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McCoy on Movies: Bullet Train

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Brad Pitt leads ensemble cast through violent, entertaining action comedy

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

 

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Weedghost
(Ohio Noise)

Yikes A Band!
(first show in 3 years)

McCoy on Movies: The Gray Man

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

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

 

DIRECTOR: Anthony and Joe Russo

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

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

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

 

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

 

 

McCoy on Movies: Minions: The Rise of Gru

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

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

 

DIRECTOR: Kyle Balda

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

 

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

 

 

Midnight Showing of Rocky Horror Picture Show

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

Rocky Horror Picture Show
Midnight Showing

The Fairborn Phoenix

34 S. Broad Street, Fairborn

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

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

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

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

Dave Chappelle Screening to Benefit Gem City Market

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A special screening  of the documentary, “DAVE CHAPPELLE LIVE IN REAL LIFE” on Sunday, June 12 @7PM, at the Schuster Center will benefit fundraiser for West Dayton’s Gem City Market.

The Documentary, directed by Dayton’s Academy Award-winning duo, Julia Reichert & Steven Bognar, Produced by Dave Chappelle & Julia & Steve, chronicles the tumultuous summer of 2020, as Dave Chappelle and his comedian friends begin doing socially-distant comedy shows at the height of the pandemic, and as protests for racial justice echo across America in the wake of George Floyd’s murder.

Tickets go on sale to the public on Friday, June 3 at 10am on Dayton Live and will range from $43 – $103.

 

The film is a celebration of community during hard times, and features many of the world’s best comedians when they visit Yellow Springs.

 

This event will be a phone-free experience. Use of phones will not be permitted in the performance space.

Upon arrival at the venue, phones will be secured in individual Yondr pouches that will be opened at the end of the event. Guests maintain possession of their devices at all times, and can access them throughout the event only in designated Phone Use Areas within the venue. All devices will be re-secured in Yondr pouches before returning to the performance space. Please make any of your last-minute phone calls prior to your arrival at the gates.

McCoy on Movies: The Lost City

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The Lost City

 

“Wait – there may be a script for ‘Miss Congeniality 3: Where’s the Magic, Mike?” over there! Romance cover model turned would-be jungle savior Alan (Channing Tatum) and the woman behind his success, Loretta Sage (Sandra Bullock) try to escape the jungle in a scene from THE LOST CITY. Credit: © 2022 Paramount Pictures. All rights reserved.
 
WATCH THE TRAILER HERE: 

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DIRECTOR: Aaron and Adam Nee
KEY CAST MEMBERS: Sandra Bullock, Channing Tatum, Daniel Radcliffe, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Oscar Nuñez, Héctor Aníbal and Brad Pitt
 
THE BACK STORY: Loretta Sage (Sandra Bullock) is three things: (1) A frustrated archeologist-type researcher who’s (2) settled for being a best-selling romance novel writer who’s grown tired of her creation, especially because (3) she’s not over the death of her husband several years ago. Alan (Channing Tatum) is better known to the public as Dash, the fictional male hero featured in all Loretta’s books.

So, what happens when Loretta is forced by her publicist Beth (Da’Vine Joy Randolph) to do a book tour with Dash? Well, disaster, as you might expect. But you know what’s even worse than a bad press event for Beth? Having the son of a rich man in the form of Abigail – yes, Abigail – Fairfax (Daniel Radcliffe) kidnap your writer because he believes her writings may actually make her the one person qualified to help him find an ancient “Crown of Fire” of red diamonds in a remote jungle.

But for Alan, this is simply the perfect opportunity to be the hero Loretta has always written Dash out to be …

 

