Calendar: September 16-22, 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!
9/16: Jay Rosenstein (producer, Jay Rosenstein Productions, Champaign-Urbana, IL)
9/19: Eric Pankoke (webmaster, C-U Blogfidential, Champaign/Mendota, IL)
9/19: Paul A. Brooks (director, HUNTING FOR THE HAG, Into the Night Motion Pictures, Normal, IL)
9/21: Lisa Cerezo (co-owner, ThirdSide, Champaign, IL/Portland, OR)
FIELD REPORT DU HQ | From Wherever It May Be Said
Perseverance is best, as this week’s three things of contemplation will illustrate, if one wants to make a mark or carve out a career in media. Improbably serving as the “season opener” event for the Virginia Theatre’s 2022-23 calendar in downtown Champaign, a revised edit of R.C. Raycraft’s durable INCIDENT AT KICKAPOO CREEK premieres tomorrow, Saturday, September 17, at 7 p.m., preceded at 5 p.m. outdoors on Park Avenue by food trucks, an archival exhibit, and a special music combo performing songs from the catalogs of artists who played the original, post-Woodstock “Incident,” a once-forgotten rock concert that attracted roughly 60,000 young people to a farm in downstate Heyworth, Illinois, in May 1970. INCIDENT is a long-running side project for Raycraft, a video producer, author, and antiques collector who lives in Bloomington, and has been periodically updated as he comes across ephemera and stories that can enhance the documentary; his first public showing of INCIDENT took place in 1995, and to date it has not been distributed on any platform. This event is co-sponsored by WKIO 107.9 FM, which sporadically airs all-day marathons of recordings by local musicians, and is an unexpected combination of cultural pomp and circumstance mixed with total rock ‘n roll. Only thing they’ve left out is the mudslide!
Also taking place on Saturday is the world premiere of CATALYST, showing in theater 10 of the Regal LA Live at 9:25 p.m. Eastern time as a selection of the 13th annual DTLA Film Festival in Los Angeles. It is the first feature film to be written and directed by Christopher Folkens, an Illinois native who attended the University of Illinois in the early 2000s to earn a degree at the School of Music, worked for a spell at Leo Burnett Worldwide in Chicago, and then moved to the West Coast. A solid track record of studio and independent commercial work, sometimes with A-list talent like Kerry Washington and Ellen Pompeo, has led a more experienced Folkens back to what seemed to pique his interest most other than music composition in his UIUC years, narrative film. CATALYST is a stylish and tense descent into a near-future “what-if” situation that pits several individuals with dark marks on their respective pasts against one another; it stars Michael Roark, Noel Gugliemi, Patrick Kilpatrick, David Bianchi, and Melanie Liburd, and is a production of Mystic Films. Nearly 20 years after he created epic short films out of nothing on the UI campus with TRIAD and TOXIN, Folkens is finally seeing his vision come alive in a big way. Congrats!
Finally, even though she lost out to ABBOTT ELEMENTARY costar Sheryl Lee Ralph in the comedy supporting actress category during Monday night’s Emmy Awards telecast, Janelle James has plenty to be thankful for. She recounted on JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE a few months ago about how she started out in stand-up comedy in Champaign-Urbana as an unmarried mother in her 30s and followed the lights to New York City and then Los Angeles to become an in-demand writer, producer, and talent. That’s a hell of a switch in one’s station in life and a perfect lesson in how one can jump the tracks for the better path if one makes the effort. Good show on her part. Not so good show, however, is THE FINAL STRAW. Erg.
LOCAL FILMS & EVENTS | Support Your Media Storytellers
@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL
2022-2023 Performing Arts Season: Opening Night Event feat. INCIDENT AT KICKAPOO CREEK* “50th anniversary release” screening (9/17, 5 p.m. outdoor concert, 7 p.m. film)
@ Materials Science and Engineering Building, UIUC, Urbana, IL
Illini Film & Video* meeting, Room 119 (9/19, 7 p.m.)
