Calendar: December 13-19, 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!
12/16: Lauren Laws (vlogger, Nyx Namor YouTube channel, Champaign-Urbana, IL)
FIELD REPORT DU HQ | From Wherever It May Be Said
This week, the Report would like to give credit to the C-U online magazine Smile Politely for their unwavering coverage of the arts and culture of our communities, especially when they put front and center the local folks and their creations, vocations, and activism that might be readily glossed over or ignored in the mainstream press outlets of the immediate region. We also love the enthusiasm that is expressed by their Arts Editor, Amy Penne, and her willingness to incorporate film doings in that overall space embraced by the magazine’s mission. Among the virtues of their editorial breadth, SP more readily picks up on and address C-U Blogfidential topics in a timely fashion than we’re able to right now.
That’s a good thing in our removed-from-the-milieu situation. Film culture usually receives the coverage elsewhere when something is actively filming, about to premiere publicly, wins an award, appeals to families, or is “Ebertfest” branded. Ye Ed knows because he still looks through the websites and socials of central Illinois sources for story ideas. From afar. Daily. Whether it’s good or bad, for C-U’s sake.
Several recent pieces on SP that we’ve read are solid examples. Your humble editor was invited to attend a work-in-progress screening of BRIM, the period-shifting drama about systemic racism in American health care that has been in the works from Keenan Dailey, Trude Namara, Kevin Lau, and their collaborators at Visage Entertainment and partner companies, but could not go; plenty of others apparently did including Penne, who digs into the film’s heady aims and themes. SP also shared another press release from the Champaign County Film Office and Flyover Film Studios that highlights regional production, in this instance a few selections with elements of the Christmas holidays in their storytelling and design; we will Scrooge a bit again as we did at Halloween and clarify that half the movies mentioned are Chicago productions made with a helping hand from professionals with east central Illinois ties, in particular the Flyover folks. Still, feel free to check them out regardless of their overall C-U DNA.
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Last month, Penne wrote eloquently about the “patchwork quilt” qualities of the revived magazine show PRAIRIE FIRE, once a WILL-TV staple in the Nineties and now an upgraded and award-winning program that basks in the glow of down-home localism, often with portraits of folks who flourish with their creative passions and better their communities in the process; the recent article touches on several high points of the current second season of episodes. One can also find relevant nods in SP’s omnibus pieces; the brand-new and annual “BEST of 2024” concludes with a big hat tip to Flyover and its commercial potential for the county coffers and those who want to work in entertainment media for a living, while the also-new and annual “WORST of 2024” ends with “heartbreak” as it reiterates Café Kopi will close its downtown Champaign location after 31-plus years in business on Sunday, December 22. The homey coffee house is a seminal location for Ye Ed due to the indirect role it has played in our Confidential doings.
And, inherent in the ways that SP likes to dissect the arguable deficiencies of the C-U in order to arrive at constructive solutions for us all to consider, their “empty spaces” round-up piece from September includes the umpteenth reminder that we don’t have the Art Theater anymore to enjoy. I visited town on Monday for personal reasons and drove past the dimmed marquee with the current $870,000 asking price hung on it – still sad looking, still a bit irritating to think about, and fated to be a recurring topic now that the city is digging up its central downtown parking lot a mere block away to make room for a beautified public plaza in order to attract all the foot traffic they’re hoping for. The blight has to be documented, whether it’s the Smile Politely way or otherwise, because it isn’t just about a vacant movie house, folks.
It’s our lives and we’re definitely the lesser for it. We don’t want to hear or read it sometimes, but thanks to the mettle of publisher Seth Fein and his editorial staff, we can keep thinking and learning about the C-U. As a former contributor and employee of what was the most comparable precedent, the alternative print weekly The Octopus founded by Paul Young, it’s heartening to see SP stay the course. Well done.
You know the drill, then. Read SP, send in your story ideas and words and feedback to SP, contribute with your wallet to SP to help float the modest operating capital they need each year. Two full decades of fostering low-budget public service and journalism for Champaign-Urbana and its citizens is certainly nothing to take lightly. May they continue to highlight our worthwhile and needs-improvement sides for twenty years more, and make sure Amy Penne is always caught up on our weird little film culture world.
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IMAGERY DU C-U | Picturing Our Scene on the Screen
To that end, however, we wouldn’t be CUBlog-ging if we felt there was nothing more for us to contribute about the cinematic arts of Champaign, Urbana, and the cities beyond. After nearly twenty years of keeping a sharp eye on our topics of choice, we’re versed in putting together the two-and-twos that might just go over the collective heads at our area’s television and radio stations, newspapers, websites, podcasts, and other blogs. The following is a case in point and, honestly, even we didn’t see it coming.
