the skin i live in

New Almodovar Film at THE NEON!

November 29, 2011 By Jonathan McNeal Leave a Comment

Hello Everyone,

Special thanks to all of you who came out over the weekend. This was our best Thanksgiving Weekend ever, and THE DESCENDANTS is certainly a hit!! (Interesting to note, 2nd place goes to the Thanksgiving weekend we opened AMELIE in 2001…3rd place to our Thanksgiving opening of SIDEWAYS – also Alexander Payne – back in 2004.)

If you haven’t had a chance to see MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE, Thursday will be your last chance to see it at THE NEON. On Friday, we will open the latest film by my favorite filmmaker of all time – Pedro Almodovar. THE SKIN I LIVE IN is a melodramatic thriller that reveals itself in a brilliant way. I sat in the front row during its screening at the Toronto International Film Festival – when the film was introduced by its stars Antonio Banderas and Elena Anaya. The film has stuck with me ever since – and I’ve grown to like it even more. That said, I wish I hadn’t read much about it before seeing it on the big screen. (Due to that reason, the description below will be relatively vague by comparison to the content of the film.)

Synopsis for THE SKIN I LIVE IN: “Ever since his wife was burned in a car crash, Dr. Robert Ledgard, an eminent plastic surgeon, has been interested in creating a new skin with which he could have saved her. After twelve years, he manages to cultivate a skin that is a real shield against every assault. In addition to years of study and experimentation, Robert needed three things: no scruples, an accomplice and a human guinea pig. Scruples were never a problem. Marilia, the woman who looked after him from the day he was born, is his most faithful accomplice. And as for the human guinea pig…” (Sony Classics) Visit the film’s official website.

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As you can tell by now, the Weinstein Co. decided not to open MY WEEK WITH MARILYN in Dayton on December 2. Right now, we don’t know their intentions for the film in this market. Though we would certainly love to play the film, it will all be a matter of screen availability when they decide to move forward.

Starting this Saturday, we’ll be hosting The Holiday Family Movie Series…sponsored by The Downtown Dayton Partnership, DP&L and THE NEON. The movies begin at noon and are free for children 12 and under; other tickets are only $2 each. On December 3, we will play MIRACLE ON 34th STREET (original 1947 version). On December 10 – POLAR EXPRESS. And lastly, on December 17, we will play A CHRISTMAS STORY. All of these movies will be presented via digital video projection.

For remaining showtimes for this week, visit our site.

Special thanks to our new friends at Ghostlight Coffee for letting us hang posters in their new, adorable coffeeshop. If you haven’t had a chance to check them out, click on the link – they’re a great addition to Dayton. Of course we appreciate all of our friends and partners – Meadowlark, Boston Stoker, Ohio Coffee Company, Olive, A Urban Dive, Blind Bob’s, Square One Salon & Spa, 5th Street Wine & Deli, Gem City Records, and all of you…and of course DAYTON MOST METRO. Without grassroots marketing and positive word-of-mouth, we wouldn’t still be here. Thank you!

We hope to see you very soon,

Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Fri. December 2 – Thur. December 8:

THE DESCENDANTS (R) 1 Hrs 55 Min

Friday,Saturday, Sunday: 12:15, 2:40, 5:00, 7:20, 9:45

Monday – Thursday: 2:40, 5:00, 7:20, 9:45

THE SKIN I LIVE IN (R) 1 Hr 57 Min

Friday: 12:20, 2:50, 5:10, 7:30, 9:50

Saturday: 2:50, 5:10, 7:30, 9:50

Sunday: 12:20, 2:50, 5:10, 7:30, 9:50

Monday – Thursday: 2:50, 5:10, 7:30, 9:50

MIRACLE ON 34th STREET 1947 version (G) 1 Hr 36 Min

Saturday: 12:00 (Noon)

COMING SOON:

As always, all dates are tentative. Some of these dates will change.

In some cases, titles may disappear.

??? MY WEEK WITH MARILYN

TBD MELANCHOLIA

Dec. 25 THE ARTIST

Jan. 20 SHAME

Jan. 20 CARNAGE

Jan. 27 A DANGEROUS METHOD

TBD WEEKEND

TBD THE HEDGEHOG

Don’t Miss THE DESCENDANTS at THE NEON!

November 22, 2011 By Jonathan McNeal Leave a Comment

Hello Everyone,

If you still need to catch TAKE SHELTER or MARGIN CALL, tomorrow (11/22) will be your last chance to see them at THE NEON. On Wednesday, we open my favorite American film of the year – THE DESCENDANTS – directed by Alexander Payne and starring George Clooney. I fell in love with this film at The Toronto International Film Festival, and it has nothing to do with the fact that George Clooney was three feet away from me at the after-party. As funny as it is touching, this film has been given a 100% review from The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Chicago-Sun Times, USA Today, Entertainment Weekly, Rolling Stone, The Hollywood Reporter and many more. I think it’s a shoe-in to be nominated for “Best Picture” this year.

