Hello Everyone,

We’ve got a new, stunningly gorgeous film opening on Friday (11/2). I refer to it as cinematic poetry. If you recall the hit BARAKA that played more than decade ago, this film – SAMSARA – was made by the same people. In addition to the new film, we’ll hold LIBERAL ARTS, KILLER JOE and one more week of SEARCHING FOR SUGAR MAN. Don’t forget that Omega Music, just a block from THE NEON, has the soundtrack on hand for SEARCHING FOR SUGAR MAN. If you’re interested in the music, we hope you’ll support another locally owned business (they even have the soundtrack available on vinyl)!

Be sure to read all the way to the end of this blog for fun, breaking news.

Synopsis for SAMSARA: “Expanding on the themes they developed in Baraka (1992) and CHronos (1985), Samsara explores the wonders of our world from the mundane to the miraculous, looking into the unfathomable reaches of man’s spirituality and the human experience. Neither a traditional documentary nor a travelogue, Samsara takes the form of a nonverbal, guided meditation. Through powerful images, the film illuminates the links between humanity and the rest of nature, showing how our life cycle mirrors the rhythm of the planet.” (Oscilloscope Pictures) Click THIS LINK to visit the film’s official site.

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“Help support DATV and be inspired by short films that aim to make a difference in our lives. DATV presents the MEDIA THAT MATTERS SHORT FILM FESTIVAL on Thursday, November 8th at 7:30pm, at THE NEON in Downtown Dayton. The MEDIA THAT MATTERS SHORT FILM FESTIVAL is the premier national showcase for short films on the most important topics of the day. The films engagediverse audiences and inspires them to take action. The festival features 12 jury selected short films that tackle a broad range of social issues with humor, humanity and honesty in 12 minutes or less.” (provided by DATV) Tickets are $10 each, and we have a few available at our box office and on DATV’s site. For more details about the event and the films, visit the official site.

And here’s some exciting, breaking news! Many of you have read about, asked about, or maybe even had your hand in on the locally produced film TRUE NATURE. After a very successful film festival run (it played and won awards at numerous festivals around the world), TRUE NATURE will finally play at THE NEON. TRUE NATURE will play for one week starting on Friday, Nov. 9, and I’ll announce showtimes and filmmaker Q&As in next week’s blog. To learn more about the film, visit its OFFICIAL SITE.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWyMIfmBI6A’]

In addition, we will also have a one-week run of FOR A GOOD TIME, CALL – the sweetly raunchy tale of two young women who start a phone sex business. This little film – which is as fun and charming as it is dirty – was made by Jamie Travis, director of some of my favorite short films of all time (THE SADDEST BOY IN THE WORLD being one of them). To find out more about this film, visit the FOCUS SITE.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbWUQXq5yDM’]

And check out our “Coming Soon” list below. Dates are shifting and our line-up for the coming weeks is really coming along. I’m hoping you’re interested in several of our upcoming engagements.

Thanks so much for your ongoing support!
All the best,
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Fri. Nov. 2 – Thur, Nov. 8:

KILLER JOE (NC-17) 1 Hr 42 Min
Friday – Thursday: 5:00, 9:30

LIBERAL ARTS (PG-13) 1 Hr 37 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:45, 3:00, 7:20
Monday – Wednesday: 3:00, 7:20
Thursday: 3:00

SEARCHING FOR SUGAR MAN (PG-13) 1 Hr 26 Min
Friday – Wednesday: 5:15, 9:30
Thursday: 5:15

SAMSARA (PG-13) 1 Hr 42 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:30, 2:45, 7:15
Monday – Thursday: 2:45, 7:15

DATV presents MEDIA THAT MATTERS
Thursday: 7:30

COMING SOON:
As always, all dates are tentative. Many of these dates will change.
In some rare cases, titles may disappear.
Nov. 9 (1 Week Only!) – FOR A GOOD TIME, CALL
Nov. 9 (1 Week Only!) – TRUE NATURE
Nov. 16 (2 weeks only) – A LATE QUARTET
Nov. 16 THE SESSIONS
Nov. 30 ANNA KARENINA
Dec. TBD – HITCHCOCK

Hello Everyone,

We’ve got two new films opening this weekend. First off is a film with Ohio & Dayton connections. LIBERAL ARTS – directed by and starring Josh Radnor (an Ohio native) – was shot mostly at Kenyon College. In addition to Elizabeth Olsen, the film also stars Dayton’s own Allison Janney. Our second film is a darkly comic crime thriller directed by William Friedkin (director of THE EXORCIST and THE FRENCH CONNECTION) starring Matthew McConaughey – KILLER JOE. (KILLER JOE is rated NC-17 for graphic violence & sexuality…no one under 17 will be admitted.)

