Hello Everyone,

If you still need to see Danny Boyle’s latest film – TRANCE – you’ll need to hurry. Today (Thur, April 25) is its last day at THE NEON. On Friday, we will open Robert Redford’s latest film (based on the famous novel) – THE COMPANY YOU KEEP. For this week’s remaining showtimes, visit our official site: www.neonmovies.com

Synopsis for THE COMPANY YOU KEEP: “Jim Grant (Robert Redford) is a public interest lawyer and single father raising his daughter in the tranquil suburbs of Albany, New York. Grant’s world is turned upside down,when a brash young reporter named Ben Shepard (Shia LaBeouf) exposes his true identity as a former 1970s antiwar radical fugitive wanted for murder. After living for more than 30 years underground, Grant must now go on the run. With the FBI in hot pursuit, he sets off on a cross-country journey to track down the one person that can clear his name.” (taken from Sony Pictures Classics) Directed by Redford, this film also stars Susan Sarandon, Nick Nolte, Chris Cooper, Sam Elliott, Julie Christie, Richard Jenkins, Stanley Tucci and Terrence Howard. Click this LINK to visit the film’s official site.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2r0l6TBszwo’]

The 13th Dayton Jewish International Film Festival is off to a terrific start. Opening night sold out both of our auditoriums, and audiences are loving the films. You can visit our lobby to pick up a brochure for this year’s festival, and you can visit the website to purchase advanced tickets by clicking this LINK. 5 remaining films from this festival will screen at THE NEON. Here are the dates and times:
Thu, Apr 25 at 7:15 – NICKY’S FAMILY
Tue, Apr 30 at 7:15 – NAOMI
Thu, May 2 at 7:15 – LEA & DARIA
Tue, May 7 at 10am – TORN
Thu, May 9 at 7:15 – A BOTTLE IN THE GAZA SEA

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

“The India Foundation celebrates One Hundred Years of Indian Cinema: 1913 – 2013 with a Tribute to Dada Saheb Phalke – Father of the Indian Cinema. The first Indian silent film produced, written and directed by Mr. Phalke was released in Bombay on May 3, 1913. A screening of selected clips entitled Silent Movies – Early Years will be presented on Saturday, May 4th at Noon (the collection includes digitized clips from Phalke’s RAJA HARISHCHANDRA and KALIYA MARDAN (1919) and clips from the only surviving Bengali silent film JAMAI BABU (Son-in-Law) by Kalipada Das). A reception preceding the screening will begin at 11:30a.m. Admission is only $5. The National Film Archives of India has graciously made the present collection possible.” (taken from press notes)

We’ve got a gathr screening on the horizon. This time, it’s for a film called GIRL RISING. For more about this film, click this LINK. This is the site where you can watch the trailer, read about the film and reserve your ticket. The screening will only take place if 50 people reserve a ticket by May 26 (the screening is tentatively scheduled to take place on Wednesday, June 5 at 7:30). Watch the trailer…this film looks terrific!

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

Film #4 in Start Freedom Dayton’s film series – CALL + RESPONSE – is scheduled for May 30 at 7:30. “Organized by Justin Dillon, an artist, public speaker, abolitionist, founder and CEO of Slavery Footprint, CALL + RESPONSE is a documentary about human trafficking that combines musicians, celebrities, national abolitionists and political figures to shine a light on human trafficking concerns in the US and abroad. Tickets are $10 day of show at THE NEON or advance tickets are $8 (available exclusively at Peace on Fifth – 508 E. 5th – 937.367-7215). For information about Peace on Fifth or Start Freedom Dayton visit the official site. CALL + RESPONSE is sponsored by Fairly Simple.” (taken from the press release)

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mS-0CHXfyIk’]

We will open MUD next week – the new thriller with Matthew McConaughey. (I’m delighted to report that the distributor decided to wait for us until next week instead of opening at a multiplex this week.)

