats.

The only problem is sometimes the beats take a bit too long to get to under director Tate Taylor (The Help, Winter’s Bone) as there are some scenes that feel a bit jumbled in terms of the timeline and fitting into the big reveal of the text. Other than that, the film hits more often than it misses and delivers tension, emotion and intrigue. If nothing else, The Girl on the Train will make you think twice about your daily commute, the people you see and the lives you believe they may or may not live.

It will also make a lot of dudes think twice about not protecting their passwords.

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

McCoy On Movies: The Magnificent Seven

September 21, 2016 By Tabari McCoy

Denzel Washington and Chris Pratt star in director Antoine Fuqua’s take on one of the most revered Westerns of all-time … But does the 2016 version of The Magnificent Seven live up to its name?

“All right, enough with the Mr. Ed jokes, fellas – just ride the doggone horse!” From left to right: Byung-hun Lee, Ethan Hawke, Manual Garcia-Rulfo, Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt, Vincent D’Onofrio and Martin Sensmeier star in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s and Columbia Pictures’ THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN. Credit: Sam Emerson. © 2016 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and Columbia Pictures Industries. All rights reserved.

WATCH THE TRAILER(S) HERE:

KEY CAST MEMBERS: Byung-hun Lee, Chris Pratt, Denzel Washington, Ethan Hawke, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Martin Sensmeier, Peter Sarsgaard, Vincent D’Onofrio, Haley Bennett, Matt Bomer and Luke Grimes

WRITER(S): Akira Kurosawa, Shinobu Hashimoto and Hideo Oguni (based on the original screenplay by); Richard Wenk and Nic Pizzolatto (screenplay)DIRECTOR(S): Antoine Fuqua

WEB SITE: http://www.mag7live.comHERE’S THE STORY: A multi-cultural remake/re-invisioning of the 1960 classic – itself a remake of the Japanese film Seven Samurai – the 2016 edition of The Magnificent Seven stars Denzel Washington as Sam Chisholm. Chisholm is a bounty hunter with government certification who finds himself in the sights of Emma Cullen (Haley Bennett). Cullen is the wife of Matthew (Matt Bomer), who is one of the victims of Bartholomew Bogue (Peter Sarsgaard), a gold mining magnate of the most villainous degree. And in 1879, a man of Bogue’s stature is one that one generally does not mess with, at least not without knowing that retribution will be swift and definitely coming.

Seeing her husband and her town of Rose Creek suffering under the vise-like grip of Bogue, Cullen sets out to find someone that might be able to help stop his reign of terror – and that’s where Chisholm comes in. For he is the man Cullen tracks down to help her save Rose Creek, but he knows he can’t do it alone.

This is why he recruits a team of randy soldiers to help him in battle. This includes: gambler/card trickster Joshua Faraday (Chris Pratt), gentle mountain man Jack Horne (Vincent D’Onofrio), wanted Mexican outlaw Vasquez (Maneul Garcia-Rulfo), reformed Confederate soldier Goodnight Robicheaux (Ethan Hawke) and his Asian partner in gun – and knife fights – Billy Rocks (Byung-hun Lee) and Native American warrior/raw meat enthusiast Red Harvest (Martin Sensmeier), who was told by his elders that “his path is different.” Knowing they only have a week to train before Bogue returns from Sacramento to attempt to wipe out the whole town, Chisholm and his men try to get the town – and much to his chagrin, a very determined Mrs. Cullen – ready to fight.

Considering they will truly be in a fight for their lives, they’re going to need all the help and training time they can get.

WHO WILL LIKE THIS FILM THE MOST? Denzel Washington and Chris Pratt fans; people who like action films that focus on story development and strong female characters; those who enjoy well-done good vs. evil stories even if they are somewhat predictable at times.

WHO WON’T (OR SHOULDN’T) LIKE THIS MOVIE? People who hate remakes; people who can’t get buying into the film’s multiracial cast being set together in 1879; those who dislike excessive violence, which this movie has in spades; those who feel like they are over Washington’s cool, calm and collected thing and Pratt’s boyish charm thing

SO, IS IT GOOD, BAD OR ABSOLUTELY AWFUL? The cliché says you are never supposed to judge a book by its cover, or, in a movie’s case, by its trailer and cast. Then again, given how many clichés one can find in the western genre, you could possibly be forgiven for doing that in the case of The Magnificent Seven.