NOW PLAYING | Champaign-Urbana Area
@ AMC Champaign 13, Champaign, IL
PEARL, SEE HOW THEY RUN, THE WOMAN KING, BARBARIAN, BRAHMĀSTRA – PART ONE: SHIVA (in Hindi), BULLET TRAIN, DC LEAGUE OF SUPER-PETS, DRAGON BALL SUPER: SUPER HERO (animé), THE INVITATION, NOPE, SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME* (re-release), TOP GUN: MAVERICK (9/16 on), DON’T WORRY DARLING, MOONAGE DAYDREAM (9/22 on) *single shows daily
@ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, Savoy, IL
PEARL, RUNNING THE BASES, SEE HOW THEY RUN, THE WOMAN KING, BARBARIAN, BEAST, BRAHMĀSTRA – PART ONE: SHIVA (in Hindi, Tamil, or Telugu), BULLET TRAIN, CLERKS III, THE INVITATION, JAWS* (re-release, 3-D), LIFEMARK, MINIONS: THE RISE OF GRU, NOPE*, TOP GUN: MAVERICK, WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING (9/16 on), DAZN PPV presents Saul “Canelo” Alvarez vs. Gennadiy Golovkin (boxing; 9/17, 7 p.m., simulcast), THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERS (9/18, 3 & 7 p.m.; 9/21, 7 p.m.), “BROS” presents FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL (9/19, 7 p.m.), TRAINWRECK (9/20, 7 p.m.), and KNOCKED UP (9/21, 7 p.m.), JEEPERS CREEPERS REBORN (9/19-9/21, 7 p.m.), RENÉE FLEMING’S CITIES THAT SING: PARIS (opera; 9/21, 7:15 p.m., IMAX), DON’T WORRY DARLING (9/22 on) *single shows daily
@ Illini Union, UIUC, Urbana, IL
Illini Union Board presents “Fall 2022 Weekend Films” feat. JURASSIC WORLD: DOMINION, Pine Lounge, 1st floor (9/16-9/17, 7 p.m.; free w/i-card)
@ Redbox, Champaign-Urbana, IL
ELVIS, PARANORMAL ACTIVITY: NEXT OF KIN, WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING, WRONG PLACE, more! (9/13 on) Online rentals
@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL
2022-2023 Performing Arts Season: Opening Night Event feat. INCIDENT AT KICKAPOO CREEK* “50th anniversary release” screening (9/17, 5 p.m. outdoor concert, 7 p.m. film), “The Arthouse Experience” w/Sanford Hess feat. JOJO RABBIT (9/21, 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 Village Mall 6, Danville, IL
PEARL, THE WOMAN KING, BEAST, DC LEAGUE OF SUPER-PETS, THE INVITATION, TOP GUN: MAVERICK (9/16 on)
@ AMC Peru Mall 8, Peru, IL
PEARL, THE WOMAN KING, BULLET TRAIN, DC LEAGUE OF SUPER-PETS, THE INVITATION, SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME (re-release), TOP GUN: MAVERICK, WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING (9/16 on)
@ The Avon Theater, Decatur, IL
SEE HOW THEY RUN, TOP GUN: MAVERICK, JAWS (re-release, 3-D), JURASSIC PARK (3-D) (9/16-9/18)
@ The Fischer Theatre, Danville, IL
CABARET (9/16, 7 p.m.), ENCANTO (9/17, 7 p.m.; 9/18, 2 p.m.), THE MAN WHO SHOT LIBERTY VALANCE (9/20, 7 p.m.)
@ The Harvest Moon Twin Drive-in, Gibson City, IL
“Frightfest Weekend 2” feat. CASPER, BEETLEJUICE (Screen 1), ZOMBIELAND, SCREAM (1996) (Screen 2) (9/16-9/17)
@ The Little Lorraine, Hoopeston, IL
Private parties this week.
@ The Normal Theater, Normal, IL
THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE (9/16-9/18), 25th annual Manhattan SHORT Film Festival (9/22-9/25)
@ The Onarga Theatre, Onarga, IL
Closed for the week.
@ The Princess Theatre, Leroy, IL
BULLET TRAIN (9/16-9/18)
@ Route 34 Drive-in, Earlville, IL
ELVIS, TWISTER (9/16-9/18)
@ Route 66 Twin Drive-in, Springfield, IL
JAWS, JURASSIC PARK (Screen 1), GREASE, XANADU (Screen 2) (9/16-9/17)
@ Streator Eagle 6, Streator, IL
PEARL, RUNNING THE BASES, THE WOMAN KING, BODIES BODIES BODIES, DC LEAGUE OF SUPER-PETS, MINIONS: THE RISE OF GRU, JAWS (re-release, 3-D) (9/16 on)
@ VIP Lincoln Grand 6, Lincoln, IL
GOD’S COUNTRY, HOCKEYLAND, PEARL, THE WOMAN KING, DC LEAGUE OF SUPER-PETS, GIGI & NATE, HOUSE OF DARKNESS (9/16 on)
@ VIP Roxy Cinemas, Ottawa, IL
GOD’S COUNTRY, HOCKEYLAND, PEARL, THE WOMAN KING, DC LEAGUE OF SUPER-PETS, GIGI & NATE, HOUSE OF DARKNESS, THE INVITATION (9/16 on)
NOW PLAYING | Midwest
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
9/22-10/2
40th Reeling: The Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival, Chicago, IL
UPDATE! 9/30
HOLES IN THE SKY: THE SEAN MILLER STORY* Red Carpet Premiere
@ Hoogland Center for the Arts, Springfield, IL, 8 p.m.
