Calendar du C-U: July 29-Aug. 4
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
7/29/16-8/4/16
MILESTONES
Happy Birthday to … Friday, July 29: Jimi Jones (teaching assistant, School of Information Sciences, UIUC) … Monday, August 1: Cara Maurizi (actress, LISTEN, Pens to Lens 2016) … Tuesday, August 2: Jeff Kacmarynski (director, “Divination” segment, 60 SECONDS 2 DIE) … celebrate!
LOCAL FILMS, ETC.
@ Danville Stadium, Danville, IL: THE BABE* (7/29, dusk, free w/Danville Dans admission) Information
@ The Art Theater Co-op, Champaign, IL: Call for Entries for the 7th annual New Art Film Festival* (7/25-8/31) Information
FLICKER OF THE WEEK
Tsk, tsk, dearest readers, our humble editor is “Jason Bored” today in the face of “been there, done that” cinema occupying the area’s venues, even if the latest Woody Allen nostalgia trip CAFÉ SOCIETY (Amazon Studios/Lionsgate) might offer a pleasant diversion if one happens upon the Art Theater Co-op during its run beginning Fri., 7/29. So, to get some value out of this particular “FOW,” we start by giving overdue props to whomever schedules the multiplexes for bringing in a steady slate of overseas entertainments that previously might have gone straight to video in America. Monthly Bollywood awaits Indian audiences at the Carmike 13 to the north in Champaign while Asian communities can see films from Japan, Korea, China, and Hong Kong on the regular at the Goodrich Savoy 16 to the south in Savoy. As an example, on 7/29 the latter will open LEAGUE OF GODS (Sony Pictures Releasing International), a sumptuous looking epic directed by Koan Hui that is based on 16th century folklore filled with warlords, armies, swordsmen, monsters, spirits, and ragtag heroes; genre legends Jet Li and Tony Leung appear with popular China/HK stars Bingbing Fan, Xiaoming Huang, Louis Koo, and Angelababy in what will either be regarded as a refreshing alternative to the CGI spectaculars manufactured by Hollywood or merely another entry in the global fantasy film sweepstakes. Whatever its quality, LEAGUE OF GODS has the potential to go largely unseen in its limited release – Savoy 16 is one of only 54 domestic theaters to carry it this coming week; is Sony now gun shy thanks to their mishandling of Stephen Chow’s THE MERMAID earlier this year? – and we feel it is our cinematic duty to suggest you give it a chance. As peculiar incentive, we bestow our C-U seal of approval for the first time not on the film itself but a character in it that can only exist “at the movies,” a terrifically gonzo child warrior named “Baby Nezha” who steals the spotlight in various Internet coverage. Designed and executed by stateside effects firm Tippett Studios for the producers, China Star Entertainment Group, Nezha aids the band of rogue protectors who are tasked with restoring order to the Middle Kingdom with his magic powers; watch this Vimeo reel for a sample of the mite’s offbeat might! We also have an honorable mention du C-U to hand out, but we need to reach across faraway lands (and very, very high off the ground) to salute another uniquely Eastern creation that is the sheer antithesis to heroic and roly-poly little Nezha – the mountainous, gnarled, borderline grotesque rendition of the King of the Monsters to be found in SHIN GOJIRA (Toho Co., Ltd.), now playing more than 400 theaters in Japan as of 7/29. We will be given the chance to witness SHIN GODZILLA (Funimation Films) in limited release later this year and decide for ourselves whether the apparently radical path taken by co-directors Hideaki Anno and Shinji Higuchi has been worth the year-long wait. Unless Ye Ed forgets to go, of course. Conspiracy!
NOW PLAYING
@ The Art Theater Co-op, Champaign, IL: CAFÉ SOCIETY (7/29 on), “Big Screen Noir” series feat. CAPE FEAR (1962; 7/29, 7/30, 10 p.m.; 7/31, 11:30 a.m.; 8/4, 10 p.m.), “Smart Kids” series feat. KIRIKOU AND THE SORCERESS (7/30, 10 a.m. & 12 p.m., free)
@ Quality Beer, Champaign, IL: Champaign Screenwriters mixer (8/4, 8 p.m.)
@ Anniversary Plaza, Main Quad, UIUC, Urbana, IL: Illini Union Board presents “Summer Quad Cinema Series” feat. THE ANGRY BIRDS MOVIE (8/4, 9 p.m., free)
@ The Avon Theater, Decatur, IL: JASON BOURNE, ICE AGE: COLLISION COURSE, STAR TREK BEYOND (7/29 on), SUICIDE SQUAD (3-D & 2-D) (7/29, 7 p.m. (both shows))
@ The Normal Theater, Normal, IL: MODERN TIMES (8/2, 7 p.m.), RIGHT NOW, WRONG THEN (8/4, 7 p.m.)