For when a project is done as well as director Antoine Fuqua’s affair is, the first glance is the right glance if it makes you think it is a pretty magnificent movie.

Seven isn’t one of those remakes that tries to re-invent the wheel as much as it attempts to simply nails each one of its beats exceptionally well to the point that if you are not a die hard fan of the original – it is in the Library of Congress’ film preservation archive, after all – this one will suit you quite nicely.Washington does his usual superb job of bringing his subtle-yet-focused swagger to the role of Chisholm, a man whose motivations for accepting the job are not fully detailed until the film’s climatic moments. Likewise, Pratt wields his boyish/devilish charm to the hilt, making his upbeat yet skilled gunslinger effective as needed to balance out Washington’s unflinching demeanor. You get exactly what you anticipate from the two leading men in leading men roles, fortunately without any cliché-in-a-non-entertaining-because-it-just-doesn’t-feel-organic fashion moments.

The rest of our would be heroes likewise hit their marks, adding a unique flavor to the mix that never feels as forced as one might fear it may, Sensmeier and Lee especially as each plays their role with nothing but a stoic pride, reverence and relevance. While their characters are supposed to be a rag-tag group of fighters, there is nothing that feels unnatural about their work together. When you have badasses that know they are badasses, it’s much better to have them simply show they are badasses than to have them repeatedly say they are (think every 80s action movie starring men now in their 60s).

Bennett shows a solid turn as a strong female character, exhibiting a balance between wife pushed to her limits and woman in a harsh time (and even harsher environment). While there are times she almost feels a bit too put upon, but she does her best to rise above the near one-note (but somewhat needed) nature of her character. Sarsgaard turns in his finest villainous turn to date because he does the thing many actors fail to do in villainous roles: Embrace the fact they are the pure embodiment of pain, torture and despair that will stop at nothing to accomplish their goals. Instead of being an after thought that fails to live up to his ominous presence, Sarsgaard makes sure that you know there will be no stopping him and that he has not one ounce of remorse in his being – and that’s what a good villain does.

Director Antoine Fuqua of course deserves credit for making all of his moving pieces fit together, which, given the star power involved, was obviously not an easy task. As stated above, each actor makes the most of their moment en route to reaching their individual destinies, which is just all you can ask (other than doing something remarkable that takes the performance to another level). The scenery stays within the tradition of what one associates with the Old West from the dusty, life-worn roughnecks of saloons to the unrelenting beauty of the frontier. Save for possibly replaying a copy of Red Dead Redemption, Seven combines modern drama with the classic Western tale exceptionally under Fuqua’s watch, the battle and gunfight scenes showcasing excellent tension creation in slow, steady builds before bombastic, grandiose all out violence.

Whether or not the Western as a genre comes back into vogue remains to be seen; if Hollywood delivers more immersive experiences like The Magnificent Seven, though, there’s a good chance they might ride again.

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

TIFF 2016 – Day #9 – Wrapping Up This Year’s Fest

September 17, 2016 By Jonathan McNeal

Hello Everyone,

My first film of my final day of screenings was PLANETARIUM – directed by Rebecca Zlotwoski and starring Natalie Portman and Lily-Rose Depp. This is the story of two sisters who are mediums living in France and their relationship with a film producer. Though the concept is intriguing (“sometimes you have to turn off the lights to see something” was an early quote that had promise) and I liked moments of the film, this was the biggest mess I saw at TIFF. I don’t know what happened, but about an hour in, I felt like there were several films happening at once – and not in a good way. There were also a couple moments where Portman let out laughs that seemed like she was becoming completely unhinged…not her character, but Portman herself. Attempts at “kinda sexy/kinda creepy” were in full swing – but the results were mostly just on the creepy end of the spectrum, and I eventually couldn’t wait for it to end. Here’s a trailer…but you’ll have no idea what’s in store.

THE SECRET SCRIPTURE, directed by Jim Sheridan, was my second film of the day. It was also Rooney Mara’s third film in this year’s festival. Though Rooney was the star of the film, it was Vanessa Redgrave who shined. This is the story of an older woman in a mental institution who has keep a journal in between the lines and in the margins of her Bible. One of the first quotes we get from her journal is “I did not kill my child.” Through a series of flashbacks, we see her as a younger woman in the 1940’s. A true beauty, she turns heads everywhere she goes, and people in the town are quick to call her a whore…including the town’s priest who is clearly infatuated with her. Though I felt the story got a little muddled, it’s ultimately beautifully told and will easily find fans. The Q&A with Jim Sheridan was a treat. With Irish accent seemed to forgive all of his foul-mouthed responses, and the stories of working with actors (Vanessa Redgrave and the children from IN AMERICA in particular) were fantastic and full of insight. There’s no trailer for this film yet, but here’s a still.

