Calendar: Feb. 25-March 3, 2022
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.
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MILESTONES | Happy Birthday to You!
2/25: Josh Schafer (publisher, Lunchmeat VHS fanzine, Elmer, NJ)
2/26: Troy Michael (editor & publisher, Innocent Words website, Oakwood, IL)
3/2: Anne Lukeman (“chief adventurist,” C-U Adventures in Time & Space escape room, Urbana, IL)
3/2: Kelly White (executive director, 40 North 88 West: Champaign County Arts Council, Champaign, IL)
3/3: Tariq A. Khan (entertainment reporter, Fox News Channel, New York, NY)
FIELD REPORT DU HQ | From Wherever It May Be Said
New items of relevance are popping all over in the social media sphere, and that will force my hand to resume writing so I can tell you about them. I won’t attempt to distill it all into a Report since there is a bunch to account for and it would make for a very dense read. Even then, proof that film life is resuming in the C-U and beyond is evident in this week’s Calendar listings; both of the long-running February marquee events of downstate Illinois, the Insect Fear Film Festival at UIUC and Big Muddy Film Festival at SIU-Carbondale, return this weekend, the yearly Molly Schlich Independent | International Film Series wraps a few days from now in Springfield, and several spring attractions will be here shortly!
Before we break out the timely coverage, I plan to go introspective with the revival of our annual “In My Backyard” address that used to post every year to coincide with the anniversary of the launch of C-U Blogfidential, which went live 16 years ago today on Saturday, February 25, 2006. This isn’t a good time for celebration, though, as we seriously need to consider what actions and resolutions are needed for CUBlog to effectively move forward as the last few years haven’t been particularly golden.
We’re well aware that nothing localized and cultural is guaranteed to last forever, even when allotted a fresh start by dedicated persons with lofty goals and admirable resolve, and that is made clear with today’s Almanac reprint that is not about CUBlog. I’m happy to see our good friend Sanford Hess involved with bringing back “the arthouse experience” at the Virginia Theatre in Champaign and that, at the least, our multiplexes make an effort to book select highbrow titles and ethnic genre films. However, it does not substitute for a dedicated space to art and film like what we once had at the Art. “Something is better than nothing” sounds like a hollow concession, even in an age of wavering protocol with public gatherings.
Whether or not a viewing space coming soon to the University of Illinois campus and branded in Roger Ebert(fest) fashion will fill the void depends on both its accessibility to campus and community audiences and how much its fare is predetermined by didactic motives. Other than the expected instructional components, College of Media and “Ebertschool” staff, please allow the art of film to live, breathe, and most importantly, speak for itself. When the house lights are down, that is the “experience” we truly need.
CONFIDENTIAL ALMANAC | Dates in Film Culture History
16 Years Ago … Saturday, February 25, 2006: Opteryx Press of Champaign launches C-U Blogfidential, an Internet adaptation of the “C-U Confidential” section from their flagship journal MICRO-FILM. In the first entry, dated 8:57 p.m., editor Jason Pankoke describes an intention of “[making] a minor splash creating a community history through cinema, one that we can definitely call our own,” with the forum as its potential epicenter. CUBlog has published local film-related content every single month since then. [R]
35 Years Ago … Thursday, February 12, 1987: TURTLE DIARY, a quirky British comedy written by Harold Pinter and starring Ben Kingsley and Glenda Jackson, is shown at the New Art Theatre on opening night, according to The Art Theater: Playing Movies for 100 Years by Perry Morris, et al. After reaching a deal on New Year’s Day to purchase the vintage Park/Art building at 126 W. Church St. in downtown Champaign, local entrepreneur John Manley enlisted Tom Angelica as general manager and Ron Epple as content programmer to help fix up the location and book quality international cinema for the area’s movie lovers. Manley rechristened the venue as the “New Art” to differentiate it from a previous decade-and-a-half run as an “Art Theater” specializing in adult films. Despite the passing of both Manley and Epple within the next few years, Angelica would keep the New Art in business until February 2003. [R]
LOCAL FILMS & EVENTS | Support Your Media Storytellers
@ Varsity Theater, etc., Carbondale, IL
Southern Illinois University presents the 44th annual Big Muddy Film Festival (2/24-2/27) Website with full schedule
@ online Zoom
University of Illinois Entomology Graduate Student Association presents the 39th Insect Fear Film Festival, “Venom,” feat. Justin Schmidt, University of Arizona, w/virtual petting zoo, Bugscope, art show, film and television clips, and more! (2/26, 5-10 p.m., free) Registration required
@ Gregory Hall, UIUC, Urbana, IL
Illini Film & Video* meeting, Room 223 (2/28, 7 p.m.)
@ The Dublin Pub, Springfield, IL
Central Illinois Film Commission* meeting (3/3, 7 p.m.)
NOW PLAYING | Champaign-Urbana Area
@ AMC Champaign 13, Champaign, IL
BHEEMLA NAYAK, GANGUBAI KATHIWADI, STUDIO 666, THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD, THE CURSED, DEATH ON THE NILE, DOG, ENCANTO, JACKASS FOREVER, MARRY ME, MOONFALL, SCREAM, SING 2, SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME, UNCHARTED (2/25 on), THE BATMAN (3/3 on)
@ Illini Union, UIUC, Urbana, IL
Illini Union Board presents “Spring 2022 Weekend Films” feat. ETERNALS, Pine Lounge, 1st floor (2/25-2/26, 7 p.m.; free w/i-card)
@ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, Savoy, IL
CYRANO, STUDIO 666, BLACKLIGHT, THE CURSED, DEATH ON THE NILE, DOG, JACKASS FOREVER, LICORICE PIZZA, MARRY ME, SCREAM, SING 2, SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME, UNCHARTED (2/25 on), SPACE JAM (2/27, 3, 5, & 7 p.m.; 3/2, 3 & 7 p.m.), PEACE RIVER (3/3, 7 p.m.), THE BATMAN (IMAX event: 3/1, 7 p.m.; 3/3 on)
@ Redbox, Champaign-Urbana, IL
THE 355, AMERICAN UNDERDOG, FALLEN, HOUSE OF GUCCI, SHATTERED, more! (2/22 on) Online rentals
@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL
No movies this week!