CUBlog watches over the intriguing fare that is presented in Chicago and the suburbs along with what goes down in the C-U and we’re subscribed to a few relevant email sources on that front. It includes Chicago Filmmakers, a long-running non-profit center that teaches filmmaking skills and also screens non-mainstream fare. So, when we receive an announcement about a CF program called “Picture ReStart,” we have to take notice. Why? It’s because 31-plus years ago – that fateful time again, 1993 – we lost a fellow named Ron Epple who once was the one-man film force of Champaign-Urbana, and in particular on the University of Illinois campus, before he relocated to the Windy City. Among his achievements, Epple operated a short film distributor called Picture Start out of his home in Champaign.
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The company’s library of 16-millimeter prints was acquired by Chicago Filmmakers in the Nineties, initially to make them available as viewing and research copies, but now the group acts as a caretaker for the collection. They and curator Ben Creech will share some of the spoils in their new and monthly “Picture ReStart” series beginning on Saturday, January 18, 6 p.m., at the Historic Firehouse Cinema on 1326 W. Hollywood Avenue in Chicago. The first grouping is called “Her Expansive Self,” the show on February 15 is “Surface Tensions,” and the follow-up on March 25 is “Animated Breakdowns,” all teasing at what lies therein. CF should announce the individual films of each program on Facebook prior to the events, and you can read more about Creech, Epple, Picture Start/“ReStart,” and future dates on this web page.
It is a neat offering for those who appreciate the experimental and art films of yore, while it is certainly relevant to us as a body of work assembled by a C-U original in the C-U. We don’t often get windows into our cinema past from an era previous to, say, when Mike Trippiedi and his creative clan made DOGS IN QUICKSAND in 1997, so this is an effort we should support however we can. Maybe a C-U screening of a “Picture ReStart” compilation could be arranged for later in 2025 or early 2026? Let’s dream into action, ambassadors and promoters du C-U! In the meantime, let your minds wander with the following “teaser films” of sorts photographed by Chicago Filmmakers, which includes the wonderful Maya Deren in her classic dreamlike meditation, MESHES OF THE AFTERNOON, from 1943. Otherwise … what are they?
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LOCAL FILMS & EVENTS | Support Your Media Storytellers
@ Esquire Lounge, Champaign, IL
Champaign Movie Makers* meeting (12/16, 7 p.m.)
NOW PLAYING | Champaign-Urbana Area
@ AMC Champaign 13, Champaign, IL
HER STORY (in Mandarin with English sub), KRAVEN THE HUNTER, THE LAST DANCE (in Cantonese with English sub), THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE WAR OF THE ROHIRRIM (animation), THE MAN IN THE WHITE VAN, FLOW (animation), GLADIATOR II, MOANA 2 (animation), RED ONE, WICKED, Y2K* (12/13 on), I AM THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION (religious documentary) (12/14, 4 p.m.; 12/17, 7 p.m.), RM: RIGHT PEOPLE, WRONG PLACE (music documentary; in Korean with English sub) (12/14, 2 p.m.), BLACK CHRISTMAS 50th anniversary (12/15, 4 p.m.), AX Cinema Nights: BABYMETAL: LEGEND – 43 THE MOVIE (concert film) (12/15, 4:30 p.m., in Japanese with English sub), HOMESTEAD advance screening (12/16, 7 p.m.), AMC “Screen Unseen” (mystery movie) (12/16, 7 p.m.), HOMESTEAD (12/18 on), MUFASA: THE LION KING, SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3 (12/19 on) *single screenings daily
@ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, Savoy, IL
KRAVEN THE HUNTER, THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE WAR OF THE ROHIRRIM (animation), THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER (faith film), GLADIATOR II, MOANA 2 (animation), THE ORDER, RED ONE, WEREWOLVES, WICKED, Y2K (12/13 on), “For King + Country: A Drummer Boy Christmas Live” (faith concert recording) (12/13-12/18, 1:30 p.m.), “Seventeen: ‘Right Here’ World Tour in Japan” (concert performance) (12/14, 7 p.m., simulcast), I AM THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION (religious documentary) (12/14, 12/17, 4 & 7 p.m.), “André Rieu Christmas Concert” (faith concert recording) (12/14, 3 p.m.), WHITE CHRISTMAS 70th anniversary (12/15, 1 & 7 p.m.; 12/16, 7 p.m.), HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS (2000) (12/15, 3 & 7 p.m.; 12/18, 7 p.m.), MUFASA: THE LION KING, SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3 (12/19 on)
@ The Canopy Club, Urbana, IL
Claudio Simonetti’s Goblin “Ultimate Anthology” tour (film music of Argento, Romero, etc.) (12/14, 7 p.m. doors, 8 p.m. show)
@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL
Illinois Public Media presents “The Arthouse Experience Film Series” feat. ROBOT DREAMS (animation) (12/14, 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
@ The Avon Theater, Decatur, IL
MOANA 2 (animation), WICKED (12/12-12/15), ELF (12/12-12/15, 7 p.m., free)
@ Clintonia Eagle Theater, Clinton, IL
KRAVEN THE HUNTER, THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE WAR OF THE ROHIRRIM (animation), MOANA 2 (animation), WICKED (12/13 on), ELF (12/14, 11 a.m.), A CHRISTMAS STORY (12/17, 4 p.m.)
