Skate Kitchen (dir: Crystal Moselle, 2018, cert 15) + director Q&A
A thrilling movie that artfully blurs the lines between documentary and fantasy in its adoring portrayal of the Skate Kitchen Crew, a real all female skateboarding crew from New York. It’s at its best as a freewheeling board hogging feminist ride through the hazardous streets of Long Island, Moselle’s female spin on the teenage coming of age trope lends Skate Kitchen a powerful voice. Following the screening their will be a Q&A with director Crystal Moselle.
Mon 17 Sep 6.30pm at Electric, Station Street, Birmingham B5 4DY £10.50 www.theelectric.co.uk

Vagabond (dir: Agnes Varda, 1985, cert 15)
Any film that begins with it’s hero frozen to death in a ditch isn’t going to be an easy ride. Agnes Varda’s Vagabond is compelling and painful with the beautiful and tragic banality of life captured in minute detail, the documentary feel adds a horrifying piquancy to the flashback of Vagabond Mona’s life. A searing piece of feminist cinema that still resonates uncomfortably today. Free with a suggested donation of £3 to the Meena Centre for asylum seeking and refugee women and children based in Hockley.
Thu 20 Sep 7.30pm at Cafe Ort, 500-504 Moseley Rd, Birmingham B12 9AH £3 www.facebook.com

The Eyes of Orson Welles (dir: Mark Cousins, 2018, cert 12A)
A misty eyed peek into the incomparable artistic oeuvre of Orson Welles, examining the great man’s paintings and drawings whilst reflecting on the cultural resonance of Welles, a piquancy that still rings true today. Cousin’s wonderfully reassuring voice, with its gentle Irish lilt and cineliterate authority is always perfect company. If you haven’t already, then pick up his 900 minute Story of Film, it will be the best 15 hours you will spend in front of a television.
Fri 21 Sep 6pm at mac, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham B12 9QH £9 macbirmingham.co.uk

Predator (dir: John McTiernan, 1985, cert 15)
Schwarzenegger’s relentless alien in the jungle romp is littered with stunning action set pieces, glorious explosions, an iconic adversary and some classic Arnieisms. “Stick around”, after nailing a baddie to the wall with a knife and our all time favourite, “get to the chopper”.
Fri 21 Sep 6.50pm at The Mockingbird, Custard Factory, Birmingham B9 4AA £7 veezi.com

The Apartment (dir: Billy Wilder, 1960, cert PG)
Think Mad Men drowning in a clogging sea of desperate cynicism as Jack Lemmon’s office drone Bud allows his apartment to be used for extra-marital affairs by his superior’s in a shameless attempt to try and further his own career. An existential masterpiece of comedy and tragedy as events reinforce Bud’s crippling ennui and isolation. Continued an extraordinary run of film making from Wilder, who won that year’s Best Director Oscar, that included Double Indemnity and Some Like It Hot.
Sat 22 Sep 5pm at mac, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham B12 9QH £9 macbirmingham.co.uk

The Big Lebowski (dir: Joel and Ethan Coen, 1998, cert 15)
Has it really been 20 years since El Duderino first blearily stumbled through our screens clutching a White Russian and seeking redress for his spoiled carpet? “Well, sir, it’s this rug I had. It really tied the room together.” A perfect symphony of laughs, dialogue, soundtrack and that Coen magic movie dust.
Sat 22 Sep 7.50pm at mac, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham B12 9QH £9 macbirmingham.co.uk

The Godfather ( dir: Francis Ford Coppola, 1972, cert 18)
Coppola’s seminal study of mafia politics and violence is one of the greatest films ever made and demands to be seen on the big screen. Brando’s demise; as Vito Corleone, whilst playing with his grandson in a summer garden, is one of the most poignant scenes of mortality ever committed to celluloid and certainly the best naturalistic death scene ever filmed. We also like the severed horse’s head in the bed scene quite a lot.
Sun 23 Sep 1.30pm at Electric, Station Street, Birmingham B5 4DY £10.50 www.theelectric.co.uk

Jurassic Park (dir: Steven Spielberg, 1993, cert PG) in concert
Monster movies don’t come much bigger than Steven Spielberg’s magnificent dinosaur rampage. Despite the film’s age,  it was released nearly a quarter of a century ago, its use of effective and seamless CGI has never been equalled. Jaw dropping effects; crackerjack script, with Jeff Goldblum getting all the best lines, ‘how do you know they’re all female? Does somebody go out into the park and pull up the dinosaurs’ skirts?’ A Classic rollicking Spielberg adventure. Witnessing the scuttling terror of the velociraptor’s on a huge screen, with John Williams’s rousing score performed live by a full symphony orchestra, is about as epic as it gets without actually being chased down Broad Street by a real hungry Tyrannosaurus Rex.
Sun 23 Sep 2pm at Symphony Hall, Broad St, Birmingham B1 2EA £42.50 www.thsh.co.uk