In addition to our two new films, we will hold SLEEPWALK WITH ME and SEARCHING FOR SUGAR MAN for limited screenings. Audiences are loving SEARCHING FOR SUGAR MAN. People who gave the film a chance (knowing nothing about the subject) are so glad they came! Many folks are coming out of the auditorium wondering if the music is available. It is! Omega Music, just a block from THE NEON, has the soundtrack on hand. If you’re interested in the music, we hope you’ll support another locally owned business (they even have the soundtrack available on vinyl)!

Synopsis for LIBERAL ARTS: “Newly single and uninspired by his job in college admissions, the introverted Jesse Fisher (Josh Radnor) lives with his head buried in a book. His deep nostalgia for his own alma mater in Ohio – the dining halls and dorm rooms, the parties and poetry seminars – makes him wonder if his best days are behind him. So when his favorite professor (Richard Jenkins) invites him back to campus to speak at his retirement dinner, Jesse jumps at the chance. Meeting Zibby (Elizabeth Olsen) – a precocious classical music-loving sophomore – awakens in Jesse long-dormant feelings of possibility and connection.” (IFC Films) Visit the official site.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vW4zsyuFhew’]

Synopsis for KILLER JOE: “When 22 year-old drug dealer Chris (Hirsch) has his stash of drugs stolen from him by his mother, he has to come up with six-thousand dollars quick, or he’s dead. Desperate, he goes to the trailer-park to see his father, Ansel (Hayden Church), and he lays out the plan. Chris’s mother, who everyone hates, has a life insurance policy that would clear up his debt and make them all rich. The problem is that Chris’ mother is very much alive. Enter Detective “Killer” Joe Cooper, a hired hit man with the manners of a Southern gentleman, who will do the job – for an upfront fee, that Chris and Ansel can’t pay. Just as Joe is about to leave, he spots Dottie (Temple), Chris’ innocent younger sister. Joe makes Chris an offer, he’ll keep Dottie as sexual collateral until the money is collected and his fee can be paid.” (Voltage Pictures) Visit the official site.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9cnYXwGX4U’]

It’s unusual for me to talk about movies that aren’t playing at THE NEON…but I need to make an exception. SPARKLE, a new documentary made by NEON supporters and local filmmakers Julia Reichert and Steve Bognar, will premiere next week at Dayton Art Institute. “The evening will be quite unusual – a night of dance and cinema. SPARKLE is the story of legendary dancer Sheri ‘Sparkle’ Williams, who at age 50 (!) is still dancing with the world renowned Dayton Contemporary Dance Company. Our film is the story of how Sheri faces a devastating injury, which actually happened on stage. The evening will include the movie premiere, plus the world premiere of a new dance work choreographed specifically for Sheri Williams by Rodney A. Brown, a rising star in the world of contemporary dance choreography. The evening will also include a performance by the entire DCDC ensemble, AND several surprise guests. It promises to be a memorable night. Friday, Nov. 2 at 7 PM at the Dayton Art Institute’s newly renovated Renaissance Auditorium. Tickets are available at Ticket Center Stage, 937-228-3630, or at http://www.dcdc.org/ .” (taken from press notes) You can also join the conversation on the official facebook page.

Thanks so much for your ongoing support!
All the best,
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Fri. Oct. 26 – Thu. Nov. 1:

KILLER JOE (NC-17) 1 Hr 42 Min
Friday – Thursday: 5:00, 9:30

LIBERAL ARTS (PG-13) 1 Hr 37 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:30, 2:45, 7:20
Monday – Thursday: 2:45, 7:20

SLEEPWALK WITH ME (NR) 1 Hrs 30 Min
Friday – Thursday: 5:15, 9:30

SEARCHING FOR SUGAR MAN (PG-13) 1 Hr 26 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 1:00, 3:00, 7:30
Monday – Thursday: 3:00, 7:30

COMING SOON:
As always, all dates are tentative. Many of these dates will change.
In some rare cases, titles may disappear
Nov. 2 – SAMSARA
Nov. 9 – FOR A GOOD TIME, CALL
Nov. 16 (5 Days Only) – THE DETAILS
Nov. 16 (2 weeks only) – A LATE QUARTET
Nov. 21 – THE SESSIONS
Nov. 30 – ANNA KARENINA
Dec. TBD – HITCHCOCK