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McCoy on Movies: Crazy Rich Asians

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Kevin Kwan’s best-selling novel gets the Hollywood treatment – and it’s crazy well done.

“So … Which of these accessories is going to make Lady Gaga jealous?” Rachel Chu (Constance Wu, right, in red) gets some fashion advice from her college best friend – and the secretly rich – Peik Lin Goh (Awkafina) in a scene from CRAZY RICH ASIANS. Credit: 



 


WATCH THE TRAILER(S) HERE:
 



 


 

 



KEY CAST MEMBERS: Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Michelle Yeoh, Henry Golding, Ken Jeong, Awkwafina, Lisa Lu, Ronny Chieng, Sonoya Mizuno, Chris Pang, Pierre Png, Jimmy O. Yang, Tan Kheng Hua, Remi Hii and Nico Santos

WRITER(S): Peter Chiarelli and Adele Lim (screenplay); Kevin Kwan (novel on which the film is based)

DIRECTOR(S): Jon M. Chu

WEB SITE: http://www.crazyrichasiansmovie.com/HERE’S THE STORY: Based on the best-selling book of the same name by Kevin Kwan, Crazy Rich Asians stars Constance Wu as Rachel Chu, a New York economics professor who’s happily in love with her Oxord education boyfriend Nick Young (Henry Golding in his debut feature film). So when Nick asks her to accompany him on a trip home to Singapore for the wedding of his good friend Colin (Chris Pang) to Araminta (Sonoya Mizuno), she happily says yes. And since she’ll be able to see her old college friend Peik (Awkwafina), Rachel is excited to visit the native land of her people since her mother Kerry (Tan Kheng Hua) left Asia before she was born.


That’s when she discovers that not only is Peik rich, but Nick’s family is really rich. Like, crazy rich – and Nick’s mother Eleanor (Michelle Yeoh) is “old world” Chinese in both tradition and practice. 

WHO WILL LIKE THIS FILM THE MOST? People who enjoyed the novel; fans of people living lavish lifestyles the average person can only dream of; mothers and daughters looking for a good bonding movie; independent women; anyone of Asian descent searching for a major Hollywood film that features their people in a positive, entertaining light; those looking for a film that doesn’t play into the usual romantic comedy/race-centric tropes; Awkwafina fans

WHO WON’T (OR SHOULDN’T) LIKE THIS MOVIE? People with no interest in Asian culture; those will find the slow parts in the film’s first hour too, well, slow; people who always say “the book was better;” people who think you have to be Asian to appreciate the film’s universal themes of love, acceptance and family


SO IS IT GOOD, BAD OR JUST AWFUL? A movie that is essentially a classic love story with modern elements in a setting unfamiliar to many American audiences, Crazy Rich Asians is an entertaining, heartfelt romantic comedy that doesn’t break any new ground as far as romantic comedies go – but breaks plenty in just being a good movie.


Crazy Rich Asians features just about everything you could want in a story: Chemistry between its two leads and supporting characters that, well, save for one or two characters that might seem a like a toned down version of co-star Ken Jeong’s work in The Hangover, are not caricatures of Asians in American eyes. Whereas Wu and Golding (he of British-Malaysian descent) seem like a real couple, Awkafina and Nico Santos – who plays Nick’s fashion and family-conscious cousin Oliver T’Sien – steal every scene they’re in with their good-natured, perfectly timed and well-meaning quips. Likewise, whereas Yeoh plays the role of the seemingly icy family matriarch with a good duality to her like many a Marvel Universe villain – she’s is cautious to never operate at one extreme at any one time – and Gemma Chan plays her role as Nick’s beautiful yet personally suffering in her relationship with her husband Michael (Pierre Png) in a way that feels extremely real (and thus inspiring without going out of her way to be so). 


Beautifully shot by director Jon M. Chu as essentially a tourist agency’s dream video postcard for Singapore, the film presents some of the best visuals captured on film this year, acting as the perfect backdrop for the film’s characters to play, love and learn throughout their respective journeys. Throw in a soundtrack that interpolates classic American songs of various genres in native Asian tongues and Crazy Rich Asians is the type of film that will feel revolutionary when in fact it’s simply more evolutionary.


For given how solid the film is, hopefully Crazy Rich Asians marks the evolution of an industry that has long underserved the Asian moviegoing population but at the same time proves a movie like this can entertain anyone.

OVERALL RATING (OUT OF FOUR POSSIBLE BUCKETS OF POPCORN):

 

McCoy on Movies: Skyscraper

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Dwayne Johnson flexes his dramatic muscle to lead familiar-yet-palatable Skyscraper

“You know, compared to this, taking steel chairs to the head from other men in spandex wasn’t so bad!” Will Sawyer (Dwayne Johnson) used a makeshift rappelling apparatus for reasons he’d rather not have to deal with in a scene from writer/director Rawson Marshall Thurber’s action thriller SKYSCRAPER. Credit: © 2018 Legendary Pictures Productions, LLC. and Universal Pictures. All rights reserved.


WATCH THE TRAILER(S) HERE:



KEY CAST MEMBERS: Dwayne Johnson, Neve Campbell, Chin Han, Roland Møller, Noah Cottrell, Bryon Mann, McKenna Roberts, Hannah Quinlivan, Elfina Luk, Noah Taylor, Adrian Holmes and Pablo Schreiber
WRITER(S): Rawson Marshall Thurber

DIRECTOR(S): Rawson Marshall Thurber

WEB SITE: https://www.skyscrapermovie.com/HERE’S THE STORY: Will Sawyer (Dwayne Johnson) is a simple man. A decorated military veteran, his life was changed 10 years ago when an unfortunate situation altered his life in two drastic ways: the loss of the lower half of his left leg and meeting the love of his life, his cell phone-challenged/fellow veteran/doctor wife Sarah (Neve Campbell). Now working as the proprietor of his own small security company, Will finds himself thrust into the opportunity of his working lifetime when an old military buddy (Pablo Schreiber) gets him a gig checking out “The Pearl.” 


What is the Pearl? It’s the new commercial/residential structure in Hong Kong designed by billionaire Zaho Long Ji (Chin Han), who now wants Will to make sure that everything in his buildingis up to snuff before the residential half opens up (from the 96th floor on up). But what Will doesn’t know is that why he, Sarah and their two kids Georgia (McKenna Roberts) and Henry (Noah Cottrell) are enjoying their stay, there are some nefarious forces plotting a much different visit to the Pearl. That would be the ruthless assassin Xia (Hannah Quinlivan) and the mercenary Botha (Roland Møller), who are after something that Will has no knowledge of nor why.


But he and his family are about to – if they can survive the certain to be fatal scenario awaiting them in the world’s tallest skyscraper. 

WHO WILL LIKE THIS FILM THE MOST? Dwayne Johnson fans who like it when he does physical roles that don’t focus on comedy; Neve Campbell fans; people who like 80s-style action movies without 80s style dialogue

WHO WON’T (OR SHOULDN’T) LIKE THIS MOVIE? People who will find some of the scenarios too implausible; those who prefer action movies that either go full-on outrageous or full-on logical; anyone who hates violent films

SO IS IT GOOD, BAD OR JUST AWFUL? An action movie that tries to balance its more (seemingly) outrageous moments with committed performances and intriguing camera work before tying together just how you’d expect (if you pay attention to all the foreshadowing), Skyscraper is an entertaining, family-involved-yet-extremely-violent at times diet Die Hard that while not original, it’s satisfying enough to keep you interested. And if that sentence seems like a mouthful, it should.


Because that’s what happens when you are catering to at least three different types of audiences at once.Johnson, as he has proven in a variety of his roles, commands attention as Will Sawyer, a man who is not invincible yet at the same time extremely determined to do what he needs to do to save the people he loves. His limited stunts seem ridiculous yet, given his commitment and approach, plausible – which, for action movies, has long been an issue for many people paying attention (skip ahead to 1:54 in that link; language NSFW!). Likewise, neither Campbell nor young co-stars Roberts or Cottrell seem to act in an over-the-top fashion, their actions instead seeming reasonable, logical and again, (somewhat) sensible given the situation in which they find themselves.Writer/director Rawson Marshall Thurber (Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, We’re the Millers) has a history of producing surprising hits, most of which are exclusively comedies. With Skyscraper, he proves he has potential to deliver an action film that, while it does not do anything to reinvent the genre, doesn’t have to be dumb, either. While it lacks a distinct quality to make it stand out from the pack – Johnson’s prosthetic leg accessory comes into play quite often, but it doesn’t always feel as handi-capable as intended – the interplay between the characters works more than it does not, the film moves along swiftly and, again, the story plays out with a good mix of brain and bravado … As best you can in this type of film. Sure, the film could have likely reached a more classic status with a full “R” rating or a

Or at least it does it enough to keep you from wanting to burn down the theater the way the Pearl does on the screen.

OVERALL RATING (OUT OF FOUR POSSIBLE BUCKETS OF POPCORN):

McCoy on Movies: Ant-Man and the Wasp

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Marvel returns to delivering fun in various sizes with humorous Ant-Man and the Wasp!

 

“When I asked if you had seen Blade, this is NOT what I meant!” Hope Van Dyne a.k.a. the Wasp (Evangeline Lilly) runs against an assailant’s attack in a scene from Peyton Reed’s latest entry into the Marvel Universe, ANT-MAN & THE WASP. Credit: Film Frame © 2018 Marvel Studios. All rights reserved. 


