Calendar: August 16-22, 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.
~~~~~
MILESTONES | Happy Birthday to You!
8/15: Chuck Koplinski (movie journalist, The Illinois Times, Springfield, IL)
8/18: Jeff Brandt (owner, Exile on Main Street, Champaign, IL)
8/19: Ken Lee (vice president, Michael Wiese Productions, Studio City, CA)
FIELD REPORT DU HQ | From Wherever It May Be Said
The Report is on hiatus until August or September. Thank you for your readership, CUvians and Agents!
IMAGERY DU C-U | Picturing Our Scene on the Screen
An archetypal CUBlog posting for today, if we may. Back to school in Champaign-Urbana means back-in-the-saddle for the organizers behind our annual and perennial homegrown events, and we couldn’t be more grateful for normal movement on that front after the last few years. For example, this Saturday, August 17, marks the public return of Pens to Lens at the Virginia Theatre in downtown Champaign after the last half-decade of scaled-down activity; child-written, adult-produced short films from the minds and hands of creative CUvians will debut on the big screen in a showcase, now overseen by 40 North 88 West along with Champaign Movie Makers, that begins at 3 p.m. and is hosted by the veteran Pens composer and actress Cara Maurizi. Later tonight, Friday, August 18, the “Arthouse Experience” series that is sponsored by Illinois Public Media and hosted by the Virginia will present Yorgos Lanthimos’ award-winning period dramedy THE FAVOURITE, starring the great Olivia Colman, at a showing set for 7 p.m. You can also plan ahead for the next Chambana Film Festival screening on Sunday, August 25, 4 p.m., at the Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX in Savoy, which will be the border-crisis drama THE WINGWALKER from director Alonso Alvarez-Barreda. And finally, as if sensing the upswell of movie karma du C-U, the folks behind a new local favorite, the CU International Film Festival, announced yesterday the date for their third extravaganza will be on Saturday, February 15, 2025, taking place once again at Knight Auditorium in the UI Spurlock Museum of World Cultures on campus. Do your part and be aware, be there, and be annually and perennially supportive of our film friends and neighbors.
~~~~~
CONFIDENTIAL ALMANAC | Dates in Film Culture History
100 Years Ago … Saturday, August 16, 1924: Following its first eight years in business when it had been fraught with ownership changes, unfulfilled plans, and an influenza outbreak, the Avon Theater of Decatur reopens today under new management and with a brighter outlook. Assuming control over the Avon from the Balaban and Katz Theater Corporation, which decided to not invest further in the ornate Water Street movie house and temporarily closed in in June, are local businessmen Christian and Gust Constanopoulos and their cousin George Stevens of Chicago. The Constans had previously been managers of another Balaban and Katz property up the block from the Avon, the Empress Theatre, as well as several downtown confectionaries. They and brothers Angelo and Theodore would bring stability to the Avon, retiring the vaudeville offerings to concentrate on quality film presentation and modernizing the facilities, and successfully operate it for more than 40 years along with several other venues in central Illinois. Some believe Gust, the Constan most synonymous with the Avon during this time, appears in the upper balcony and hallways to this day even though he passed away in 1965. [R]
LOCAL FILMS & EVENTS | Support Your Media Storytellers
@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL
40 North 88 West, Champaign Movie Makers, CUDO, and the Champaign Park District present the 2024 Pens to Lens Gala* (8/17, 2 p.m. doors, 3 p.m. show)
@ Esquire Lounge, Champaign, IL
Champaign Movie Makers* meeting (8/19, 7 p.m.)
NOW PLAYING | Champaign-Urbana Area
@ AMC Champaign 13, Champaign, IL
ALIEN: ROMULUS, CORALINE (re-release), MY PENGUIN FRIEND, RYAN’S WORLD THE MOVIE (live action/animation), SKINCARE, STREE 2 (in Hindi with English sub), VEDAA (in Hindi with English sub), BORDERLANDS, CUCKOO, DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE, DESPICABLE ME 4 (animation), IT ENDS WITH US, TRAP, TWISTERS (8/16 on), BETWEEN THE TEMPLES, BLINK TWICE, THE CROW, THE FORGE (faith film), STRANGE DARLING (8/22 on)
@ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, Savoy, IL
ALIEN: ROMULUS, CLOSE TO YOU, CORALINE (re-release), MY PENGUIN FRIEND, RYAN’S WORLD THE MOVIE (live action/animation), BORDERLANDS, CUCKOO, DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE, DESPICABLE ME 4 (animation), HAROLD AND THE PURPLE CRAYON*, INSIDE OUT 2 (animation), IT ENDS WITH US, LONGLEGS, TRAP, TWISTERS (8/16 on), UFC 305: Dricus du Plessis vs. Israel Adesanya, more (mixed martial arts) (8/17, 9 p.m., simulcast), BRING IT ON (8/18, 3 & 7 p.m.; 8/21, 7 p.m.), BLINK TWICE, THE CROW, THE FORGE (faith film) (8/22 on) *single screenings daily
@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL
Illinois Public Media presents “The Arthouse Experience Film Series” feat. THE FAVOURITE (8/16, 7 p.m.), Pens to Lens* 2024 Gala (8/17, 3 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
@ The Avon Theater, Decatur, IL
ALIEN:ROMULUS, THELMA, DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE (8/15-8/18)
@ Clintonia Eagle Theater, Clinton, IL
ALIEN:ROMULUS, IT ENDS WITH US, BORDERLANDS, DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE, TWISTERS (8/16 on)
@ Crescent Cinemas, Pontiac, IL
IT ENDS WITH US, MY PENGUIN FRIEND (8/16 on)
@ The Fischer Theatre, Danville, IL
No movies this week!