My last film of the fest was THE LIMEHOUSE GOLEM, directed by Juan Carlos Medina and starring Bill Nighy & Olivia Cooke (ME AND EARL AND THE DYING GIRL). In Victorian-era London, a detective has been given his first murder case – a case that has the city on edge as a serial killer is performing more and more heinous acts. This beautifully styled period piece is a far cry from what you’d expect given the costumes and set-pieces. With lots of blood and gory details of the crimes, it’s at times unsettling but ultimately rather predictable. There are some moments that should be big…but the materials isn’t there…so the decision was to over-score them – which actually ends up detracting from the scenes in question. I wanted to like this film more, but I came out feeling it was really quite average. There’s no trailer for this film yet, so here’s a still. (Upon looking for images from the film, I found out that Alan Rickman was originally supposed to play the part of the detective – which would have added a different level of eeriness.)

And so my screenings have come to an end.

I saw 30 films (not counting the two I walked out of), I met several great folks in the industry, I saw numerous big stars and directors, and I ate a lot of poutine. In all, it was an incredible trip.

So here’s the wrap-up. (All categories have films listed in the order in which I saw them.) My 3 favorites were: MOONLIGHT, NOCTURNAL ANIMALS and LA LA LAND. Close behind were JULIETA, LOVING and SOUVENIR (BIRTH OF A NATION would be on this list, but I actually saw it several weeks ago and not at TIFF). Some really good films that are 100% worth viewing but didn’t make it to the very top of my list are MANCHESTER BY THE SEA, FRANTZ, LION, A UNITED KINGDOM, THEIR FINEST, MAUDIE, PATERSON, JACKIE, and UNKNOWN GIRL. For the other 15 films and how I felt about them, you’ll have to back-track through my blog.

Thanks so much for reading, and I appreciate your continued interest in THE NEON.

All the best,

Jonathan

TIFF 2016 – Day #7

September 15, 2016 By Jonathan McNeal

Hello Everyone,

Thanks for coming back! Today was my last day during this trip when I have to wake up before 6am! I saw three more films (which takes me to 24 total), and I had a nice dinner. Though there was an invitation to meet up for late drinks, I had to turn it down. I’m simply too tired and getting more than 4 hours of sleep sounds much better.

My first film of the day was PATERSON, by Jim Jarmusch – who has a cult-like following. This film stars Adam Driver as “a working-class poet in a small New Jersey town who practices his craft amidst the quiet magic of everyday life.” (TIFF on-line catalog) As always, Jarmusch finds both humor and pathos in the idiosyncrasies and mundane routines of his characters. That said, I think this film is his most accessible. And though not a lot “happens,” I was engaged and liked peeking in on these rather charming characters. (There is not trailer available, but here’s a clip.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWHA1lcjUt4

JACKIE, the new film about Jackie O’ starring Natalie Portman, was next on my list. Directed by Pablo Larrain (who also has a film about Pablo Neruda at the festival), this film takes a look at the assassination of JFK through the point of view of Jackie. The film opens with Jackie greeting a journalist just a few days after the assassination. As she answers questions, we get her version of the story – both anecdotes about the making of the TV special when she led press through the White House as well as her account of what happened in Texas and preparing for the funeral. She is very candid, but she also makes quite clear that she’ll have the final edit on the piece that is written. When the journalist says that he just wants the truth, it is finally said that “I will settle for a story that’s believable.” That sentiment is the film in a nutshell. It took me a little while to buy Portman as Jackie, but eventually she won me over. Fox Searchlight picked up this film within the last 48 hours, and they plan to have it released in time for Oscar season.

