Not sure what is coming out this month? Here is a run-down of my eleven most anticipated films:
11. The Great Buck Howard (March 20th) (limited)
Plot: A law school dropout (Colin Hanks), much to the chagrin of his father (Tom Hanks), becomes the new assistant to an illusionist in decline (Malkovich). Can the fledgling partnership lead to the comeback of a lifetime?
Why You Should See It: Pretty impressive cast and a somewhat interesting premise, this is should be a decent indie comedy/drama.
10. Miss March (March 13th)
Plot: Waking up from a four-year coma, Eugene (Cregger) takes a cross-country trip with his sex-crazed best friend (Moore) in order to crash a party at a famous men’s magazine’s legendary headquarters so he can win back his former sweetheart — who is one of the mag’s hottest new pin-ups.
Why You Should See It: It’s directed by, written by, and starring the guys behind the hilarious sketch comedy show The Whitest Kids U Know. That should be reason enough.
9. Knowing (March 20th)
Plot: When Ted Myles (Cage) begins to suspect that his son has discovered an artifact that accurately predicts natural disasters and other catastrophes, he goes on to believe his family plays a role in the events that are about to unfold.
Why You Should See It: Alex Proyas (I, Robot, Dark City) directing Nicholas Cage. Proyas has proved he can make a good film, but Cage has had a string of awful films. I’m hoping this turns it around. If nothing else this will be a decent blockbuster.
8. Sunshine Cleaning (March 13th) (limited)
Plot: Industrious single mother Rose Lorkowski (Adams) starts an unusual business in order to send her son to a private school; alongside her unreliable sister (Blunt), the two women enter the world of biohazard removal and crime scene clean-ups.
Why You Should See It: If Amy Adams can channel her performance from Junebug I’m here. It got mixed reviews at Sundance but with Adams, Emily Blunt and Alan Arkin I’m hoping for something special.
7. Monsters vs. Aliens (March 27th)
Plot: After being hit by a meteorite on her wedding day, Susan Murphy (Witherspoon) is transformed into a monster named Ginormica and subsequently whisked away to a secret government compound where others like her have been rounded up over the years. When the Earth comes under attack by aliens, however, Ginormica and her new allies are set free to save the planet.
Why You Should See It: Another DreamWorks Animation and test of 3-D technology. Voice acting by Seth Rogen, Paul Rudd, Reese Witherspoon, Hugh Laurie, Kiefer Sutherland, Rainn Wilson, Will Arnet, and Stephen Colbert should make this a pretty fun time.
6. Tokyo! (March 6th) (limited)
Plot: Directors Michel Gondry, Leos Carax, and Joon-ho Bong offer their respective tributes to the Japanese capital city.
Why You Should See It: Michel Gondry.
5. Duplicity (March 20th)
Plot: A pair of corporate spies (Owen and Roberts) who share a steamy past hook up to pull off the ultimate con job on their respective bosses — but can they learn to truly love and trust one another?
Why You Should See It: Tony Gilroy, writer and director of the spectacular Michael Clayton, helms what looks to be an entertaining thriller. Add in Clive Owen, Julia Roberts, Paul Giamatti, and Tom Wilkinson you have some real star power.
4. Sin Nombre (March 20th) (limited)
Plot: Sayra (Gaitan), a Honduran teenager, and Willy (Flores), a recent recruit in the Mara Salvatrucha gang, both dream of better lives for themselves, and a fateful event will find the two strangers united on a freight train bound for the U.S., where the hope for new lives await.
Why You Should See It: The trailer was well done and the film reminds me a bit of Slumdog Millionaire. If it’s anywhere near as good as that, I’ll be happy. It was well received at Sundance as well, can’t wait to check it out.
3. Adventureland (March 27th)
Plot: During the summer of 1987, recent college grad James Brennan (Eisenberg) takes what he thinks is a going-nowhere job at his local amusement park, only to discover it’s a perfect opportunity to prepare himself for the real world.
Why You Should See It: Greg Mottola, director of Superbad, is behind the camera and pen for this comedy. Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Bill Hader, and Ryan Reynolds star in what looks like to be one of the funniest films of the year.
2. I Love You, Man (March 20th)
Plot: Friendless Peter Klaven (Rudd) goes on a series of man-dates to find a Best Man for his wedding. But when his insta-bond his new B.F.F.(Segel) puts a strain on his relationship with his fiancée (Jones) can the trio learn to live happily ever after?
Why You Should See It: Paul Rudd + Jason Segel. Early screening impressions have been very positive. Expect to laugh, a lot.
1. Watchmen (March 6th)
Plot: Set in an alternate vision of the year 1985, the murder of an ex-superhero causes a vigilante named Rorshachto look into the matter, an investigation that reunites him with his surviving old colleagues — all of them former superheroes themselves — and gradually unveils a conspiracy with links to their shared past and catastrophic consequences for the future.
Why You Should See It: Based on the epic graphic novel, this is the year’s first blockbuster and you don’t want to miss it.
Bottom 3 (movies one should avoid at all cost):
12 Rounds (March 27th)
Plot: Detective Danny Baxter (Cena) discovers his girlfriend (Scott) has been kidnapped by a ex-con tied to Baxter’s past, and he’ll have to successfully complete 12 challenges in order to secure her safe release.
Why You Should Stay Far Away: My friends and I played a drinking game with the last John Cena film, The Marine. Every time we laughed at what was supposed to be a serious part, we drank. We were drunk before (what was supposed to be) the 1st act ended. Take that as good or bad, but if I were you I wouldn’t get near this movie.
The Haunting in Connecticut (March 27th)
Plot: A family who relocates to Northern Connecticut for their son’s health begins to experience supernatural behavior in their new home.
Why You Should Stay Far Away: Watch the trailer above and you should get a good idea why.
Race to Witch Mountain (March 13th)
Plot: When a cab driver (Johnson) picks up an unusual fare — a brother and sister duo with paranormal powers, who are being pursued by a nefarious organization — he teams up with a discredited astrophysicist (Gugino) to protect the kids and, ultimately, the rest of humankind.
Why You Should Stay Far Away: The Rock really needs to stick to adult movies (The Rundown and Southland Tales) instead of continually making these mediocre family films. This remake is directed by the same guy that did The Game Plan so don’t expect much.
What do you think about these choices? Would you add any?
- Jordan Raup
