Calendar: December 9-15, 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!
12/10: Sidney Taiko (editor/publisher, Storm Cellar, San Diego, CA)
PASSINGS | You Will Be Missed
12/2: David Monk, 91 (actor, MELVIN’S DISCONTENT, Pogo Studios, Champaign, IL)
FIELD REPORT DU HQ | From Wherever It May Be Said
Everything feels a bit upended in your humble editor’s life and it’s not getting better. This includes the constant planning and re-planning in my head of what I want to post on C-U Blogfidential. So many good ideas and intentions simply hang in the balance. I don’t have a plan or solution unless all I want to do is spit out two-liners on the Facebook page, which I otherwise try to do no matter how vast the struggle is to produce content here. I know I’ve played this broken record for you before. In the current space and time, though, it feels like a deepening gulf that I may not be able to resolve. More on that as we go.
At the least, what helps us keep focus to a point is the increasing regularity of the film culture we cover. Right now, filmmakers are premiering projects left and right, perennial shows are returning to a schedule, theaters have restored their full slate of first-run movies, and many screens will be filled with Christmas-themed favorites in the coming days. As well, the area’s few and precious drive-ins have hunkered down for the winter. Well, all of them except the Harvest Moon Twin Drive-in of Gibson City, which will conclude its “extended season” with holiday presentations of the live-action HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS and NATIONAL LAMPOON’S CHRISTMAS VACATION. Mild weather in November and December played in their favor; the final shows until 2023 will take place after dusk sets on Saturday.
I have very little history with drive-ins. My first time visiting one as a customer was 20 years ago at the Route 66 Drive-in outside of Springfield, enjoying an oddball double feature of ALLIGATOR and U-TURN arranged by the organizers of the inaugural Route 66 Film Festival, and I’ve only set foot in front of a giant outdoor screen a scant few times since. I do appreciate all the family-run sites like the Harvest Moon that try their hardest to keep alive this specialized brand of entertainment and had hoped to spotlight the Harrouns with an article back in June when they premiered April Wright’s new documentary, BACK TO THE DRIVE-IN, yet it fell to the wayside like other articles before and after. Hrumph.
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So, happy St. Nicholas week! In your stocking and on the eve of the conclusion of their 2022 season, I wanted to go ahead and share some words from Ben Harroun, one of the family members who took over ownership of the Harvest Moon after the retirement of his father Mike earlier this year. The sum takeaway, of course, is that local small businesses deserve the support of their communities if the quality product and service are there; it is clear the Harrouns have been fully invested in upholding the Harvest Moon’s legacy and showmanship since Mike helped reopen the location in 1989. Here is what we were told during the summer by Ben, who now owns the Harvest Moon with his brother Will and had been a general manager since 2007, about the current state of their trade from his perspective:
“Being featured in this documentary [BACK TO THE DRIVE-IN] was a great experience. Having a filmmaker with a true passion for your business and someone that can directly emphasize with all the issues and challenges that the current movie climate is facing while still looking to see how you truly feel about it is priceless.
“In March of 2020 as the world shut down, it seemed like the drive-in might not make any sense in the face of such a global issue. However, we soon discovered that the drive-in was a much needed and safe release for the public to get out of the house and feel a small bit of normalcy. In 2021, that hype and desire faded as the rest of the world reopened for business and people jumped at the chance to re-experience all the previous things many of us had taken for granted: concerts, bars, indoor dining, fun nights and day trips, and even crowded places. The drive-in, one of the big heroes of 2020 that managed to almost single-handedly save cinema for a year was no longer the place to be.
“Drive-ins and movie theaters in general, facing huge obstacles, worked twice as hard to bring in a fraction of the attendance needed to be relevant in 2021. The end of the year, with SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME arriving in theaters to amazing attendance, was the first glimmer of hope for a return to a bit of normalcy for drive-ins, post 2020. The 2022 season has been filled with amazing nights (MINIONS: THE RISE OF GRU, TOP GUN: MAVERICK, JURASSIC WORLD: DOMINION) and huge flops (LIGHTYEAR, THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER, and virtually every other movie) with feast-or-famine weekends. We’ve been in business for 33 years and like to think we’ve experienced nearly everything in the theater industry with ebb and flow.
“However, 2022 continues to force changes and adaptation to stay both relevant and keep open. We’ve seen more drive-ins closing, being offered for sale and/or sold, and redeveloped in the past two years than in the previous 20 years combined. Those still in the game, the passionate people and families that own and operate the remaining 312 drive-ins in the United States, are dedicated to keeping them open for future memories and experiences as long as circumstance doesn’t shut that door.
“This documentary [produced by April Wright, creator of the previous film GOING ATTRACTIONS] exposes both the triumphs, ingenuity, and challenges that we all face while honestly just scratching the surface on the issues going on behind the scenes. We hope people will see it to not only realize that drive-ins are still here and relevant, but also fighting hard to keep the dream alive every week we are open.”
CUBlog thanks Ben Harroun and his clan for fighting the good fight on behalf of the Harvest Moon and its loyal customers. BACK TO THE DRIVE-IN has been in independent theatrical release by Wright since August 12 and no streaming or home video release dates have been announced.