Synopsis for THE DESCENDANTS: “Matt King is an indifferent husband and father of two girls, who is forced to re-examine his past and embrace his future when his wife suffers a boating accident off of Waikiki. The event leads to a rapprochement with his young daughters while Matt wrestles with a decision to sell the family’s land handed down from Hawaiian royalty and missionaries.” (Fox Searchlight) Click HERE to visit the film’s official website.

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Upcoming dates are changing all around, and it’s quite possible that The Weinstein Company may give us MY WEEK WITH MARILYN on December 2…but we’ll have to wait and see.

And don’t forget that we’ll be hosting holiday films on Saturdays in December…sponsored by The Downtown Dayton Partnership, DP&L and THE NEON. The movies begin at noon and are free for children 12 and under; other tickets are only $2 each. On December 3, we will play MIRACLE ON 34th STREET (original 1947 version). On December 10 – POLAR EXPRESS. And lastly, on December 17, we will play A CHRISTMAS STORY. All of these movies will be presented via digital video projection.

For remaining showtimes for this week, visit www.neonmovies.com.

Wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Hope to see you very soon,

Jonathan

SHOWTIMES forWed. November 23 – Thur. December 1:

THE DESCENDANTS (R) 1 Hrs 55 Min

Wednesday & Thursday: 2:40, 5:00, 7:20, 9:45

Friday,Saturday, Sunday: 12:15, 2:40, 5:00, 7:20, 9:45

Monday – Thursday: 2:40, 5:00, 7:20, 9:45

MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE (R) 1 Hr 42 Min

Wednesday & Thursday: 3:00, 5:15, 7:30, 9:50

Friday,Saturday, Sunday: 12:45, 3:00, 5:15, 7:30, 9:50

Monday – Thursday: 3:00, 5:15, 7:30, 9:50

COMING SOON:

As always, all dates are tentative. Some of these dates will change.

In some cases, titles may disappear.

Dec. 2 (?) MY WEEK WITH MARILYN

TBD THE SKIN I LIVE IN

TBD MELANCHOLIA

TBD WEEKEND

Dec. 25 THE ARTIST

TBD THE HEDGEHOG

Jan. 20 SHAME

Jan. 20 CARNAGE

Jan. 27 A DANGEROUS METHOD

TAKE SHELTER – One of the Best of the Year – Opens Friday!

November 1, 2011 By Jonathan McNeal 1 Comment

Hello Everyone,

I hope you’re making plans to see TAKE SHELTER this weekend (read the DMM Film Review here). This Ohio-made film was one of my absolute favorites from this year’s Toronto International Film Festival (I screened 34 films over the course of 9 days), and it has been garnering awards and great reviews around the world. As a special treat, producer Tyler Davidson will be joining us for Q&As following a few screenings…and there’s no additional charge for these tickets (which are on sale now at our box office). Showtimes with Q&As are noted below.

Thursday will be your last chance to see the charming French film with Gerard Depardieu and Gisele Casadesus – MY AFTERNOONS WITH MARGUERITTE. Hurry down if you still need to see it. Though audiences are loving this film, it hasn’t done well enough to stick around.

Synopsis for TAKE SHELTER: “Curtis LaForche lives in a small town in Ohio with his wife, Samantha, and daughter, Hannah, a six-year-old deaf girl. When Curtis begins to have terrifying dreams, he keeps the visions to himself, channeling his anxiety into obsessively building a storm shelter in his backyard. His seemingly inexplicable behavior concerns and confounds those closest to him, but the resulting strain on his marriage and tension within his community can’t compare with Curtis’s privately held fear of what his dreams may truly signify.” (Sony Pictures Classics) Visit the film’s official website.

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There are only 2 films left for Living City’s VAMPIRE retrospective…and both will be presented via 35mm. Single tickets will be available at the door before each screening for $8 each. Here are the remaining dates and films:

November 7 at 7:30 – INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE (35mm)

November 14 at 7:30 – BRAM STOKER’S DRACULA (1992 – 35mm).

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The Ohio Liberty Film Festival is gearing up for its third year this November. With numerous presenters and sponsors, the festival is able to make admission free to all of their screenings. Click the link to see the entire line-up for various venues around town.

The following are movies that will play at THE NEON:

Friday, Nov. 11 at 3:00 – THE GREAT DICTATOR (The Charlie Chaplin classic)

Saturday, Nov. 12 at 1:30 – AS FAR AS MY FEET WILL CARRY ME

Sunday, Nov. 13 at 1:30 – PATTON

“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 SHOWCASE on Thursday, November 17th at 7:30pm…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. Special thanks to our sponsor Merrill Lynch Global Wealth Management OGDM Group – Centerville, Ohio…Proceeds from the event will benefit DATV. DATV’s mission is to be a community forum that empowers all citizens to learn, create and express their ideas through electronic media…” (taken from press notes) Visit the official site for this event. Tickets are already available at our box office for $10 each.