WATCH THE TRAILER(S) HERE:
 


 



KEY CAST MEMBERS: Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas, Abby Ryder Fortson, Hannah John-Kamen, Walton Goggins, Michael Peña, Tip “T.I.” Harris, David Dastmalchian, Randall Park, Judy Greer and Bobby Cannavale with Laurence Fishburne and Michele Pfeiffer 

WRITER(S): Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers, Paul Rudd, Andrew Barrer and Gabriel Ferrari; based on characters created by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Larry Lieber and Ernie Hart

DIRECTOR(S): Peyton Reed

WEB SITE: http://marvel.com/movies/movie/245/ant-man_and_the_waspHERE’S THE STORY: Set after the events of Captain America: Civil War but BEFORE Avengers: Infinity War, Ant-Man and the Wasp finds our hero Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) on house arrest as a result of his actions in Sovokia since, you know, he wasn’t legally about to be there. FBI agent Jimmy Woo (Randall Park) is ready to bust Scott at a moment’s notice, even though he only has 3 days until his sentence is up – which he can’t wait to spend with his daughter Cassie a.k.a. Peanut (Abby Ryder Fortson). Even Scott’s ex wife Maggie (Judy Greer) and her new husband Paxton (Bobby Cannavale) are supportive of his changed ways and his best friend Luis (Michael Peña) is running the security company he started with their other friends Kurt (David Dastmalchian) and Dave (Tip “T.I.” Harris), so what could go wrong?


Well, once Scott starts seeing visions of Janet Van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer) – the wife of Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) and mother of Hope Van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly) long lost to the mysterious Quantum Realm – plenty.


Despite having not spoken to Hank or Hope in 2 years since, you know, they became FBI fugitives for their use of the Pym particle technology that enables Ant-Man to shrink and increase his size to massive heights, Scott contacts the duo with his news. This, in turn, makes them excited about the prospect of finding Janet – even if it means having to get technology off the black market from guys like Sonny Burch (Walton Goggins), a man always on the lookout for a new way to get rich, no matter what the cost. Sonny and the FBI, however, will soon be far from the biggest problem facing Scott, Hank and Hope, however.


No, that would be the presence of the mysterious malevolent presence of Ava a.k.a. Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), a woman who needs Pym’s technology for reasons that will soon be revealed in startling fashion …

WHO WILL LIKE THIS FILM THE MOST? Fans of the first Ant-Man movie and Thor: Ragnarok; Paul Rudd fans; people who like superhero movies that go for more lighthearted fare than the darker subject matter of Marvel entries such as the Captain America series; people awaiting anything related to 2019’s Avengers 4 movie 

WHO WON’T (OR SHOULDN’T) LIKE THIS MOVIE? People who joke about Ant-Man as a character the same way Robot Chicken has Aquaman; those who like a villain that is more pure evil that motivated for a logical reason


SO IS IT GOOD, BAD OR JUST AWFUL? Another solid entry into the Marvel Universe from start to finish, Ant-Man and the Wasp features everything fans of the first movie came to enjoy, just with more of it. There is plenty of humor, well-constructed action sequences that balances its human cartoon with traditional fight elements with Peña once again stealing nearly every scene he’s in, Lilly – who’s Wasp proves she’s no second fiddle to her male partner – and Rudd exhibiting a familiar yet growing, believable chemistry. Likewise, Rudd’s character’s desire to be a good dad never feeling forced due to the great interplay between he and the lovably precocious Fortson. (Seriously, she’s just too cute as his daughter like a live version of Agnes from Despicable Me but more mature.) Surprisingly, Douglas adds an unexpected emotional center to the film, playing both the crotchety old man archetype well when necessary but without ever becoming a parody of it (or himself).


If there is any real flaw in the film, it’s that Ant-Man may have the least compelling villains as of yet seen in Marvel films. (It’s really hard to follow Michael B. Jordan’s Erik Killmonger and Josh Brolin’s finger-snapping Thanos/hard-ass Cable with a villain who’s cause is extremely sympathetic and more misunderstood than anything.) Perhaps having a more hard-edged, truly threatening presence on screen might tilt the film in a direction director Peyton Reed and his team may not want to explore, but John-Kamen turns in a solid performance, hitting all the necessary beats. Goggins, for his part, portrays a much more interesting character here than he did in the already forgotten Tomb Raider, bringing some of his Vice Principals “I-should-dislike-you-but-you’re-too-fun” charm to the movie to round things out. 


Throw in some really fun, early Spielberg-like use of Pym’s ants their selves and the movie is while nowhere near as emotionally gripping as say Black Panther or Infinity War, it is full of fun while filled with enough nuances to stand on its own.


Other than that, there’s not much else one really needs to know about Ant-Man and the Wasp as Marvel is wrapping up Phase Three of its master plan – except that the movie proves that Marvel having a plan has led to a decade’s worth of quality films. Ant-Man and the Wasp is all about the idea of family and trying to do right by the people they love while overcoming the odds throw in their way. 


Ant-Man and the Wasp does both of those things in spades and while not the mightiest of Avengers heroes, they definitely team players that prove they are worth a spot in the lineup … Especially if you want to see what just may lie ahead for the man who could become one of the biggest (or, depending on his physical size, smallest) players in Marvel plans heading into 2019.

OVERALL RATING (OUT OF FOUR POSSIBLE BUCKETS OF POPCORN):

 

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10 Must Attend Charity Fundraisers for July

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Dayton long ago earned a reputation for being a city that gives back. According to the history of the Dayton Foundation, NCR founder and Chairman John H. Patterson championed innovative projects for the betterment of the community. Joining him in his enthusiasm was his sister-in-law, Julia Shaw Patterson Carnell, and nephew, Robert Patterson, son of John Patterson’s brother, Capt. Robert Patterson, all active community leaders in their own right. A leading businesswoman, Julia Patterson Carnell helped establish the Dayton Art Institute by donating works of art, a mansion that served as the museum’s first home and $2 million towards the construction in 1930 of its current facility.

Robert Patterson was a senior executive at NCR and a leader in community affairs. He helped to found the local Boy Scouts and the Dayton Rotary Club and was active with the YMCA, Chamber of Commerce and Miami Valley Hospital.

Today there are over 4000 nonprofits in the region, and to continue the legacy of taking care of our community, there are hundreds of fundraising events to support them. To see our complete list ofcharitable events for 2018 check our DMM calendar.

Here are MostMetro’s list of the top July events we think you should be aware of:

Red, White & Brew

Mall at Fairfield Commons, Entrance A
July 7 @ 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm

The Mall at Fairfield Commons will host their 2nd annual Red, White and Brew event on Saturday, July 7th outside of the main mall entrance next to Bravo!.

The event will include live entertainment, family-friendly activities, food trucks, fireworks and more! The event will also include a beer garden, sponsored by Yuengling. Event admission is FREE, but 100% of all beer sales will go directly to Fisher-Nightingale Houses, Inc.!

Hey There Morgan will perform LIVE at 8:00pm and an amazing fireworks display will follow at 10:00pm!

Find out more »

Young’s Ice Cream Charity Bike Tour

July 14 @ 8:00 am – July 15 @ 12:00 am
Prices vary.

Cycle to support four local charities! The ride starts and ends at Young’s, with 28-mile, 56-mile, 83-mile, 100-mile and 166-mile (two-day) options. Two-day participants stay overnight in great accommodations at Ohio Northern University. Riders of all ages and abilities raise money for charity and have a good time riding the well-marked routes. Food and ice cream is provided to all volunteers and riders.

This bike ride raises funds for the following charities: Alzheimer’s Association, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, South Community Behavioral Health & United Rehabilitation Services.

Find out more »

Habitat in Hollywood- 5th Annual Habitat Gala

Benjamin & Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center
July 14 @ 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm

Mark your calendars for our 5th annual gala: July 14, 2018, at the beautiful Schuster Center Wintergarden.

No black ties needed on this red carpet! Guests will be dressed in summer casual with a touch of Old Hollywood. Habitat in Hollywood was made for stars like you- it’s Lights! Camera! Gala! during this fun yet casual summer evening.

Habitat in Hollywood will feature delicious hors d’oeuvres, drinks, dinner and dessert. Enjoy complimentary beer and wine throughout the evening. Bid in our silent auction and dance to live music from The Kim Kelly Orchestra.

Complimentary valet parking will be provided.

Find out more »

Bright Nights

RiverScape MetroPark
July 14 @ 6:30 pm – 10:30 pm
$125

Join us for an evening under the stars. Dayton’s top chefs will prepare a one-of-a-kind gourmet tasting for you to enjoy along with beer, wine, a cigar garden, a 50/50 drawing and live music.

Our chefs:
Roost Restaurants, Dana Downs
Fresco By Chef Jenn DiSanto
Wheat Penny Oven and Bar, Liz Valenti
Meadowlark, Elizabeth Wiley
Watermark Restaurant, Maria Walusis

Lily’s Bistro, Jansen Trotman
Table 33, Desmond Keane

All proceeds raised will support Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Miami Valley. Help our regions LITTLE stars have one-to-one relationships that change their lives for the better.

