Category > Film
The Adventures of Tintin is a film directed by Steven Spielberg and produced by Peter Jackson (Lord of the Rings trilogy). The film revolves around a young intrepid reporter named Tintin and his dog Snowy. In this adventure, Tintin and Snowy discover a small scroll of paper inside a model ship that Tintin purchases. This piece of paper leads Tintin and Snowy on a journey to discover the treasure of Sir Francis Haddock. Tintin is helped on this adventure by …
Young Adult stars Charlize Theron as Mavis Gary, a ghostwriter of young adult novels. Mavis, lacking in inspiration, makes a decision to travel back to her hometown after receiving an invitation to the naming ceremony of her high school sweetheart’s newborn baby. Mavis decides that she must win back her sweetheart, Buddy Slade, played by Patrick Wilson. Mavis’s attempts to win back Buddy are laughed at by a fellow classmate from her high school, Matt Freehauf, who is played with …
The Descendants is a film directed by Alexander Payne (About Schmidt, Election and Sideways) and it stars George Clooney, Shailene Woodley, Amara Miller, Nick Krause, Matthew Lillard and Judy Greer. The film revolves a man trying to connect with his two daughters after their mother is injured in an accident. The Descendants is the kind of film that can break your heart the longer you watch it. George Clooney, as the father of two daughters, is perfectly imperfect. Clooney plays …
Hugo is a film directed by Martin Scorsese with a screenplay written by John Logan. The film stars Asa Butterfield, Chloë Grace Moretz, Sir Ben Kingsley, Sacha Baron Cohen, Christopher Lee and, briefly, Jude Law. The film centers on a boy named Hugo (Asa Butterfield) who lives and works in 1930’s Paris, France as a clockmaker in a train station. Hugo makes sure that all the clocks in the train station are always in order, but his one ambition in …
The Muppets stars Kermit The Frog, Miss Piggy, Gonzo the Great, Fozzie Bear, Jason Segel, Amy Adams and a host of other timeless Muppet characters. The film follows Gary (Jason Segel) and his brother Walter (voiced by Peter Linz) as they work with the Muppets to try to prevent Muppet Studios from being torn down by oil tycoon Tex Richman (Chris Cooper). The Muppets need to raise ten million dollars to save the studio. The only way to raise the …
It's happening everywhere in Champaign-Urbana, and you may not even know it. At the grocery store, in shops on Main Street, and in private homes, people are filming movies. In fact, local filmmakers shot more than a dozen feature films and anywhere from 25 to 50 short films here since 2005. And like the two sides to every coin, there are two sides to every successful film: the filmmakers and the cinephiles who enjoy watching the films. But until now, …
Monsters, villains, and dinosaurs plan to invade the old building on the corner of Broadway and Elm in Urbana this week. Not to worry, though, they're not trespassing or celebrating Halloween a little early -- they're all contained on film. Starting Thursday night and continuing through Saturday evening, the Independent Media Center (IMC) will host their third annual IMC Film Festival, showcasing films from the Champaign-Urbana area and around the state. Don't let the fact that the films are local …
Buck (PG) The only non-digital film presentation of the festival is about a real-life horse whisperer named Buck Brannaman. Buck was a trick roper as a kid, pressured and beaten into perfection by his abusive alcoholic father. With a deeper understanding of hurt, Buck chose a path of good by deciding to help horses with their troubles. The film received acclaim after winning the Audience Award- Best Documentary this year at Sundance Film Festival. I was skeptical when I first …
Hollywood actors, former WWF wrestlers, movie studios, and Champaign, Illinois. Wait, is this one of those selection tests where the reader decides which thing doesn't belong? Because Champaign seems like the thing that doesn't belong, but, oddly, they all tie together. Jesse Ventura
As I exited the Art Theater and walked down Church Street Monday evening all I could ponder was "How on earth am I supposed to write about that?" Critiquing a movie for the most part is rather simple and straight-forward, especially for an opinionated fellow like myself. But what I witnessed Monday was anything but just a movie. Upon arriving home later that evening I was asked what I saw by a friend: "The Tree of Life" I answered. "Haven't …
Most Recent Arts Comments
Local, I forgot to offer you a piece of sage advice. Don’t bag on 39 south because they represent your potential collector pool. Even though I haven’t lived in Champaign since 1997, 39 south is still the only arts entity that has promoted my work as an…
Lest 39 South feels picked on: Check this from the Urbana City Public Arts Program: “Calling all Champaign County Artists! We’re pleased to announce a Call for Entries for a new initiative called Murals on Glass, which will feature artwork reproduced in adhesive vinyl displayed on the…
You forgot Jonathon Fineberg was also personal pals with the Christo’s. I’ll agree that Dr. Fineberg has done a tremendous job communicating to undergrads why this stuff is important, but I won’t kiss the ring because he also contributed to the dismantling of crafts at the U…
And boom goes the dynamite.
