Calendar: January 12-18, 2024
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!
1/12: Damian Duffy (co-host, Damian Duffy Hates Everything podcast, DD Media Empire, Champaign, IL)
1/12: HAL-9000 (onboard computer, USS Discovery One, 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY, MGM/Warner Bros., Burbank, CA)
FIELD REPORT DU HQ | From Wherever It May Be Said
Champaign, Urbana, and the cities beyond may be wet and rainy today, but the terrain of MFHQ Deux up north is enveloped by snow and slickness. Exercising caution while this front moves through the Midwest is a given, and we suppose a Report encouraging you, you, and you to support their neighborhood theaters is not unreasonable for when you can safely get thee to a location of thy choice.
In this region, the stylish Egyptian Theatre of DeKalb has announced they are hosting sessions to train volunteers, which is as good a prompt as any for our dearest readers to consider doing the same at places like the Virginia Theatre in Champaign, the Fischer Theater in Danville, and the Normal Theater in Normal where they could always use a hand with ushers, ticket sellers, concession servers, and the like. That said, be sure to subscribe to their newsletters or follow their socials to find out what is playing soon; none of these facilities are broadcasting their schedules far in advance and, unlike in past years, the Champaign Park District hasn’t released a big PR ballyhoo about their spring events, which have simply materialized on the Virginia’s event calendar with little notice. We can also give the Harroun families props for keeping their fans engaged on Facebook even though the Harvest Moon Twin Drive-In of Gibson City is closed for the season; hardtops should wake up from their hibernation in March and April.
And then, we enjoyed a series of articles about the early years of movie exhibition in the state capital at a website, SangamonLink, dedicated to the history of Springfield and Sangamon County. The most recent piece, which was published on December 10, goes through a list of early houses in the city while this piece talks about a seminal venue, the Lyric, and another post identifies the first venues to show films.
NOW PLAYING | Champaign-Urbana Area
@ AMC Champaign 13, Champaign, IL
AMERICAN FICTION, THE BEEKEEPER, THE BOOK OF CLARENCE, HANU-MAN (in Telugu with English sub), IF YOU ARE THE ONE III (in Mandarin with English sub), MEAN GIRLS, SOUL (animation) (first US theatrical release), ANYONE BUT YOU, AQUAMAN AND THE LOST KINGDOM, THE COLOR PURPLE, MIGRATION, NIGHT SWIM, RENAISSANCE* (Beyoncé concert film), WONKA (1/12 on), GUNTAR KAARAM* (in Telugu with English sub) (1/12-1/13), GURREN LAGANN THE MOVIE: CHILDHOOD’S END (animé) (in Japanese with English sub) (1/16-1/17, 7 p.m.) *single screenings daily
@ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, Savoy, IL
THE BEEKEEPER, THE BOOK OF CLARENCE, MEAN GIRLS, SOUL (animation) (first US theatrical release), ANYONE BUT YOU, AQUAMAN AND THE LOST KINGDOM, THE BOY AND THE HERON (animé) (in Japanese with English sub or English dub), THE BOYS IN THE BOAT, THE COLOR PURPLE, GODZILLA MINUS ONE (in Japanese with English sub), MIGRATION, NIGHT SWIM, POOR THINGS, TROLLS BAND TOGETHER (animation), WONKA (1/12 on), THE IRON CLAW (1/12-1/15, 1/18), HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER’S STONE (1/14, 3 & 7 p.m.; 1/17, 7 p.m.), GURREN LAGANN THE MOVIE: CHILDHOOD’S END (animé) (in Japanese with English sub) (1/16-1/17, 7 p.m.)
@ Redbox (streaming), Champaign-Urbana, IL
UNDERGROUND, WINDIGO, more! (1/9 on) Online rentals
@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL
Illini Radio Group presents “Rewind 92.5 Movie Series” feat. RETURN OF THE JEDI (1/18, 7 p.m.)
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 12, Springfield, IL
Springfield Art Association presents Molly Schlich Independent | International Film Series feat. OTHER PEOPLE’S CHILDREN (1/14, 1 & 4 p.m.; 1/16, 7 p.m.)
@ The Avon Theater, Decatur, IL
MEAN GIRLS, MIGRATION, NIGHT SWIM (1/11-1/14)
@ The Fischer Theatre, Danville, IL
SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS (animation) (1/12, 7 p.m.; 1/13, 2 & 7 p.m.), SELMA (1/15, 7 p.m.)