Find out more »

Dayton Mud Volleyball for

Epilepsy

Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark
July 21 @ 8:00 am – 5:00 pm

A massive, muddy event to raise money for the Epilepsy Foundation of the Greater Dayton Region. As if you ever needed a reason to roll around in the mud for a day. But if you need some justification all proceeds benefit the Epilepsy Foundation Greater Dayton Region. So feel good about getting dirty! You can register as a team or as a free agent and you’ll be assigned to a team! Everybody plays! Or perhaps you’d rather volunteer!

Find out more »

 

Gala of Hope

July 21 @ 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm

Many lives in our community are touched by cancer each year. The Gala of Hope Foundation is a financial resource to alleviate some of the damaging effects of cancer by providing funds for patient care, families, caregivers, and research.

Find out more »

 

Beerry Christmas in July

The Greene
July 25 @ 5:30 pm – 8:00 pm
$10 – $15

Is the summer heat draining your holiday cheer? Refill your spirit(or at least half of it) at our 3rd annual Christmas in July beer tasting! Make sure to bring your Santa hat, elf ears, tacky sweater(or cut it into summer sweater) we’ll help you find your holiday cheer!

Find out more »

 

Big Blue Pub Crawl

Warped Wing Brewing Company
July 28 @ 5:30 pm
$25 – $30

Join us for the fourth annual BIG BLUE Pub Crawl, hosted by the Dayton Action Council and benefitting JDRF. Ticket price include BIG BLUE pub crawl t-shirt, lanyard with crawl map and drink specials along the route.

Find out more »

Shrimp Boil for Wright Dunbar

Wright Dunbar Historic District
July 28 @ 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
$30

Celebrate summer with a low key fundraiser for Wright Dunbar by joining us for a Shrimp Boil. We’ll cook up the shrimp, corn, and sausage, have plenty of cole slaw and potato salad. Don’t be afraid to dig in and peel some shrimp, drink some ice cold brews and enjoy!

Thanks to our friends at Bonbright Distributors, we’ll be featuring the beers of New Belgium Brewing

Find out more »

Art Salvo Movie Poster Auction To Benefit FilmDayton

Clash Dayton
July 28 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Art Salvo is a benefit show for FilmDayton. Organized by Freeman Design Co. and Clash Dayton with support from many…

Find out more »

MISTER ROGERS Off To A Great Start at THE NEON! WHITNEY Houston Doc Opens Next Week!

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Hello Everyone!

We’re trucking right along this summer…and it’s all about well-received, high performing documentaries! From RBG to LIVES WELL LIVED to POPE FRANCIS, we’ve seen a lot of success with well-crafted docs. And there’s no end in sight. WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? celebrated a SOLD OUT preview screening on Thursday, June 28, and numerous screenings are scheduled for the weekend.  This film is a much-needed dose of kindness – a fantastic piece about Fred Rogers and his ground-breaking television show. Next week, we’ll start a strong documentary about Whitney Houston by filmmaker Kevin Macdonald (director of TOUCHING THE VOID and LAST KING OF SCOTLAND). (And we’ll hopefully get to the crowd-pleasing THREE IDENTICAL STRANGERS later in the summer.) That said, there’s still room for traditional narratives, and we’re going to sneak in the new, star-studded adaptation of the beloved Chekhov classic for one week only starting today – THE SEAGULL.

Synopsis for WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR: “For over thirty years, Fred Rogers, an unassuming minister, puppeteer, writer and producer was beamed daily into homes across America. In his beloved television program, MISTER ROGERS’ NEIGHBORHOOD, Fred and his cast of puppets and friends spoke directly to young children about some of life’s weightiest issues, in a simple, direct fashion. There hadn’t been anything like Mr. Rogers on television before and there hasn’t been since. Though he may be best known today as a soft-spoken, cardigan-wearing children’s television host, in reality, Fred Rogers’ career represents a sustained attempt to present a coherent, beneficent view about how we should best speak to children about important matters and how television could be used as a positive force in our society.” (Focus Features) Click this LINK to visit the film’s official site.

Synopsis for THE SEAGULL: ONE WEEK ONLY! “One summer at a lakeside Russian estate, friends and family gather for a weekend in the countryside. While everyone is caught up in passionately loving someone who loves somebody else, a tragicomedy unfolds about art, fame, human folly, and the eternal desire to live a purposeful life. The estate is owned by Sorin (Brian Dennehy), a retired government employee, and his sister Irina (Annette Bening), a legendary actress of the Moscow stage. Irina is imperious, narcissistic and selfish, and anxious about holding on to her star status and the affections of her younger lover, Boris Trigorin (Corey Stoll), a successful writer of short stories. Irina constantly belittles her aspiring writer son Konstantin (Billy Howle), perhaps because his existence as a grown man reminds her that age is catching up with her. While he adores his mother despite her cruelty, Konstantin acts out his insecurity and anger by rejecting both her style of theatre and Boris’s writing, declaring them old-fashioned and banal. A dreamer, Konstantin declares he will create bold and superior new forms of theatre and literature. Adapted by Tony-winning playwright Stephen Karam (“The Humans”) from Anton Chekhov’s classic play and directed by Tony-winner Michael Mayer (“Spring Awakening”), THE SEAGULL explores, with comedy and melancholy, the obsessive nature of love, the tangled relationships between parents and children, and the transcendent value and psychic toll of art.” (Sony Classics) Click on this LINK to visit the film’s official website.

Tickets for our special 50th Anniversary Screening of YELLOW SUBMARINE (just $8 each) are available at our box office. The film has been gorgeously restored and will screen one time on Sunday, July 8 at 3:00.

Don’t forget that on Sunday, July 1 at 5:15, we will have a special guest who will speak to the audience after the screening of WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? Jim Wiener, who currently works at ThinkTV, worked at WQED in Pittsburgh from 1986 until 1997, and knew Fred Rogers as well as his producer (Margie Whitmer) and director (Paul Lally). He will talk about his experiences in public television and personal recollections about Rogers and his iconic television show. Tickets are now available for all of this weekend’s screenings at our box office during traditional operating hours.

Because of the 4th of July holiday, we will have a couple days next week when we offer earlier shows than usual. Please pay close attention to the schedule below for all of our current attractions…showtimes are different depending on the day.

Next Thursday, we’ll have a special preview screening of WHITNEY. We hope you’ll make plans to see it then! Check out the trailer below!

Thank you for your continued support!
Have a great holiday!
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Friday, June 29 – Thursday, July 5:

AMERICAN ANIMALS (R) 1 Hr 56 Min
Friday & Saturday (June 29 & 30): 9:15
FINAL DAY – June 30!

WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? (PG-13) 1 Hr 34 Min
Friday & Saturday (June 29 & 30): 12:45, 2:20, 3:00, 4:30, 5:15, 7:30, 9:40
Sunday (July 1): 12:45, 3:00, 4:30, 5:15, 8:00
Monday (July 2): 3:00, 5:15, 6:00, 7:30
Tuesday & Wednesday (July 3 & 4): 12:45, 1:15, 3:00, 5:15, 6:00, 7:30
Thursday (July 5): 3:00, 5:15, 6:00

THE SEAGULL (PG-13)
Friday, Saturday, Sunday (June 29-July 1): 12:00, 7:00
Monday-Thursday (July 2-5): 3:30, 8:10

WHITNEY (R) 2 Hrs
Thursday (July 5): 7:20 – Preview Screening!

COMING SOON:
(All Dates Are Tentative. Dates Often Move And Sometimes Disappear)
July 6 – WHITNEY
July 8 at 3:00 – YELLOW SUBMARINE – Special 50th Anniversary Screening
July 13 – HEARTS BEAT LOUD
July 20 – BOUNDARIES
July 27- DON’T WORRY, HE WON’T GET FAR ON FOOT
TBD – THREE IDENTICAL STRANGERS
Aug 3 – EIGHTH GRADE
Aug 10 – GENERATION WEALTH
Sept 21 – LOVE GILDA

KANOPY: New Film Streaming Service from Dayton Metro Library

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Your library card will give you access to  over 30,000 films entirely free starting July 2, as Dayton Metro Library will begin offering the popular on-demand film streaming service, Kanopy.

Kanopy offers what the New York Times calls “a garden of cinematic delights.” It showcases movies including award-winning documentaries, rare and hard-to-find titles, film festival favorites, indie and classic films, and world cinema.

 

Dayton Metro Library cardholders will be able to access Kanopy and sign up to start streaming films instantly at DaytonMetroLibrary.org. Films can be streamed from any computer, television, mobile device or platform by downloading the Kanopy app for iOS, Android, AppleTV, Chromecast or Roku.

“Kanopy provides Library patrons access to films of unique social and cultural value,” said Holly Varley, Collection Development Director. “Films that are often difficult or impossible to access elsewhere, including a wide array of foreign language and independent films, are available on Kanopy.”

The Kanopy collection features Paramount Classics, The Criterion Collection, Popular World Cinema, Popular Documentaries, LGBTQ Stories, Women-Made Movies, Musicals, The Great Courses, Short Films and more. Titles include indie hits such as Hunt For the Wilderpeople and Loving Vincent, classic masterpieces like Aguirre, the Wrath of God and Seven Samurai, and award-winning documentaries such as the 2017 Oscar-nominated I Am Not Your Negro. Kanopy Kids features quality, educational films for children.

 

“With the addition of Kanopy, Dayton Metro Library’s Digital Collection – including Overdrive for audiobooks and Hoopla for music and video – rivals any paid subscription service, and ours is free,” said Executive Director Tim Kambitsch. “We are pleased to start offering Kanopy along with other new online resources to better serve our patrons.”

