The Odyssey (dir: Jérôme Salle, 2016, cer 12A)
Dive into this epic watery biography of the great underwater adventurer Jacques Cousteau spanning some thirty years of his life. The beautiful underwater photography is breathtaking and whilst several liberties have been taken with the Cousteau myth they do not detract from the aquatic majesty of the film. Part of Birmingham’s Art and Science Festival read our preview here.
Mon 13 Mar 2pm at mac, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham B12 9QH £8 macbirmingham.co.uk

Contempt (dir: Jean Luc Godard, 1963, cer 15)
One of the greatest films about filmmaking. Godard’s beautiful vision stars an elderly Fritz Lang as himself directing a movie starring the stunningly gorgeous Brigitte Bardot. The real star though is the captivating island of Capri once the go to destination for the international jet set. Supremely intelligent cinema from one of its most genius exponents. Part of Birmingham’s Art and Science Festival read our preview here.
Tue 14 Mar 8pm at mac, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham B12 9QH £8 macbirmingham.co.uk

Drowning by Numbers (dir: Peter Greenaway, 1998, cert 15)
Greenaway on the big screen is not something to be missed. The master of decadent excess manages to paint hugely grotesque images that are at the same time seductively beautiful. Join the Cissie Colpitts women in their murderous endeavours and leave reason at the door. Intractable? Certainly. Pretentious? Probably. Stop overthinking and sink into Greenaway’s maliciously divine otherworldliness. Oh and look out for dead cows 78 and 79. Part of Birmingham’s Art and Science Festival read our preview here.
Tue 14 Mar 9.30pm at Mockingbird, The Custard Factory, Gibb St, Birmingham B9 4AA £4 ticketing.eu.veezi.com

O Brother, Where Art Thou? (dir: Joel Coen,Ethan Coen, 2000, cert 12A)
Of all the epic Odyssey’s being shown this week, courtesy of Birmingham’s Art & Science Festival, the Coen Brothers wickedly engaging comedy is undoubtedly the most potent. A playfully joyous romp through Homer’s tale, moved to thirties Mississippi, with one of cinema’s greatest scores. Has Dapper Dan man George Clooney ever been better than as Ulysses Everett McGilll, unwitting leader of a triumvirate of idiots? The Ku Klux Klan rally is one of the most exquisitely dark sequences ever staged in cinematic history. Part of Birmingham’s Art and Science Festival read our preview here.
Wed 15 Mar 2pm at mac, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham B12 9QH £8 macbirmingham.co.uk

Trash Film Night presents Birdemic: Shock & Terror in 5DX (dir: James Nguyen, 2010, cert 18)
It may be inspired by Hitchcock’s The Birds but this is as close to anything resembling a quality film that Birdemic gets. Wallowing in a cinematic cess pit of incompetence and featuring clip art special effects it is certainly one of the most poorly conceived and executed films ever made. Trash Film Night hosts Luke and David invite you to pay money and enjoy their live commentary. Audience abuse of the film is actively encouraged and is part of the fun. ‘Who will survive?’ Screened as part of Birmingham’s Art & Science Festival.
Thu 16 Mar 8.30pm at Electric, Station Street, Birmingham B5 4DY £7 www.theelectric.co.uk

Ulysse’s Gaze (dir: Theo Angelopoulos, 1995, cert PG)
The legendary Greek director’s  epic tale of A, played by Harvey Keitel, is an extraordinary tale of redemption for some and a laborious exercise in self indulgence for others. Its bum numbing three hour running time will certainly be an endurance exercise for some with Roger Ebert hating the film. However,  A’s obsessive quest for the lost films of Balkan cinematic pioneers the Manakis brothers is a gently nuanced journey through contemporary political landscapes culminating in a war ravaged Sarajevo. Beautifully shot and worthy of your time and respect Ulysse’s Gaze is a work of supreme intelligence. Part of Birmingham’s Art and Science Festival read our preview here.
Thu 16 Mar 6pm at mac, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham B12 9QH £8 macbirmingham.co.uk

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (dir: Richard Fleischer, 1954, cert U)
Nostalgia overdose warning. Saturday afternoon at the cinema watching the grandiose underwater Jules Verne adventure 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea is one of the most unexpected and welcome pieces of programming from Birmingham’s Art & Science Festival. Proper film stars with Kirk Douglas, Peter Lorre and the charming James Mason, searching for a mythical giant squid beneath the Pacific Ocean in a glorious technicolor adventure. The mac should probably allow popcorn just for this one movie. Part of Birmingham’s Art and Science Festival read our preview here.
Sat 18 Mar 2pm at mac, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham B12 9QH £8 macbirmingham.co.uk