@ Crescent Cinemas, Pontiac, IL
MOANA 2 (animation), WICKED (12/13 on)
@ The Fischer Theatre, Danville, IL
THE GRINCH (animation) (12/14, 2 p.m.), WHITE CHRISTMAS (12/15, 2 p.m., free), Danville Public Library presents “A Novel Idea…” feat. THE WIZARD OF OZ (10/19, 7 p.m.)
@ Marcus Bloomington Cinema + IMAX, Bloomington, IL
KRAVEN THE HUNTER, THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE WAR OF THE ROHIRRIM (animation), THE MAN IN THE WHITE VAN, GLADIATOR II, MOANA 2 (animation), PUSHPA 2: THE RULE (in Telugu with English sub), WICKED, Y2K* (12/6 on), Christmas movies: A CHRISTMAS STORY, HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS (2000), NATIONAL LAMPOON’S CHRISTMAS VACATION, and THE POLAR EXPRESS (animation) (12/13-12/18, daily), “For King + Country: A Drummer Boy Christmas Live”* (faith concert recording) (12/13-12/18), “Seventeen: ‘Right Here’ World Tour in Japan” (concert performance) (12/14, 7 p.m., simulcast), I AM THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION (religious documentary) (12/14, 4 p.m.; 12/17, 7 p.m.), “André Rieu Christmas Concert” (faith concert recording) (12/14, 3 p.m.), “NCT Dream: Mystery Lab – Dream( )Scape” (concert film) (12/14, 12 p.m., Korean w/Eng sub), WHITE CHRISTMAS 70th anniversary (12/15, 4 & 7 p.m.; 12/16, 7 p.m.), RM: RIGHT PEOPLE, WRONG PLACE (music documentary; in Korean with English sub) (12/15, 1:40 p.m.), Marcus “Mystery Movie” (12/16, 7 p.m.), HOMESTEAD (12/18 on), MUFASA: THE LION KING, SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3 (12/19 on) *single screenings daily
@ The Normal Theater, Normal, IL
WHITE CHRISTMAS, BLACK CHRISTMAS (12/13), THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER, NATIONAL LAMPOON’S CHRISTMAS VACATION, THE BRAIN (12/14), THE POLAR EXPRESS (animation), IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE, TOKYO GODFATHERS (animé) (12/15), MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET (1994) (12/16), GREMLINS (12/17), CHRISTMAS IN CONNECTICUT (12/18), ELF (12/19)
@ The Onarga Theatre, Onarga, IL
MOANA 2 (animation) (12/13, 12/15)
@ The Princess Theatre, Leroy, IL
WICKED (12/13-12/15)
@ VIP Lincoln Grand 6, Lincoln, IL
DIRTY ANGELS*, KRAVEN THE HUNTER, THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE WAR OF THE ROHIRRIM (animation), “For King + Country: A Drummer Boy Christmas Live”* (faith concert recording), GLADIATOR II, MOANA 2 (animation), RED ONE, WICKED (12/13 on), THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER* (faith film) (12/13-12/14, 12/16-12/18), THE POLAR EXPRESS* (animation) (12/13-12/15), I AM THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION (religious documentary) (12/15-12/17), WHITE CHRISTMAS 70th anniversary (12/15-12/16, 1 & 7 p.m.; 12/17, 7 p.m.),
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. And for northern Illinois industry news, be sure to read Reel Chicago and Screen Magazine.
COMING SOON | Area-wide Events
2/15/25
3rd annual CU International Film Festival*
@ Spurlock Museum of World Cultures, UIUC, Urbana, IL
3/27-3/29/25
2025 Big Muddy Film Festival*
@ The Varsity Center, Carbondale, IL
4/3-4/13/25
35th Onion City Experimental Film Festival, Chicago, IL
4/3-4/10/25
27th annual Wisconsin Film Festival, Madison, WI
4/23/-4/25/25
25th Roger Ebert’s Film Festival*
@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL
5/29-6/2/25
The Chambana Film Festival
@ TBA, Champaign-Urbana, IL
COMMUNITY & CAMPUS SERIES | Champaign-Urbana area
Chambana Film Festival* screening series
@ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, Savoy, IL, 4 p.m.
12/29: documentary shorts incl. FACING THE FALLS; 1/26/25: AFTER THE FALL: TWO GENERATIONS OF THE VIETNAM CONFLICT; 2/2/25: The IRLMovieClub Screening: TBA
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Compiled by Jason Pankoke.
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“Calendar du C-U”
© 2024 Jason Pankoke/C-U Blogfidential
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