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Oscars

Steven Bognar, Now a Member of The Academy

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The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has issued 842 invitations to new members, the Oscar-granting body announced today.  And one of those invited to join the entertainment industry’s prestigious list of creatives is Yellow Springs filmmaker Steven Bognar.  Steve shared with us he got an email today about 2:20pm and the subject line read: “Welcome to The Academy Steven Bognar.”

We asked him what it meant to get that invite and here’s what he had to say:

“It’s incredibly meaningful to me, working in documentaries for 35 years, making films for 4o years when I started out  running around Beavercreek with a super 8 camera with my friends.   It’s such a great honor and so many filmmakers who I deeply respect are in The Academy and it’s such an honor to be amongst them.”

The Academy has 17 branches, for the crafts ranging from Actors to Writers, and two categories, Members-at-Large and Associates to accommodate individuals who work in motion picture production but do not fit into one of the branches.  The Academy’s membership process is by sponsorship, not application.  Candidates must be sponsored by two Academy members from the branch to which the candidate seeks admission.  After the two sponsors have completed the online process, the proposed candidate will receive an email requesting additional information. Once completed, the Member Relations and Awards Department will be in touch if any additional information is required.  Each candidate who receives a favorable endorsement from the appropriate Branch Executive Committee is then submitted to the Board of Governors for final approval and invitation to membership.

Adding the class this year will bring the membership to 9,000 artists and professionals who bring the magic of the movies to life. They are the men and women who transport audiences to galaxies far away and to worlds long ago and who create the previously unimagined for the big screen. They are the entertainment industry’s preeminent filmmakers. They are Academy members.  And now Steve joins his filmmaking partner Julia Reichert , as a member of the hallowed Academy.  Ms Reichert became an Academy member in 2010.

Also invited this year is former Wright State Motion Pictures Professor Chinonye Chukwu.  Other Miami Valley members of The Academy include Dave Chapelle, Hannah Beachler and  Allison Janey

For more information and the complete list of new member, click here.

Look for a Dayton debut this August of Bognar and Reichert’s latest film American Factory, which the Tribeca Film Festival describes as “a wry look at what happens when America’s economic vulnerability comes toe-to-toe with a new era of ambitious Chinese expansion.” An award winner at The Sundance Film Festival, the documentary is enjoying rave reviews on the film festival circuit.

Russell Florence’s Oscar Predictions

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And the Oscar goes to… fantastic stories about family, politics, royalty, pop stardom, race relations, and superheroes which defined film in 2018. The Favourite and Roma lead with 10 nominations apiece, but tonight I’m particularly looking forward to the presentation of Best Production Design thanks to Wright State University alumna Hannah Beachler, who made history as the first African-American nominated in the category for her superb work on Black Panther.


Knowing there will be surprises and upsets, here are my predictions in the top six categories:

BEST PICTURE
Black Panther
BlacKkKlansman
Bohemian Rhapsody
The Favourite
Green Book
Roma
A Star is Born
Vice

Overlooked: A Quiet Place; The Ballad of Buster Scruggs; Beautiful Boy; Ben Is Back; Boy Erased; Can You Ever Forgive Me?; Cold War; Crazy Rich Asians; Eighth Grade; First Man; First Reformed; The Hate U Give; If Beale Street Could Talk; Leave No Trace; Mary Poppins Returns; Mary Queen of Scots; Shoplifters; Widows; The Wife; Wildlife; Won’t You Be My Neighbor?

Should Win/Will Win: Black Panther

I feel you’ve undoubtedly heard a lot about Roma, especially its momentum during this topsy-turvy awards season. Roma, which ranked high on my Top 10 films of the year, is a beautifully crafted and acted look at the life of a Mexican maid, but I also recognize it’s very love-hate. After all, it’s understandable that watching water stream down a drain or watching a car correctly park in a driveway, in black and white no less, would be agony for some. And as for the Academy, there’s still great uncertainty about embracing a foreign film and a Netflix film as Best Picture, especially when Roma seems guaranteed to win foreign film anyway. So, taking all this into consideration among many worthy contenders including Green Book which has been shrouded in controversy for a while, I’m going with the more universally attractive and compellingly entertaining Black Panther, the pop culture achievement of 2018 that transcended cinema and unified a divisive nation for young and old alike.