My final film of the day was UNA – a new film based on the play BLACKBIRD, directed by Benedict Andrews and starring Rooney Mara & Ben Mendelsohn. This is the story of a young woman in her mid-20’s confronting a middle-aged man at his place of work. It’s been 12 years since they’ve seen each other…and that was when she was 13 and he sexually abused her. It’s my understanding that the play is just two characters…and adapting it for the screen seemed a bit forced to me. From ducking behind boxes and into bathroom stalls to hide from other workers, it seemed a bit of a stretch to buy the actions of the characters. I ultimately had really mixed feelings. The material is intriguing and bold, but I didn’t buy the set-up (trouble with the man’s position at work is a tangent that seems oddly tacked on). In addition, I feel like the material didn’t ring with honesty. SPOILER ALERT…don’t read more if you don’t want to know too much! The director spoke of each character having “unfinished desire” for one another. I’d be anxious to hear a true feminist read of this material/adaptation. By the end, I didn’t hate it, but I also can’t recommend it. There is no trailer for this film, but here’s a clip:

I’ve got three films tomorrow and I get to sleep in until 7:30! I also plan to meet an old friend for dinner – someone I met in line for Almodovar’s TALK TO HER back at the festival in 2002.

Thanks for reading,

Jonathan

TIFF 2016 – Day #6

September 14, 2016 By Jonathan McNeal

maudie-movie-poster-lg Hello!

Today’s schedule had me down for 5 films…and though I got into the fifth, I just wasn’t loving it enough to stick around (thus I won’t review it). Instead, I’ll go over the four films I screened in their entirety.

THEIR FINEST was my first screening at 9:30am, and it was packed in one of Scotiabank’s biggest venues. Lone Scherfig (AN EDUCATION) delivers a very solid film about the film industry in England during WWII. The story centers around a female writer who is initially hired to help write and flesh out the female voices just as the industry is also realizing that they need to make a picture that boosts morale on the homefront. Bill Nighy, who plays an egotistical old pro actor, is a scene-stealer…and the film will be an crowd-pleaser. Full of nostalgic winks and nods as well as colorful characters, this is an “acquisition title,” and I believe it will get picked up. There’s no trailer yet for THEIR FINEST…so a photo will have to do at this point.

Their Finest Hour and A Half
Directed by Lone Sherfig

MAUDIE, a biopic about Canadian folk artist Maud Lewis, was next on my list. With an outstanding performance by Sally Hawkins which is touching, physically demanding and full of hysterical funny moments that make Maud all the more endearing, the film is about Lewis’s relationship with her husband (played by Ethan Hawke) and her rise to fame in the art world. Challenged by childhood rheumatoid arthritis, everything from daily chores to even holding a brush look painful for Maud – but we fall in love with her desire to paint on just about any stationary object. Directed by Aisling Walsh (she’s done a lot of television work including FINGERSMITH with Hawkins), this is a slower character piece – but I think it could easily find an audience with Neon patrons. There’s no trailer for this film yet, but here’s a clip.

Once in a while at TIFF, I let myself see a big, splashy Hollywood movie. One that clearly won’t be coming to THE NEON, but one that’s receiving some critical buzz. A couple years ago, it was GRAVITY…this year, it was another sci-fi film – ARRIVAL, directed by Denis Villeneuve. Though I can rattle off a handful of sci-fi films that I greatly admire, this isn’t a genre that usually attracts my attention, and this alien film intrigued me because it wasn’t going to be full of explosions and battle scenes. Amy Adams plays a linguist who is hired by the government to attempt communicating with aliens who have landed 12 ships around the world. There’s some really lovely work happening in this film – from the central performance to terrific special effects. But there’s also some clunky ideas (especially in the third act) that keep me from embracing the film. I realize that many, many people will love this one…but it’s not for me.

My last full film of the day was THE SALESMAN, directed by Asghar Farhadi (A SEPARATION and THE PAST). The film opens with people needing to evacuate their building as it is beginning to crack and may soon crash. We follow a young theatrical couple (who are mounting a production of DEATH OF A SALESMAN) as they are displaced and soon find a new apartment that was formerly inhabited by a prostitute (though they don’t know that immediately). An incident in the new place leaves the couple forever changed, and the film then becomes a subtle thriller. With narrative elements and themes that I greatly admire, this film is well-done and solid – though not quite up to par with his previous two films due to a somewhat strained final act. There is no trailer yet for this film, but here’s a clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VcfinMasfw

I wrapped up the night by attending a low-key party for lgbt industry folks. I was glad to meet a few new people, and I’m crawling into bed before 2:00…so glad tomorrow is the last day I have to get up before 7:00.

