We had a very good weekend at THE NEON. Audiences loved MINARI, and seeing the Spike Lee films on the big screen was a treat. MINARI is going to hold for a second week, but Thursday will be your last chance to catch two of the Spike Lee classics. On Thursday night (we just got permission to add a Thursday screening), we will open another Best Picture contender – NOMADLAND – starring the incredible and much-loved Frances McDormand (this will be the 11th film we’ve played with McDormand since I’ve been with THE NEON).

In our Virtual Cinema, we have 2 new films. RUTH: JUSTICE GINSBURG IN HER OWN WORDS is the new, powerful doc about Ruth Bader Ginsburg (not to be confused with RBG from a couple years ago), and Spike Lee was executive producer on SON OF THE SOUTH – a film that’s based on a true story about a young man turning away from his family’s roots in the KKK.

NEW IN-PERSON ENGAGEMENT:

Synopsis for NOMADLAND: Winner of numerous awards, we’re excited to bring the gorgeous film NOMADLAND to the big screen! “Following the economic collapse of a company town in rural Nevada, Fern (Frances McDormand) packs her van and sets off on the road exploring a life outside of conventional society as a modern-day nomad. The third feature film from director Chloé Zhao, NOMADLAND features real nomads Linda May, Swankie and Bob Wells as Fern’s mentors and comrades in her exploration through the vast landscape of the American West.”(Searchlight) Click the image below to watch the film’s trailer.

NEW IN OUR VIRTUAL CINEMA:

Synopsis for RUTH: JUSTICE GINSBURG IN HER OWN WORDS: Available starting Feb. 19! “How does a person with three strikes against her rise to the highest court in the land, the U.S. Supreme Court? The film tells the improbable story of how Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who couldn’t get a job despite graduating first in her law school class in a tie and making Law Review at Harvard and Columbia Law Schools, became an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. It also reveals both the public and private sides of a resilient, resourceful woman who has survived the hostility of the profoundly male universe of government and law to become a revered Justice and icon for gender equality and women’s rights.” (Virgil Films) This film can be viewed on your computer or mobile device. You can also watch via your TV (when you download the Kino Now app on Apple TV, Roku, or Amazon TV/Stick). Additional instructions can be found on the film’s landing page…just click the picture below to watch the trailer and reserve access to the film for $12.

Synopsis for SON OF THE SOUTH: Available starting Feb. 19! From executive producer Spike Lee. “A grandson of a Klansman comes of age during the early 60’s in the deep south and eventually joins the Civil Rights Movement. Based on Bob Zellner’s autobiography THE WRONG SIDE OF MURDER CREEK.” (Vertical Entertainment) This film is available to watch on your computer or mobile device as well as via your smart TV via Chromecast. Click the image below to watch the trailer and reserve 48 hour access to the film for $7.

CONTINUING IN OUR VIRTUAL CINEMA:

Synopsis for TWO OF US: This is France’s official submission for this year’s Best International Feature.”Two retired women, Nina and Madeleine, have been secretly in love for decades. Everybody, including Madeleine’s family, thinks they are simply neighbors, sharing the top floor of their building. They come and go between their two apartments, enjoying the affection and pleasures of daily life together, until an unforeseen event turns their relationship upside down and leads Madeleine’s daughter to gradually unravel the truth about them.” VIRTUAL BONUS!! Stick around after the film – we’re VERY excited to present an exclusive discussion between writer/director Filippo Meneghetti, star Barbara Sukowa, and international film icon Isabelle Huppert! This film can be viewed on your computer or mobile device or via your TV with Apple TV or Roku. Additional instructions can be found on Eventive’s HELP PAGE. Click the image below to gain 72 hour access to the film for $12.

Synopsis for A GLITCH IN THE MATRIX: Direct from last week’s Sundance Film Festival!! “What if we are living in a simulation, and the world as we know it is not real? To tackle this mind-bending idea, acclaimed filmmaker Rodney Ascher (ROOM 237, THE NIGHTMARE) uses a noted speech from Philip K. Dick to dive down the rabbit hole of science, philosophy, and conspiracy theory. Leaving no stone unturned in exploring the unprovable, the film uses contemporary cultural touchstones like THE MATRIX, interviews with real people shrouded in digital avatars, and a wide array of voices, expert and amateur alike. If simulation theory is not science fiction but fact, and life is a video game being played by some unknowable entity, then who are we, really? A GLITCH IN THE MATRIX attempts to find out.” VIRTUAL BONUS!! Stick around after the film for an exclusive discussion between director Rodney Ascher and critic Joshua Rothkopf, digging deep into simulation theory, filmmaking, and everything in between. This film can be viewed on your computer or mobile device or via your TV with Apple TV or Roku. Additional instructions can be found on Eventive’s HELP PAGE. Click the image below to watch the trailer and gain 72 hour access to the film for $12.

To read more about all the films that are still available in our Virtual Cinema, please visit our WEBSITE. Several critically acclaimed films (including some Oscar short-listed films) and audience favorites are still available! Here’s a LINK with a video I made about how Virtual Cinema works.

Would you like to know what titles we have planned for our virtual cinema? (Click any title to watch that film’s trailer.) On Feb. 26, we’ll open both FALLING (Viggo Morensen’s directorial debut) and LEONA (a story of forbidden love in a Mexican Jewish community). On March 5, we’ll bring a film that I know many design folks will adore – GUSTAV STICKLEY: AMERICAN CRAFTSMAN. And after many delays, we’ll also finally be able to open THE PEOPLE VS. AGENT ORANGE. On March 12, we’ll have THE DAYS OF BANGOLD SUMMER, (a sweet and funny British coming-of-age story) and on March 26, we’ll have SUPER FRENCHIE for all the outdoor sports enthusiasts. More titles are on the way…stay tuned!