NEW! 10/3
CU International Film Festival presents “Film Workshop” for students
@ Champaign Public Library, Champaign, IL, 4 p.m.
10/6-10/16
31st Heartland International Film Festival, Indianapolis, IN
10/12-10/23
58th Chicago International Film Festival, Chicago, IL
NEW! 10/13
FINAL SUMMER* first local screening
@ The Harvest Moon Twin Drive-in, Gibson City, IL
10/22
CU International Film Festival
@ Spurlock Museum of World Cultures, UIUC, Urbana, IL
11/1
DVD release: HOLES IN THE SKY: THE SEAN MILLER STORY*
+ Deskpop Entertainment, Phoenix, AZ
11/3-11/13
31st Whitaker St. Louis International Film Festival, St. Louis, MO
11/4-11/14
21st Route 66 Film Festival, Springfield, IL (virtual)
4/19-4/22, 2023
23nd Roger Ebert’s Film Festival
@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL
COMMUNITY & CAMPUS SERIES | Champaign-Urbana area
AEMS presents “AsiaLens Film Series”
@ Spurlock Museum of World Cultures, UIUC, Urbana, IL, 7 p.m.
10/11, 10/16: JIMMY IN SAIGON*; 11/1: NOW IS THE PAST – MY FATHER, JAVA & THE PHANTOM FILES
“The Arthouse Experience Film Series” curated by Sanford Hess
@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL, 7 p.m.
10/19: QUEEN AND SLIM; 11/9: THEY SHALL NOT GROW OLD; 12/14: THE BAND’S VISIT; 1/25/23: THE FRENCH DISPATCH; 2/8/23: MY OCTOPUS TEACHER; 3/8/23: HOMECOMING; 4/26/23: LET THE RIGHT ONE IN; 5/31/23: THE TWO POPES; 6/14/23: MULHOLLAND DRIVE; 7/12/23: BARAKA
Illini Radio Group presents “Rewind 92.5 Film Series”/“Mix 94.5 Throwback Thursdays”*
@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL, 7 p.m.
10/20: THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW; 11/10: SCREAM (1996)*; 12/8: HOME ALONE*; 1/19/23: SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE*; 2/2/23: TITANIC*; 3/16/23: DIRTY DANCING; 4/27/23: GHOSTBUSTERS (1984); 5/18/23: BEETLEJUICE; 6/29/23: RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK; 7/27/23: TOP GUN
Illini Union Board presents “Fall 2022 Weekend Films”
@ Pine Lounge, 1st floor, Illini Union, UIUC, Urbana, IL, 7 p.m. Fri. & Sat, free w/i-card
9/23-9/24: MINIONS: THE RISE OF GRU; 9/30-10/1: THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER; 10/7-10/8: TOP GUN: MAVERICK; 10/14-10/15: DC LEAGUE OF SUPER-PETS; 10/21-10/22: NOPE; 10/28-10/29: BEAST; 11/4-11/5: WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING; 11/11-11/12: BULLET TRAIN; 11/18-11/19: HONK FOR JESUS. SAVE YOUR SOUL.; 12/2-12/3: DON’T WORRY DARLING
The News-Gazette Film Series
@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL, 1 & 7 p.m.
9/24: James Bond Double Feature – DR. NO (1 p.m.) and GOLDFINGER (7 p.m.); 10/14: NOSFERATU (1922) w/accompaniment (7 p.m. only); 11/26: THE WIZARD OF OZ; 12/17: MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET (1947); 1/21/23: STAGE DOOR; 2/11/23: AN AMERICAN IN PARIS; 3/18/23: A NIGHT AT THE OPERA; 4/29/23: FANTASIA; 5/20/23: TOPPER; 6/17/23: ENTER THE DRAGON; 7/15/23: I LOVE LUCY: THE MOVIE
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Compiled by Jason Pankoke.
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“Calendar du C-U”
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