The Swimmer (dir: Frank Perry, 1968, cert PG)
We love this film at Birmingham Wire. Ned (Burt Lancaster) drops by his affluent neighbours pool; sun tanned and wearing trunks, he decides to ‘swim’ home through a river of pools that lead to his house. Essentially a series of vignettes as Ned navigates pool after pool on his journey home and in essence gets closer and closer with each swim to a horrible truth.  It can be uncomfortable viewing as the beautiful sunshine and company that heralded our hero’s quest gives way to unforgiving darkness, pain and alienation. A truly unique film.
Fri 5 Aug 6pm at mac, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham B12 9QH £8 macbirmingham.co.uk/

Mountain Biking: The Untold British Story + Q&A (dir: Michael Clifford, 2016, cert 12)
Bafta award winning film maker Michael Clifford explores the little known fact that mountain biking as we know it is down to British influence and knowledge. Through archive footage and interviews with legends of the sport, such as Steve Peat and Carlton Reid, learn how the Brits have carved their names into mountain biking legend. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with producer Pip Piper and director Michael Clifford.
Sat 6 Aug 6pm at mac, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham B12 9QH £8 macbirmingham.co.uk/

Men and Chicken (dir: Anders Thomas Jensen, 2016, cert 15)
There is something uniquely dark about Scandinavia, it permeates their culture and begets such wonderful pitch black television and film. The humour can be so transgressive that guilt pangs at laughing can rise before said laugh has been fully expelled from your mouth. Which brings us neatly to the world of Men and Chicken, a world where casual bestiality and wanton violence are as normal a part of the landscape as bread and cheese. Ex Bond villain Mads Mikkelsen stars in this genre defying tale of existential turmoil and rank familial dysfunction. You will be offended.
Sun 7 Aug 6pm at mac, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham B12 9QH £8 macbirmingham.co.uk/

The Neon Demon (dir: Nicolas Winding Refn, 2016, cert 18)
Refn’s films have a reputation for testing extremes and The Neon Demon is no different. Evincing boos at The Cannes Film Festival from horrified critics Refn’s latest is a blood drenched fairy tale laced with depravity. The violence is gratuitous, shocking and great fun. This is what you get when a director’s favourite film is The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and his biggest influence is Alejandro Jodorowsky. If you can handle mature themes you’ll have a blast otherwise don’t bother.
Tue 2 Aug 6.15pm & Thu 4 Aug 9pm at Electric Cinema, Station Street, Birmingham B5 4DY www.theelectric.co.uk/

Film Food Club presents Mr. Turner with Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery: Sun 7 Aug 3pm at Electric Cinema, Station Street, Birmingham B5 4DY and BMAG, Chamberlain Square, Birmingham B3 3DH Prices start at £44. Read our preview here www.birminghamwire.co.uk/

Big Trouble in Little China (dir: John Carpenter, 1986, cert 15)
Forget the plot, essentially it’s irrelevant anyway, just enjoy Kurt Russell’s bumbling John Wayne machismo as he lurches from one adventure to another with varying levels of competency in Carpenter’s big budget big fun action movie. The genre mashing makes for wonderful viewing, mixing Saturday morning serial, kung-fu, ghosts, monsters, action, adventure and comedy. Expect the Mockingbird to lay on their usual imaginative array of themed drinks and meals. As the tag line goes, ‘Adventure doesn’t come any bigger!’
Thu 4 Aug 8pm at The Mockingbird, Custard factory, Birmingham B9 4AA £3 www.facebook.com/

Fans of summer cinema should also see our Cinema in the Wild feature here and our Movies under the stars preview of Sundown Cinema at the mac here