Events featuring locally produced movies are marked with an asterisk (*). Additional “Now Playing” and “Coming Soon” listings appear after the jump!
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NOW PLAYING | The Cities Beyond
@ AMC Classic Parkway Pointe 8, Springfield, IL
Springfield Art Association presents Molly Schlich Independent | International Film Series feat. RIDERS OF JUSTICE (2/27, 1 & 4 p.m.; 3/1, 7 p.m.)
@ AMC Classic Village Mall 6, Danville, IL
DEATH ON THE NILE, DOG, JACKASS FOREVER, MARRY ME, SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME, UNCHARTED (2/25 on)
@ AMC Peru Mall 8, Peru, IL
DEATH ON THE NILE, DOG, JACKASS FOREVER, MARRY ME, SING 2, SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME, UNCHARTED (2/25 on)
@ The Avon Theater, Decatur, IL
THE DESPERATE HOUR, DEATH ON THE NILE, DOG (2/25-2/27)
@ The Fischer Theatre, Danville, IL
No movies this week!
@ The Little Lorraine, Hoopeston, IL
Private rentals for the week.
@ The Normal Theater, Normal, IL
The Oscar Nominated Short Films 2022: Animation (2/25), Live Action (2/27), and Documentary (2/27), DRIVE MY CAR (2/26), “Cinematic Boogeyman” series: IT (2017) (3/3)
@ The Onarga Theatre, Onarga, IL
UNCHARTED (2/25-2/27)
@ The Princess Theatre, Leroy, IL
SCREAM (2/25-2/27)
@ Streator Eagle 6, Streator, IL
STUDIO 666, DEATH ON THE NILE, DOG, JACKASS FOREVER, MARRY ME, UNCHARTED (2/25 on), THE BATMAN (3/3 on)
@ VIP Lincoln Grand 6, Lincoln, IL
DEATH ON THE NILE, DOG, JACKASS FOREVER, MARRY ME, SING 2, UNCHARTED (2/25 on), THE BATMAN (3/3 on)
@ VIP Roxy Cinemas, Ottawa, IL
DEATH ON THE NILE, DOG, JACKASS FOREVER, MARRY ME, SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME, UNCHARTED (2/25 on), THE BATMAN (3/3 on)
NOW PLAYING | Midwest
@ Gene Siskel Film Center, School of the Art Institute, Chicago, IL
Midwest Film Festival presents “Best of the Midwest Showcase” (3/1, 7 p.m.)
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
3/31-4/3
32nd Onion City Experimental Film + Video Festival
@ Chicago Filmmakers, Chicago, IL
4/7-4/17
24th annual Wisconsin Film Festival
@ University of Wisconsin, etc., Madison, WI
4/8-4/10
Dead in Decatur presents “The Art of Fear”
@ Heroic Age Art Center, Mt. Zion, IL
4/20-4/23
22nd Roger Ebert’s Film Festival
@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL
9/22-10/2
40th Reeling: The Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival, Chicago, IL
COMMUNITY & CAMPUS SERIES | Champaign-Urbana area
“The Arthouse Experience Film Series” curated by Sanford Hess
@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL, 7 p.m.
3/23: THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS; 4/6: BIG NIGHT; 5/25: EIGHTH GRADE; 6/1: THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI
Illini Radio Group presents “Rewind 92.5 Film Series”/“Mix 94.5 Throwback Thursdays”*
@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL, 7 p.m.
3/21: ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK; 4/4: FACE/OFF; 5/23: MAD MAX BEYOND THUNDERDOME; 6/30: WAYNE’S WORLD; 7/14: STARSHIP TROOPERS
Illini Union Board presents “Spring 2022 Weekend Films”
@ Pine Lounge, 1st floor, Illini Union, UIUC, Urbana, IL, 7 p.m. Fri. & Sat, free w/i-card
2/25-2/26: ETERNALS; 3/ 4-3/5: ENCANTO; 3/11-3/12: THE MATRIX RESURRECTIONS; 3/18-3/19: SING 2; 3/25-3/26: HOUSE OF GUCCI; 4/1-4/2: GHOSTBUSTERS: AFTERLIFE; 4/8-4/9: SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME; 4/15-4/16: A JOURNAL FOR JORDAN; 4/22-4/23: JACKASS FOREVER; 4/29-4/30: RUMBLE
Springfield Art Association presents the 30th annual Molly Schlich Independent | International Film Series
@ AMC Classic Springfield 12, Springfield, IL, 1 & 4 p.m. Sunday + 7 p.m. Tuesday
2/27, 3/1: RIDERS OF JUSTICE
UPDATE! The News-Gazette Film Series
@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL, 1 & 7 p.m.
3/19: Readers’ Choice Film (TBA); 4/30: DUCK SOUP; 6/25: HIGH NOON; 7/29: TOP HAT
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Compiled by Jason Pankoke.
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“Calendar du C-U”
© 2022 Jason Pankoke/C-U Blogfidential