Ah March- the month that marks new beginnings! I’d say it’s in your best interest
to lean into the physical optimism that the month brings, and to do that fully, we
need to embrace the little things. The spring emblems that start to come out, the
sun staying out for longer, and of course, the cinema releases that are coming out swinging. From blockbusters, to more niche cuts, here are top 5 movie releases not to miss this month.
1st March – Dune: Part Two
The beginning of the month sees the second part of Denis Villeneuve’s sci-fi epic
hit the screens. If the early reviews are anything to go by, getting to the
cinema to watch this will be a stellar way to start your month. The film picks up
pretty much where the first instalment ended, with Paul Atreides becoming
accepted and embraced by the Fremen tribe. It’s an equally star-studded cast
too, with the new-age Hollywood starlets in the form of Timothee Chalamet,
Zendaya, Florence Pugh and Austin Butler with a standout performance as villain
Feyd-Rautha – alongside film veterans Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgard, Christopher
Walken and Javier Bardem.
8th March – ORIGIN
In 2020, American journalist Isabel Wilkerson wrote ‘Caste: The Origins of Our
Discontents”. In 2024, Ava duVernay’s latest outing is a mix between a biopic of
Wilkerson and a look at the contents of her groundbreaking book. The film follows
Isabel’s life; the journey of book-writing process, from the most holistic perspective possible. This journey looks at arbitrary hierarchies within different societies, and how these result in caste systems across the globe, where most would label it racism. It’s a powerful look at global societal systems, and Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor gives a stunning performance as Wilkerson,
with the talented Jon Bernthal and Niecy Nash alongside her.
15th March – Drive Away Dolls
The Coen brothers are amongst filmmaking royalty, responsible for
quintessentially American films such as ‘The Big Lebowksi’ and ‘No Country for Old
Men’ – a sibling-match made in heaven, rarely do they go it alone. But ‘Drive
Away Dolls’ sees Ethan Coen ride solo as the director, in only his second solo
outing in over 30 years. It stars Margaret Qualley (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,
Netflix’ Maid) alongside newcomer Geraldine Viswanathan, as two lesbian friends
who embark on a road trip to Tallahassee. It’s classic ‘road trip goes wrong’ meets
Coen’s signature ‘what genre is this film?’ resulting in what the critics are
describing as a ‘psychedelic joyride’.
22nd March – Immaculate
Riding high off of the success of romcom ‘Anyone But You’, with Glen Powell
that has grossed over $200million so far, Sydney Sweeney is thoroughly enjoying her moment. Not content with acting, she’s turned her hand at production,
with ‘Immaculate’, which follows an American nun (played by Sweeney) who joins
a remote convent in the Italian countryside. It’s a script she was first introduced to years ago, and is her first major foray into the horror genre. The film features an international cast with some familiar faces for those into their TV series, including Simona Tabasco (Lucia Greco in season 2 of The White Lotus) and Alvaro Morte (The Professor in Money Heist).
27th March – Mother’s Instinct
The release of this trailer fuelled an endless trail of tweets, all playful puns on the
‘mother’ status of the two lead actors, Jessica Chastain and Anne Hathaway. The film is set in the 1960s and is a psychological thriller that follows Alice and Celine, two housewives that are
torn apart by a tragic accident. Director Benoit Delhomme takes the viewer on a ride, building on themes of guilt, suspicion, familial instinct, and paranoia. Distributed by Neon, the film production company responsible for films like 2019’s Oscar-winning Parasite and 2023’s Oscar-nominated Anatomy of a Fall, ‘Mother’s Instinct’ is in good company before it’s even out.
So, there you have it – five reasons to leave your house, enjoy the specks of
sunshine we’ll get throughout March and patronise your local cinema. I’ve
seen a few previews of these films already, so I’m optimistic for your satisfaction
levels throughout this gorgeous month. Enjoy!