THE REVIEW: The Lost City is 2022’s version of Romancing the Stone … Except it’s not. Instead, it’s more like a cold Mountain Dew on a hot summer day: It’s enjoyable as you consume it, only to realize that it probably was a lot worse for you than you originally thought once it’s gone.
The film isn’t officially a remake of Stone … But you’d be hard pressed to watch Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner’s 1984 flick and not feel like it’s a diet Dew version of its predecessor. Tatum does everything he can to keep the rather predictable (and utterly ludicrous even by romantic comedies in a jungle standards) story together. Radcliffe’s performance is … something, as are the majority of non-memorable side characters. Joy Randolph is given a nice slot as a dedicated woman who just happens to be black (and not the other way around), but at a certain point, The Lost City just becomes your standard fish-out-of-water romantic comedy with plenty of tired one-liners. (Poor Oscar Nuñez … That’s all I’ll say about that.)
Here’s the rub, though: None of what I just said will matter to most as the film’s core demographic: Ladies who like the romantic fantasy depicted in most of the books that its female lead hates she is good at writing. It’s an audience pleaser you can watch on a date night, with your mom on a mother/daughter day and “cute” enough to offset its eyeroll-inducing moments.
In the words of Will Ferrell’s fictional son Texas Ranger in Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, The Lost City is “all jacked up on Mountain Dew!” But America loves to do the Dew, which means that if you’re looking for a mindless and cute comedy that prefers those things over originality, by all means visit The Lost City.
There are worse places you could take an “uncharted” adventure cruise if you like cubic zirconia films masquerading as gems.
OVERALL RATING (OUT OF FOUR POSSIBLE BUCKETS OF POPCORN):

 

 

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Dave Chappelle Documentary Screening in Yellow Springs

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Fueled by the murder of George Floyd, shut-in by the closures of business and unable to perform around the country, the movie follows Dave Chappelle as he provides the community he calls home with two things desperately needed in difficult times – economic and comic relief. What began as an experimental socially-distanced live comedy show in a neighbor’s cornfield, grew into an unforgettable summer with his neighbors, friends and fellow comedians. Ultimately, Chappelle’s cornfield concerts would serve as a model of courage not just for his community, but for the entire live entertainment industry.
The documentary is a Dave Chappelle’s Pilot Boy Production, produced and directed by Oscar and Emmy winning filmmakers Julia Reichert and Steven Bognar (American Factory).
Event details – Attendees must show a Covid Vaccination card or negative Covid test (within 48 hours of the event) with a valid photo ID. Box office will open at 5pm for vaccine and ID checks.
Doors to the event will open at 6pm.
Showings at the Little Art Theatre in Yellow Springs.

Update Fri, Sat & Sun 7pm shows sold out

New showtimes added:

Sat & Sun 2pm, Mon 7pm
Advanced tickets are available – https://www.eventbrite.com/e/294736794687

NEON News: MORE OSCAR SHORTS

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Audiences have loved CYRANO as well as the OSCAR NOMINATED SHORTS: LIVE ACTION, and both will stick around. If you still need to see THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD, a film that a few of our regulars have considered to be the best film of 2021, you only have a couple more chances.

This Friday, we’re opening 5 more Oscar contenders…THE OSCAR NOMINATED SHORTS: ANIMATION. As always, this collection is quite a mix of styles and subjects, but in the past, we’ve had some attendees bring children to this program. This year is different…this collection of shorts contains a lot of adult content (essentially a hard R), and children will not be permitted. Next week, we’ll sprinkle in some screenings of the nominated DOCUMENTARY SHORTS.
Over the past week, I’ve been communicating with Julia Reichert about Part 2 of her Retrospective – JULIA REICHERT: 50 YEARS IN FILM. Right now, we’re looking at Wednesdays in April, and we plan to get all of those details secured next week. Stay tuned!
As national protocols regarding COVID safety are altered across the country, THE NEON’s Board realizes that a shift in our policies will eventually need to happen. Every day, we have to turn away potential customers who weren’t aware of our protocols…and conversely, every day we have customers thank us for our strict policies. The Board is not taking this next step lightly, and we understand that we’ll never be able to make everyone happy. That said, until decisions are made, our current COVID protocols will remain in effect.
NEW IN-PERSON ENGAGEMENTS:
Synopsis for OSCAR NOMINATED SHORTS: ANIMATION: This year’s program of animated shorts features five award-winning shorts that range in style, subject, and nationality. (Please note, this year’s selection is not suitable for children!) Nominees included ROBIN ROBIN (UK, 32 min), BOXBALLET (Russia, 15 min.), AFFAIRS OF THE ART (UK/Canada, 16 min.), BESTIA (Chile, 15 min), and THE WINDSHIELD WIPER (USA/Spain, 14 min). Click the image below to watch a trailer for this year’s Oscar Nominated Shorts.
UPCOMING SPECIAL EVENTS:

TOMORROW NIGHT! “K. Carter, with film creator Jeremy Tkach, give a glimpse into the progress of a man’s passions in a city thriving after chaos. This documentary shines a light on the process of a native Dayton talent pursuing his passions: music and his community. After devastating tornadoes, a mass shooting, and in the midst of a global pandemic, K. Carter continues to work on his music and plan a music festival for a small urban city. Viewers will see the teams behind Carter’s endeavors and the words of those who look up to him. His journey to making an album not only spans across time but across state lines, while planning a festival has its own challenges. See the connections made and the leaps bound to bring something special to Dayton, Ohio.” Join us on Thursday, March 3 at 7:30 for the World Premiere of SON OF HIP HOP: A RAPUMENTARY – followed by a Q&A with K. Carter and Jeremy Tkach! Tickets only available at this

We’ve booked 2 special screenings of The West End’s ANYTHING GOES – set for March 27 & 30, and tickets are already on sale! What I’m even more excited about is that WSU’s Joe Deer, who was in the 1987 Broadway revival of ANYTHING GOES and has directed productions of this show several times, will introduce the screening on Wednesday, March 30. This is a filmed version of last summer’s West End production starring the luminous Tony-winning Sutton Foster. Don’t miss this Cole Porter treat on the big screen! Tickets are $12.50 and available now at our box office or on-line! More details can be found on our website. Click the image below to watch a trailer.
TICKETS ARE FLYING! We’ve booked a special event for Thursday, April 21 at 6:30. Many of you are familiar with THE DISASTER ARTIST – the story & film about the making of what is regarded as “the greatest bad movie ever made” – the cult hit THE ROOM. On April 21, we will screen THE ROOM along with special guest actor & author Greg Sestero (he co-starred in THE ROOM and wrote the book THE DISASTER ARTIST). Greg will host a Q&A, we’ll screen THE ROOM, and then you will have an opportunity for a meet & greet. Tickets are $20 each and are already on sale!
On Sunday, March 27, you’re invited to our FREE Academy Awards Screening Party. Doors will open at 7pm and the official broadcast of the ceremony will begin at 8pm…though seating will be limited. That said, you can reserve your spot in advance by coming to THE NEON starting on Saturday, March 26 at Noon. (Only two reserved seats per person. i.e. If you have a party of 6 who want to sit together, 3 of you need to come and claim your seats.) More details and official party ballots (so you can play along and win great prizes) are available now at our Box Office!

What’s On Screen at The Neon

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Neon Movies on Fifth Street

This Friday, we’re bringing the film that Paul Thomas Anderson (writer and director of LICORICE PIZZA) calls “The best movie in the world” – Joachim Trier’s THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD…nominated for 2 Academy Awards. We’re also bringing back DRIVE MY CAR for 3 encore screenings due to high demand after it was nominated for 4 Academy Awards including “Best Picture.” And because our return engagement of BELFAST was met with so much enthusiasm this past weekend, it will stick around for another week. LICORICE PIZZA will stay for 1 more week, but if you need to see THE POWER OF THE DOG or THE LOST DAUGHTER, you only have a couple more chances. And don’t forget that we’ ll begin our engagement of Joe Wright’s CYRANO(starring Peter Dinklage) next Thursday, Feb. 24 (tickets are already on sale). If you need more details about any of these titles, please visit our official site – www.neonmovies.com