@ Route 66 Twin Drive-In, Springfield, IL: JASON BOURNE, STAR TREK BEYOND (Screen 1), THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS, THE LEGEND OF TARZAN (Screen 2) (7/29 on)
@ The Lincoln Grand 8, Lincoln, IL: BAD MOMS, JASON BOURNE, NERVE, GHOSTBUSTERS, ICE AGE: COLLISION COURSE, LIGHTS OUT, THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS, STAR TREK BEYOND (3-D & 2-D) (7/29 on), CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS 2 (7/30, 8/2, 10 a.m.), SUICIDE SQUAD (7/29, 7:10 p.m. (3-D), 9:50 p.m. (standard)
@ The Onarga Theatre, Onarga, IL: ICE AGE: COLLISION COURSE (7/29-7/31, 8/3)
@ The Princess Theatre, Leroy, IL: THE BFG (7/29-7/31)
@ Harvest Moon Twin Drive-In, Gibson City, IL: ICE AGE: COLLISION COURSE (Screen 1), JASON BOURNE (Screen 2) (7/29-8/3), THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW (1975) w/props, costume contest (Screen 1), JASON BOURNE (Screen 2) (8/4)
@ The Little Lorraine, Hoopeston, IL: Save the Lorraine Foundation presents performances by Zachary Freedom duo (7/30, 2, 4:30 & 7 p.m.)
@ downtown location TBA, Monticello, IL: Monticello Parks & Recreation and Central Illinois Bank present “Monticello Movie Nights” feat. INSIDE OUT (7/29, 8 p.m., free)
@ Carmike 13, Champaign, IL: BAD MOMS, CAPTAIN FANTASTIC, JASON BOURNE, NERVE, FINDING DORY, GHOSTBUSTERS, HILLARY’S AMERICA, ICE AGE: COLLISION COURSE, LIGHTS OUT, THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS, STAR TREK BEYOND (3-D & 2-D) (7/29 on), PENGUINS OF MADAGASCAR (8/4, 10 a.m.), SUICIDE SQUAD (8/4, 6 & 9 p.m.)
@ Goodrich Savoy 16, Savoy, IL: BAD MOMS, CAPTAIN FANTASTIC, JASON BOURNE, LEAGUE OF GODS, NERVE, ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS: THE MOVIE, FINDING DORY, GHOSTBUSTERS, HILLARY’S AMERICA, ICE AGE: COLLISION COURSE, THE LEGEND OF TARZAN, LIGHTS OUT, MIKE AND DAVE NEED WEDDING DATES, THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS, STAR TREK BEYOND (IMAX 3-D & 2-D) (7/29 on), THE SANDLOT (7/29, 10 a.m.), Fathom Events, Mattel, and WomensForum.com present BARBIE STAR LIGHT ADVENTURE (7/30, 10 a.m.), Goodrich presents “Flashback Cinema” feat. GREASE “sing-a-long” edition (7/31, 8/3, 2 & 7 p.m.), DIARY OF A WIMPY KID (8/1-8/3, 10 a.m.), Fathom Events and Lincoln Center present Ballet Hispanico in performance feat. Carmen (8/2, 7 p.m.), SUICIDE SQUAD (8/4, 6:15 & 9:15 p.m. (IMAX 3-D), 6:05 & 9 p.m. (standard))
@ AMC Village Mall 6, Danville, IL: BAD MOMS, JASON BOURNE, ICE AGE: COLLISION COURSE (3-D & 2-D), LIGHTS OUT, THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS, STAR TREK BEYOND (3-D & 2-D) (7/29 on)
@ Family Video, Champaign-Urbana, IL: BARBERSHOP: THE NEXT CUT, THE BOSS, HARDCORE HENRY, CRIMINAL, SING STREET, BORN TO BE BLUE, CHRONICLES OF THE GHOSTLY TRIBE, I AM WRATH, ELECTRA WOMAN & DYNA GIRL, more! (7/26 on)
@ Centerbrook Drive-In, Martinsville, IN: ICE AGE: COLLISION COURSE, JASON BOURNE (7/28-7/31)
@ Landmark’s Century Centre Cinemas, Chicago, IL: Midwest Independent Film Festival presents “Female Filmmakers Night” w/filmmakers (8/2, 6 p.m. reception, 6:30 p.m. Producers Panel, 7:30 p.m. screening)
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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
NEW! 8/5-8/6: 6th annual Prairie State Film Festival*
@ Landmark Cinemas, Peoria, IL
8/13: 4th annual Pens to Lens Screenwriting Competitions + Awards Gala*
@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL, 2 & 6 p.m.
NEW! 8/13: “Mabel’s Night” concert + taping for WHERE IT BEGINS* documentary
@ Brothers Bar & Grill, Champaign, IL, 5:30 p.m.-12 a.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
UPDATE! 10/30: 7th annual New Art Film Festival*
@ The Art Theater Co-op, Champaign, IL, 6-11 p.m.
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
UPDATE! 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; 8/20: POPSTAR: NEVER STOP NEVER STOPPING; 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
7/29: INSIDE OUT; 8/5: STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS
The News-Gazette Film Series
@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL, 1 & 7 p.m.
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
8/12: HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 2
UPDATE! Urbanalove presents “Summer Movie Nights”
@ parking lot, Busey Bank, downtown Urbana, IL, sunset, free
8/13: MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO; 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.