BEST DIRECTOR
Alfonso Cuarón, Roma
Yorgos Lanthimos, The Favourite
Spike Lee, BlacKkKlansman
Adam McKay, Vice
Pawel Pawlikowski, Cold War

Overlooked: Ari Aster, Hereditary; Bo Burnham, Eighth Grade; Damien Chazelle, First Man; Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs; Ryan Coogler, Black Panther; Bradley Cooper, A Star is Born; Paul Dano, Wildlife; Joel Edgerton, Boy Erased; Peter Farrelly, Green Book; Debra Granik, Leave No Trace; Peter Hedges, Ben Is Back; Barry Jenkins, If Beale Street Could Talk; Hirokazu Kore-eda, Shoplifters; John Krasinski, A Quiet Place; Steve McQueen, Widows; Björn Runge, The Wife; George Tillman, Jr., The Hate U Give

Should Win: Lee
Will Win: Cuarón

The overdue Lee, receiving his first nomination here, deserves to win based on his decision to incorporate the relevant Charlottesville footage, but Cuarón remains unstoppable.

BEST ACTOR
Christian Bale, Vice
Bradley Cooper, A Star is Born
Willem Dafoe, At Eternity’s Gate
Rami Malek, Bohemian Rhapsody
Viggo Mortensen, Green Book

Overlooked: Chadwick Boseman, Black Panther; Steve Carell, Beautiful Boy; John Cho, Searching; Ben Foster, Leave No Trace; Ryan Gosling, First Man; Jake Gyllenhaal, Wildlife; Lucas Hedges, Ben Is Back and Boy Erased; Stephan James, If Beale Street Could Talk; Joaquin Phoenix, Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot, You Were Never Really Here; Jonathan Pryce, The Wife; Lakeith Stanfield, Sorry to Bother You; John David Washington, BlacKkKlansman

Should Win: Bale
Will Win: Malek

The transformative Bale, in one of his finest and most complex performances, mesmerized behind the makeup to create a fascinatingly dark portrayal of Dick Cheney, but Malek, the darling of awards season, will be the champion for embodying Freddie Mercury’s legacy with fiery flair and enormous heart.

BEST ACTRESS
Yalitza Aparicio, Roma
Glenn Close, The Wife
Olivia Colman, The Favourite
Lady Gaga, A Star is Born
Melissa McCarthy, Can You Ever Forgive Me?

Overlooked: Sakura Ando, Shoplifters; Emily Blunt, Mary Poppins Returns; Toni Collette, Hereditary; Viola Davis, Widows; Elsie Fisher, Eighth Grade; Joanna Kulig, Cold War; KiKi Layne, If Beale Street Could Talk; Carey Mulligan, Wildlife; Julia Roberts, Ben Is Back; Saoirse Ronan, Mary Queen of Scots; Amanda Stenberg, Widows; Charlize Theron, Tully; Constance Wu, Crazy Rich Asians

Should Win/Will Win: Close

Aparicio, Gaga and McCarthy impressed and Colman truly delighted, but after seven nominations Close, tremendous as a gifted spouse suddenly finding her voice, will no longer be ignored.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR 
Mahershala Ali, Green Book
Adam Driver, BlacKkKlansman
Sam Elliott, A Star is Born
Richard E. Grant, Can You Ever Forgive Me?
Sam Rockwell, Vice

Overlooked: Timothée Chalamet, Beautiful Boy; Coleman Domingo, If Beale Street Could Talk;; Joel Edgerton, Boy Erased; Josh Hamilton, Eighth Grade; Brian Tyree Henry, If Beale Street Could Talk; Jonah Hill, Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot; Russell Hornsby, The Hate U Give; Nicholas Hoult, The Favourite; Michael B. Jordan, Black Panther; Daniel Kaluuya, Widows; Ed Oxenbould, Wildlife; Anthony Ramos, A Star is Born