I think the best and most exciting arts programming in Champaign-Urbana is at the Krannert Art Museum. The depth and quality of the museum’s permanent collection speaks highly to the intelligence of the art history faculty at the University. I have to say taking Art History with…
Another mystifying thing is 39 South touts the fact that when you consider all things that are considered “art”, i.e. music, exhibits, movies, performances, craft fairs, circuses, ect; art in Champaign County apparently generates $60 million dollars of “economic activity” every year, so says 39 South. And…
I have to agree, I’m a bit confused as to the purpose of 40 North, although I am aware that the organization is in a period of restructuring and re-examination. And yes, the “staff of 1” does work tirelessly to keep the operations afloat, but the fact…
“Making art accessible to everyone and cultivating the art and artists in Champaign County is 40 North’s main mission.” FACT: When the Urbana City Council proposed to form a new public arts council of its own in 2008, 39 South actually sent letters from board members Cody…
On behalf of the New Art Film Festival, I’d like to thank you for highlighting our event in this article. It is our pleasure to put together this showcase for the community and the recognition is highly appreciated by all of us involved in the NAFF. Also,…
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Most Recent Comments
Looking forward to trying this place!
I’m in the middle (or the beginning or end, depending on how you look at it) of re-reading Slaughterhouse Five. What a great companion column.
Get yours early. The Rave’s CD will be available at Exile and at The C-U Flea on Saturday. C-U Flea details here: http://www.smilepolitely.com/news/sp_radio_podcast_c-u_flea_arrives/
I don’t know about Gerard and a random police sargeant. My (mild) outrage is based on this: “...he worked closely with Champaign City Clerk Marilyn Banks to make sure he was licensed properly as a transient food peddler, filling out the necessary paperwork and paying a $225…
Local Yocal pretty much nails it here. I suspect there will be merchants who oppose food trucks because they arguably don’t pay their fair share to locate their trucks in high traffic (high rent) areas. The food trucks take away business from rent payers, park in city…
Oh nice! I’d totally vote for Matt Campbell!
“Smile Politely sports writer announces candidacy for city government.”
I also got to visit Big Grove Tavern during the soft open and definitely enjoyed the pork belly the most of all the dishes I sampled. The cheesy grits and the vinegary pickled vegetables were a perfect compliment to the rich pork belly.
The Alan Partridge lookalike on the right in the first small photo has nothing to condescend to anyone about. AH HA!
Snell and the little Hitlers of the neighborhood association need to chill out. Legitimate businesses should have the freedom to exist without having to endure the slings and arrows of ignorant and misguided opposition.
represent, Matt.
Yeah, I’d agree that Transporter Room 3 is the worst house venue I’ve ever seen.
Food trucks are the start-up, small businesses of the future for those unable to afford real estate. No surprise, that merchants who pay rent, utilities, and maintenance on a property would despise the traveling competition. Or developers who build more empty retail spaces would want to close…
Not so much far-right Tea Party as a balanced, moderate viewpoint between letting businesses succeed and protecting society with reasonable regulations. In spite of what the city reps are saying, the interpretation of policy on this issue certainly has changed. Letting a business start up under one…
I think it’s neat that SP has turned rightward, now espousing a Tea Party-style frustration with government regulations & taxes.
This makes me so sad. (Happy to live in Urbana, though!) Crave Truck has been a GREAT addition to the food choices in C-U, and it’d be a travesty to chase them away. This town should be supporting small businesses. I’m glad to hear that they’ll still…
*slow. clap.* Still offering no threat of intelligence…. I know I said I thought you should just write this whole column yourself next year, Isaac, but now that you’ve gone and taken a “part deux” run at it, I’d like to modify my request: Best Music 2013,…
Actually, it’s kind of nice, the quiet. John Heoffleur’s engaging commentary/dialogue is sorely missed, however. In lieu of someone intelligent saying something, I’ve compiled a list of Honourable Mentions: BEST ROCK BAND: Take Care ::these gentlemen have four completely different sets at their disposal right now (which…
What? Echo! (Echo!) Where’s the dischord and dissent?
This weekend will mark the first appearance of Kayla Brown’s Fire Doll Candle booth at the Market. Check it: http://www.facebook.com/firedollcandles
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Thanks for the sage advice Mary Anna, but I’m long done with the sucking up and being thankful for the scraps. The most important thing an artist can do to live with yourself is tell the emperor he’s got no clothes, and spray paint something on his…