@ The Harvest Moon Twin Drive-in, Gibson City, IL
TWISTER, TWISTERS (Screen 1), ALIEN: ROMULUS, LONGLEGS (Screen 2) (8/16-8/18)
@ Marcus Bloomington Cinema + IMAX, Bloomington, IL
ALIEN: ROMULUS, CORALINE (re-release), MY PENGUIN FRIEND, RYAN’S WORLD THE MOVIE* (live action/animation), SKINCARE, BORDERLANDS, DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE, DESPICABLE ME 4 (animation), INSIDE OUT 2* (animation), IT ENDS WITH US, TRAP*, TWISTERS (8/16 on), WONDER PARK* (animation) (8/16-8/22), CUCKOO* (8/16-8/17, 8/19-8/21), Indian cinema: DOUBLE ISMART* (8/16-8/17, 8/20-8/21, in Telugu with English sub), STREE 2* (8/16-8/21, in Hindi with English sub), THANGLAAN* (8/16-8/17, 8/19-8/21, in Tamil with English sub), and KHEL KHEL MEIN* (8/18, 8/20, in Hindi with English sub), A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET (1984) (8/19, 8:50 p.m.; 8/20, 7:30 & 10 p.m.), SEVENTEEN TOUR ‘FOLLOW’ AGAIN TO SEOUL (concert film) (8/21, 7 p.m., in Korean with English sub), BLINK TWICE, THE CROW, THE FORGE (faith film), STRANGE DARLING (8/22 on) *single screenings daily
@ The Normal Theater, Normal, IL
CLERKS (8/16-8/18), PULP FICTION (8/17-8/18, THE CIRCUS (1928) (8/22)
@ The Onarga Theatre, Onarga, IL
HAROLD AND THE PURPLE CRAYON (8/16-8/18)
@ The Princess Theatre, Leroy, IL
DESPICABLE ME 4 (animation) (8/16-8/18)
@ The Route 66 Drive-in Theater, Springfield, IL
ALIEN: ROMULUS, DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE (Screen 1), DESPICABLE ME 4 (animation), TWISTERS (Screen 2) (8/16-8/17)
@ VIP Lincoln Grand 6, Lincoln, IL
ALIEN: ROMULUS, CORALINE* (re-release), BORDERLANDS, DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE, DESPICABLE ME 4 (animation), IT ENDS WITH US, TWISTERS (8/16 on), TRAP (8/16-8/17, 9:40 p.m.) *single screenings daily
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
8/31-9/1
10th anniversary Dark History & Horror Con*
@ Orpheum Champaign (The Orpheum Theater), Champaign, IL
10/16-10/27
60th Chicago International Film Festival, Chicago, IL
11/1-11/2
23rd Route 66 Film Festival*
@ Hoogland Center for the Arts, Springfield, IL
NEW! 2/15/25
3rd annual CU International Film Festival*
@ Spurlock Museum of World Cultures, UIUC, Urbana, IL
4/23/-4/25/25
25th Roger Ebert’s Film Festival*
@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL
COMMUNITY & CAMPUS SERIES | Champaign-Urbana area
Chambana Film Festival* – Summer 2024 screening series
@ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, Savoy, IL, 4 p.m.
8/25: THE WINGWALKER; 9/29: A TIME APART
Illini Radio Group presents “Rewind 92.5 Movie Series”/“Mix 94.5 Throwback Thursdays”*
@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL, 7 p.m.
8/29: BACK TO THE FUTURE; 9/26: OFFICE SPACE*, 10/17: FRIDAY THE 13TH (1980); 11/20: THE BOY AND THE HERON (animé); 12/5: FRIDAY*
Illinois Public Media presents “The Arthouse Experience Film Series”
@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL, 7 p.m.
9/6: HOOP DREAMS* (documentary); 10/4: MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON (animation); 10/18: TO LESLIE; 11/22: RUSHMORE
Illini Union Board presents “Fall 2024 Weekend Films”
@ Pine Lounge, 1st floor, Illini Union, UIUC, Urbana, IL, 7 p.m. Fri. & Sat, free w/i-card
8/24: A QUIET PLACE: DAY ONE; 8/30-8/31: THE GARFIELD MOVIE (animation); 9/6-9/7: INSIDE OUT 2 (animation); 9/13-9/14: BAD BOYS: RIDE OR DIE; 9/20-9/21: MEAN GIRLS (2004); 9/27-9/28: TWISTERS; 10/4-10/5: BORDERLANDS; 10/11-10/12: LONGLEGS; 10/18-10/19: DESPICABLE ME 4 (animation); HOCUS POCUS (10/25-10/26); 11/1-11/2: FLY ME TO THE MOON; 11/8-11/9: IT ENDS WITH US; 11/15-11/16: SCREAM (1996); 11/22-11/23: BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE; 12/6-12/7: HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS
The News-Gazette Film Series
@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL, 1 & 7 p.m.
8/24: IT’S A MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD WORLD; 9/21: THE LONG GOODBYE; 10/19: REAR WINDOW; 11/30: THE WIZARD OF OZ; 12/7: IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE
~~~~~
Compiled by Jason Pankoke.
~~~~~
“Calendar du C-U”
© 2024 Jason Pankoke/C-U Blogfidential