Calendar: October 22-28, 2021
Our movie and media Calendar appears every Friday/Saturday on C-U Blogfidential and caters to the downstate region anchored by Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, USA.
~~~~~
MILESTONES | Happy Birthday to You!
10/25: Becca Whitaker (staff cartoonist, Bachelor Pad Magazine, Champaign, IL)
10/26: Joseph F. Alexandre (filmmaker, BACK HOME YEARS AGO: THE REAL CASINO, JFA Films, Los Angeles, CA)
FIELD REPORT DU HQ | From Wherever It May Be Said
Since I’ve already established that it’s Halloween-time and finally regained a little jump-scare in my step, methinks it’s a good moment to hit you with a treat different than the norm. Not lost on yours truly is the holiday season encompasses so much more than the movies. I’m also well aware that our main articles at the moment are full of horror projects led primarily by men, even though women contribute aplenty if one cares to look closely, so I’ll happily turn this week’s Report over to female and nonbinary friends in our communities whose creative streaks at least touch base with the cinema.
First, it seems WCIA Channel 3 news producer Lauren Laws, who once guested on C-U Blogfidential and Damian Duffy Hates Everything, has found a new calling apart from journalism and heavy metal belly dancing; the University of Illinois alum is gaining a viewership on YouTube with a series documenting her adventures in crafting and decorating to celebrate Sunday, October 31, so you can bet certain brands like THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS will have cameos in the mix. And then, a long-time passion for writing is finally coming to fruition for visual artist Z Macabre, a fellow former guest at CUBlog and DDHE and a one-time Art Theater staff member; they debuted a sequel novel to The Witch (2018) called The Witch & The Vampire last Sunday, October 17, available to devour as a Kindle eBook and in paperback. Elsewhere, Bachelor Pad Magazine cartoonist Becca Whitaker of DeKalb and “Dreaming of Johnny” Etsy seller Sophie McMahan Berkley of Urbana take different approaches to incorporation of pop culture characters into their delightful artwork; Whitaker outfits voluptuous pin-ups both imagined and from real life with personalities from across genres, while McMahan Berkley playfully arranges for famous horror icons to meet up with Sixties beehive beauties. I’ll also include Katrina Catizone, a talented illustrator of heroes, celebrities, and monsters in fine detail using various mediums, who travels the convention circuit with her partner Michael J. Jones; known as “Epyon5,” the latter repurposes vintage styles and “monster kid” iconography to make boutique wall hangings on wood, vinyl sticker sets, and so forth.
We can only conclude by mentioning the grande dame of menacing merch du C-U, Jill Van Voorst, who is in her third decade operating the venerable LIX Online with an assist from husband Gregg Olheiser. Happy consuming, dearest readers, and don’t forget to enjoy your local artist picks with the last pumpkin spice something-or-other of the year! Arrakis “spice,” however … don’t touch the stuff.
LOCAL FILMS & EVENTS | Support Your Media Storytellers
@ I Hotel and Conference Center, UIUC, Champaign, IL
Dark History and Horror Convention’s Screaming Mad Film Festival 2.1 (10/23, 11:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m., free w/convention ticket) Schedule
@ Gregory Hall, UIUC, Urbana, IL
Illini Film & Video* meeting, Room 100 (10/25, 7 p.m.)
NOW PLAYING | Champaign-Urbana Area
@ AMC Champaign 13, Champaign, IL
DUNE, RON’S GONE WRONG, THE ADDAMS FAMILY 2, HALLOWEEN KILLS, THE LAST DUEL, NO TIME TO DIE, SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS, VENOM: LET THERE BE CARNAGE (10/22 on), ANTLERS, LAST NIGHT IN SOHO (10/28 on)
@ Illini Union, UIUC, Urbana, IL
Illini Union Board presents “Fall 2021 Weekend Films” feat. ESCAPE ROOM: TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS, Pine Lounge, 1st floor (10/22-10/23, 7 p.m.; free w/i-card)
@ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, Savoy, IL
DUNE, RON’S GONE WRONG, THE ADDAMS FAMILY 2, HALLOWEEN KILLS, HARD LUCK LOVE SONG, LAMB, THE LAST DUEL, NO TIME TO DIE, SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS, VENOM: LET THERE BE CARNAGE (10/22 on), The Metropolitan Opera: Fire Shut Up in My Bones (10/23, 11:55 a.m., simulcast; 10/27, 1 & 6:30 p.m., recorded), Studio Ghibli Fest: HOWL’S MOVING CASTLE (animé, 10/24, 3 p.m., 10/25, 10/28, 7 p.m.), VERTIGO (10/24, 3 & 7 p.m.; 10/27, 7 p.m.), PURGATORY (10/25, 10/28, 7 p.m.), ‘RiffTrax Live’ feat. AMITYVILLE: THE EVIL ESCAPES (10/26, 7 p.m., simulcast)
@ Redbox, Champaign-Urbana, IL
JOE BELL, NEEDLE IN A TIMESTACK, OLD, THE PROTÉGÉ, SNAKE EYES: G.I. JOE ORIGINS, more! (10/19 on) Online rentals
@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL
The News-Gazette Film Series presents THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE (1962) (10/23, 1 & 7 p.m.)
Events featuring locally produced movies are marked with an asterisk (*). Additional “Now Playing” and “Coming Soon” listings appear after the jump!