NEW IN-PERSON ENGAGEMENTS:
Synopsis for THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD: “Director Joachim Trier returns with another modern twist on a classically constructed character portrait of contemporary life in Oslo. Chronicling four years in the life of Julie, THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD examines one woman’s quest for love and meaning in the modern world. Fluidly told in twelve chapters, the film features a breakout performance by Cannes Best Actress winner Renate Reinsve as she explores new professional avenues and embarks on relationships with two very different men (Anders Danielsen Lie and Herbert Nordrum) in her search for happiness and identity.” (Neon Releasing) Click the image below to watch the film’s trailer. This film has been nominated for “Best Screenplay” and “Best International Film.”
CONTINUING IN OUR VIRTUAL CINEMA
To read more about the few films that are still available, please visit our WEBSITE. Here’s a LINK with a video I made about how Virtual Cinema works. Our Virtual Cinema is in its last days (at least for now), but you still have a chance to check out a couple titles from home.
UPCOMING SPECIAL EVENT:
“K. Carter, with film creator Jeremy Tkach, give a glimpse into the progress of a man’s passions in a city thriving after chaos. This documentary shines a light on the process of a native Dayton talent pursuing his passions: music and his community. After devastating tornadoes, a mass shooting, and in the midst of a global pandemic, K. Carter continues to work on his music and plan a music festival for a small urban city. Viewers will see the teams behind Carter’s endeavors and the words of those who look up to him. His journey to making an album not only spans across time but across state lines, while planning a festival has its own challenges. See the connections made and the leaps bound to bring something special to Dayton, Ohio.” Join us on Thursday, March 3 at 7:30 for the World Premiere of SON OF HIP HOP: A RAPUMENTARY – followed by a Q&A with K. Carter and Jeremy Tkach! Tickets only available at this LINK.
We’ve booked 2 special screenings of The West End’s ANYTHING GOES – set for March 27 & 30, and tickets are already on sale! What I’m even more excited about is that WSU’s Joe Deer, who was in the 1987 Broadway revival of ANYTHING GOES and has directed productions of this show several times, will introduce the screening on Wednesday, March 30. This is a filmed version of last summer’s West End production starring the luminous Tony-winning Sutton Foster. Don’t miss this Cole Porter treat on the big screen! Tickets are $12.50 and available now at our box office or on-line! More details can be found on our website. Click the image below to watch a trailer.
You’re hearing about this first! We’ve just booked a special event for Thursday, April 21. Many of you are familiar with THE DISASTER ARTIST – the story & film about the making of what is regarded as one of the worst movies of all time – the cult hit THE ROOM. On April 21, we will screen THE ROOM along with special guest actor & author Greg Sestero (he co-starred in THE ROOM and wrote the book THE DISASTER ARTIST). Mark your calendars now…you’ll be the first to get ticketing details in next week’s newsletter.
Details for this year’s screening party of the March 27 Academy Awards (always a FREE Event for NEON fans) will be revealed soon!

We’re delighted to be the sponsor for a wonderful program on WDPR Discover Classical – THE SCORE – “a celebration of symphonic music in film.” You can listen to this program on Sunday’s at 5pm on 88.1FM or via WDPR’s official site. To read more THE SCORE and the focus of each week’s program, visit this official

McCoy on Movies: I Want You Back

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Jenny Slate, Charlie Day team up for affable
I Want You Back in time for Valentine’s Day

“And if you look here, you’ll find the scenes were we could insert our old sitcoms respective co-stars!” Emma (Jenny Slate) and Peter (Charlie Day) star in a scene from director Jason Orley’s romantic comedy I WANT YOU BACK. Credit: © 2022 Amazon Studios. Courtesy of Amazon Studios. All rights reserved.
 
WATCH THE TRAILER HERE: 

DIRECTOR: Jason Orley
KEY CAST MEMBERS: Jenny Slate, Charlie Day, Scott Eastwood, Gina Rodriguez, Manny Jacinto, Clark Backo and Luke David Blumm
THE BACK STORY: Emma (Jenny Slate) is in love with Noah (Scott Eastwood). Peter (Charlie Day) is in love with Anne (Gina Rodriguez). The problem is Noah and Anne are no longer in love with them, Noah and Anne having respectively found their ideal partners: A woman with her own baking business – and the ambition Noah seeks in a mate – in Ginny (Clark Backo) and the physically fit artist, well, as much an artist as a middle school theater director can be in Logan (Manny Jacinto).
What Emma and Peter don’t know, however, is that their very sad, dumped paths will cross since they work in the same building. That chance meeting will lead to the hatching of a plan to break up their exes’ new relationships, making them realize they should go back to Emma and Peter.

But if you think that plan is going off without a hitch, you’ve apparently never watched a romantic comedy …

THE REVIEW: You know what’s nice about I Want You Back? It’s not the comedy, which works more than it doesn’t. It’s not the chemistry among the leads, which feels a lot like they are such best friends that it almost becomes annoying when they don’t see it. No, it’s how the film doesn’t really insult your intelligence with over-the-top zaniness and delivers characters whose actions never feel like they happen for the sake of a joke. Instead, you get a film with nice enough, likable people that by the time the film gets to its eventual conclusion, you’ll think about the qualities of each character you might wish to find in a partner of your own.
You’ll think about the nice aspects of relationships, the path one must take to discovering what they are meant to do in life, risks and rewards and how little things truly do make for the most significant memories, or perhaps the most significant aspects that determine who is and isn’t right for you if you’re lucky enough to find them.
At the very least, it should make you realize it’s not the person you used to have you want back, but rather the feelings they made you feel when things were great – and for that, I Want You Back is worth renewing your Amazon Prime membership back (at least for another month of movie watching).
OVERALL RATING (OUT OF FOUR POSSIBLE BUCKETS OF POPCORN):

