Dec. 24--As more Illinois theaters signed on to show the controversial film "The Interview" on Christmas Day, Sony Pictures made it available for online rental Wednesday.
The movie, which depicts a fictional plot to assassinate North Korea leader Kim Jong Un, turned into an international incident when Sony's computer systems were hacked and threats were made against theaters planning to show the film. The FBI has blamed the online mayhem on North Korea.
As of noon Wednesday, Sony was offering the movie for rent in HD on Google Play, YouTube Movies, Microsoft's Xbox Video and a dedicated website at a price of $5.99. The studio said the film also can be purchased in HD for $14.99.
About a half-dozen movie theaters across Illinois plan Christmas Day showings, including the Buffalo Grove Theater, the Hollywood Boulevard Cinemas of Woodridge, O'Fallon 15 Cine, Roxy Cinemas in Ottawa, Landmark Cinemas in Peoria, Willow Knolls 14 in Peoria and the Savoy 16 and IMAX in Savoy.
Buffalo Grove Theater notified police Tuesday that it would show the movie at midnight Thursday, officials said.
"We will have officers in the area patrolling on a special watch," Buffalo Grove police Cmdr. Roy Bethge said. "We will not have officers in the theater or at the theater."
The police force is proceeding with normal holiday staffing. The "special watch" for the theater area will be similar to what is done during big basketball games or other large gatherings. "I'm not that concerned about it," Bethge said.
The northwest suburban theater could not immediately be reached for comment, but its website says there will be two showings a day for the next week.
"The Interview," which has received some negative early reviews, stars Seth Rogen and James Franco as journalists tasked by the CIA with killing the North Korean leader. The hacking attack against Sony included the release of confidential and embarrassing emails. Amid threats against those planning to show the movie, theater chains backed out and Sony canceled its Christmas Day release, which had been intended for 3,000 locations.
Political and public opinion debates ensued. Even President Barack Obama weighed in with disapproval of Sony's withdrawal of the film.
Sony reversed that position Tuesday, and several hundred independent cinemas will show the movie nationwide.
Along with the theaters showing the film starting Christmas Day, the Art Theater Co-Op in Champaign will show it starting Jan. 2, according to its movie listings.
The movie's Facebook page also posted Tuesday night that an Arlington Heights theater was showing it, but the only one in town, Star Cinema Grill, said Wednesday morning that it does not have plans to do so.
An official at the northwest suburban eat-in theater said its corporate officials have been in discussions with Sony but deferred comment to headquarters.
Bloomington Galaxy 14 Cine is also listed as a movie site on Facebook, although there were no times listed on the theater website midday Wednesday.
saho@tribpub.com