To access Kanopy and start streaming, visit DaytonMetroLibrary.org starting July 2. For more information, call (937) 463-2665.

McCoy on Movies: Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom

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Prehistoric silliness makes Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom extinct upon arrival.

“OK, we’ve got to walk past this Tyrannosaurus Rex without waking it up … Bryce, did your character remember NOT to wear something ridiculous like high heels unlike the last time we were on this island?!” Owen (Chris Pratt) and Claire (Bryce Dallas Howard) try to not awaken a Tyrannosaurus Rex in a scene from JURASSIC WORLD: FALLEN KINGDOM. Credit: Giles Keyte. © 2018 Universal Studios and Amblin Entertainment and Legendary Pictures Productions, LLC. All rights reserved.


WATCH THE TRAILER HERE:

 





KEY CAST MEMBERS: Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Justice Smith, Daniella Pineda, Isabella Sermon, Rafe Spall, Toby Jones, B.D. Wong, James Cromwell, Ted Levine, Geraldine Chaplin and Jeff Goldblum

WRITER(S): Derek Connolly and Colin Trevorrow (written by); Michael Crichton (based on characters created by)

DIRECTOR(S): J.A. Bayona

WEB SITE: http://www.jurassicworld.com/HERE’S THE STORY: Isla Nublar, the island home west of Costa Rica that has long been home to the late John Hammond’s vision of a park where humans could see the dinosaurs that once roamed the earth again live and in person, is under attack from a once dormant volcano that now threatens to destroy all life on its surface. And while Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard) has seen the error of her ways and now wants to save the dinosaurs, the U.S. government – especially given the testimony of Dr. Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) – sees no real reason to do so. And Claire’s old flame Owen Grady (Chris Pratt), who helped trained the now-closed park’s velociraptors, just wants to be left alone to build his cabin in the woods.


But Benjamin Lockwood (James Cromwell) has different plans. For you see he is the man who, along with Hammond, took the first dinosaur DNA and brought the prehistoric beasts back to life. ANow that he is in the final stages of his own life, he wants to save the dinosaurs by placing them on an undisclosed island sanctuary with natural borders where they can live in peace with no humans to interfere (or be eaten). Iris (Geraldine Chaplin) can look after his granddaughter Maisie (Isabella Sermon), but who is going to look after the dinosaurs?


Well, if Eli Mills (Rafe Spall) and his hunter/dinosaur wrangler (Ted Levine) have their way, something much more sinister than Benjamin, Claire, Owen, Maisie or anyone else on earth may have ever imagined …

WHO WILL LIKE THIS FILM THE MOST? Children; Transformers and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/TMNT movie series fans; people who like big action movies where splash reigns over substance

WHO WON’T (OR SHOULDN’T) LIKE THIS MOVIE? Anyone who loved the first Jurassic Park; anyone who hates movies where the story is corny, predictable and/or has characters that make silly decisions

SO IS IT GOOD, BAD OR JUST AWFUL? Remember how the first Jurassic Park movie at the time of its release was groundbreaking, innovative and a new take on the monster movie akin to its director’s timeless classic Jaws? Then Steven Spielberg stepped away from hands on directing and moved into a producer’s role … which resulted in two so-so sequels and the franchise lying dormant  until 2015’s Jurassic World saw the park finally open to public.  

And now, the park is closed … And unfortunately, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom proves the franchise should be as well.

As my friend who attended the sneak preview screening I went to said, “I came in thinking of it as a comedy” and that “the bar set low for me, so I enjoyed it.” I had zero expectations based on the previous film’s ridiculousness and the fact the franchise has migrated from sci-fi family film to explosion and monsters and got exactly what I expected. And neither of us is wrong.

Fallen Kingdom, in a word, is silly. In another word, it’s ridiculous. And in a final word, it’s predictable as all get out from start to finish – and there is so much to pick apart, scientists might clone an actual dinosaur before one is done.


While Howard is no longer running around in high heels, the actions of the film’s characters are just so ridiculous that you keep waiting for Mel Blanc to voice this live action Looney Tunes-esque farce. If the first four Jurassic movies have taught us anything, it’s that you are going to always find the following things in a Jurassic movie:


[1] Old rich man who wants to give dinosaurs a place to live in peace;
[2] Person working said old rich man who sees dinosaurs and gets dollars signs running through his or her head;
[3] Scientist who cracks sarcastic one liners;
[4] Business person or scientistic who is clearly so out of his or her element that there is no way they should be there;
[5] Strong male lead that always knows what to do and didn’t want to be there in the first place;
[6] Child who will prove to be smarter and more stealthy than half of the adults in the movie;
[7] A hunter whose own hubris will prove to be his undoing;
[8] The greedy businessman will just be comically – but not in a funny way – dumb and physically weak;
[9] Things that don’t make a lick of sense based on the movie’s own logic;


Continuing on …


[10] A dinosaur hunting a human in a tight space sequence;
[11] A ton of foreshadowing so you can figure out what will happen long before the characters do;
[12] A climatic sequence that will have blown all possible logic out of the window;
[13] A setting that 
[14] … and now, B.D. Wong to pop up since he somehow keeps surviving these movies.


Seriously, Fallen Kingdom couldn’t be a more aptly named release due to the flaws mentioned above. Whereas Daniella Pineda’s character as a female badass dino veterinarian is ok despite a line getting cut that should have been obvious to anyone paying attention, poor Justice Smith comes off as either a humorous Steve Urkel or just a shrieking little (edited for content). Likewise, Howard is still essentially a damsel (albeit not so much in distress as much as just there) for the most part, Spall’s character is a wasteland and the actual story is just filled with “can you tell what’s getting ready to happen next?” moments to the point you get tired of doing so. 


Isabella Sermon continues the tradition of children being smarter than adults in Amblin Entertainment releases, the twist of her character being an allright-yet-predictable one right down to her critical act … Which will then either make you laugh or slap yourself upside the head in “of COURSE SHE does THAT!” fashion. (Seriously, there’s no other option – if you’re surprised, you will love the next sequel, which should be titled “Jurassic World: Extinction” so that either the movies end or at least the stupid humans in them will be.)


Besides the general stupidity of the humans, Fallen Kingdom is essentially an monster movie (oh, how the days of something that felt real with Dr. Alan Grant are missed!) run awry in the same vein of the Transformers and TMNT franchises. The dinosaurs are reduced to either comic foils or, in the case of the new big bad introduced in this particular film, vindictive (edited for content) that, if they could talk, might as well be walking around spouting lines as bad as the ones here. There is no tense build here; nope, instead we’re treated to snarling and stalking silliness at every turn. 


So, to recap, from silly science that no one in their right mind would do (then again, we are in the age of the “space force,” so who knows), dinosaurs that act like superheroes and supervillains, settings which are too “look how the action unfolds in here!” and a story that feels like a 10 year-old wrote the final act with help from a hacky Stephen King wannabe, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom lives up to its title in the worst way possible. Director J.A. Bayona does his best to make this mess look good, but remixing that (in)famous lipstick on a pig quote from a few elections ago, it’s still a mess. 


Then again, Rampage – this year’s other entry into the “how bad can a monster movie be?” category has an “A-” grade with audiences through Cinemascore, so maybe its’ best to just think of Fallen Kingdom like most fast-food. Yeah, it’s bad and it’s bad for you, but it’s quick, cheap and easy and every once in a while, that’s all you want.

Oh, how the mighty Kingdom has fallen indeed.

OVERALL RATING (OUT OF FOUR POSSIBLE BUCKETS OF POPCORN):

 

AMERICAN ANIMALS and BEAST Start Friday + MISTER ROGERS News!

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Hello Everyone!

There are so many films to get to, so we need to keep moving. If you still need to see THE RIDER, Thursday will be your last day to catch it at THE NEON. FIRST REFORMED will stick around for a couple shows a day for one more week, and POPE FRANCIS: A MAN OF HIS WORD will have three more screenings over the weekend before it disappears. On Friday we’ll open two new films – a new take on the heist film AMERICAN ANIMALS and the chilling UK import BEAST.

Synopsis for BEAST: “Moll is 27 and still living at home, stifled by the small island community around her and too beholden to her family to break away. When she meets Pascal, a free-spirited stranger, a whole new world opens up to her and she begins to feel alive for the first time, falling madly in love. Finally breaking free from her family, Moll moves in with Pascal to start a new life. But when he is arrested as the key suspect in a series of brutal murders, she is left isolated and afraid. Choosing to stand with him against the suspicions of the community, Moll finds herself forced to make choices that will impact her life forever.” (Roadside Attractions) Click on this LINK to visit the film’s official site.

Synopsis for AMERICAN ANIMALS: “AMERICAN ANIMALS is the unbelievable but entirely true story of four young men who attempt to execute one of the most audacious art heists in U.S. history. The film centers around two friends from the middle-class suburbs of Lexington, Kentucky. Spencer (Barry Keoghan), is determined to become an artist but feels he lacks the essential ingredient that unites all great artists – suffering. His closest friend, Warren (Evan Peters), has also been raised to believe that his life will be special, and that he will be unique in some way. But as they leave the suburbs for universities in the same town, the realities of adult life begin to dawn on them and with that, the realization that their lives may in fact never be important or special in any way. Determined to live lives that are out of the ordinary, they plan the brazen theft of some of the world’s most valuable books from the special collections room of Spencer’s college Library. Enlisting two more friends, accounting major Eric (Jared Abrahamson) and fitness fanatic Chas (Blake Jenner), and taking their cues from heist movies, the gang meticulously plots the theft and subsequent fence of the stolen artworks. Although some of the group begin to have second thoughts, they discover that the plan has seemingly taken on a life of its own. Unfolding from multiple perspectives, and innovatively incorporating the real-life figures at the heart of the story, writer-director Bart Layton (The Imposter) takes the heist movie into bold new territory.” (The Orchard)  Click this LINK to visit the film’s official site.