Should Win/Will Win: Ali

Ali should’ve shared lead category placement with Mortensen, but he’s a sure bet nonetheless for bringing nobility and charm to his portrayal of musician Dr. Don Shirley.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS 
Amy Adams, Vice
Marina de Tavira, Roma
Regina King, If Beale Street Could Talk
Emma Stone, The Favourite
Rachel Weisz, The Favourite

Overlooked: Emily Blunt, A Quiet Place; Linda Cardellini, Green Book; Elizabeth Debicki, Widows; Ann Dowd, Hereditary; Claire Foy, First Man; Danai Gurira, Black Panther; Regina Hall, The Hate U Give; Nicole Kidman, Boy Erased; Thomasin Harcourt McKenzie, Leave No Trace; Debra Messing, Searching; Lupita Nyong’o, Black Panther; Margot Robbie, Mary Queen of Scots; Annie Starke, The Wife; Maura Tierney, Beautiful Boy; Michelle Yeoh, Crazy Rich Asians

Should Win/Will Win: King

King has dazzled on television for years (Southland, American Crime, Seven Seconds), but her return to the big screen as a supportive mother fighting to save her daughter’s wrongly imprisoned boyfriend was an absolute knockout!

TIFF 2018 – Day #9

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Hello!

Things are certainly winding down here at TIFF.  I screened 3 movies today (which means I have now seen 38 films at the festival) and then I did a little shopping and eventually met some friends out for drinks.

My first film of the day was JEREMIAH TERMINATOR LEROY, directed by Justin Kelly.  First off, I think this is Kelly’s best work to date.  Many critics and industry folks I’ve talked to mention the fact that several projects have been done on this very same subject…and thus they aren’t necessarily interested in seeing the story again.  That said, I haven’t seen any of them, so I was interested.  “In this captivating true story, a young woman (Kristen Stewart) spends years playing the public role of Jeremiah “Terminator” LeRoy, an enigmatic and celebrated literary persona created by her sister-in-law (Laura Dern).”  This story is too bizarre to be true – but it is (and with MILLION LITTLE PIECES screening at this year’s festival, I guess it’s an interesting recurring theme – books that are later discovered to be untrue).  Laura Dern is maniacal and fun to watch, and I ultimately think this is a solid film that could easily find an audience.

THE DEATH AND LIFE OF JOHN F DONOVAN, directed by Xavier Dolan, was next on my list.  Critics have been savage regarding this next film from Dolan (the young director who has won awards at Cannes, made several films and still is in his 20s). This film is Dolan’s first English-language effort, and it has quite a cast.  Here’s the mini TIFF synopsis: “Xavier Dolan’s highly anticipated drama about a young man’s calculated reassessment of his infamous, and ultimately disastrous, childhood correspondence with an American television star features an all-star cast, including Kit Harington, Natalie Portman, Susan Sarandon, Kathy Bates, Thandie Newton, Jacob Tremblay, and Ben Schnetzer.”  This film was hung up in editing for a couple years, and I think I can see why.  It has all the signature Dolan traits – and I have to admit I was entertained – I liked the story.  That said, it seems like some of the actors are in different movies.  Sarandon’s performance is so big and crazy that it doesn’t seem at all like the rest of the film…though Natalie Portman is a bit over-the-top, too.  Kathy Bates is superb, and Michael Gambon’s short scene is lovely.  The movie is currently too long, but I think it will eventually find distribution (at least via a streaming service).

COLD WAR, directed by Pawel Pawlikowski, is the follow-up to Pawlikowski’s Oscar-winning film IDA (one of my favorites the year it played TIFF).  “Pawel Pawlikowski’s formidable romantic drama features two musical performers in postwar Eastern Europe whose discontinuous love story is hindered by obstacles of time, space, and politics.”  This film is full of absolutely gorgeous black and white cinematography (like IDA, the camera placement is brilliant), and the music (as well as overall sound design) is incredible.  This was a great film to wind up my last full day of the festival.

