penelope cruz

TIFF 2015 – Day #6

September 16, 2015 By Jonathan McNeal

Hi Again.

Thanks for coming back. Today, in addition to 4 films and one late night party, I managed to have a window of time that allowed me to have a nice dinner and small shopping spree – so I have now contributed nicely to the Canadian economy.

First thing this morning, I saw THE DRESSMAKER, directed by Jocelyn Moorhouse and starring Kate Winslet. Moorhouse, known for her weepie HOW TO MAKE AN AMERICAN QUILT, wasn’t quite sure which tone to give to this most recent novel adaptation…so she went with several. What starts out as a “Screwball Western” changes genres and mood so many times, it’s difficult to explain. Winslet, returning home after a long absence, appears as a curvaceous outlaw – her nontraditional weapons are her Singer sewing machine, a great gold swing and her feminine wiles. Accused of killing a classmate while in grade school, she hasn’t been back to town for years. Now she’s back to take care of her mother and set things straight. This Australian film is completely bonkers! It also stars the awesome Judy Davis and the terribly sexy Liam Hemsworth, and was penned by P.J. Hogan (MURIEL’S WEDDING). Though I found this film to be an overall disaster, I couldn’t stop watching – the performances are fun and some of the material is quite hysterical.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=580PmstF7IA

Next up was a film that many have been quite excited about. WHERE TO INVADE NEXT, directed by Michael Moore isn’t quite what it seems. There is no trailer yet for this film that critics are dubbing “Michael Moore’s Happy Film,” and if you watch the clip below, even the press was speculating about the subject of the film before it premiered (the young woman in the clip mentions what the film is about…and she’s completely wrong). In what might seem to be Michael Moore’s most optimistic film, he visits various countries and gives us ideas as to how we could do things better. From Italy’s vacation policies to school lunches in France to Slovenia’s no tuition for college system, Moore explains that these practices lead to better living conditions, a more productive work force and overall better state of affairs. This film is a crowd-pleaser.

I then scurried across town for the under-attended MA MA, directed by Julio Medem. Medem, known for his film LOVERS OF THE ARCTIC CIRCLE and SEX AND LUCIA, was in attendance along with the stunning lead actress Penelope Cruz. This is the story of woman who finds out she has breast Cancer but continues to be a most compassionate, giving/forgiving woman. Critics have not been terribly kind to this beautifully executed melodrama (but they rarely are with this genre). Though not without its flaws, I really liked this film. (Unfortunately, I can’t find a trailer with subtitles, but you should watch this one regardless.)

ANOMALISA, directed by Charlie Kaufman & Duke Johnson, was my final film for the day. This stop-motion puppet film, written by the much beloved Kaufman (BEING JOHN MALKOVICH, ADAPTATION, ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND), is 100% made for adults. It’s a relatively simple story about a motivational speaker staying overnight at a hotel trying to escape his monotonous life. There is no trailer for this film – only the Kickstarter campaign below. The film won the Grand Jury Prize in Venice, and word has it that it is being picked up for distribution.

Thanks for reading! Only a few days left.

More tomorrow,

Jonathan

2 Great Films, Another Great Weekend at THE NEON!

July 12, 2012 By Jonathan McNeal Leave a Comment

Hello Everyone,

This is a short & easy newsletter this week. We had another incredible weekend at THE NEON. People are really liking Woody Allen’s latest film – TO ROME WITH LOVE (some people have been quite vocal about their disgust for the review that appeared in Dayton Daily…and some have said they like the film as much as MIDNIGHT IN PARIS). In addition, MOONRISE KINGDOM continues to draw big crowds. Thank you so much for your support of these films. (You can visit either official site by clicking the titles above.)

Check out this fun “Behind the Scenes Clip.”

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5M_ySP5M1F0′]

We are holding steady this week! That said, we do have a special event on Saturday.

“Allow yourself to be immersed in a world where perception is redefined by a mysterious drug called I Razor. Dr. Gregory Fleer, a once brilliant scientist and the creator of I Razor, is transformed by his own experiment, along with a portion of the male population, into a band of telekinetic freaks who must negotiate their way through a world twisted beyond all recognition by their altered perceptions… Circus Devils (Robert Pollard of GUIDED BY VOICES and Todd Tobias) present: I RAZOR a New Film directed by Todd Tobias, starring Steve Five, Cory Race, and Brad Visker – with music by Circus Devils. Saturday July 14th at 12:30pm. Tickets are $5 each, and there are only a few left! Buying a ticket will enter you into a raffle to win cool I Razor/Circus Devils stuff (I Razor Movie T Shirts, posters) before the movie…” (taken from press release) Word has it that Guided By Voices will be in attendance.