Tickets for our special 50th Anniversary Screening of YELLOW SUBMARINE (just $8 each) are available at our box office. The film has been gorgeously restored and will screen one time on Sunday, July 8 at 3:00.

Next Thursday at 7:30, we will have a special preview screening of WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? – the new documentary about Fred Rogers and his television show MISTER ROGERS’ NEIGHBORHOOD. The preview will have prizes and give you the first opportunity to see this special film. The movie will then officially open on Friday, June 29 with multiple screenings a day. On Sunday, July 1 at 5:15, we will have a special guest who will speak to the audience after the screening. Jim Wiener, who currently works at ThinkTV, worked at WQED in Pittsburgh from 1986 until 1997, and knew Fred Rogers as well as his producer (Margie Whitmer) and director (Paul Lally). He will talk about his experiences in public television and personal recollections about Rogers and his iconic television show. Tickets are now available for these special screenings at our box office during traditional operating hours.

We’ve added two great new films to our upcoming list. On July 6, we will open the new documentary WHITNEY – a strong documentary about the life of Whitney Houston by Kevin Macdonald (director of TOUCHING THE VOID and THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND). And though we don’t have a firm opening date yet, we will soon get to HEARTS BEAT LOUD – a really special and heartwarming comedy. Stay tuned for the latest!

Thank you for your continued support!
We hope to see you soon,
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Tuesday, June 19 – Thursday, June 28:

POPE FRANCIS: A MAN OF HIS WORD (PG) 1 Hr 36 Min
Tuesday-Thursday (June 19-21): 3:10, 7:40
Friday, Saturday, Sunday (June 22-24): Noon
FINAL DAY – June 24!

THE RIDER (R) 1 Hr 44 Min
Tuesday-Thursday (June 19-21): 5:20
FINAL DAY – June 21!

FIRST REFORMED (R) 1 Hr 53 Min
Tuesday-Thursday (June 19-21): 3:00, 5:20, 7:45
Friday & Saturday (June 22 & 23): 4:50, 9:40
Sunday (June 24): 4:50
Monday-Thursday (June 25-28): 5:10

BEAST (R) 1 Hr 47 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday (June 22-24): 2:20, 7:15
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday (June 25-27): 2:40, 7:40
Thursday (June 28): 2:40

AMERICAN ANIMALS (R) 1 Hr 56 Min
Friday & Saturday (June 23 & 24): 11:45, 2:15, 4:45, 7:20, 9:45
Sunday (June 25): 11:45, 2:15, 4:45, 7:20
Monday-Thursday (June 26-29): 2:45, 5:15, 7:45

WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? (PG-13) 1 Hr 34 Min
Thursday (June 28): 7:30 – Preview Screening!

COMING SOON:
(All Dates Are Tentative. Dates Often Move And Sometimes Disappear)
June 29 – WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR?
July 6 – WHITNEY
TBD – HEARTS BEAT LOUD
TBD – THE SEAGULL
July 8 at 3:00 – YELLOW SUBMARINE – Special 50th Anniversary Screening
July 27- DON’T WORRY, HE WON’T GET FAR ON FOOT

McCoy on Movies: INCREDIBLES2

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Disney•Pixar’s superheroes return for fun sequel worthy of its
name and place in growing cartoon canon

“Oh honey – don’t make me have to Tweet about you feeling emasculated!” Helen Parr a.k.a. ElastIgirl (Holly Hunter) prepares to go to work at her new job while her husband BOB a.k.a Mr. Incredible (Craig T. Nelson) and baby Jack-Jack (Eli Fucile) look on in a scene from THE INCREDIBLES 2. CREDIT: © 2018 Disney•Pixar. All rights reserved.




WATCH THE TRAILER HERE:


KEY CAST MEMBERS: Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Brad Bird, Catherine Keener, Samuel L. Jackson, Sarah Vowell, Bob Odenkirk, Huck Milner, Eli Fucile and Sophia Bush with John Ratzenberger

WRITER(S): Brad Bird

DIRECTOR(S): Brad Bird

WEB SITE: https://movies.disney.com/incredibles-2HERE’S THE STORY: Picking up right where the first film left off 14 (yes, 14) years ago, The Incredibles 2 finds the Parr family – Helen a.k.a. Elastigirl (Holly Hunter), Bob a.k.a. Mr. Incredible (Craig T. Nelson), Dash (Huck Milner), Violet (Sarah Vowell) and baby Jack-Jack (Eli Fucile) – adjusting to life since working as superheroes (“supers” for short) are still illegal. Furthering complicating matters is Violet’s growing interest in boys, Dash being Dash and Jack-Jack’s growing unpredictable powers.


But, after a brief entanglement with the villainous Underminder (John Ratzenberger), supers find themselves again at the forefront of the public eye … And not in a good way. This troubles Winston Deavor (Bob Odenkirk), who runs – along with his sister Evelyn (Catherine Keener) – runs a tech company and has a love of superheroes, despite a personal tragedy that befell he and his sister’s parents. Determined to show the world it needs supers, he devises a plan to have Helen work to show all the good supers can do while Bob, well … He’s just going to have to stay at home and raise the children for now, occasionally calling the help of his good friend Frozone (Samuel L. Jackson) for help.

And while things are going great for Elastigirl once she is called back into action, Bob finds being a full-time parent quite difficult, Violet has her troubles dealing with adolescence and Jack-Jack? Well, let’s just say that his powers might make him an incredible problem for Bob and everyone’s safety.

But once the mysterious ScreenSlaver shows up on the scene to cause havoc for all superheroes, it becomes clear that despite the laws, it’s time once again for the Parr family to become incredible …

WHO WILL LIKE THIS FILM THE MOST? Fans of the original Incredibles movie, superhero movie fans; Disney•Pixar fans; Holly Hunter fans

WHO WON’T (OR SHOULDN’T) LIKE THIS MOVIE? People who don’t like animation or superhero movies; those will make more of the film’s potential pro/anti (depending on what you read into the movie) feminist stance; those who overanalyze aspects of a movie more than necessary

SO IS IT GOOD, BAD OR JUST AWFUL? A movie that proves to be just as good (and in some aspects, better and in others, not so much) than the original, The Incredibles 2 delivers the trademark Disney•Pixar magic with a well-crafted mix of humor, action and heart to satisfy audiences of all ages.


Flipping gender roles for Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl proves to work without any of the trappings of stereotypical/traditional comedy tropes; whereas Bob finds himself out of sorts, it’s not because of his gender, it’s because of his role in the world. Likewise, Helen comes into her own while balancing her desire to be a success, strong and still wanting to be a part of her day-to-day family life. The juxtaposition works more to show the demands of being a modern working family and sorting out one’s role in the world, which of course flows well with the story’s overall family dynamic. Likewise, Violet and Dash maintain their child and sibling sensibilities in a way that make all of their interactions work and feel right, especially within the film’s 1960s-style setting. 


Family values aside, the thing that keeps the Incredibles 2 moving along well is the genuine connection the viewer will feel with each of the Parr family members and their interactions with each other. Whereas the true villain of the picture is relatively easy to figure out early on in the picture, the action, humor and interplay between the Parrs more than overcomes any story flaws present. Throw in possibly the best performance in the film by writer/director Brad Bird as fan favorite Edna Mole (to say more would ruin much of the fun), a solid turn by Jackson and the introduction of other superheroes – Sophia Bush does a solid job as Elastigirl fan turned superhero herself the Void – and you have just about everything you need for a solid animated, family-friendly yet inspired adventure. 


Given that 14 years have passed since the first film’s release, it’s a pretty incredible feat that it all comes together so well.

OVERALL RATING (OUT OF FOUR POSSIBLE BUCKETS OF POPCORN):

 

McCoy on Movies: Ocean’s 8

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Star-studded female cast turns in great performances despite uneven script

WATCH THE TRAILER(S) HERE: 


 



KEY CAST MEMBERS: Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Helena Bonham Carter, Richard Armitage, Mindy Kaling, Rihanna, Awkafina, Sarah Paulson with James Corden, Carl Reiner and … Another familiar face from the other Ocean’s films.


WRITER(S): Gary Ross and Olivia Milch (screenplay); Gary Ross (story); George Clayton Johnson and Jack Golden Russell (based on characters by)

DIRECTOR(S): Gary Ross

WEB SITE: http://www.oceans8movie.com/HERE’S THE STORY: Debbie Ocean (Sandra Bullock) has spent nearly 6 years in prison in New Jersey. And now, she’s about to be released. And what does she have planned the moment she gets out of jail, other than hanging out with her friend Lou (Cate Blanchett)? A heist, of course, just like her late brother Danny would have done. Her idea? Rob the Metropolitan Museum of Art during its biggest social event of the year of a $150 million dollar necklace locked in a Cartier vault.