Thanks for reading,

Jonathan

TIFF 2016 – Day #5

September 13, 2016 By Jonathan McNeal

Hello Everyone.

Thanks for coming back to my blog. I had intended to see more films today, but I got turned away from a screening of JACKIE (along with 200+ other people) because the demand was too big and being 25 minutes early wasn’t enough. That said, there will be another screening Wednesday, so I will know to be extra early.

My first screening of the day was the latest by the prolific (especially for being quite young) Xavier Dolan – IT’S ONLY THE END OF THE WORLD. This is essentially a chamber piece about a gay man who comes to visit his family and tell them he’s dying…he hasn’t been home for 12 years…and it’s quickly evident why he’s been away so long. Though I clearly understand what he’s doing, and the film is ultimately well done (though I do have some complaints about several of his choices), this is a film that’s hard to stomach. The cast is exceptional (I love Marion & Gaspard), but shouting matches, unlikable/annoying characters…it’s not something I can highly recommend.

LOVING, the new film by Jeff Nichols (TAKE SHELTER, MUD), was next on my list. It’s also a film I’ve been looking forward to, and I’m happy to say that it didn’t disappoint. This quiet and eloquent film is about the an interracial couple in Virginia whose illegal marriage and subsequent punishment (they went to D.C. to get married, but it wasn’t recognized in Virginia) eventually caught the attention of the ACLU…and eventually went to the Supreme Court to overturn miscegenation laws. For a film that’s largely about court battles, we only spend a few minutes in court rooms…and that’s refreshing. Instead, we spend lots of time with this Mildred & Richard (stunningly and lovingly played by Ruth Negga and Joel Edgerton) – and watching a couple who are so clearly in love with each other makes such a strong case for marriage equality on many levels.

My final film of the day was LA LA LAND, directed by Damien Chazelle (WHIPLASH). 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!

Tomorrow is an extra busy day. Hoping I’ll be able to stay awake for all of it.

Thanks for reading,

Jonathan

TIFF 2016 – Day #4

September 12, 2016 By Jonathan McNeal

julieta620x709-1461716694 Hello Everyone,

I’m up to my old TIFF tricks now. Long days/nights…minimal sleep.

My first film today was The Weinstein Company’s big Oscar hopeful for this year – LION, directed by Garth Davis and starring Dev Patel. This is the story of a little Indian boy who gets lost in the streets of Calcutta – hundreds of miles away from home. After eventually being adopted by an Australian family, 20+ years later he begins a trip to find his birth family. Once again, I found myself interested in trimming this film down. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that I’m watching dozens of movies…but I’m finding most material would be better if trimmed down. This film shouldn’t be 2 Hrs & 10 Min…it should be 20-30 minutes shorter. That said, what it accomplishes is indeed lovely, and the story is wonderful. The final bit of archival footage at the end resulted in even more tears.

I met up with a friend to catch the next film on my list – A UNITED KINGDOM, directed by Amma Asante (director of BELLE). This is the film about the relationship between Seretse Khama (a former African royal) and his wife Ruth Williams. Being a black man, alarm bells go up on each side of the fence when he courts and eventually asks for a white Englishwoman’s hand in marriage. This film feels old-fashioned in a good way. The storytelling is very direct – nothing edgy here, just solid storytelling, and I came away feeling as though I’d just had a good (and entertaining) history lesson. David Oyelowo is fantastic as Khama – his speeches are particularly moving and seem like they could stand alone as inspirational messages about race and patriotism. Rosamund Pike plays Williams, and she’s lovely as usual.

After lunch with a friend from Dayton I hadn’t seen in almost a decade – who now works at Almo Drafthouse (in Austin), I took a little nap before heading to my two evening screenings. Next up was a film I had already seen at an exhibitor screening. I almost never see a film at TIFF that I’ve already seen…but because I got a tip that Pedro Almodovar was in town, I got a ticket to JULIETA. Unfortunately, the tip was some bad intel. He wasn’t there. That said, I had tweeted a hopeful message that I wished Rossy de Palma would attend…and imagine my giddiness when she was introduced – her first time to Toronto. The film was even better with a second viewing – it’s richness in color and layers of storytelling all the richer. This is the story of a woman who decides to stay in Madrid in hopes that her daughter will return – someone who left her side 20 years before. With an exceptional score and great performances (Julieta is played by three different actresses in different stages of her life), this film is lovely. It’s hard to let an Almodovar film stand on its own without comparison. When compared to his other work, it falls short of being one of Almodovar’s masterpieces…if it stood alone, it would be heralded as superb. And P.S. The Q&A was delightful…and Rossy was so funny, warm and personable. I got my picture taken with her at the stage door, and my day was made!

