Calendar du C-U: July 15-21
Our unique movie and media Calendar appears every Friday on C-U Blogfidential and caters to the discerning tastes of citizens in the downstate region anchored by Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, USA.
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PLAYING THIS WEEK
7/15/16-7/21/16
MILESTONES
Happy Birthday to … Thursday, July 21: Shawnee Tefteller (owner, Shawnee Studios) … celebrate!
40 Years Ago … Thursday, July 15, 1976: Beverly Hills, CA-based distributor Crown International Pictures opens the film DEATH RIDERS on 100 screens in the Kansas City-Omaha region of the Midwest, according to the exhibition trade magazine Boxoffice. One of the only non-fiction titles in the company’s catalog and the rare documentary to play the drive-in circuit, DEATH RIDERS is directed by James Wilson of Hallmark Entertainment and provides a behind-the-scenes look at the Death Riders Motorcycle Thrill Show, a traveling stunt team founded in the early Seventies by Floyd Reed, Sr., and featuring his teenage son Danny as “Mr. T.N.T.” Two weeks prior to this roll out, the film’s world premiere took place at the North Drive-In of Terre Haute, IN, on Friday, July 2, a live Death Riders exhibition providing additional impact at the start of the show. Booking agent T.N.T. Productions is based in the Reed family’s hometown of Danville, IL, while the crew’s practice stadium is 25 miles away in Cayuga, IN; a memorable scene in DEATH RIDERS finds Danny’s grandmother Clara fainting in the Cayuga grandstand after watching him crash in front of the hometown crowd. Additional thrills performed for camera by the Death Riders would appear a year later in the fictional action-comedy DEATH DRIVER, produced and self-distributed by prolific North Carolina independent filmmaker Earl Owensby.
FLICKER OF THE WEEK
Once again, we take umbrage at the underwhelming choices filling up screen space all across MICRO-FILM Country and must choose wisely on your behalf, dearest readers. (Only the worthy may wield the “FOW” shield, after all!) Similar to last week, we have managed to single out thee selections that will hopefully yield good viewing for you. First, fresh from New Zealand is the reluctant pals-on-the-run caper HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE (The Orchard) directed by Taika Watiti (EAGLE VS. SHARK) and starring Sam Neill and Julian Dennison as the fugitives; trailers for this quirky adventure, which opens at the Art Theater Co-op today, Fri, 7/15, paint it as a cross between Disney’s UP and the decidedly non-Disney MIDNIGHT RUN, at least in our eyes. Next, the lushly designed “adult fairy tale” omnibus feature TALE OF TALES (IFC Films) weaves its absolutely non-Disneyfied spell over the Normal Theater for the second week running, continuing tonight, 7/15, and Sun., 7/17, both at 7 p.m.; Italian filmmaker Matteo Garrone (GOMORRAH) adapts classic European folk tales with an international cast including Salma Hayek, John C. Reilly, Vincent Cassel, Toby Jones, and Shirley Henderson. Last but not least, a modernized take on yet another fantasy staple, THE MERMAID (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment), is available on home video and streaming as of Tues., 7/5; directed by Hong Kong superstar Stephen Chow (KUNG FU HUSTLE), the eco-minded adventure stars Jelly Lin in the title role and Deng Chao as a real estate developer she is sent to assassinate by her people. Viewers on the fence over Chow’s trademark broad humor may be attracted to its visual panache or environmental themes, if not the fact this film became the highest grossing theatrical release in China’s box office history earlier this year after which Sony completely botched its stateside bow. Are you surprised, nu-GHOSTBUSTERS fans?
NOW PLAYING
@ The Art Theater Co-op, Champaign, IL: HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE (7/15 on), “Smart Kids” series feat. MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO (7/15, 7/16, 7/19, 7/20, 10 p.m.; 7/16, 10 a.m. & 12 p.m., free), “Big Screen Noir” series feat. THE LADY FROM SHANGHAI (7/17, 11:30 a.m.)
@ Wabash Park, Rantoul, IL: Rantoul Area Chamber of Commerce presents “2016 Movies in the Park Series” feat. INSIDE OUT (7/15, dusk)
@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL: The News-Gazette Film Series presents THE AWFUL TRUTH (7/16, 1 & 7 p.m.)
