Reel life: Catch 'Blues Brothers' in Arlington Heights

<h3 class="briefHead">Singin' the 'Blues'</h3>

The Blue Whiskey Cinema Series returns with a silver-screen presentation of the classic Windy City comedy "The Blues Brothers" (shot in Chicago starring a Mount Prospect police car as the Bluesmobile) at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5, at the Star Cinema Grill, 53 S. Evergreen Ave., Arlington Heights. Go to bwiff.com for tickets and information.

<h3 class="briefHead">Falling down on a job</h3>

In the romantic comedy "Bridget Jones's Baby," star Renée Zellweger takes a tumble for a cheap laugh, another "woman falling down" stunt designed by unimaginative filmmakers desperate to pump up the action with one of the most ineffectively executed clichés in Hollywood.

Who else has participated in this easy and distinctively unfunny bit?

 Julianne Moore in "Evolution"

 Kate Hudson in "Raising Helen"

 Julia Roberts in "My Best Friend's Wedding" (three times)

 Leslie Mann in "Shorts"

 Sandra Bullock in "Miss Congeniality" (twice)

Let's not even contemplate the high number of actresses required to fall down while running away from maniacs and monsters.

Some filmmakers might think that falling down makes female characters vulnerable or adorable.

Nope. Just tiresome.

<h3 class="briefHead">'De Palma' shock doc </h3>

The After Hours Film Society presents the insightful documentary "De Palma," an overview of the cinema of Hitchcock devotee Brian De Palma. It's at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 3, at the Tivoli Theatre, 5021 Highland Ave., Downers Grove. General admission is $10; go to afterhoursfilmsociety.com.

<h3 class="briefHead">No planes, just pilots</h3>

The First Tuesdays program at the Midwest Independent Film Festival showcases seven Midwest-made TV pilots at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4, at the Century Centre Cinema, 2828 N. Clark St., Chicago. Cast and crew members will attend a post-screening discussion. Go to midwestfilm.com.

<h3 class="briefHead">'Frankenstein' returns</h3>

If things go as planned, Mel Brooks will introduce a special showing of his hilarious "Young Frankenstein" (starring the late Gene Wilder) from the 20th Century Fox back lot at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5, at 17 Chicago-area theaters. Go to http://bit.ly/2d4vqDN for tickets.

<h3 class="briefHead">On the banned wagon</h3>

Dann & Raymond's Movie Club explores the taboo world of banned movies in "Hollywood's Forbidden Films," 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5, at the Palatine Public Library, 700 N. North Court, Palatine. Free admission. Clips from such naughty and volatile movies as "Birth of a Nation," "Freaks," "A Clockwork Orange" and "Monty Python's Life of Brian." Go to palatinelibrary.org.

<h3 class="briefHead">Immigrant invasion!</h3>

In the movies, immigrants can be dreamers, crime lords, gardeners, idealists, searchers and animated mice trying to assimilate into a world of metaphorical rats.

Dann and Raymond's Movie Club explores the diversity of U.S. immigrants in "Coming to America in the Movies" at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6, at the Schaumburg Township District Library, 130 S. Roselle Road, Schaumburg. Free admission. Includes clips from such films as "Scarface," "An American Tail," "The Glass Wall" and "The Golden Door." Go to schaumburglibrary.org.

<h3 class="briefHead">Asian film fest turns 7</h3>

The seventh annual South Asian Film Festival runs Oct. 5 through 10 at the Showplace ICON Theater in Chicago. Go to csaff.org.

• Dann Gire's column runs Friday in Time out!