How is she going to do that? Well, it starts with getting fashion designer Rose Weil (Helena Bonham Carter) to convince prominent socialite Daphne Kluger (Anne Hathaway) to let her style her for the gala. Of course, Daphne will have no clue that she is being used, nor that pick pocket Constance (Awkafina), computer hacker Nine Ball (Rihanna), fencing – stolen property, not the sport – expert Tammy (Sarah Paulson) and jeweler Amita (Mindy Kahling) fit into the mix. Then again, when you have a $150 million on the line, it’s probably best to not ask a whole lot of questions. 


Given that Claude Becker (Richard Armitage), the man responsible for Debbie going to jail in the first place, is also going to be Daphne’s date for the evening, however, there are a lot of questions waiting to be answered indeed …

WHO WILL LIKE THIS FILM THE MOST? Cate Blanchett, Sandra Bullock, Rihanna, Anne Hathaway and James Corden fans; fans of heist movies; people who liked Ghostbusters: Answer the Call; feminists 

WHO WON’T (OR SHOULDN’T) LIKE THIS MOVIE? People who feel that franchise reboots/add-on movies are unnecessary; people who will miss the original – and by original, I mean modern – Ocean‘s cast; people who have difficulty accepting movies where the audience is required to continually make large and critical leaps of faith


SO IS IT GOOD, BAD OR JUST AWFUL? A film that features strong performances despite nearly being undone by a script that tries to make a major plot twist and instead creates a major script problem, Ocean’s 8 isn’t a bad film nor great film by any means …


It’s just a nice diversion from your day-to-day existence, which given the nature of the film will be more than enough to satisfy most fans.


Ocean’s 8 is fun because of the seriousness most of the cast gives their roles in terms of performing, NOT because of the situations tin which they find their selves. For much like the scathing reviews of the hot mess that was Ocean’s Twelve, Ocean’s 8 has a script that requires the audience to believe one of its characters makes a massive switch in a plot twist that only works because it has to for the entire film to work, which distracts from what otherwise would be a fun if not predictable due to its, well, predictable nature. 


Bullock, who has somehow started looking like Michael Jackson all of the sudden, keeps everything flowing smoothly with a solemn resolve while Blanchett plays up her character’s cool and confident nature. Rihanna continues her streak of picking roles where she really gets to continue develop her acting skills into a solid package and Hathaway gets the biggest spotlight, which given the discussion of her role in the film’s trailer, makes total sense seeing as how she does so much to make what could have bene a throwaway role a critical one. At least James Corden continues to prove he may be the most talented host on late night TV with his role as an insurance investigator called in post-heist as he proves there’s a lot more to him than being a more affable Ricky Gervais who does great stuff with pop culture and music. (That’s a roundabout way of saying he can act.)


And like its male-driven counterparts, Ocean’s 8 is a movie you don’t go to for a logical story; it’s one you see for its stars and their interplay with one another. There are cameos from celebrities you’d expect to see at an event involving a big gala at a major metropolitan museum, the main cast trade jokes and interplay well with each other; unfortunately co-writer/director Gary Ross plays things down the easiest path and while there are several subplots that are potentially interesting – what happened with Danny? Are Blanchett’s and Bullock’s characters more than just friends? Why is Armitage’s character even connected to Hathaway’s character in the first place? And we’re supposed to just roll with THAT explanation for Hathaway’s character?! – that are just left unexplored or that are unsatisfying that the grand potential for Ocean’s 8 never quite materialized.


But behind every great fortune is a crime … Audiences will just wish it wasn’t in robbing them of a better movie that could have been made. 

OVERALL RATING (OUT OF FOUR POSSIBLE BUCKETS OF POPCORN):

 
 

Your First Look at The Old Man & The Gun

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FilmDayton’s first success in bringing a major motion picture to town, filmed in Dayton last April and has finally got a release date and a trailer.

Based on the true story of Forrest Tucker and his audacious escape from San Quentin at the age of 70 to an unprecedented string of heists that confounded authorities and enchanted the public.  Fox searchlight has announced it will be in select theaters 9.28.18.

 

The Old Man & the Gun, starring Robert Redford, Danny Glover, Casey Affleck and Sissy Spacek, spent 2 days last spring on Second Street and in the Liberty Tower as well as the roof of the Talbott Tower.  The majority of the film was made in Cincinnati, but just those two days of filming created an economic impact of over $200,000. From hotel rooms at the UD Marriott, parking spaces at the Arts Garage, cranes from Art’s Rentals, cars and vans from Enterprise Rent A Car, coffee from Boston Stoker and Table 33, pizza from Marion’s, dry cleaning from Reiber Cleaners and location fees to local businesses used for sets and staging.  Not to mention local crew hires that brought money and taxes to the region.

Films have been coming to Ohio on a much steadier basis since the creation of the Ohio Motion Picture Tax Credit in 2009.  Currently there is $40 million dollars a year available in tax credits and that money has been fully exhausted in the last two year. There is currently legislation proposing an expansion of Ohio’s tax credit for motion pictures produced in the state H.B. 525 that  would more than double the current motion picture tax credit from $40 million to $100 million. It also awards credits twice annually for productions that spend at least $300,000 in-state.

 

 

When the Ohio Motion Picture Tax Credit passed in 2009, it was estimated that it would generate an increase in local spending by $100 million and create 500 full-time equivalent jobs. A recent study conducted by Cleveland State University estimates that since 2009, the increase in media sector activity has resulted in:

    • $400 million in economic impact
    • Creation of 1,729 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs
    • $2.01 return on investment (for every $1.00 spent by the state, $2.01 went back into Ohio’s economy

FilmDayton is a local 501(c)3 nonprofit that works to advance the art, craft and business of film in the Dayton region. In 2016 they became the official Film Commission in the region. The organization serves as a convenient, all-encompassing resource for local, national and international producers and filmmakers to ensure great filming experiences while providing “concierge services” to all productions in town.  Programs include industry trainings and seminars, regular networking events and access to industry-standard materials. These programs encompass the creative, business, as well as crew aspects of production to continue to build a comprehensive workforce.  FilmDayton receives no money from the productions we help, but instead rely on donations and grants.

Want to see more films come to the Miami Valley?  Support FilmDayton’s mission by becoming a member. Monies collected are used toward the development of programs, and education of local crew and to support the continued growth of local film production.

 

McCoy on Movies: SOLO

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The galaxy’s most famous scoundrel finds himself often upstaged in latest Star Wars stand alone

“You know, once you see my face … You’ll know I’m not Harrison Ford!” Alden Ehrenreich prepares to make his presence known in a scene from SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY. Credit: Jonathan Olley © & ™ Lucasfilm, Inc. All rights reserved.
 

WATCH THE TRAILER(S) HERE: 

 




KEY CAST MEMBERS: Alden Ehrenreich, Donald Glover, Emilia Clarke, Paul Bettany, Joonas Suotamo, Woody Harrelson, Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Thandie Newton

WRITER(S): Jonathan and Lawrence Kasdan (screenplay); George Lucas (based on characters created by)

DIRECTOR(S): Ron Howard

WEB SITE: https://www.starwars.com/films/soloHERE’S THE STORY: The second installment in the Star Wars “here’s the story behind this character/moment in the main films,” Solo focuses on the most famous scoundrel in a galaxy far, far away: Han Solo, now portrayed as his younger self by Alden Ehrenreich (Hail, Caesar!, Rules Don’t Apply). And this is a much different solo than fans are used to, for the young solo is a man with a dream: To escape his current life on the planet of Corellia where he is living under the rule of Lady Proxima (voiced by Linda Hunt), become a pilot in the Empire fleet (!) and possibly marry his lady love, Qi’Ra (Emilia Clarke). 


But once he and Qi’Ra run afoul of Lady Proxima, Solo finds himself eventually in a whole lot of trouble – which is why once he escapes from prison via a very hairy newfound friend (Joonas Suotamo), he is quick to take on a risky job with Tobias Beckett (Woody Harrelson). Of course, that job has much more to it than he originally suspects, which sets in motion a trail of events that make being in debt to Crimson Dawn leader Dryden Vos (Paul Bettany) a very, very bad thing. Throw in a contentious relationship with the most notorious and charismatic smuggler in the galaxy (Donald Glover) and you have an epic tale in the making.


Or at least that’s what everyone behind the world’s most popular sci-fi fantasy franchise hopes, anyway …

WHO WILL LIKE THIS FILM THE MOST? Donald Glover fans; Star Wars diehards; Chewbacca fans

WHO WON’T (OR SHOULDN’T) LIKE THIS MOVIE? People who hate anything outside of the “original” Star Wars films (now known as episodes four, five and six, respectively); adults that are not already Star Wars fans; those who will

SO IS IT GOOD, BAD OR JUST AWFUL? Far less hard-hitting (both in terms of storytelling, character development and action), Solo is in fact a Star Wars story … It’s just not the best Wars story despite having it focused on what many consider to be the best character in its galaxy.


Accompanied by a friend at the screening I went to, I was asked for my opinion of the film, which took me a second to formulate. And then it came to me: Watching Solo is like watching your team’s franchise quarterback that often underperforms lead to victory as he passes for 400 yards and 4 touchdowns … Only to remember that what was supposed to be said team’s championship season is instead going to end up 8-8 and missing the playoffs. 