 

 

 

 

 

 

POWER OF THE DOG, LOST DAUGHTER, BELFAST & More at The Neon

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On Monday, while making predictions and confirming our engagements of THE POWER OF THE DOG and THE LOST DAUGHTER, we decided to throw in a handful of screenings of BELFAST. I’m glad we did. Our slate for this weekend is golden. (I’ll go into more details with each synopsis.) In addition to those 3 films arriving on Friday, you’ll still have chances to see LICORICE PIZZA (nominated for 3 Academy Awards including “Best Picture”) and PARALLEL MOTHERS (nominated for 2 Oscars including “Best Actress”). If you still need to see WHO WE ARE: A CHRONICLE OF RACISM IN AMERICA, Thursday will be your last chance to see it at THE NEON.

This Sunday, February 13, we will have our first ever FREE POPCORN DAY! Whether you’re just passing by or joining us for a movie, any beverage purchase starting at Noon until closing on Feb. 13 will get you a FREE SMALL POPCORN (one free popcorn per customer). You can stop by and grab a beer “to go” before you kick-off your pregame at home…or grab a soda for your screening of THE POWER OF THE DOG – either way, the popcorn will be on us!
Please pay close attention to this week’s schedule. Some movies are only screening a handful of times, so I’ve moved them all around in order to get a mix of matinee and evening times throughout the week.
More nominees are on the way! THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD (nominated for “Best International Film” and “Best Original Screenplay”) opens next Friday. CYRANO and many of the OSCAR NOMINATED SHORT FILMS will open on Feb. 25. Other surprises are also in store. (FYI – Tickets for opening weekend of CYRANO are slated to go on sale this Friday morning!)
NEW IN-PERSON ENGAGEMENTS:
Synopsis for THE POWER OF THE DOG: Nominated for 12 Academy Awards including “Best Picture” and “Best Director” (Jane Campion is the first woman to ever be nominated twice for this award – how is that possible?). “A domineering rancher responds with mocking cruelty when his brother brings home a new wife and her son, until the unexpected comes to pass.” Starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemons, and Kodi Smit-McPhee – all nominated for their performances! Click the image below to watch the film’s trailer.
Synopsis for THE LOST DAUGHTER: Nominated for 3 Academy Awards including “Best Actress” for Olivia Colman. In the feature directorial debut from Maggie Gyllenhaal, Colman gives a strong and unsettling performance – one that has been winning awards around the world. “A college professor confronts her unsettling past after meeting a woman and her young daughter while on vacation in Italy. Her obsession with the woman and her daughter prompts memories of her early motherhood.” Click the image below to watch the film’s trailer. Gyllenhaal was nominated for her “Adapted Screenplay” for this film!
Synopsis for BELFAST: We had a feeling that nominations might renew interest in this gem…so we re-booked it without knowing it would garner 7 Academy Awards nominations including “Best Picture” (and a surprise nomination for the much-loved Judi Dench). We’ll have BELFAST for 5 special screenings starting Friday, Feb. 11. Director Kenneth Branagh’s “semi-autobiographical film which chronicles the life of a working class family and their young son’s childhood during the tumult of the late 1960s in the Northern Ireland capital.” (Focus Features) With Jamie Dornan, Caitriona Balfe, Judi Dench and Ciaran Hinds…and introducing Jude Hill. Click on the image below to watch the film’s trailer.
CONTINUING IN OUR VIRTUAL CINEMA
To read more about the few films that are still available, please visit our WEBSITE. Here’s a LINK with a video I made about how Virtual Cinema works. Our Virtual Cinema is in its last days (at least for now), but you still have a chance to check out a couple titles from home.
UPCOMING SPECIAL EVENT:
“K. Carter, with film creator Jeremy Tkach, give a glimpse into the progress of a man’s passions in a city thriving after chaos. This documentary shines a light on the process of a native Dayton talent pursuing his passions: music and his community. After devastating tornadoes, a mass shooting, and in the midst of a global pandemic, K. Carter continues to work on his music and plan a music festival for a small urban city. Viewers will see the teams behind Carter’s endeavors and the words of those who look up to him. His journey to making an album not only spans across time but across state lines, while planning a festival has its own challenges. See the connections made and the leaps bound to bring something special to Dayton, Ohio.” Join us on Thursday, March 3 at 7:30 for the World Premiere of SON OF HIP HOP: A RAPUMENTARY – followed by a Q&A with K. Carter and Jeremy Tkach! Tickets only available at this LINK.
We’re set for 2 special screenings of The West End’s ANYTHING GOES – set for March 27 & 30, and tickets are already on sale! What I’m even more excited about is that WSU’s Joe Deer, who was in the 1987 Broadway revival of ANYTHING GOES and has directed productions of this show several times, will introduce the screening on Wednesday, March 30. This is a filmed version of last summer’s West End production starring the luminous Sutton Foster. Don’t miss this Cole Porter treat on the big screen! Tickets are $12.50 and available now at our box office or on-line! More details can be found on our website. Click the image below to watch a trailer.
Details for this year’s screening party of the Academy Awards (set for March 27)…always a FREE Event for NEON fans…will be revealed soon!