Tom Ford’s second feature film NOCTURNAL ANIMALS was my final film of the day. I’ve been waiting 7 years since A SINGLE MAN to see what Tom Ford would do next, and this new film is exceptional! Starring Amy Adams, Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Shannon, this is the story of a woman who receives an advanced reading copy of her ex-husband’s novel which is a terrifying story that hits a little too close to home. The film uses certain visual devices to distinguish three different stories happening at once – the present story, the story of the novel and flashbacks to the relationship that spurred the novel. The costume design, sets and photography are stunning, the performances are incredible, and the story is intense and emotional. With a late 2016 release in store, I think this film will certainly begin to create some award buzz. (no trailer is available yet)

nocturnal

I then went out to meet up with a bunch of industry folks for a couple beers. That 5:50am alarm is gonna be hard.

Thanks for reading,

Jonathan

TIFF 2016 – Day #3

September 12, 2016 By Jonathan McNeal

Hello Everyone,

I got the tickets I needed this morning (for Monday), so the day was off to a great start. I hightailed it to the Scotiabank multiplex for my first screening of the day – a movie I know we won’t play (but I felt like I wanted something ridiculous) – Christopher Guest’s MASCOTS (which will soon make its debut on Netflix). It’s been a long time since we saw Guest and his crew, and I was delighted by the opening scenes. I thought “he’s back!” The set-up is an competition for mascots from around the world – and it lends itself to some really fun material. Unfortunately, the material lost some steam…and though the movie is sprinkled with a few gems, I felt like it didn’t quite live up to previous films (though the return of one of Guest’s most famous characters was a moment that made me feel like applauding).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6hqYhcPFvw

ALL I SEE IS YOU, the new film by Marc Forster (FINDING NEVERLAND, MONSTER’S BALL) starring Blake Lively, was next on my list. This is a dramatic film with Lively playing a woman who lost her sight in an accident when she was a child. The first 20 minutes of the film has a certain experimental tone – as Forster has us experiencing many moments as the lead character “sees” them. It’s a lovely, interesting approach, and the film works in setting a tone (though I never understood why it was set in Thailand). An operation is available for Lively’s character to have her vision restored, and everything changes. With sight, she is surprised by how the world around her looks…and her husband quickly becomes disappointed in how their lives are changing. The movie then shifts tone and becomes more of a quiet thriller. I won’t give away more of the story, but I did feel like the tonal shift was surprising and the final 6 minutes of the film wrapped things up in a very frantic pace from what started as a slow and methodical first 90 minutes. The sound design is incredible, and the photography is lovely. I think this film will find an audience, but it’s not incredible.

After a short nap and a bite to eat, I went to an event – IN CONVERSATION WITH ISABELLE HUPPERT. This 80 minute curated Q&A was incredible. Accented with clips of Huppert’s body of work (she’s made over 100 films/television appearances), she sat with Piers Handling and talked about her craft. From insight to how she doesn’t feel like she truly “prepare” for roles to inside stories about movies like HEAVEN’S GATE to the fact that sometimes she takes a role because she reads the script and falls in love with one line, it’s a wonderful inside look at one of the greatest actresses working today. Here’s a treat…you can watch the taped event by visiting this LINK and clicking the image of Huppert.

My final film of the day was also the highlight of the festival so far – Barry Jenkins’ MOONLIGHT. This gorgeous, poetic look at the life of a black man growing up in Miami, is based on the play IN MOONLIGHT, BLACK BOYS LOOK BLUE. The film is told in three chapters – with the protagonist played by three different actors (each giving incredible performances). We see him grow from a bullied, guarded young boy to a hyper masculine drug dealer. This examination of masculinity is one of the most thoughtful and beautifully told stories I’ve seen in recent years. Performances are incredible across the board, the photography is lovely, and the screenplay is touching and heartbreaking and honest. I think this film will see a lot of love this award season. (Janelle Monae, one of my favorite music artists, has a small role in this film…and seeing her on screen seemed like a natural extension of her talents. She sat across the aisle from me at the screening, and though I contained myself, I was a giddy schoolgirl inside.) The cast, director and playwright had a Q&A after the screening, and it was also incredible.