@ WILL-TV, Campbell Hall, UIUC, Urbana, IL: Champaign Movie Makers meeting, “Previs” [Previsualization] (7/19, 7 p.m., free)
@ The Avon Theater, Decatur, IL: THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS (3-D & 2-D), THE LEGEND OF TARZAN (7/15 on)
@ The Normal Theater, Normal, IL: TALE OF TALES (7/15, 7/17, 7 p.m.), DRUNKEN MASTER (7/15, 10:30 p.m.), APRIL AND THE EXTRAORDINARY WORLD (7/16, 7 p.m., French w/subtitles; 7/17, 1 p.m., English dub)
@ Route 66 Twin Drive-In, Springfield, IL: GHOSTBUSTERS, THE SHALLOWS (Screen 1), THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS, THE LEGEND OF TARZAN (Screen 2) (7/15 on)
@ The Lincoln Grand 8, Lincoln, IL: GHOSTBUSTERS (3-D & 2-D), THE BFG , FINDING DORY, THE LEGEND OF TARZAN, MIKE AND DAVE NEED WEDDING DATES, THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS (3-D & 2-D) (7/15 on), CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE (7/15-7/20), ICE AGE: COLLISION COURSE (7/21, 6:50 p.m.), STAR TREK BEYOND (3-D) (7/21, 8 p.m.), LIGHTS OUT (7/15, 9:10 p.m.)
@ The Onarga Theatre, Onarga, IL: THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS (7/15-7/17, 7/20)
@ The Princess Theatre, Leroy, IL: FINDING DORY (7/15-7/17), “Oh Hey!” magic show (7/17, 6:30 p.m.)
@ Harvest Moon Twin Drive-In, Gibson City, IL: THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS (Screen 1), GHOSTBUSTERS (Screen 2) (7/15 on)
@ The Little Lorraine, Hoopeston, IL: Save the Lorraine Foundation presents MIRACLES FROM HEAVEN (7/15-7/17)
@ downtown location TBA, Monticello, IL: Monticello Parks & Recreation and Central Illinois Bank present “Monticello Movie Nights” feat. THE PEANUTS MOVIE (7/15, 8 p.m., free)
@ Carmike 13, Champaign, IL: GHOSTBUSTERS (3-D & 2-D), THE INFILTRATOR, CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE, FINDING DORY, THE LEGEND OF TARZAN, MIKE AND DAVE NEED WEDDING DATES, THE PURGE: ELECTION YEAR, THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS (3-D & 2-D), SULTAN (7/15 on), RIO 2 (7/21, 10 a.m.), STAR TREK BEYOND (7/21, 7 & 9:45 p.m.)
@ Goodrich Savoy 16, Savoy, IL: GHOSTBUSTERS (IMAX 3-D, 3-D & 2-D), THE INFILTRATOR, THE BFG, CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE, FINDING DORY, INDEPENDENCE DAY: RESURGENCE, THE LEGEND OF TARZAN, MIKE AND DAVE NEED WEDDING DATES, THE PURGE: ELECTION YEAR, THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS, THE SHALLOWS (7/15 on), Goodrich presents “Flashback Cinema” feat. GREMLINS (7/17, 7/20, 2 & 7 p.m.), PENGUINS OF MADAGASCAR (7/18-7/20, 10 a.m.), Fathom Events, BY Experience, and National Theatre Live present The Audience feat. Helen Mirren (7/19, 7 p.m., encore presentation), Fathom Events presents Metropolitan Opera: Cossi fan tutte (7/20, 7 p.m., encore presentation), ICE AGE: COLLISION COURSE (7/21, 5:00, 7:20 & 9:40 p.m.), STAR TREK BEYOND (7/21, 7 & 9:45 p.m. (IMAX 3-D), 7:15 & 10 p.m. (standard))
@ AMC Village Mall 6, Danville, IL: GHOSTBUSTERS (3-D & 2-D), FINDING DORY, THE LEGEND OF TARZAN (3-D & 2-D), MIKE AND DAVE NEED WEDDING DATES, THE PURGE: ELECTION YEAR, THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS (3-D & 2-D) (7/15 on)
@ Family Video, Champaign-Urbana, IL: THE DIVERGENT SERIES: ALLEGIANT, EVERYBODY WANTS SOME!!, THE MERMAID, THE DARK HORSE, 600 MILES, THE PREPPIE CONNECTION, ANDRON, more! (7/12 on)
@ Centerbrook Drive-In, Martinsville, IN: THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS, GHOSTBUSTERS, THE LEGEND OF TARZAN (7/15-7/16), THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS, GHOSTBUSTERS (7/17, 7/19, 7/21)
@ Crowne Plaza Chicago O’Hare, Rosemont, IL: 23rd G-FEST – Godzilla fan convention (7/15-7/17)
@ Max Palevsky Cinema, Ida Noyes Hall, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL: Doc Films presents HOOP DREAMS* (7/21, 7 p.m.)