I have one more film tomorrow morning before I pack my bags and head to the airport.

Thanks for reading,

Jonathan

YOUNG KARL MARX, THE INSULT and OSCARS Galore at THE NEON!

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Hello Everyone!

This has been an incredibly strong Oscar Season at THE NEON.  We brought you THE FLORIDA PROJECT, FACES PLACES, LADY BIRD and THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI before the holidays.  Then we brought THE SHAPE OF WATER, DARKEST HOUR, CALL ME BY YOUR NAME, PHANTOM THREAD, I, TONYA and all the OSCAR NOMINATED SHORTS.  It’s been one nominee to next…and Sunday will give us the winners!

We’re squeezing in two films that we initially didn’t think we’d have room to program. On Friday, we’ll open THE INSULT (a brilliant courtroom drama that’s nominated for “Best Foreign Film” at the Academy Awards) and THE YOUNG KARL MARX (for which A.O. Scott of The New York Times just wrote a glowing review). Audiences loved FILM STARS DON’T DIE IN LIVERPOOL, so we’ll hold it for limited screenings along with I, TONYA for one more week. If you still need to see the ANIMATED or LIVE ACTION OSCAR NOMINATED SHORTS, Thursday will be your last chance to catch them at THE NEON!  And don’t forget about our FREE OSCAR PARTY this Sunday (more details below).

Synopsis for THE INSULT: Nominated for “Best Foreign Film” at this year’s Academy Awards! “In today’s Beirut, an insult blown out of proportion finds Tony (Adel Karam), a Lebanese Christian, and Yasser (Kamel El Basha), a Palestinian refugee in court.” A.O. Scott of THE NEW YORK TIMES wrote, “There is something undeniably exhilarating about the film’s honest assessment of the never-ending conflict between decency and cruelty that rages in every nation, neighborhood and heart.” Click THIS LINK to visit the film’s official site.

Synopsis for THE YOUNG KARL MARX: “In the mid-1800s, after decades ofthe scientific and economic marchof the Industrial Revolution has created an age of both new prosperity and new problems, a 26-year-old writer, researcher andradical namedKarl Marx embarks,with his wife Jenny,on the road to exile. In Paris in 1844 they meet young Friedrich Engels, the well-to-do son of a factory owner whose studies and research has exposed the poor wages and worse conditions of the new English working class who operate looms, printing presses and other engines of industry that enrich their owners while punishing laborers. The smooth and sophisticated – but equally revolutionary and radical – Engels brings his research, help and resources to provide Marx with the missing piece to the puzzle that composes his new vision of the world.” A.O. Scott of The New York Times wrote that the film is, “Both intellectually serious and engagingly free-spirited.”

It’s Almost OSCAR Time! This Sunday, you’re invited to THE NEON’s Annual Oscar Viewing Party! The pre-show begins at 7pm, and we will begin seating as close to 7pm as possible. (The actual Oscar ceremony traditionally begins at 8:30.) Completed ballots (which are now available in our lobby) must be turned in before the first Oscar is given. YOU MUST BE PRESENT TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR PRIZES. You can reserve a spot and your place in line by dropping off your ballot when we open our doors on Sunday, March 4. One Ballot/Reservation Per Person! We’ll have fantastic prizes all night long, and our grand prize will once again be donated by our friends at Square One Salon & Spa with additional prizes from Always Ballroom and James Apesos M.D.

SAVE THE DATE! On March 22, Cliff Fawcett is bringing back the wildly successful PADDLING FILM FESTIVAL (formerly known as THE REEL PADDLING FILM FESTIVAL). This festival of short films that all take place on waterways around the world has garnered quite a following. More details soon!