After the screening, I met up with a friend from NYC for a couple beers and a bite to eat. I returned to my apartment at 2:00…so my alarm going off at 5:50 will not be a welcome sound.

Thanks for reading,

Jonathan

TIFF 2016 – Day #2

September 10, 2016 By Jonathan McNeal

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Hi Everyone,

I was in bed by 12:30 last night, so getting up by 6:00am wasn’t so rough today (it will get much worse later in the festival). That said, the line was already about 15 deep when I arrived at the industry box office at 6:40 (by 7:30/7:45, it was at about 100).

BURN YOUR MAPS, directed by Jordan Roberts, was my first film of the day. This is a film with Jacob Tremblay (the little guy from ROOM) & Vera Farmiga, and they give really wonderful performances…unfortunately, I can’t say the same for everyone else. This is a story about how a kid begins to say that he’s actually Mongolian. He becomes “obsessed” with wearing traditional costumes and shepherding his make-believe goats. His parents are having marital problems after the loss of a child, and the desire for the boy to connect with his “true heritage” is a pleasant distraction for his mother…and a source of frustration for his father. The story eventually “takes” us to Mongolia, and budget restrictions rear their heads. There were some lovely moments in this film, and it will certainly find its fans – but overall, it wasn’t a big success for me. (There is no trailer currently available, so a photo is all I can post.)

burnyourmaps_01

FRANTZ was up next for me. Francois Ozon is a French director who has made some of my favorite films (I adore UNDER THE SAND, 8 WOMEN, SWIMMING POOL, TIME TO LEAVE and IN THE HOUSE). That said, he’s quite unpredictable and difficult to nail down as an auteur, and he’s made a couple magnificent clunkers, too. Tone, themes and genres are often in flux, and this film lends itself to that sentiment quite well – as it’s his most accessible work. Gorgeously shot in black and white, this post WWI story is about a German woman who meets the French man who has been visiting her fiancee’s grave. The film is shrouded in mystery, and and to tell you more of the story is to reveal too much. In both setting and a story with twists-and-turns, this film had me thinking of A VERY LONG ENGAGEMENT – a film that I admire much more than critics did. This film has found American distribution with Music Box Films, and I hope the timing works for us to be able to bring it.

A MONSTER CALLS, directed by J.A. Bayona, was next on my list. People may immediately want to dismiss a story about a pre-teen boy who is visited by a monster as being too fantastical or juvenile…but this lovely film connects and works on so many levels and is certainly not for children. Dealing with repeated nightmares and constant fear of the declining health of his mother, the boy summons a monster who comes to tell him stories…and potentially save his mom (played by Felicity Jones). Though I thought the film could use some trimming, it’s ultimately quite wonderful (albeit a challenge to market).

AMERICAN PASTORAL, the directorial debut of Ewan McGregor (based on the novel by Philip Roth), was my final film of the day. With a story that spans from the late 40’s to the early 90’s, this beautifully shot and gorgeously art directed film stars McGregor and Jennifer Connelly. Examining the breakdown of American society via looking at an American family who has to deal with the radicalization of a daughter who eventually becomes an underground terrorist, this film sadly falls a bit flat and didn’t live up to my hopes for the material. Though the look of the film and the performances are solid, I came out feeling like the film never really hit the mark.

Tomorrow morning is an important one for me. There are two tickets for Sunday that I really want to make sure I get for Monday – LOVING and LA LA LAND. Wish me luck.

Thanks for reading,

Jonathan

TIFF 2016 – Day #1

September 9, 2016 By Jonathan McNeal

Hello Everyone.

With the pass that I have, I can screen as many “press/industry screenings” that I’d like during the festival. That said, those screenings are just screenings. It’s awesome to have the opportunity to see so many films with an audience, but part of the reason I come to a festival (people come for a variety of reasons) is to hear filmmakers talk about their craft. Thus I have the opportunity to obtain two “public screening” tickets per day. Public screenings are the fun, glamorous screenings where they roll out the red carpet and hold Q&A’s with directors, producers, screenwriters and actors. These tickets are only available two days in advance of each screening, so I find myself in line every day during the festival…usually before 7am.

This morning, I was out to obtain tickets for Barry Jenkins’ MOONLIGHT and a curated interview with Isabelle Huppert. Both take place on Saturday…and I got both!

