<\/p>\n
Our movie and media Calendar appears every Friday\/Saturday on <\/em>C-U Blogfidential<\/span><\/strong> and caters to the downstate region anchored by Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, USA.<\/em><\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n MILESTONES | Happy Birthday to You!<\/strong><\/p>\n 12\/25: Shea Kelly (producer\/host, FILMWAR!<\/span> YouTube channel, A Thousand Yard Stare Productions, Decatur, IL)<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n FIELD REPORT DU HQ | From Wherever It May Be Said<\/strong><\/p>\n We\u2019ve decided to remain studious for one more week and fill today\u2019s Report<\/strong> with musings about alumni from downstate Illinois<\/strong> colleges whom we\u2019ve recently seen referenced. Last month on an episode of the SATURDAY MORNING<\/strong> news magazine<\/a><\/span>, aired by CBS-TV<\/strong>, author and ScreenCrush<\/span><\/strong> editor Matt Singer<\/strong> was interviewed about his new book on the professional and personal relationship between Roger Ebert<\/strong> and Gene Siskel<\/strong>, Opposable Thumbs<\/span><\/strong>, published in October by G. P. Putnam\u2019s Sons<\/strong><\/a><\/span>; segment host Dana Jacobson<\/strong> visited with Singer in Chicago<\/strong> about the late film critics and their undeniable influence on pop culture media that arguably persists to this day. And last week, Liam Gaughan<\/strong> of Collider<\/span><\/strong> filed a top-ten listicle that suggests the best screen roles of Richard Jenkins<\/strong><\/a><\/span>, the well-respected actor often cited by reviewers and journalists as a most valuable player in ensemble casts; Oscar<\/strong>-nominated for his lead performance in THE VISITORS<\/strong> from 2008 as well as his supporting role in THE SHAPE OF WATER<\/strong> from 2017, Jenkins is probably the highest-profile graduate of Illinois Wesleyan University<\/strong> in the film business<\/a><\/span> other than Bill Damaschke<\/strong>, who accepted a top position at Warner Bros.<\/strong> over the summer<\/a><\/span> after a long career with DreamWorks Animation<\/strong>. Ye Ed<\/strong> will never reach these heights as a fellow IWU Titan.<\/p>\n Also last week, Mr. JaPan<\/strong> looked at the website for Michael Wiese Productions<\/strong> to see if they had posted anything in regards to founder Michael Wiese<\/strong>, who passed away in March due to complications from Parkinson\u2019s disease<\/strong>; loving words for the Urbana native, University of Illinois<\/strong> alumnus, student contemporary of Ebert, and film producer are offered<\/a><\/span> in his memory by Ken Lee, Alexander Ward<\/strong>, and Geraldine Overton<\/strong>, Wiese\u2019s wife, who will be stewards of the MWP and Divine Arts<\/strong> imprints as the company moves onward and upward. And, just last night, CUBlog<\/span><\/strong> friend Jenny Southlynn<\/strong> shared on the socials that UI graduate, Sioux Nation<\/strong> artist and educator, and Native American activist Charlene Teters<\/strong> will be returning to campus on March 21<\/strong> in the new year for an award ceremony at Temple Buell Hall<\/strong> and a reception at the Link Gallery<\/strong><\/a><\/span>, both hosted by the School of Art & Design<\/strong>; her efforts to publicly counter the fictional narrative cast over Champaign-Urbana<\/strong> by the former UI sports mascot, a composite Indian persona used for surface-level pageantry and merchandising, were chronicled in the 1998 documentary IN WHOSE HONOR?<\/strong><\/a><\/span> directed by the now-retired UI professor Jay Rosenstein<\/strong>. His film\u2019s needful look at all sides of the representation issue is still relevant, even as the good fight draws ever so slowly to a conclusion<\/a><\/span>, and Teters\u2019 lecture on the 21st is certain to speak volumes on all fronts. Listen to them<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n LOCAL FILMS & EVENTS | Support Your Media Storytellers<\/strong><\/p>\n BLACK MOLD* U.S. Streaming Release:<\/strong> Thursday, December 7, exclusively on Tubi via Raven Banner Entertainment, Toronto, ON\/The Line Film Company-Shatterglass Films-Head Trauma Productions, Rantoul\/Champaign\/Chicago, IL-Oshkosh, WI<\/p>\n @ The Lincoln Square Theatre, Decatur, IL<\/strong> \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n NOW PLAYING | Champaign-Urbana Area<\/strong><\/p>\n @ AMC Champaign 13, Champaign, IL<\/strong> @ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, Savoy, IL<\/strong> @ Redbox (streaming), Champaign-Urbana, IL<\/strong> @ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL<\/strong> Events featuring locally produced movies are marked with an asterisk (*). Additional \u201cNow Playing\u201d and \u201cComing Soon\u201d listings appear after the jump!<\/em><\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n <\/p>\n NOW PLAYING | The Cities Beyond<\/strong><\/p>\n @ The Avon Theater, Decatur, IL<\/strong> @ The Fischer Theatre, Danville, IL<\/strong> @ The Little Lorraine, Hoopeston, IL<\/strong> @ The Normal Theater, Normal, IL<\/strong>
\nFIELDS OF GOLD* exclusive run (documentary) (12\/26, 3 p.m.)<\/p>\n
\nANYONE BUT YOU, AQUAMAN AND THE LOST KINGDOM, THE IRON CLAW, MIGRATION, POOR THINGS, SALAAR PART 1: CEASEFIRE (in Hindi or Telugu with English sub), THE BOY AND THE HERON (anim\u00e9) (in Japanese with English sub or English dub), GODZILLA MINUS ONE (in Japanese with English sub), THE HUNGER GAMES: THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS & SNAKES, TROLLS BAND TOGETHER (animation), WONKA (12\/22 on), THE BOYS IN THE BOAT (12\/24 on), THE COLOR PURPLE, FERRARI (12\/25 on),<\/p>\n
\nANYONE BUT YOU, AQUAMAN AND THE LOST KINGDOM, THE IRON CLAW, MIGRATION, POOR THINGS, THE BOY AND THE HERON (anim\u00e9) (in Japanese with English sub or English dub), GODZILLA MINUS ONE (in Japanese with English sub), THE HUNGER GAMES: THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS & SNAKES, NAPOLEON, SALTBURN, TROLLS BAND TOGETHER (animation), WISH (12\/22 on), IT\u2019S A WONDERFUL LIFE (12\/24, 1, 4 & 7 p.m.), THE BOYS IN THE BOAT, FERRARI (12\/24 on), THE COLOR PURPLE (12\/25 on)<\/p>\n
\nAMERICA IS SINKING, FAST CHARLIE, LIZARD PEOPLE (kiosk), more! (12\/19 on) Online rentals<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n
\nNo movies this week!<\/p>\n
\nAQUAMAN AND THE LOST KINGDOM, MIGRATION, WONKA (12\/21-12\/24)<\/p>\n
\nIT\u2019S A WONDERFUL LIFE (12\/22, 7 p.m.; 12\/23, 2 & 7 p.m.)<\/p>\n
\nPrivate parties and events<\/p>\n
\nHOME ALONE, THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL, SILENT NIGHT DEADLY NIGHT (12\/22), NATIONAL LAMPOON\u2019S CHRISTMAS VACATION (12\/22, 12\/24), ELF, DIE HARD (12\/23), IT\u2019S A WONDERFUL LIFE, WHITE CHRISTMAS (12\/23-12\/24)<\/p>\n