They're all back: 'Big Trouble,' Dann & Raymond, Flashback horror convention
• Join me at the opening night festivities for the Flashback Weekend Chicago Horror Convention. The event runs Friday, Aug. 5, through Sunday, Aug. 7, at the Crowne Plaza Chicago O'Hare Hotel in Rosemont. Check flashbackweekend.com for a full schedule.
As the fest's perennial master of ceremonies, I'll formally welcome patrons into the scary weekend abyss with a brief introduction and reasons why Flashback Weekend differs from most other horror conventions (such as the Bruce Campbell Horror Film Festival later this month).
I'll join the legendary Svengoolie (Rich Koz) plus Chicago Film Critics Association members Nick Digilio of WGN radio and Steve "Capone" Prokopy of Ain't It Cool news in presenting some of the special guests, all of whom can be found at the fest's website, flashbackweekend.com.
• The unbelievable true story of Anthony Weiner's New York City mayoral campaign makes for one humdinger of a behind-the-scenes political documentary. The After Hours Film Society presents "Weiner" at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 8, at the Tivoli Theatre, 5021 Highland Ave., Downers Grove. Admission $10 ($6 for members). Go to afterhoursfilmsociety.com or classiccinemas.com.
• Dann & Raymond's Movie Club is back with a rare summertime program, "Sweet Home Movies Chicago: Films Made in the Windy City." It starts at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 10, at the Palatine Public Library, 700 N. North Court, Palatine. Free admission! Clips from such classics as "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," "The Untouchables" and a few more obscure local productions. Go to palatinelibrary.org.
Dann & Raymond's Movie Club resumes its regular season on Sept. 1 at the Schaumburg Township District Library. It marks the 10th anniversary of the lecture series.
• The Chicago Film Critics Association in conjunction with Classic Cinema's Critics Classics series presents a special showing of John Carpenter's first studio film, the wacky, surrealistic comic action film "Big Trouble in Little China," starring Kurt Russell performing truck driver Jack Burton like a constipated John Wayne. It starts at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 10, at the Elk Grove Theater, 1090 Arlington Heights Road, Elk Grove Village. CFCA member David Fowlie will introduce the show and conduct a brief discussion afterward. Admission: $6. Go to chicagofilmcritics.org or classiccinemas.com.