Don’t get me wrong – it’s not that’s there’s necessarily anything wrong with Solo. Ehrenreich proves himself capable of hitting all the beats as younger version of one (if not the) most famous of Harrison Ford’s roles. He conveys the expected mix of ambition, recklessness and confidence one might expect while mixing in a nice bit of sensitivity that will set up for why he becomes cold as ice later in his life. Likewise, the rest of the cast turns in commendable performances, Glover in particular in continuing his hot streak by making his turns as Lando Calrissian count for all they’re worth. Harrelson does exactly what he needs to do to make his character’s arc work from start to finish and Chewbacca is Chewbacca – “lol” intended.


However, Solo doesn’t feel like the epic its intended to be for a very simple reason: It doesn’t feel special in any way. It just feels like a standard action film set within the Star Wars universe.


The first hour of the film feels like conveniently placed together events made to fit the existing character fans know INSTEAD of bringing about any real revelations other than how he got his name. To put it another way, the backstory isn’t so much of a coming of age tale where we see how Solo evolves from a boy to a man or any major change in his life that feels organic or revelatory. Instead, it’s a standard action story that doesn’t make Solo feel so much special as just a capable hero. There’s not gritty, soul searching moment, there’s no epic, battle sequence – the most intense sequence in the film is arguably more of a ship battle where several people play a critical part in the outcome – and the most interesting character is barely given a name and has a more interesting backstory than Solo’s in his own movie. In fact, for a man named “Solo” it’s only at his best, it seems, when he has a bunch of people – or Wookies or droids – helping his cause. (Seriously, you see the movie and tell me who was more interesting head-to-head: Solo or Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s L3-37?)


It would just help Solo‘s cause a lot more if he was always the main attraction in his own movie.

OVERALL RATING (OUT OF FOUR POSSIBLE BUCKETS OF POPCORN):

7 Original Shorts to Premiere at Big Lens Film Festival

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The student filmmakers of Wright State University’s award-winning Motion Pictures Program will premiere their new thesis films at the 2018 Big Lens Film Festival at the Neon on May 27. This year’s festival will have two scheduled screenings of the films. The first screening starts at 5:30pm and the second will begin at 8pm, both ending with Q&A with the directors of the films.

Short films from Wright State’s Department of Theatre, Dance and Motion Pictures program have screened at top film festivals, including Sundance, and been Student Academy Award Nominees. Graduates of the WSU film program work in every aspect of Hollywood and independent film across the country. One WSU alum, Hannah Beachler, is the production designer of the smash hit BLACK PANTHER.

This year’s films dive into a number of contemporary issues and themes, including bullying, finding one’s identity in a digital age, familial relationships, racial tensions, loss, aging, and much more! Please note, these films do contain adult themes and language and may not be suitable for children under 15.

Tickets will be on sale for $10 through the Neon Box Office which is located at 130 East 5th Street in downtown Dayton.

 

McCoy On Movies: Life of the Party

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“Hi – I’m every Midwestern mom you’ve ever seen in a Hollywood movie where I get to smile!” Deanna (Melissa McCarthy) shows her school spirit in a scene from Warner Bros. new comedy LIFE OF THE PARTY. Credit: Hopper Stone. © 2018 Warner Bros. Pictures. All rights reserved.

WATCH THE TRAILER(S) HERE: 

 




KEY CAST MEMBERS: Melissa McCarthy, Molly Gordon, Maya Rudolph, Julie Bowen, Gillian Jacobs, Stephen Root, Debby Ryan, Jimmy O. Yang, Chris Parnell, Luke Benward, Adria Arjona, Sarah Baker, Matt Walsh, Heidi Gardner and Jessie Ennis


WRITER(S): Melissa McCarthy and Ben Falcone

DIRECTOR(S): Ben Falcone

WEB SITE: http://www.lifeoftheparty-movie.com/HERE’S THE STORY: Deanna (Melissa McCarthy) is having a great time; her daughter Maddie (Molly Gordon) is starting her final year of college and she is set to go on a dream vacation to Italy with her husband Dan (Matt Walsh). 


Then Dan tells her she wants a divorce and her world is turned completely upside down.


Buoyed by her best friend Christine (Maya Rudolph), Deanna decides to overcome her sadness about her marriage ending by righting the one thing she’s always regretted: Not finishing her college degree by going back to school with her daughter. But as she will soon find out, being a college student in her 40s is going to be even wilder than it was when she was in her 20s … Especially if her daughter’s friends have anything to say about it.  

WHO WILL LIKE THIS FILM THE MOST? Melissa McCarthy fans; Mike & Molly fans; Lifetime movie fans

WHO WON’T (OR SHOULDN’T) LIKE THIS MOVIE? People hoping for something more like McCarthy’s earlier work; many adult males who will have nothing to relate or latch on to; people who will be bored by the film’s cute but simplistic nature. 


SO IS IT GOOD, BAD OR JUST AWFUL? Released in time for Mother’s Day, Life of the Party could best be described as a simple but cute comedy, or, more descriptively, an inspirational comedy … If the Lifetime Network made comedies where some man didn’t murder a woman.


McCarthy, who co-wrote the movie with her husband and the film’s director Ben Falcone (who continues his short but effective cameo streak), must have had a very specific target audience in mind when creating Life of the Party: late 30s to early 50s age suburbanite women who have young daughters they want to bond with – because nearly every scene in the film feels like one big mother-daughter field trip with a few laughs here and there for good measure. Nothing like any of her previous efforts save for the forgettable Tammy, Life of the Party is cute, fun in parts … But lacks anything than its overt, sappy charm to make it last once you’ve left the theater. 


The side characters are fairly one-dimensional but somewhat fun sidekicks, the story is easily digestible and again, McCarthy makes her character relatable as she has a fairly common story. But there again lies the issue as the film itself feels rather common, right down to its cut-and-paste ending. Maya Rudolph gets to serve as most of the film’s comic relief, even though she doesn’t seem to be allowed to take it as far as she could.


And that’s the underlying tragedy of Life of the Party: Despite all the scenarios where McCarthy and company find themselves in that would lend to more outrageous, more comedic moments, much of the film feels restrained so it can stick to a PG-13 rating. There is a much funnier, much more heartfelt movie waiting to get out of Life of the Party, but since the film would be more accurately named “Life of the Afternoon Brunch Party,” it sadly never materialized.


Consider going to this party if you need a simple outing for your mom or middle-aged friend … Otherwise, this classic movie scene might sum up how this party may feel for anyone else. 

OVERALL RATING (OUT OF FOUR POSSIBLE BUCKETS OF POPCORN):

 
 

LEAN ON PETE Starts Friday + RBG News from THE NEON

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Hello Everyone!

We have to keep moving along at THE NEON! If you still need to see ISLE OF DOGS or YOU WERE NEVER REALLY HERE, Thursday will be you last chance to catch them with us. On Friday, we will open acclaimed filmmaker Andrew Haigh’s lovely new film – LEAN ON PETE. TULLY will stick around for one more week.

Synopsis for LEAN ON PETE: ONE WEEK ONLY! “From acclaimed filmmaker Andrew Haigh (WEEKEND and 45 YEARS), and based on the beloved novel by Willy Vlautin, comes LEAN ON PETE – a deeply moving story about love, loneliness, family, and friendship, told through the unique prism of one boy’s connection to a very special racehorse. Fifteen-year-old Charley Thompson (Charlie Plummer) arrives in Portland, Oregon with his single father Ray (Travis Fimmel), both of them eager for a fresh start after a series of hard knocks. While Ray descends into personal turmoil, Charley finds acceptance and camaraderie at a local racetrack where he lands a job caring for an aging Quarter Horse named Lean On Pete. The horse’s gruff owner Del Montgomery (Steve Buscemi) and his seasoned jockey Bonnie (Chloe Sevigny) help Charley fill the void of his father’s absence – until he discovers that Pete is bound for slaughter, prompting him to take extreme measures to spare his new friend’s life.” Click on this LINK to visit the film’s official site.

The Dayton Jewish Film Festival is down to its last film for this year…and it has already SOLD OUT! But there’s good news if you haven’t purchased your ticket yet. An encore screening of SAMMY DAVIS JR: I’VE GOT TO BE ME has been scheduled for Thursday, May 24 at 7:30. Brochures are available in our lobby, and you can find out more about the films (as well as details about tickets) on the festival’s OFFICIAL SITE.

 

After two successful special screenings, WE’RE DOING FINE is coming back for one more show this Saturday. Audiences loved seeing Dayton all aglow on the big screen, and we’ve had several requests to play the film one more time during the day. So we’ve added a screening – you’ll have one more chance to catch it at THE NEON. We will screen WE’RE DOING FINE on Saturday, May 12 at Noon, and tickets are just $7.50 each. Tickets for this encore screening are only available in-person at THE NEON’s Box Office!

“It’s now official: Big things come in small, un-hyped packages. LIVES WELL LIVED, the inspiring film about women and men aged 75-100 who have more energy, creativity and optimism than any superhero, just rolled over the results for recent Oscar winners in its theatrical premiere. LIVES WELL LIVED celebrates the incredible wit, wisdom and experiences of adults aged 75 to 100. Through their intimate memories and inspiring personal histories encompassing over 3000 years of experience, forty people share their secrets and insights to living a meaningful life. These men and women open the vault on their journey into old age through family histories, personal triumph and tragedies, loves and losses – seeing the best and worst of humanity along the way. Their stories will make you laugh, perhaps cry, but mostly inspire you.” (Shadow Distribution) Director Sky Bergman will be here for this special one-time screening on Sunday, May 13 at 3:00. Tickets, just $7.50, are now available at THE NEON’s box office. Tickets are selling quickly. Get yours early!