Thank you for your continued support!
We hope to see you this weekend,
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Tuesday, Feb. 27 – Thursday, March 8:

I, TONYA (R) 2 Hrs
Tuesday-Thursday (Feb 27-Mar 1): 5:10
Friday & Saturday (Mar 2 & 3): 11:50, 4:50, 9:40
Sunday (Mar 4):11:50, 4:50
Monday-Thursday (Mar 5-8): 5:10

OSCAR NOMINATED SHORTS: ANIMATION (NR) 1 Hr 23 Min
Tuesday (Feb 27): 3:15, 7:30
Wednesday & Thursday (Feb 28 & Mar 1): 5:20
FINAL DAY – March 1

OSCAR NOMINATED SHORTS: LIVE ACTION (NR) 1 Hr 39 Min
Tuesday (Feb 27): 5:15
Wednesday & Thursday (Feb 28 & Mar 1): 3:15, 7:30
FINAL DAY – March 1

FILM STARS DON’T DIE IN LIVERPOOL (R) 1 Hr 45 Min
Tuesday-Thursday (Feb 27-Mar 1): 3:00, 7:40
Friday & Saturday (Mar 2 & 3): 2:30, 7:20
Sunday (Mar 4): 2:30
Monday-Thursday (Mar 5-8): 3:00, 7:40

THE YOUNG KARL MARX (NR) 1 Hr 58 Min
Friday & Saturday (Mar 2 & 3): 2:10, 7:20, 9:50
Sunday (Mar 4): 2:10, 7:20
Monday-Thursday (Mar 5-8): 2:50, 7:50

THE INSULT (NR) 1 Hr 53 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday (Mar 2-4): 11:40, 4:50
Monday-Thursday (Mar 5-8): 5:20

COMING SOON:
(All Dates Are Tentative. Dates Often Move And Sometimes Disappear)
March 9 – THE PARTY
March 16 – A FANTASTIC WOMAN
April 6 – ISLE OF DOGS
April 6 – LOVELESS
April 20 – FOXTROT
April 27 – YOU WERE NEVER REALLY HERE
May 18 – RBG
TBD – THE DEATH OF STALIN
TBD – LEISURE SEEKER

Brilliant FACES PLACES Among Jonathan’s Favorites Coming to THE NEON!

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Hello Everyone!

We have had a terrific year with many big successes. Our two current attractions are garnering a lot of raves from critics and audiences alike, and I still hear people talking about other films from earlier this year like MAUDIE, THE BIG SICK, FLORIDA PROJECT, THEIR FINEST, I AM NOT YOUR NEGRO, and LOVING VINCENT (we still intent to bring this film back for a handful of shows when we can squeeze them in). Thus it might be hard to believe that the best films of the year are still on their way to THE NEON. Among them is a little gem called FACES PLACES. If you’ve been here in the past month, you’ve seen the trailer for this enchanting and uplifting documentary. It will open this Friday and play for just one week! Don’t miss it! On Thursday of next week, we will have preview screenings of THE SHAPE OF WATER (one of the absolute best films of the year – and certain to be a “Best Picture” contender) and DARKEST HOUR (almost certain to win an Oscar for Gary Oldman).

Many folks have been asking lately for my favorites of the year. 4 films immediately come to mind. Films that stood out that I can’t stop thinking about…and can’t wait to see again. FACES PLACES is one of them. The other three haven’t yet played anywhere around us but will soon be on their way – THE SHAPE OF WATER, CALL ME BY YOUR NAME and A FANTASTIC WOMAN. I’ll be sure to keep you in the loop.

Synopsis for FACES, PLACES: “89-year old Agnes Varda, one of the leading figures of the French New Wave, and acclaimed 33 year-old French photographer and muralist JR teamed up to co-direct this enchanting documentary/road movie. Kindred spirits, Varda and JR share a lifelong passion for images and how they are created, displayed and shared. Together they travel around the villages of France in JR’s photo truck meeting locals, learning their stories and producing epic-size portraits of them. The photos are prominently displayed on houses, barns, storefronts and trains revealing the humanity in their subjects, and themselves. FACES PLACES documents these heart-warming encounters as well as the unlikely, tender friendship they formed along the way.” Click this LINK to visit the film’s official site.

If you need gift-giving ideas for the film lover in your life, we’ve got you covered. NEON gift certificates are available at our box office in denominations of $5 and $10. We also just got in a new batch of NEON t-shirts with our slogan “Good To The Last Frame” on the back. Hurry in and get ’em while you can!