NOW PLAYING | Champaign-Urbana Area
@ AMC Champaign 13, Champaign, IL
FATHER STU: REBORN (PG-13 re-release), SHE SAID*, SPOILER ALERT, TO THE END (documentary), BLACK ADAM, BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER, BONES AND ALL, DEVOTION, HIT 2 (in Telugu), THE MENU, THE QUINTESSENTIAL QUINTUPLUETS MOVIE (animé) (in Japanese or English)*, STRANGE WORLD, VIOLENT NIGHT (12/9 on), 5000 BLANKETS (faith film) (12/12-12/13, 7 p.m.), Christmas movies: THE GRINCH (12/9, 4:45 & 7:30 p.m.; 12/13, 3 & 5:30 p.m.), HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS (2000) (12/10, 3 p.m.; 12/13, 8 p.m.), ELF (12/10, 5:45 p.m.; 12/14, 7:15 p.m.), THE POLAR EXPRESS (12/10, 8:45 p.m.), LOVE ACTUALLY (12/10, 4 & 7:15 p.m.), and THE BEST MAN HOLIDAY (12/11, 7:15 p.m.), AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER (12/15 on) *single shows daily
@ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, Savoy, IL
FATHER STU: REBORN (PG-13 re-release), SPOILER ALERT, BLACK ADAM, BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER, BONES AND ALL, DEVOTION, I HEARD THE BELLS (faith film), THE MENU, NANNY, STRANGE WORLD, TICKET TO PARADISE, TOP GUN: MAVERICK, VIOLENT NIGHT (12/9 on), The Metropolitan Opera: The Hours with Renee Fleming (12/10, 11:55 a.m., simulcast; 12/14, 1 & 6:30 p.m., recorded), UFC 282: Jan Blachowicz vs. Magomed Ankalaev, more (mixed martial arts) (12/10, 9 p.m., simulcast), EVANGELION: 3.0+1.01 THRICE UPON A TIME (animé) (in Japanese) (12/11, 4 p.m.), SCROOGE (1970) (12/11, 3 & 7 p.m.; 12/14, 7 p.m.), 5000 BLANKETS (faith film) (12/12-12/13, 7 p.m.), CONAN THE BARBARIAN 40th anniversary (12/12-12/13, 7 p.m.), AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER (12/15 on)
@ Redbox, Champaign-Urbana, IL
THE ACCURSED, CLERKS III, MEDIEVAL, more! (12/6 on) Online rentals
@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL
“Holiday in Whoville 2022” feat. HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS (1966) (12/11, 12 p.m. doors & events, 1 p.m.-4 p.m. hourly GRINCH screening), Illinois Public Media and the Arthouse Experience Film Series present THE BAND’S VISIT (11/14, 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
@ AMC Classic Village Mall 6, Danville, IL
FATHER STU: REBORN (PG-13 re-release), SHE SAID, BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER, DEVOTION, THE MENU, STRANGE WORLD, VIOLENT NIGHT (12/9 on)
@ AMC Peru Mall 8, Peru, IL
FATHER STU: REBORN (PG-13 re-release), SHE SAID, BLACK ADAM, BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER, BONES AND ALL, DEVOTION, THE MENU, STRANGE WORLD, VIOLENT NIGHT (12/9 on)
@ The Avon Theater, Decatur, IL
BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER, TOP GUN: MAVERICK (12/9-12/10), free Christmas movies: NATIONAL LAMPOON’S CHRISTMAS VACATION (12/9, 7 p.m.), THE POLAR EXPRESS (12/10, 7 p.m.), ELF (12/11, 1 p.m.)
@ The Fischer Theatre, Danville, IL
ELF (12/9, 7 p.m.), WHITE CHRISTMAS (12/11, 2 p.m.), NATIONAL LAMPOON’S CHRISTMAS VACATION (12/15, 7 p.m.)
@ The Harvest Moon Twin Drive-in, Gibson City, IL
“Hot Chocolate and Holiday Movies” feat. HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS (2000) (Screen 1), NATIONAL LAMPOON’S CHRISTMAS VACATION (Screen 2) (12/9-12/10)
@ The Legacy Theatre, Springfield, IL
IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE (12/16, 7 p.m.), IT HAPPENED ON 5TH AVENUE (12/17, 7 p.m.)
@ The Little Lorraine, Hoopeston, IL
Private parties and “Family Movie Packs” this week.
@ The Normal Theater, Normal, IL
NATIONAL LAMPOON’S CHRISTMAS VACATION (12/9, 12/11, 12/15), RARE EXPORTS: A CHRISTMAS TALE (12/9), HOME ALONE, IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE, DIE HARD (12/10), THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL (12/11, 12/13), ELF (12/11), THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER (12/14)
@ The Onarga Theatre, Onarga, IL
Closed for the week.
@ The Princess Theatre, Leroy, IL
BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER (12/9-12/11)
@ Streator Eagle 6, Streator, IL
FATHER STU: REBORN (PG-13 re-release), SHE SAID, BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER, THE MENU, STRANGE WORLD, VIOLENT NIGHT (12/9 on)
@ VIP Lincoln Grand 6, Lincoln, IL
DETECTIVE KNIGHT: REDEMPTION, BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER, DEVOTION, SPIRITED, STRANGE WORLD, TICKET TO PARADISE, VIOLENT NIGHT (12/9 on)
@ VIP Roxy Cinemas, Ottawa, IL
DETECTIVE KNIGHT: REDEMPTION, BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER, DEVOTION, SPIRITED, STRANGE WORLD, VIOLENT NIGHT (12/9 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
4/13-4/20, 2023
25th annual Wisconsin Film Festival, Madison, WI
4/19-4/22, 2023
23nd Roger Ebert’s Film Festival*
@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL
COMMUNITY & CAMPUS SERIES | Champaign-Urbana area
“The Arthouse Experience Film Series” curated by Sanford Hess and sponsored by Illinois Public Media
@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL, 7 p.m.
1/25/23: THE FRENCH DISPATCH; 2/8/23: MY OCTOPUS TEACHER; 3/8/23: EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE; 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 Movie Series”/“Mix 94.5 Throwback Thursdays”*
@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL, 7 p.m.
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
The News-Gazette Film Series
@ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL, 1 & 7 p.m.
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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