~~~~~
NOW PLAYING | The Cities Beyond
@ AMC Classic Village Mall 6, Danville, IL
DUNE, RON’S GONE WRONG, THE ADDAMS FAMILY 2, HALLOWEEN KILLS, NO TIME TO DIE, VENOM: LET THERE BE CARNAGE (10/22 on)
@ AMC Peru Mall 8, Peru, IL
DUNE, RON’S GONE WRONG, THE ADDAMS FAMILY 2, HALLOWEEN KILLS, THE LAST DUEL, NO TIME TO DIE, VENOM: LET THERE BE CARNAGE (10/22 on)
@ The Avon Theater, Decatur, IL
DUNE, HALLOWEEN KILLS, NO TIME TO DIE (10/22-10/24)
@ The Fischer Theatre, Danville, IL
YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN (10/23, 2 & 7 p.m.; 10/24, 2 p.m.)
@ The Harvest Moon Twin Drive-in, Gibson City, IL
“Wicked Weekend” feat. HALLOWEEN KILLS (Screen 1), CASPER (Screen 2) (10/22-10/23)
@ The Little Lorraine, Hoopeston, IL
Private rentals for the week.
@ The Normal Theater, Normal, IL
THE HOWLING (10/22, 10/24), A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET PART 2: FREDDY’S REVENGE (10/22), HOCUS POCUS, CARRIE (1976), CHOPPING MALL (10/23), BEETLEJUICE (10/24, 10/28)
@ The Onarga Theatre, Onarga, IL
Closed for the week.
@ The Princess Theatre, Leroy, IL
CRY MACHO (10/22-10/24)
@ Route 34 Drive-in, Earlville, IL
NO TIME TO DIE, TWISTER (10/22-10/24)
@ Route 66 Twin Drive-in, Springfield, IL
THE ADDAMS FAMILY 2, CASPER (Screen 1), HALLOWEEN KILLS, VENOM: LET THERE BE CARNAGE (Screen 2) (10/22-10/23)
@ Streator Eagle 6, Streator, IL
DUNE, RON’S GONE WRONG, HALLOWEEN KILLS, THE LAST DUEL, NO TIME TO DIE, VENOM: LET THERE BE CARNAGE (10/22 on), THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW (10/22-10/23, 11 p.m.), ANTLERS (10/28 on)
@ VIP Lincoln Grand 6, Lincoln, IL
DUNE, RON’S GONE WRONG, HALLOWEEN KILLS, THE LAST DUEL, NO TIME TO DIE, VENOM: LET THERE BE CARNAGE (10/22 on)
@ VIP Roxy Cinemas, Ottawa, IL
DUNE, RON’S GONE WRONG, THE ADDAMS FAMILY 2, HALLOWEEN KILLS, THE LAST DUEL, NO TIME TO DIE (10/22 on)
NOW PLAYING | Midwest
@ Music Box Theater/Gene Siskel Film Center/etc. + virtual, Chicago, IL
57th Chicago International film Festival (through 10/24) Information
For detailed and curated listings of Chicago-area film presentations and related events, as well as cancellations and postponements due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, please visit the fine folks at Cine-File and subscribe to their definitive “Cine-List” weekly blast.
COMING SOON | Area-wide Events
11/5-11/15
20th Route 66 Film Festival
@ Springfield, IL (virtual event)
11/5-11/7
28th Chicago Underground Film Festival
@ The Logan Theatre, Chicago, IL
12/4
Kramupusnacht Freeky Film Festival
@ Champaign, IL (virtual event)
4/7-4/17, 2022
24th annual Wisconsin Film Festival
@ University of Wisconsin, etc., Madison, WI
4/8-4/10, 2022
Dead in Decatur presents “The Art of Fear”
@ Heroic Age Art Center, Mt. Zion, IL
4/20-4/23, 2022
22nd Roger Ebert’s Film Festival
@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL
COMMUNITY & CAMPUS SERIES | Champaign-Urbana area
“The Arthouse Experience Film Series” curated by Sanford Hess
@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL, 7 p.m.
11/3: MOONLIGHT; 12/6: COLD WAR; 1/19/22: WILD TALES; 2/23/22: ADAPTATION; 3/23/22: THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS; 4/6/22: BIG NIGHT; 5/25/22: EIGHTH GRADE; 6/1/22: THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI: to be rescheduled: THE ARTIST
Illini Radio Group presents “Rewind 92.5 Film Series”/“Mix 94.5 Throwback Thursdays”*
@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL, 7 p.m.
11/11: PEE-WEE’S BIG ADVENTURE; 12/5: THE PRINCESS BRIDE; 1/13/22: CLUELESS*; 1/20/22: SAY ANYTHING; 2/2/22: GROUNDHOG DAY; 3/21/22: ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK; 4/4/22: FACE/OFF; 5/23/22: MAD MAX BEYOND THUNDERDOME; 6/30/22: WAYNE’S WORLD; 7/14/22: STARSHIP TROOPERS
Illini Union Board presents “Fall 2021 Weekend Films”
@ Pine Lounge, 1st floor, Illini Union, UIUC, Urbana, IL, 7 p.m. Fri. & Sat, free w/i-card
10/22-10/23: ESCAPE ROOM: TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS; 10/29-10/30: THE CONJURING: THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT; 11/5-11/6: SPACE JAM: A NEW LEGACY; 11/12-11/13: BLACK WIDOW; 11/19-11/20: THE SUICIDE SQUAD; 12/3-12/4: JUNGLE CRUISE
The News-Gazette Film Series
@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL, 1 & 7 p.m.
10/23: THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE (1962); 11/21: MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS; 12/11: IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE; 1/22/22: ALL ABOUT EVE; 2/19/22: IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT; 4/30/22: DUCK SOUP; 6/25/22: HIGH NOON; 7/29/22: TOP HAT
~~~~~
Compiled by Jason Pankoke.
~~~~~
“Calendar du C-U”
© 2021 Jason Pankoke/C-U Blogfidential