By Keith Walther | RLGR
Last March, we were graced with two of the best films of last year in “Dune: Part II” and “Cabrini.” Could we possibly be so lucky again this March? There may actually be some contenders among these releases. If not, there will be plenty of unique stories at the very least, which is refreshing. There will even be some independent film releases not mentioned below that are worth looking into, like “Queen of the Ring,” “Bob Trevino Likes It,” and “Magazine Dreams.” Here are the biggest theatrical releases of the month to watch out for.
March 7th
One of the most anticipated movies of the month hits theaters in this first week. “Mickey 17” is a comedic sci-fi from Oscar winning writer/director Bong Joon Ho (“Parasite”) and features Robert Pattinson in the titular role. Cloning expendable humans in space for the sole purpose of performing dangerously undesirable tasks is the basis for this unique story. If the trailers are any indication, this looks creatively funny and wildly entertaining. With incredible talent on both sides of the camera, it would be a surprise if this is not a must see.
Even though that film will likely win this week’s box office, do not fall asleep on this Friday’s other debut. “Rule Breakers” is the latest film from Angel Studios and, just like most of their incredible films, it is based on a powerful true story. Centered on a group of young ladies in Afghanistan who are trying to educate themselves to compete in global robotics competitions despite the Taliban’s oppression of women, this is one inspirational story you won’t want to miss. Having screened this film in advance, it is a guaranteed winner to take the whole family to, especially families with young daughters. Stay tuned for my in-depth review on this one.
March 14th
The first major release this week is an action comedy about a guy who can’t feel any pain. Starring Jack Quaid, who is fresh off his success from January’s “Companion,” “Novocaine” looks to be a silly, over-the-top action romp. As long as it steers clear of excessive absurdity, this could be a fun movie to turn your brain off to and enjoy, but it’s best to wait for reviews before committing.
Oscar winning director Steven Soderbergh returns this week after his failed horror endeavor, “Presence,” earlier this year. “Black Bag” is an espionage thriller featuring the incredible acting talents of Cate Blanchett and Michael Fassbender. It looks like an edgier version of “Mr. and Mrs. Smith,” so this could be an entertaining watch. At the very least, it should be the safer option this week for a ticket purchase.
March 21st
Here we go again, yet another live action remake of a classic animated film. This time Disney is rebooting “Snow White” with Rachel Zegler in the titular role and Gal Gadot playing the Evil Queen. It’s hard to imagine this being anything other than a shameless cash grab by Disney, especially considering the nauseating amount of CGI they are once again employing. In fact, all of the dwarves are pure CGI, so why not just stick with the old animation? If this is any good at all, it will be extremely surprising.
The other major release this week is a bit more interesting, because it features Robert De Niro in a dual role. “Alto Knights” is based on the true rivalry between two crime bosses, Vito Genovese and Frank Costello, both of whom are portrayed by De Niro. He’s no stranger to these mafioso types of roles, and he reteams with Oscar winning director Barry Levinson, so this has the potential to be a compelling success.
March 28th
He’s been a transporter, a mechanic, a beekeeper, and now he’s simply “A Working Man.” That’s right Jason Statham returns to wage another one-person war against ne’er-do-wells, doling out judgment, justice, and punishment with his fists or a sledgehammer. If this is anything like “The Beekeeper,” it should be a simplistic, mind-numbing, fun action romp.
If you’re looking for something a bit more imaginative and out of the ordinary, then check out “Death of a Unicorn.” This is a comical, fantasy horror film that features an all-star cast of Jenna Ortega, Paul Rudd, Tea Leoni, and Will Poulter. For those who don’t typically enjoy fantasy, then this one might not be for you, but for those who do, then you might be in for a hilarious treat with this film.
Finally, for you traditional horror fans comes “The Woman in the Yard.” The title does not sound very exciting, and the trailer makes it look less exciting, but don’t discard this one just yet. Danielle Deadwyler, who should have won the Oscar for Best Actress for 2022’s “Till,” or at the very least been nominated, is in the starring role of this horror flick. Not to mention, the director, Jaume Collet-Serra, is a veteran of the horror genre so this could turn out pretty good. Then again, it comes from Blumhouse Productions, which has been anything but reliable in recent years.
