Hello Everyone,

THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL is starting to fade..but it’s still performing well enough to stick around for another week. That said, this could be its last. Hurry down if you still need to see it (or see it again).

On Friday, we will open the charming, feature debut film from director Ritesh Batra – THE LUNCHBOX. T.T. Stern-Enzi of DAYTON CITY PAPER just gave the film an “A” review. He wrote, “A soulful performance by Irrfan Khan serves as the key ingredient in this marvelous dish.”

Synopsis for THE LUNCHBOX: Currently rated 96% FRESH on Rottentomatoes.com “Middle class housewife Ila is trying once again to add some spice to her marriage, this time through her cooking. She desperately hopes that this new recipe will finally arouse some kind of reaction from her neglectful husband. She prepares a special lunchbox to be delivered to him at work, but, unbeknownst to her, it is mistakenly delivered to another office worker – a lonely man on the verge of retirement. Curious about the lack of reaction from her husband, Ila puts a little note in the following day’s lunchbox, in the hopes of getting to the bottom of the mystery. This begins a series of lunchbox notes between the two, and the mere comfort of communicating with a stranger anonymously soon evolves into an unexpected friendship.” (taken from Sony Classics) Visit the film’s official website by clicking this LINK.

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The 2014 Dayton Jewish Film Festival is gearing up for next week’s Opening Night. With terrific films and all the extras that are being planned, this promises to be a truly exciting festival. Click this LINK to visit the festival’s official site…details for buying advanced tickets can be found there. Here are a list of films that are screening at THE NEON:

Thursday, April 24 at 7:30 – THE ZIG ZAG KID
Tuesday, April 29 at 7:15 – AFTERMATH
Thursday, May 1 at 7:15 – BETHLEHEM
Tuesday, May 6 at 7:20 – QUALITY BALLS: THE DAVID STEINBERG STORY
Thursday, May 8 at 7:15 – SUESKIND
Monday, May 12 at 7:15 – THE PRIME MINISTERS: THE PIONEERS
Tuesday, May 13 at 9:30am – ESTHER BRONER: A WEAVE OF WOMEN
Thursday, May 15 at 7:15 – WHITE PANTHER
Sunday, May 18 at 7:15 – THE THIRD HALF
Program guides are currently available in our lobby!

THE NEON is currently helping AIDS Resource Center Ohio sell tickets for a special raffle. Tickets are $25 each or 6 for $100. There will be 2 great prizes – one from the Red Rock Resort & Spa in Las Vegas and the other from Elizabeth Diamond Company. Each prize is valued at $4900. Raffle tickets are available at our box office…and will only be available through this weekend!

Thanks for your continued support of THE NEON!
We couldn’t do it without you!
All the best,
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Friday, April 18 – Thursday, April 24:

THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL (R) 1 Hr 39 Min
Friday, Saturday: 12:30, 2:45, 5:10, 7:30, 10:00
Sunday: 12:30, 2:45, 5:10, 7:30
Monday – Wednesday: 2:45, 5:10, 7:30
Thursday: 2:45, 5:10

THE LUNCHBOX (PG) 1 Hr 44 Min
Friday, Saturday: 12:40 2:50, 5:00, 7:20, 9:40
Sunday: 12:40 2:50, 5:00, 7:20
Monday – Wednesday: 2:50, 5:20, 7:40
Thursday: 2:50, 5:20

DAYTON JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL
THE ZIGZAG KID (NR) 1 Hr 35 Min – Thursday at 7:30

COMING SOON:
As always, all dates are tentative. Many of these dates will change.
In some rare cases, titles may disappear.
April 25 – LE WEEK-END
May 2 – UNDER THE SKIN
May 2 – JODOROWSKI’S DUNE
May 16 – ONLY LOVERS LEFT ALIVE
May 16 – GOD’S POCKET
May 23 – BELLE
June 13 – FOR NO GOOD REASON
TBD – DOM HEMINGWAY

Hello!

Yesterday ended up being not as productive as I had planned. I only saw 3 films in their entirety…and the festival is officially starting to wear me out. The early morning line-up is dwindling. Some industry folks have already left town, and some of this drop-off is due merely to communal exhaustion.

First off, I saw a film called BELLE – a Fox Searchlight film (which means we’ll more than likely play it…but it won’t come out until next Spring) set in 18-century Britain about a mixed-race woman who is accepted by her affluent father and is brought up in high class society. Though not given all the same treatment due to her skin color and the fact that she is “illegitimate,” she is given a good education and is rather free-spirited. After asking lots of questions and meeting an idealistic son of the town vicar, she becomes instrumental in ending slavery in England. This film is beautifully shot and will be a crowd-pleaser – on par with films like YOUNG VICTORIA and THE DUCHESS.

THE INVISIBLE WOMAN is based on the true story of Charles Dickens and his secret relationship with a younger woman. Directed by and starring Ralph Fiennes, this is a lovely, intelligent film about a strong-willed woman facing her past. The lead character is played with a rich, layered performance by Felicity Jones (she had a small part in the under-appreciated HYSTERIA), and Sony Classics is positioning this film for a limited Christmas release – which makes it clear that they will push for some Oscar attention. The art direction, the costumes, and the performances are all lovely, and though the pacing is slow, lovers of mid-career Merchant Ivory films (like THE BOSTONIANS and MAURICE) will be delighted. Fiennes and Jones were present for a Q&A after the screening.

UNDER THE SKIN is the new, highly anticipated film by Jonathan Glazer – director of SEXY BEAST and BIRTH. (It’s been a decade since his last film.) Each of his films is distinctly different, and UNDER THE SKIN is partially experimental in form. The movie is about a young woman who stalks the streets of Scotland – looking for single, unattached men. The film is sexually charged and absolutely captivating. There’s very little dialog in this film, but the images and score create poetry. A lot more could be added in describing the plot to this film, but as the catalog states, “it’s best to allow UNDER THE SKIN to reveal itself.” Lead actress Scarlett Johansson and director Jonathan Glazer were in attendance for an insightful Q&A. I can’t remember the last time I saw such an abstract film with over 1500 people…it was a nice feeling…but it won’t be appreciated by the masses. (That said, there will certainly be a cult-like following for this film.) Watch the teaser to get a small sense of tone for this film.

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More soon!

Thanks for reading!