Then I was off to my first screening at 9:00am – Kenneth Lonergan’s MANCHESTER BY THE SEA. This film had a lot of tonal qualities of Lonergan’s first feature – YOU CAN COUNT ON ME. With a wonderful central performance by Casey Affleck (and a spectacularly touching small role by Michelle Williams), the story is about a man who seems to lead a rather thankless life of mundane routines (he’s a janitorial handy man for an apartment complex). When he gets a call that his brother has passed away, he is forced to confront lingering pain from his past – told through a series of flashbacks. Though I thought the film was a bit overscored, the drama really works and the story unfolds in a lovely way. There were a couple moments of schtick that I thought seemed a bit out of place – but so is life. I think this film will go far.

Olivier Assayas’ PERSONAL SHOPPER was next on my list. This non-traditional ghost story had me teetering back and forth throughout…I was invested, I was raising my eyebrows, I was intrigued, I was disappointed…and then I ultimately was sold by the final 10 minutes. Kristen Stewart gives a great performance as a woman who shops for high-end designer clothing and jewelry for a wealthy client who is always on the go. She’s also a medium. While trying to connect to the spirit world for a client, she’s also hoping to catch a sign from her recently deceased brother. Assayas’ previous work included THE CLOUDS OF SILS MARIA (with Juliette Binoche as well as Stewart) and of my favorites from TIFF in 2008 – SUMMER HOURS. This film won’t go down as one of my favorites, and I know many people will be quite disappointed, but I was a fan by the end.

The third film of the day for me was Terence Davies’ A QUIET PASSION – a film about Emily Dickinson starring Cynthia Nixon. The film opens in a sort of parochial school. A teacher asks students who have given themselves to Christ to go to one side and for students who are still working toward giving themselves to Christ to the other. Left in the middle is one student – a young Emily Dickinson (at this point played by Emma Bell). The dialog is sharp and thoughtful (one of the best strengths throughout the film), and the teacher eventually tell Dickinson, “You stand alone in your rebellion.” This telling line haunts the remainder of the film. Though I found some filmmaking devices to be odd choices (one superimposed was particularly weird), it’s ultimately a thoughtful and visually stunning film with wonderful performances and some very funny moments due to razor sharp dialog.

The official “Opening Night Film” was a big Hollywood remake – THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN, directed by Antoine Fuqua (SOUTHPAW, BROOKLYN’S FINEST) and starring Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt, Ethan Hawke and many more. Here’s the point that some of you might find disappointing…I left 20 minutes into the film. (I almost never write about films that I don’t finish.) I went to the Opening night with my friend Glenn Kiser – a great filmmaker who attended The Dayton LGBT Film Festival with his short film SABBATICAL. We had “great” seats – very close to the stage…only paces from all of the stars and director. The movie started an hour late and the speakers were above us – thus pushing the sound far behind us and bouncing off the back walls. Having difficulty understanding any of the dialog, we decided to leave. Not being a film I would seek out under any other circumstances, I wasn’t disappointed…it gave me a great opportunity to catch up with Glenn and finally grab dinner.

At the end of the day, I’ll simply say I’ve seen 3 films (and a dozen stars) so far.

Thanks for reading!

More soon,

Jonathan

TIFF 2016 – Arrival & Prep

September 7, 2016 By Jonathan McNeal

Hello Everyone.

I made it to Toronto with minimal delays…and made my way to the Industry offices to pick up my credentials and begin the madness. This is just an intro! Watching movies actually starts tomorrow (Thursday, Sept. 8).

I always give myself a buffer day when traveling to Toronto for TIFF. It can come in handy if you have flight delays, ridiculous lines in customs or you’re carrying an expired passport (that was a nightmare 2 years ago)…that extra day can make certain that you don’t miss any of the good stuff.

If all goes as planned, tomorrow will be a busy day with 4 films – including the splashy Opening Night film with a friend who I first met when he was a guest of The Dayton LGBT Film Festival. If all goes as planned, tomorrow’s screenings include new work by Kenneth Lonergan, Terence Davies and Olivier Assayas.

In the next couple hours, I’ll grab a bite to eat, check into my apartment and continue to plan my schedule for the next 9 days.

Here are trailers for a few films I can’t wait to see:

Check back in Friday morning…that’s when I’ll have my Thursday wrap-up posted.

Thanks for reading!

Jonathan