Dayton Dinner Theater presents “Airplane!”

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Dayton Dinner Theater presents “Airplane!” See a classic favorite on the big screen in a fun group, interactive setting on Sunday, February 27th at The Brightside Music & Event Venue.

Enjoy Chef-inspired themed food, desserts, and cocktails from Brock Masterson. Before the movie, organizers have arranged for live-themed music featuring the renowned Dr. Willie Morris and the University of Dayton Jazz Ensemble.

During the movie, show your skills with DDT’s famous interactive quote contest, fun facts, theme spotting, and a trivia contest during intermission. Although these movie parties are geared more towards adults, they are family-friendly.

When? Feb 27, 2022, 6:00 PM – 9:10 PM. Doors open at 5:45pm. Food and live music are available from 6-7pm, the movie starts at 7pm,  a short intermission for dessert and trivia will start at 8pm. The movie ends around 9 pm.

Where? The Brightside Event Center, 905 E 3rd St, Dayton, OH 45402
Note: Table reservations only for parties of 6 or more, otherwise, we have open seating.

Cost: $35 tickets available at daytondinnertheater.com. Advance tickets are required.

About the Event:

Themed Food: TBA (last time we had a choice of steak or fish…. I had the lasagna)

Themed Drinks: TBA (we cater to those with a drinking problem)

Themed Attire: pick your occupation… doctor, pilot, stewardess, auto pilot, or Hare Krishna salesman

McCoy on Movies: JACKASS FOREVER

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Jackass Forever brings gross out humor to its apex

“Oh this is going to hurt … But that’s what you paid to see!” “Danger” Kenneth Ehren McGhehey prepares to come face to face – literally – with a venomous friend in a scene from JACKASS FOREVER. Credit: © 2022 Paramount Pictures. All rights reserved.

WATCH THE TRAILER HERE: 

DIRECTOR: Jeff Tremaine
KEY CAST MEMBERS: Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O, Chris Pontius, Dave England, Wee Man, Danger Ehren, Preston Lacy, Sean ‘Poopies’ McInerney, Zach Holmes, Eric Manaka … and introducing Jasper and Rachel Wolfson
THE BACK STORY: Really – you want a back story for a Jackass movie? How’s this: The old crew is back again and up to their old, crazy, disgusting habits … And they’ve brought a few celebrity friends along for the (final?) ride.

THE REVIEW: Have you ever seen a Jackass movie before? If the answer is “no,” you may not be ready for the boatload of full frontal male nudity, the scenes where PETA would not be concerned for the health or safety of the animals or insects involved or the amount of fluids that factor heavily into much of the 96 minutes on film. In short, this is not a film for anyone not yet old enough to drive, your older grandparents who prefer thought the Smothers Brothers were too dirty back in the 1960s or anyone that you are worried about having to show strong moral fibers around.
If body parts being repeatedly being smashed, male gentalia in general and fluid o’plenty doesn’t bother you, well … You will likely find yourself equally grossed out and crying laughing at the crazy, ridiculous things you see happening in high definition in front of you on screen. (Thank your lucky stars the film is not in 3-D!) You’re going to get Johnny Knoxville and company do their best to do their worst, succeeding more often than not. There’s even a fitting tribute to the late Ryan Dunn at the end, which, for a film that is probably thisclose to being a NC-17 affair, has more heart than you’d expect as you can tell this bunch of jackasses is having fun injuring each other some 20 plus years later and counting.
If this is the last Jackass film, it goes out with a literal bang all its fans will love … And make its detractors surely head home and pray for their souls.
OVERALL RATING (OUT OF FOUR POSSIBLE BUCKETS OF POPCORN):

WHO WE ARE Opens Friday at The Neon

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On Friday, we will open one of the most powerful documentaries I have seen in a long time – WHO WE ARE: A CHRONICLE OF RACISM IN AMERICA. I think this film should be part of a national curriculum, and I hope you’ll help me spread the word about this important engagement. LICORICE PIZZA continues to be our biggest draw – so it will stick around. PARALLEL MOTHERS will hold for a second week, and DRIVE MY CAR is coming back for three more encore screenings this weekend.