We’ve already booked the perfect film for Thanksgiving weekend. Alexander Payne’s new film THE DESCENDANTS (starring George Clooney) is fantastic! In fact, I think it’s Payne’s best film yet. Thanksgiving weekend is a crucial movie-going weekend for cinemas…and we hope you’ll make plans to see this great film with us! To find out more about the film, visit the official site.

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For remaining showtimes for this week visit our site.

Hope to see you this weekend,

Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Nov 4 – Nov 10:

THE WAY (PG-13) 2 Hrs 1 Min

Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:15, 2:40, 5:00, 7:30, 9:50

Monday: 2:45, 5:10

Tuesday – Thursday: 2:45, 5:10, 7:40

TAKE SHELTER (R) 2 Hrs

* – indicates a screening with special Q&A

Friday: 1:30, 4:15, 7:00*, 9:40

Saturday: 1:30, 4:15*, 7:00*, 9:40

Sunday: 1:30, 4:15, 7:00, 9:40

Monday – Thursday: 3:00, 5:30, 8:00

INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE (R) 2 Hrs 3 Min

Monday: 7:30

COMING SOON:

As always, all dates are tentative. Some of these dates will change.

In some cases, titles may disappear.

Nov. 11 MARGIN CALL

Nov. 18 MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE

Nov. 23 THE DESCENDANTS

Dec. 16 WEEKEND

TBD THE SKIN I LIVE IN

TBD MELANCHOLIA

TBD THE HEDGEHOG

THE WAY, THE DEVIL’S DOUBLE & Big NEON News!

October 19, 2011 By Jonathan McNeal Leave a Comment

Hello Everyone,

We’re cleaning house this week. If you still need to see THE FUTURE, RESTLESS or SENNA, you only have through tomorrow (October 20) to see them at THE NEON. On Friday, we open two new films. First is a film from Emilio Estevez – starring his father Martin Sheen – THE WAY. On our other screen, we’ll open a film based on a true story about the body double for Saddam Hussein’s son – THE DEVIL’S DOUBLE.

Synopsis for THE WAY: “THE WAY is a powerful and inspirational story about family, friends, and the challenges we face while navigating this ever-changing and complicated world. Martin Sheen plays Tom, an American doctor who comes to St. Jean Pied de Port, France to collect the remains of his adult son (played by Emilio Estevez), killed in the Pyrenees in a storm while walking the Camino de Santiago, also known as The Way of Saint James. Rather than return home, Tom decides to embark on the historical pilgrimage to honor his son’s desire to finish the journey. What Tom doesn’t plan on is the profound impact the journey will have on him and his ‘California Bubble Life.'” (taken from the official site) Many of you have heard about this film because Sheen & Estevez recently came through Dayton promoting it. We hope you’ll help us make this film a success in their hometown!

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Synopsis for THE DEVIL’S DOUBLE: “Summoned from the frontline to Saddam Hussein’s palace, Iraqi army lieutenant Latif Yahia is thrust into the highest echelons of the ‘royal family’ when he’s ordered to become the body double to Saddam’s son – a reckless, sadistic party-boy with a rabid hunger for sex and brutality. With his and his family’s lives at stake, Latif must surrender his former self forever as he learns to walk, talk and act. But nothing could have prepared him for the horror of the Black Prince’s psychotic, drug-addled life of fast cars, easy women and impulsive violence…” (Herrick Entertainment) Click the link to visit the film’s official site.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhlQOg9abRk’]

Next Monday will be the 2nd of Living City’s VAMPIRE retrospective. Single tickets will be available at the door before each screening for $8 each. Here are the remaining dates and films:

October 24 – DRACULA (1931, starring Bela Lugosi – 35mm)

October 31 – THE LOST BOYS (digital video projection)

November 7 – INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE (35mm)

November 14 – BRAM STOKER’S DRACULA (1992 – 35mm).

Here’s some great news! TAKE SHELTER was one of my favorite films from this year’s Toronto International Film Festival. It has been receiving much-deserved international acclaim, and I hope we hear a lot more about it come Oscar time. The performances are incredible, the story is great, and the photography is wonderful. On top of all that, the film was made in Ohio! We’re so glad to announce that we will bring producer Tyler Davidson to town during opening weekend. Mr. Davidson will be able to introduce the film and conduct Q&As following select screenings. Stay tuned to my updates for the latest details as they develop. Meanwhile, visit the film’s official site .