We hope to see you soon!
All the best,
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Fri. April 26 – Thur, May 2:

THE PLACE BEYOND THE PINES
(R) 2 Hr 20 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 1:00, 4:00, 7:00, 9:45
Monday: 1:45, 4:30, 7:30
Tuesday: 1:45, 4:30
Wednesday: 1:45, 4:30, 7:30
Thursday: 1:45, 4:30

THE COMAPNY YOU KEEP (R) 2 Hr 05 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 1:30, 4:40, 7:20, 9:45
Monday – Thursday: 2:00, 4:40, 7:20

DAYTON JEWISH INTERNATIONAL FILM FEST
Tuesday at 7:15 – NAOMI
Thursday at 7:15 – LEA & DARIA

COMING SOON:
As always, all dates are tentative. Many of these dates will change.
In some rare cases, titles may disappear.
May 3 – MUD
May 10 – THE SAPPHIRES
May ? – STARBUCK
May ? – TO THE WONDER
May 24 – AT ANY PRICE
May 31 – RENOIR
June 7 – LOVE IS ALL YOU NEED
TBD – GINGER AND ROSA
TBD – KON TIKI
TBD – FROM UP ON POPPY HILL
TBD – FRANCES HA
TBD – IN THE HOUSE
TBD – NO

I’m Back!

Wow…though my eyes are starting to blur a bit and my feet are slightly dragging, I’m still makin’ it to all the screenings I’ve got on the docket.

First of the day was Terrence Malick’s TO THE WONDER. You might remember that THE TREE OF LIFE earned the title of most walk-outs in NEON history…and I think this film might give TREE OF LIFE a run for its money. This visually lovely and poetic film is quite experimental…and it not only feels like a follow-up to TOL, it feels repetitive. With identical shots from TOL, some similar “plot” lines and similar tone, this film will have both fans and detractors. I heard one woman late this afternoon say to her friend, “I saw TO THE WONDER this morning. It’s the worst movie I’ve EVER seen.” The film is a rumination on relationships. It has some wonderful moments, but I ultimately found the film to be tedious. If I had to watch Olga Kurylenko skip through one more wheat field or twirl around down one more grocery store aisle, I might have to end it all (see below). Ben Affleck seemed to phone in his performance (or perhaps he just wasn’t given much to do), and Rachel McAdams is certainly not the lead of this film (regardless of the marketing you might see).

Next I saw STILL – a Canadian film directed by Michael McGowen…starring James Cromwell and Genevieve Bojuld (Bojuld made a surprise appearance during the introduction of the film – it was a delight to see her). This film is about how an elderly man is building an accessible home on his land for himself and his wife…and how the authorities keep handing him building violations. The reason the man is building the house is because of the deteriorating health of his wife. The director talked about how he read about this story from the headlines…and how he worked directly with the family in order to bring the film to life. It’s a lovely, quiet film with great performances, a great score, and a wonderful backdrop of the Canadian landscape.

PEACHES DOES HERSELF was next on the list. This film is the a record of a performance done by the rock star/performance artist Peaches. Originally from Toronto, Peaches has been a part of the Berlin art scene for years. This transexually charged performance had its highs and lows with some moments that had me (as well as a few folks beside me) in fits of hysterical laughter (some of it was like a train wreck), but it wouldn’t work well at all in a traditional engagement. That said, it might find an audience at midnight screenings – especially for fans of the Peaches catalog.

My last screening of the night was SUICIDE SHOP – a life-affirming, French, animated, musical film about suicide. Huh? It’s true. This sweet and funny film was directed by Patrice LeConte (RIDICULE and GIRL ON A BRIDGE), and it’s about a shop that sells anything needed to end one’s life. Due to the recession, sales are up, and the gloomy family are happy to help folks find their preferred method of exiting the world. The arrival of a new son throws the shop into a tailspin. Why? Because he’s too darn jovial. Though I saw the film in 3D, it’s absolutely not necessary. Unfortunately, I thought the film lost a little steam in the second and third act (and it’s only 80 minutes). In addition, I don’t know who the film is for. It’s full of adult themes, but the narrative arc is rather slight. That said, I’m still glad I saw it…some of it is wonderful.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75gJaI_7eMM’]

Tomorrow I’ll see 2 or 3 films…and then I’m going to a non-TIFF-related event. I’ll see Madonna in concert, and I have a great seat.

More to come.

Thanks for reading!

Jonathan