Academy Award nominations are coming out on Feb. 8, and we’re pretty sure we know a couple contenders coming down the pike that haven’t screened at THE NEON. So starting next Friday, you’ll have a chance to see Jane Campion’s THE POWER OF THE DOG(starring Benedict Cumberbatch) and Maggie Gyllenhaal’s feature directorial debut THE LOST DAUGHTER (starring Olivia Coleman) on our big screen.

On Sunday, February 13, we will have our first ever FREE POPCORN DAY! Whether you’re just passing by or joining us for a movie, any beverage purchase starting at Noon until closing on Feb. 13 will get you a FREE SMALL POPCORN (one free popcorn per customer). You can stop by and grab a beer “to go” before you kick-off your pregame at home…or grab a soda for your screening of THE POWER OF THE DOG – either way, the popcorn will be on us!

NEW IN-PERSON ENGAGEMENTS:
Synopsis for WHO WE ARE: A CHRONICLE OF RACISM IN AMERICA: Rated “100% Fresh” on rottentomatoes and the winner of numerous awards at film festivals across the country, this film is a Must-See! “Interweaving lecture, personal anecdotes, interviews, and shocking revelations, in WHO WE ARE: A CHRONICLE OF RACISM IN AMERICA, criminal defense/civil rights lawyer Jeffery Robinson draws a stark timeline of anti-Black racism in the United States, from slavery to the modern myth of a post-racial America.” (Sony Classics) Robert Daniels of THE LOS ANGELES TIMES wrote, “Through Robinson’s fervor for truth, Emily and Sarah Kunstler’s WHO WE ARE chronicles how such heartaches, when observed on a personal level, remind us how knowing the unchangeable past can still improve the alterable future for the better.” Click the image below to watch the film’s trailer.
CONTINUING IN OUR VIRTUAL CINEMA
To read more about the few films that are still available, please visit our WEBSITE. Here’s a LINK with a video I made about how Virtual Cinema works. Our Virtual Cinema is in its last days (at least for now), but you still have a chance to check out a couple titles from home.
UPCOMING SPECIAL EVENT:
We’re set for 2 special screenings of The West End’s ANYTHING GOES – set for March 27 & 30, and tickets are already on sale! What I’m even more excited about is that WSU’s Joe Deer, who was in the 1987 Broadway revival of ANYTHING GOES and has directed productions of this show several times, will introduce the screening on Wednesday, March 30. This is a filmed version of last summer’s West End production starring the luminous Sutton Foster. Don’t miss this Cole Porter treat on the big screen! Tickets are $12.50 and available now at our box office or on-line! More details can be found on our website. Click the image below to watch a trailer.
THE NEON wants to keep our Staff and Patrons safe! Our Board of Directors has sought advisement from Combined Health Dayton & Montgomery County and the Center for Disease Control…we’re also looking at other arthouse cinemas in major markets across the country. We have recently made one minor change to our policy. Masks are now required for all guests age 2 and higher until further notice.  All patrons aged 12 and over will be required to present proof of vaccination with a photo ID or a negative COVID-19 test from the last 72 hours. (Self-reported vaccination records not verified by a third party health care provider are not acceptable. Test results must include name, test result, and a timestamp within the past 72 hours.) We will continue to monitor the community’s health data and amend our policies based on guidance.
Please stay tuned to THE NEON’s website for the latest updates. A couple helpful hints!! Take a single picture of your photo ID and your vaccination card in the same shot. You’ll be able to flash this photo at our box office, and that will work as proof enough for us. If you have a smart phone, you could also download the app that most folks in NYC are using to get into movies, Broadway shows and restaurants – NYCCOVIDSAFE. This app will have you take a photo of your ID and your vaccine card – and it saves you from having to hunt for a photo on your phone. I downloaded it, and it’s very easy to use.
Please remember – We ask that you arrive before showtime to allow for checking everyone in before the auditorium gets dark!