@ The Normal Theater, Normal, IL
MR. BLANDINGS BUILDS HIS DREAM HOME (1/12-1/14), YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU (1/13-1/14), RESERVOIR DOGS (1/17, 7 p.m.), THE BOY AND THE HERON (animé) (in Japanese with English sub) (1/18, 7 p.m.)
@ The Onarga Theatre, Onarga, IL
WONKA (1/12-1/14)
@ The Princess Theatre, Leroy, IL
WONKA (1/12-1/14)
NOW PLAYING | Midwest
For detailed and curated listings of Chicago-area film presentations and related events, please visit the fine folks at Cine-File and subscribe to their definitive “Cine-List” weekly blast.
COMING SOON | Area-wide Events
NEW! 1/19
Department of Dance, FAA, presents Flatlands Dance Film Festival 2024 shorts program
@ Spurlock Museum of World Cultures, UIUC, Urbana, IL, 7 p.m.
NEW! 1/21
Acrostar Films presents THEY CAME BACK FROM SOMEWHERE* world premiere
@ Eagle Theaters, Clinton, IL, 7 p.m.
NEW! 1/22
Champaign Movie Makers* mixer
@ Esquire Lounge, Champaign, IL, 7 p.m.
NEW! 2/16
Champaign Movie Makers* 48 hr film contest
@ Lincoln Square Mall, Urbana, IL, 7 p.m. (start time)
3/2
CU International Film Festival*
@ Spurlock Museum of World Cultures, UIUC, Urbana, IL
4/4-4/11
26th annual Wisconsin Film Festival, Madison, WI
4/4-4/14
34th Onion City Experimental Film Festival, Chicago, IL
4/17-4/20
24th Roger Ebert’s Film Festival*
@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL
COMMUNITY & CAMPUS SERIES | Champaign-Urbana area
Illini Radio Group presents “Rewind 92.5 Movie Series”/“Mix 94.5 Throwback Thursdays”*
@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL, 7 p.m.
2/8: THE BLUES BROTHERS; 3/21: E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL; 4/25: PITCH PERFECT*; 5/23: FAME (1980); 6/27: HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER’S STONE*; 7/11: GREASE “sing-a-long” edition
Illinois Public Media presents “The Arthouse Experience Film Series”
@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL, 7 p.m.
1/19: PASSING; 2/16: GOSPEL: WHERE SONG AND SERMON MEET excerpt w/discussion; 5/24: FREE SOLO; 7/19: STOP MAKING SENSE
Illini Union Board presents “Spring 2024 Weekend Films”
@ Pine Lounge, 1st floor, Illini Union, UIUC, Urbana, IL, 7 p.m. Fri. & Sat, free w/i-card
1/19-1/20: DICKS: THE MUSICAL; 1/26-1/27: DUMB MONEY; 2/2-2/3: WISH; 2/9-2/10: FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY’S; 2/16-2/17: THE HUNGER GAMES: THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS & SNAKES; 2/23-2/24: THE MARVELS; 3/1-3/2: TROLLS BAND TOGETHER; 3/8-3/9: AMERICAN FICTION; 3/15-3/16: AQUAMAN AND THE LOST KINGDOM; 3/22-3/23: ANYONE BUT YOU; 3/29-3/30: THE COLOR PURPLE; 4/5-4/6: FERRARI; 4/12-4/13: THE BOYS IN THE BOAT; 4/19-4/20: WONKA; 4/26-4/27: THE BOOK OF CLARENCE; 5/3-5/4: THE IRON CLAW
The News-Gazette Film Series
@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL, 1 & 7 p.m.
1/20: THE WIZARD OF OZ; 2/10: SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN; 4/13: THE THIRD MAN
NEW! 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
1/14, 1/16: OTHER PEOPLE’S CHILDREN; 1/21, 1/24: TURN EVERY PAGE; 1/28, 1/30: THE QUIET GIRL; 2/4, 2/6: THE OTHER MOUNTAIN; 2/11, 2/13: THE BLUE CAFTAN; 2/18, 2/20: PAST LIVES; 2/25, 2/27: THE INNOCENT; 3/3, 3/5: REVOIR PARIS
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Compiled by Jason Pankoke.
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