After what has felt like a shorter than usual dry spell for movies (aided greatly by the releases of “Black Panther” and “Annihilation”) we’re heading back into the swing of things. The Oscars will award who they deemed the best of the best of 2017 this upcoming weekend, but more exciting things are taking place this month. Rather than existing as dumping ground for good enough movies that studios didn’t know how to promote, March will debut new films by Wes Anderson, Ava DuVernay, Steven Spielberg, Steven Soderbergh and more. Spring is slowly (especially for any of us New Englanders) creeping its way back into our line of sight but until then, we’ll have enough to busy ourselves with in theaters. From films that have been making the indie rounds for about a year now to another monster and robot action smash, March has an eclectic offering.
“Red Sparrow”
Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Joel Edgerton, Jeremy Irons
Synopsis: Prima ballerina Dominika Egorova faces a bleak and uncertain future after she suffers an injury that ends her career. She soon turns to Sparrow School, a secret intelligence service that trains exceptional young people to use their minds and bodies as weapons.
What You Need To Know: Opinions may vary on just how much you like Jennifer Lawrence as an actress, but the trajectory of the roles she chooses and when she chooses them are consistently intriguing. As was the case with the largely divisive “mother!” last year, “Red Sparrow” led by her “The Hunger Games” director Frances Lawrence, is likely to split viewers into love it or hate it camps. Falling on the hate it side of things (boy there’s a lot of needless brutalization of women in this for little pay off) the greatest surprise is how little action takes place in this sprawling, two hour plus film. It’s quieter than audiences will expect from going primarily off of trailers cut to indicate an “Atomic Blonde”/ “John Wick” style violent rampage. Instead, it’s moody and focused more on the mind games than violence.
Release Date: March 2nd
“A Wrinkle in Time”
Cast: Storm Reid, Oprah Winfrey, Chris Pine, Reese Witherspoon
Synopsis: Meg Murry and her little brother, Charles Wallace, have been without their scientist father, Mr. Murry, for five years, ever since he discovered a new planet and used the concept known as a tesseract to travel there. They must brave a dangerous journey to a planet that possesses all of the evil in the universe.
What You Need To Know: It’s exciting to be privy to a period where Ryan Coogler’s “Black Panther” and Ava DuVernay’s “A Wrinkle In Time” are released within weeks of one another, giving facetime to diversity that is so infrequently the center of whatever story is being told — especially ones that come from big budgeted studio conglomerates. DuVernay has built an astonishing resume over the years from indie stunners “I Will Follow” and “Middle of Nowhere” to the film that put her on the map with “Selma.” “A Wrinkle In Time,” a staple for plenty of adolescent readers, is her first foray into the blockbuster and it’s quite a step as she became the first woman of color director ever to direct a live-action film over a $100 million budget. It feels like a milestone for a reason and with a cast this wildly talent, d it’s hard not to eagerly await its debut.
Release Date: March 9th
“The Death of Stalin”
Cast: Steve Buscemi, Jason Isaacs, Andrea Riseborough
Synopsis: The Soviet dictator lives out his final days, and chaos erupts after his death.
What You Need to Know: We always need more of Armando Iannucci’s cynical and biting touch in cinema and he thrives when embedded in political satire. The creator of “In the Loop,” “The Thick of It” and “Veep,” his comedic voice is much appreciated these days. With a stacked cast and an absurd setting, our critic said: “Particularly at a time that has seen American leadership swing from eight years of ‘hope’ under Barack Obama, to an administration fixated on xenophobia and division, ‘The Death Of Stalin’ is a grim reminder that we are never too far away from history turning back on progress.”
Release Date: March 9th
“Thoroughbreds”
Cast: Olivia Cooke, Anya Taylor-Joy, Anton Yelchin
Synopsis: Two upper-class teenage girls in suburban Connecticut rekindle their unlikely friendship after years of growing apart. Together, they hatch a plan to solve both of their problems — no matter what the cost.
What You Need To Know: A twist on your typical coming of age story, “Thoroughbreds” debuted at last year’s Sundance Film Festival. Starring two up and comers who are bound to take the movie world by storm along with the late Anton Yelchin, it makes for a strong debut for director Cory Finley.
Release Date: March 9th