We also are helping The Rubi Girls by selling their annual wall calendar. The Rubi Girls are a charity-driven comedic drag troupe in town, and 100% of all calendar sales will go back to The Rubi Girls and the causes they champion. Calendars are $15 each or 2 for $20.

Our FAMILY HOLIDAY FILM SERIES has just one film left. Admission is free for children 12 and under, and general admission is just $2. This Saturday, December 16 at Noon, we’ll wrap up the series with HOME ALONE – can you believe this comedy classic starring Macaulay Culkin is already 27 years old?!? Tickets are first come, first serve – available 45 minutes before the screening.

Mark your calendars and please help spread the word. CHAVELA, a beautiful, award-winning documentary about Mexican singer Chavela Vargas, will have two special screenings in late January. On Saturday and Sunday, January 27 & 28 at Noon, director Daresha Kyi (who grew up in Dayton and graduated from The Miami Valley School) will present her documentary and participate in a Q&A. Ticketing details will be available soon. To learn more about the film, please click this LINK to visit the film’s official site.

Thanks so much for your continued support.
We hope to see you soon,
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Tuesday, Dec. 12 – Thursday, Dec. 21:

LADY BIRD (R) 1 Hr 33 Min
Tuesday-Thursday (Dec 12-14): 3:00, 5:10, 7:20
Friday (Dec 15): 12:50, 3:00, 5:10, 7:20, 9:30
Saturday (Dec 16): 3:00, 5:10, 7:20, 9:30
Sunday (Dec 17): 12:50, 3:00, 5:10, 7:20
Monday-Wednesday (Dec 18-20): 3:00, 5:10, 7:20
Thursday (Dec 21): 3:00, 5:10
FINAL DAY – Dec. 21!

THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE… (R) 1 Hr 55 Min
Tuesday-Thursday (Dec 12-14): 2:50, 5:15, 7:40
Friday & Saturday (Dec 15 & 16): 12:20, 5:00, 7:30, 9:55
Sunday (Dec 17): 2:20, 5:00, 7:30
Monday-Wednesday (Dec 18-20): 5:00, 7:30
Thursday (Dec 21): 5:00
FINAL DAY – Dec. 21!

FACES, PLACES (PG) 1 Hr 29 Min
Friday-Thursday (Dec 15-21): 3:00
Final Day – Dec. 21!

THE SHAPE OF WATER (R) 1 Hr 59 Min
Thursday (Dec 21): 7:30 – Preview Screening!

DARKEST HOUR (PG-13) 2 Hrs 5 Min
Thursday (Dec 21): 7:40 – Preview Screening!

HOME ALONE (PG) 1 Hr 43 Min
Saturday (Dec 16): Noon

COMING SOON:
(All Dates Are Tentative. Dates Often Move And Sometimes Disappear)
Dec. 21 – SHAPE OF WATER
Dec. 21 – DARKEST HOUR
TBD Possibilities – NOVITIATE, CALL ME BY YOUR NAME, PHANTOM THREAD,
FILM STARS DON’T DIE IN LIVERPOOL, A FANTASTIC WOMAN, 

 and the return of LOVING VINCENT

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

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Hello Everyone!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

And The Oscar Goes To…

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

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

Will Win: La La Land
Should Win: Moonlight

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

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

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

Will Win: Chazelle
Should Win: Jenkins

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

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

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

Will Win/Should Win: Washington

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

 

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

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

Will Win: Stone
Should Win: Huppert

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

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

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

Will Win/Should Win: Ali

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

 

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

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

Will Win/Should Win: Davis

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

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

 

 

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

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Hello Dayton Most Metro!

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

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

 

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

See ya at the movies,

Jonathan

Numerous Oscar Nominations for Films at THE NEON

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Hello Most Metro!

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

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

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

We hope to see you soon!

Jonathan

 

LA LA LAND is Huge Hit at THE NEON!

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Hello MostMetro,

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

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

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

Many thanks for your support!

Jonathan