In the coming weeks, I’ll have news about a special event surrounding the film THE INVISIBLE WAR (August 5) and news about a NEON Benefit (Save the date – October 14) to assist with our upcoming digital conversion.

And don’t forget that your movie ticket gets you 15% off your food order at Sa-Bai…located directly behind THE NEON.

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

SHOWTIMES for
Fri. July 13 – Thur. July 19:

TO ROME WITH LOVE (R) 1 Hr 42 Min
Friday: 12:20, 2:50, 5:10, 7:30, 9:45
Saturday: 3:00, 5:10, 7:30, 9:45
Sunday: 12:20, 2:50, 5:10, 7:30, 9:45
Monday – Thursday: 2:50, 5:10, 7:30, 9:45

MOONRISE KINGDOM (PG-13) 1 Hr 34 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:30, 2:45, 5:00, 7:20, 9:30
Monday – Thursday: 2:45, 5:00, 7:20, 9:30

I RAZOR (NR)
Saturday: 12:30

COMING SOON:
As always, all dates are tentative.
Many of these dates will change.
In some rare cases, titles may disappear.
July 20 YOUR SISTER’S SISTER
July 27 THE INTOUCHABLES
July 27 BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD
TBD WHERE DO WE GO NOW?
LOLA VERSUS

Best Week Ever + TO ROME WITH LOVE at THE NEON!

July 5, 2012 By Jonathan McNeal 2 Comments

Hello Everyone,

Wow! What a fantastic week!! Thank you to everyone who has come out and supported us over the hot, stormy week and weekend. It has been our absolute best ever!! (2nd place now goes to our opening of MILK while SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE was playing in our other auditorium.)

I’m sad to say it, but THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL and HYSTERIA are on their way out. On Friday, we will open the latest from Woody Allen – TO ROME WITH LOVE. Allen’s last film – MIDNIGHT IN PARIS – was our longest running film last year (13 weeks)…we’re anxious to see how this new film performs.
And it goes without saying that we will hold the delightful and crowd-pleasing MOONRISE KINGDOM.

Synopsis for TO ROME WITH LOVE: “To Rome with Love is a kaleidoscopic comedy movie set in one of the world’s most enchanting cities. The film brings us into contact with a well-known American architect reliving his youth; an average middle-class Roman who suddenly finds himself Rome’s biggest celebrity; a young provincial couple drawn into separate romantic encounters; and an American opera director endeavoring to put a singing mortician on stage.” Starring Alec Baldwin, Penelope Cruz, Jesse Eisenberg, Ellen Page, Roberto Benigni, Judy Davis and more! Visit the OFFICIAL SITE.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhBs9-G6sms’]

Additional thanks go out to everyone who came and supported our one-night-only screening of VITO last week. The introduction by Professor Charles Derry was extra special…and the film was incredible. It was nice to see such a well-attended screening of a documentary!

“Allow yourself to be immersed in a world where perception is redefined by a mysterious drug called I Razor. Dr. Gregory Fleer, a once brilliant scientist and the creator of I Razor, is transformed by his own experiment, along with a portion of the male population, into a band of telekinetic freaks who must negotiate their way through a world twisted beyond all recognition by their altered perceptions… Circus Devils (Robert Pollard of GUIDED BY VOICES and Todd Tobias) present: I RAZOR a New Film directed by Todd Tobias, starring Steve Five, Cory Race, and Brad Visker – with music by Circus Devils. Saturday July 14th at 12:30pm. Tickets are $5 each, and there aren’t many left! Buying a ticket will enter you into a raffle to win cool I Razor/Circus Devils stuff (I Razor Movie T Shirts, posters) before the movie…” (taken from press release)

And don’t forget that your movie ticket gets you 15% off your food order at Sa-Bai…located directly behind THE NEON.

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

SHOWTIMES for
Fri. July 6 – Thur. July 12:

TO ROME WITH LOVE (R) 1 Hr 42 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:20, 2:50, 5:10, 7:30, 9:45
Monday – Thursday: 2:50, 5:10, 7:30, 9:45

MOONRISE KINGDOM (PG-13) 1 Hr 34 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:30, 2:45, 5:00, 7:20, 9:30
Monday – Thursday: 2:45, 5:00, 7:20, 9:30

COMING SOON:
As always, all dates are tentative.
Many of these dates will change.
In some rare cases, titles may disappear.
July 20 YOUR SISTER’S SISTER
July 27 THE INTOUCHABLES
July 27 BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD
TBD WHERE DO WE GO NOW?, LOLA VERSUS