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Locally produced movies and events featuring locally produced movies are marked with an asterisk (*). Also find out what is “Coming Soon” by hitting the jump below. Go see ‘em, C-U!
COMING SOON
8/13: 4th annual Pens to Lens Screenwriting Competitions + Awards Gala*
@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL, 2 & 6 p.m.
9/6: Blu-ray release: GRANDVIEW, U.S.A.*
+ Kino Lorber Studio Classics, New York, NY
10/21-10/23: 2nd annual Dark History & Horror Convention
@ Fluid Event Center, Champaign, IL
10/22: Normal Short Film Fest*
@ The Normal Theater, Normal, IL
10/30: 7th annual New Art Film Festival*
@ The Art Theater Co-op, Champaign, IL
11/4-5: 15th annual Route 66 International Film Festival
@ Capital City Bar & Grill, Springfield, IL
4/19-23, 2017: 19th annual Roger Ebert’s Film Festival
@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL
COMMUNITY FILM SERIES
Illini Union Board presents “Summer Quad Cinema Series”
@ Anniversary Plaza, Main Quad, UIUC, Urbana, IL, 9 p.m., free
8/4: THE ANGRY BIRDS MOVIE; 8/21: “Quad Day” edition – CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR
Monticello Parks & Recreation presents “Monticello Movie Nights”
@ downtown location TBA, Monticello, IL, activities 6-8 p.m., film 8 p.m., free
7/15: THE PEANUTS MOVIE; 7/29: INSIDE OUT; 8/5: STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS
The News-Gazette Film Series
@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL, 1 & 7 p.m.
7/16: THE AWFUL TRUTH; 8/6: WILLY WONKA & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY; 9/17: CASABLANCA; 10/24-10/28: “Five Nights of Hitch!” feat VERTIGO, THE BIRDS, NORTH BY NORTHWEST, REAR WINDOW, PSYCHO; 11/26: Reader’s Choice TBA; 12/12-12/17: “The Best Christmas Movies Ever!” feat. THE BISHOP’S WIFE, THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER, MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET, IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE; 1/21/17: DRACULA; 2/4/17: SWING TIME; 3/25/17: THE GENERAL; 4/15/17: DUCK SOUP; 5/27/17: CITIZEN KANE; 6/24/17: HIGH NOON; 7/22/17: THE GOLD RUSH; 8/26/17: THE WIZARD OF OZ
Rantoul Area Chamber of Commerce presents “2016 Movies in the Park Series”
@ Wabash Park, Rantoul, IL, dusk
7/15: INSIDE OUT; 8/12: HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 2
NEW! Urbanalove presents “Summer Movie Nights”
@ parking lot, Busey Bank, downtown Urbana, IL, sunset, free
7/23: THE WIZARD OF OZ; 8/13: TBA; 9/3: TBA
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If you have items that you would like us to list in the Calendar, please send relevant dates, start/end times, locations, event descriptions, and ticket prices to cuconfidential [at] gmail [dot] com.
Compiled by Jason Pankoke
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“Calendar du C-U”
© 2016 Jason Pankoke/C-U Blogfidential.