On November 17, DATV has rented our space to host their annual MEDIA THAT MATTERS event. Tickets are already available at our box office for $10 each. Mark your calendars now, and I’ll include more details in next week’s update…but if you want to read more, visit their official site.

For remaining showtimes for this week visit THE NEON’s site.

Hope to see you very soon,

Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for October 21 – October 27:

THE WAY (PG-13) 2 Hrs 1 Min

Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:15, 2:40, 5:00, 7:30, 9:50

Monday – Thursday: 3:00, 5:30, 8:00

THE DEVIL’S DOUBLE (R) 1 Hr 49 Min

Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:30, 2:45, 5:00, 7:20, 9:40

Monday: 3:00, 5:15

Tuesday – Thursday: 3:00, 5:15, 7:30

DRACULA (NR) 1 Hr 15 Min

Monday: 7:30

COMING SOON:

As always, all dates are tentative. Some of these dates will change.

In some cases, titles may disappear.

Nov. 4 TAKE SHELTER

Nov. ? MARGIN CALL

Nov. 18 MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE

Nov. 25 THE SKIN I LIVE IN

Dec. 2 MELANCHOLIA

TBD WEEKEND

TBD THE HEDGEHOG

TBD MY AFTERNOONS WITH MARGUERITTE

The Future, Restless & Big NEON News!

October 13, 2011 By Jonathan McNeal Leave a Comment

Hello Everyone,

If you still need to see LIFE, ABOVE ALL or HIGHER GROUND, you only have today (Thursday, October 13) to see them at THE NEON. On Friday, we open two new films. First is the new film from Miranda July – THE FUTURE. The second is the new film from Gus Van Sant – RESTLESS. Of course there’s lots more to announce…but I’ll get to that in a minute. As a warning, it’s quite possible that both of our new films will only play for a week. So hurry down if you want to see them!

Synopsis for THE FUTURE: “When Sophie and Jason decide to adopt a stray cat, their perspective on life changes radically, literally altering the course of time and space and testing their faith in each other and themselves.” (Roadside Attractions) From visual artist and filmmaker Miranda July comes the follow-up film to her incredible first feature ME AND YOU AND EVERYONE WE KNOW. Visit the film’s official site.

Synopsis for RESTLESS: “Eccentric funeral crasher Enoch (Henry Hopper) finds his ideal soul mate in beautiful but mysterious Annabelle (Mia Wasikowska), who claims to work in a hospital but harbors a sensitive secret. Later, after Enoch opens up to Annabelle about his only friend, an outspoken ghost named Hiroshi, their fledgling romance is put to the ultimate test. Director Gus Van Sant teams with playwright Jason Lew to adapt Lew’s play of the same name.” (All Movie Guide) Visit the film’s official site .

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2FuwJh8DSs’]

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7t29dNoTxs’]

Monday will kick off Living City’s VAMPIRE retrospective. First off is a classic with David Bowie, Catherine Deneuve and Susan Sarandon – THE HUNGER. The series will include 5 Films over the course of 5 Mondays at 7:30. Single tickets will be available at the door before each screening for $8 each. Festival passes – good for all 5 screnings – are already available at our box office for just $30 (members of FilmDayton will receive $5 off the festival pass price). Here are the dates and films:

October 17 – THE HUNGER (digital video projection)

October 24 – DRACULA (1931, starring Bela Lugosi – 35mm)

October 31 – THE LOST BOYS (digital video projection)

November 7 – INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE (35mm)

November 14 – BRAM STOKER’S DRACULA (1992 – 35mm).

Within the past 24 hours, we finally received confirmation that we can open THE WAY on October 21 (“the Martin Sheen film” as so many people has referred to it). You more than likely saw or read details about Sheen and his son Emilio Estevez (who directed the film) visiting Dayton (their hometown) as they toured the country with this film. Since then, we’ve received numerous calls about the film having a traditional engagement – but we could never get the distributor to commit to opening with us. Alas it’s now set – so please help us spread the word. THE WAY will open next Friday!

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5VZKWcgw6c’]

In the next few days, I hope to also have some good news regarding TAKE SHELTER. This film, one of my absolute favorites from this year’s Toronto Film Festival, was shot in Ohio and has been garnering awards and kudos around the world. Once Sony Classics confirms our opening date, I’ll get busy trying to secure some special details for audiences at THE NEON. I’ll keep you posted!

For remaining showtimes for this week visit THE NEON’s site.

Hope to see you this weekend,

Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for October 14 – October 20:

SENNA (PG-13) 1 Hr 46 Min

Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 1:00, 5:15

Monday – Thursday: 5:30

RESTLESS (PG-13) 1 Hr 31 Min

Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 1:00, 3:00, 5:15, 7:20, 9:30

Monday: 3:15, 5:20

Tuesday – Thursday: 3:15, 5:20, 7:45

THE FUTURE (R) 1 Hr 31 Min