“LUNAFEST returns to Dayton for the 9th year, bringing nine new short films by, for and about women from around the world. This year’s unique films range from animation to fictional drama, covering topics such as women’s health, body image, relationships, cultural diversity and breaking barriers. From the comedy of a young Indian-American woman who wants to follow her dreams to the harrowing first-person account of a young girl’s escape from Boko Haram, each story will inspire and enlighten. All proceeds from LUNAFEST will go to the Ohio Domestic Violence Network and to Chicken & Egg Pictures, a nonprofit organization that supports women nonfiction filmmakers whose artful and innovative storytelling catalyzes social change. The festival is sponsored locally by Dayton Women’s Rights Alliance. Tickets are $10.00 ($5.00 students) with donations over this amount gratefully accepted. Tickets can be purchased in advance for this popular one-time showing which sold out last year.” (Dayton Women’s Rights Alliance) Tickets available now at THE NEON’s Box Office or via this LINK. LUNAFEST will screen on Sunday, May 20 at 3:00.

On Thursday, May 17 at 7:30, Mike Shea is bringing his latest film to THE NEON. “MONARCH is a neo-noir mystery short about a detective trying to make sense of the drug dealing underworld of a small mid-western city. This film was shot all around Dayton, OH’s legendary Oregon District. The cast is comprised entirely of comedians from the Dayton area starring in almost exclusively dramatic roles. The story itself is based on writer/director Michael Shea’s 2017 docu-drama THE CROSS AT THE GEM. This film was submitted (in a condensed 5-minute cut) to the 2018 Lander University 2WK Film Festival in Greenwood, SC. At this special one-night event, the audience will be treated to an opening performance from some of the cast and crew, a screening of the original 2017 film THE CROSS AT THE GEM as well as the premiere of the full director’s cut version of the film MONARCH. The premiere will close with a Q&A session with the whole cast and crew. Tickets are $5 and are available at THE NEON box office. Fans can also qualify for fun rewards and prizes by supporting the film’s GoFundMe campaign at this official site LINK.”

“On Wednesday May 23, Jewish Family Services of Greater Dayton and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church will host a screening of the film NEWTOWN. This documentary chronicles the aftermath of the deadliest mass shooting of schoolchildren in American history: a shooting that took the lives of 20 elementary children and 6 educators in Newtown, CT on December 14, 2012. Now in the wake of the Parkland shooting and the many others that pass by us in the media, it is critical that we keep the conversation going. For every community – for the Dayton community – how do we keep our children safe? Please join the community on hand to watch the movie, listen to reflections by the film’s director, Kim Snyder, and take part in a panel discussion to explore safety strategies for our communities.” Admission is Free, and tickets will be given on a first come, first served basis the night of the screening.

“The student filmmakers of Wright State University’s award-winning Motion Pictures Program will premiere their new thesis films at the 2018 BIG LENS FILM FESTIVAL at THE NEON on May 27. This year’s films dive into a number of contemporary issues and themes, including coming of age stories, cyberbullying, severed familial relationships, racial tensions, aging, conquering fears and more. Short films from Wright State’s Department of Theatre, Dance and Motion Pictures have screened at top film festivals, including Sundance, and been Student Academy Award Nominees. This year’s festival will have two scheduled screenings of the films. The first screening starts at 5:30pm and the second will begin at 8pm, both ending with Q&A with the directors of the films.” Tickets are available now for $10 at THE NEON’s box office. For more information about the films, cast and crew, please click on this LINK.

On Wednesday, May 30 at 7:30, we will have a special, customer appreciation screening of a truly special film. BARAKA is a film that played at an older incarnation of THE NEON before I took over management more than 17 years ago. “Featuring no conventional narrative, this film presents footage of people, places and things from around the world. From chaotic cities to barren wilderness, the movie takes viewers around the globe to witness a variety of spectacles in both natural and technological realms.” (google) You won’t want to miss your chance to see this astonishing film on the big screen. Tickets will be free and given on a first come, first served basis. We will begin giving out tickets at 6:30 on May 30 – one ticket per customer.

In the coming weeks, we will have some very special documentaries that I think will be loved by so many of you. First off is RBG – a film about a living legend and icon, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. This film is set to open on the evening of May 17 (showtime below). Later in June, we’ll have WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? – a fantastic documentary about PBS’s Mister Rogers – a true humanitarian and American treasure. Because we think you’ll embrace these films so much, we have assembled a bit a merchandise that ties in with each film. These little gift items will be perfect for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, birthdays, or just to treat yourself. Be sure to check out our display case next time you’re in.

Thank you for your continued support!
We hope to see you this weekend,
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Wednesday, May 9 – Thursday, May 17:

ISLE OF DOGS (PG-13) 1 hr 41 Min
Wednesday & Thursday (May 9-10): 5:15
FINAL DAY – May 10!

YOU WERE NEVER REALLY HERE (R) 1 Hr 29 Min
Wednesday (May 9): 3:10, 7:30
Thursday (May 10): 3:10
FINAL DAY – May 10!

TULLY (R) 1 Hr 36 Min
Tuesday-Thursday (May 7-10): 3:00, 5:20, 7:40
Friday (May 11): 12:30, 2:40, 5:00, 7:20, 9:45
Saturday (May 12): 2:40, 5:00, 7:20, 9:45
Sunday (May 13): 12:30, 5:15, 7:30
Monday-Wednesday (May 14-16): 3:00, 5:20, 7:40
Thursday (May 17): 3:00, 5:20
FINAL DAY – May 17!

LEAN ON PETE (R) 2 Hrs 1 Min
Friday & Saturday (May 11 & 12): 1:00, 4:00, 7:00, 9:30
Sunday (May 13): 1:00, 4:00, 7:00
Monday-Wednesday (May 14-16): 2:45, 5:15, 7:45
Thursday (May 17): 2:45, 5:15
FINAL DAY – May 17!

WE’RE DOING FINE (NR) 1 Hr 26 Min
Saturday (May 12): Noon

LIVES WELL LIVED (NR) 1 Hr 12 Min + Q&A
Sunday (May 13): 3:00

MONARCH (NR) new film, short + pre-show
Thursday (May 17): 7:30

RBG (PG) 1 Hr 37 Min
Thursday (May 17) – Preview Screening – 7:45

COMING SOON:
(All Dates Are Tentative. Dates Often Move And Sometimes Disappear)
May 18 – DISOBEDIENCE
June 1 – POPE FRANCIS: A MAN OF HIS WORD
June 29 – WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR?
TBD – FOXTROT
TBD – FINAL PORTRAIT

With Scenes Filmed in Dayton ‘The Old Man and the Gun’ Release Date Set

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Photo courtesy Fox Searchlight

Fox Searchlight has announced David Lowery’s “The Old Man and the Gun” will make its debut in theaters October 5th, 2018.

The film, which spent two days last May shooting at the Liberty Center, from atop the Talbott Tower and on Second Street in downtown Dayton, is said to be the final screen performance for star Robert Redford. The film, also starring Casey Affleck, Danny Glover and Sissy Spacek is the true story of Forrest Tucker (played by Redford), who escaped prison at age 70 and went on an unprecedented string of heists. Casey Affleck plays the detective who becomes obsessed with Tucker, while Sissy Spacek is the love of Tucker’s life. The October opening suggests a fall film festival debut at Venice, Telluride, or Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).

 

FilmDayton reports that in just the two days of filming in Dayton brought an economic impact of over $208,000 to the region.  With a crew of over 100, over 75 extras and the cast, the production company payed for parking in the Arts Garage, booked rooms at the UD Marriott, ordered food from Marion’s Piazza, Lucky’s, Table 33, Boston Stoker and Dorothy Lane Market. They payed location fees to Liberty Tower, Key Bank, Talbott Tower, 1st Financial, contracted with the Dayton Police and payed rental fees to Art’s Rental, Enterprise Rent A Car and Dayton Cultural Arts Center.

 

The increase in interest and visits to our building increased substantially and we loved sharing the history so many people. We’ve had so many first time visitors since the filming. The number of requests from photographers to shoot in the building has also sky rocketed. The exposure has been great for the building and is encouraging to us as we work to repurpose this historical site.”
Jenna Kreitzer, Building Manager of Liberty Tower

We had the opportunity to be part of the movie by doing the dry cleaning and laundry needed by the costume department. We hope to continue being useful to the film industry in ONE way or another.”
Carl Ballachino, Owner at Reiber Cleaners

We were unsure what to expect with the street in front of our business closed down for 2 days, we didn’t get our normal lunch time pop of business, but it turned out our sales were higher than usual, We had so many first time guests who’d come down to enjoy the excitement of the stars and the filming. Our guests and staff were excited by the star sightings and overall it was a great experience.
Chris Harrison, Table 33 Owner

 

Photo courtesy Fox Searchlight

The Old Man and The Gun was filmed here taking advantage of The Ohio Motion Picture Tax Credit, which provides a refundable, transferable tax credit of 30 percent on production cast and crew wages plus other eligible in-state spending.Currently at $40 million year, the credit would increase to $100 million annually under House Bill 525, which is awaiting legislative action to expand program.