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10 Films to See in March
With the Academy Awards putting a final stamp on 2013, we can now look towards 2014 and March will have one doubting any naysayers that claim the early months of the year has a void of worthwhile films. Featuring new features from a handful of cinema's greatest auteurs, along with a few well-crafted genre movies, a documentary on one of music's finest bands and another on perhaps the best film we'll never see, it's a stellar month. Some may question why a certain highly-anticipated film we loved out of Sundance didn't make a spot, but even as a fan of the first film, I simply couldn't connect with The Raid 2. Nonetheless, check out the rundown below, and let us know what you are most looking forward to.
Matinees to See: Journey to the West (3/7), Art of the Steal (3/14), Ernest & Celestine (3/14), Le Week-End (3/114), Veronica Mars (3/14), The Missing Picture (3/19), Muppets Most Wanted (3/21), Blood Ties (3/21), and Breathe In (3/28)
10. Bad Words (Jason Bateman; March 14th)
Synopsis: A spelling bee loser sets out to exact revenge by finding a loophole and attempting to win as an adult.
Trailer
Why You Should See It: After being a go-to comedy star for the last few years, Jason Bateman has hopped behind the camera for the first time in a feature that looks to have more bite than his studio offerings. In our positive review out of TIFF, we said with Bad Words the star "has finally found a role that will let him prove he can be the mercurial, loudmouth dickhead, while everyone else on the periphery can attempt to appeal to whatever morsel of humility he may have left."
9. Cheap Thrills (E.L. Katz; March 21st)
Synopsis: Recently fired and facing eviction, a new dad has his life turned upside down when he meets a wealthy couple who offer a path to financial security... but at a price.
Trailer
Why You Should See It: Cheap Thrills left a horrible taste in my mouth, but I imagine that's the intended effect of this South by Southwest award winner. It's certainly unlike anything we're bound to get this year, as we said in our review, "Every now and then a film completely sideswipes your mental capacities and takes over. Since seeing Cheap Thrills, I’ve hardly been able to get the film out of my head. It’s stuck there, jabbing me every dozen minutes and reminding me how much I was in its deathgrip for around 90 minutes. There is very little fat to this work, a good sign, considering I don’t know if I could have taken any more visceral punishment. The stakes, the violence and the intensity were constantly moving higher as each minute ticked away."
8. Teenage (Matt Wolf; March 14th)
Synopsis: Teenagers did not always exist. In this living collage of rare archival material, filmed portraits, and voices lifted from early 20th Century diary entries, a struggle erupts between adults and adolescents to define a new idea of youth.
Trailer
Why You Should See It: Each year we get countless coming-of-age stories that detail that specific transitional period in one's life, and while many seem authentic, this new documentary aims to provide a new, much different take. Coming from producer Jason Schwartzman, Teenage features voiceover from Jena Malone and Ben Whishaw, as well as an original score by Deerhunter & Atlas Sound's Bradford Cox (seen briefly in Dallas Buyers Club). After an impressive trailer, we're looking forward to seeing this ambitious documentary.
7. Grand Piano (Eugenio Mira; March 7th)
Synopsis: Moments before his comeback performance, a concert pianist who suffers from stage fright discovers a note written on his music sheet
Trailer
Why You Should See It: Although the release seems to be comparatively quiet, Grand Piano is one of the most well-tuned thrillers I've seen in some time. Reminiscent of Brian De Palma in his prime, with a touch of Alfred Hitchcock, Mira is eloquently displaying that he has what it takes to be one of the next major Hollywood directors in this genre. As discussed in our latest podcast, the similarities to last weekend's Non-Stop is fairly striking, but this one has a bit more meat on its bones. Starring Elijah Wood and John Cusack, it's already out on VOD ahead of a theatrical release this month and one can read our review here.
6. Noah (Darren Aronofsky; March 28th)
Synopsis: The Biblical Noah suffers visions of an apocalyptic deluge and takes measures to protect his family from the coming flood.
Trailer
Why You Should See It: Before this latest feature, The Fountain was Darren Aronofsky's most ambitious undertaking -- wildly imaginative, with a boldly told story, it's easily my favorite work from the director. As the release of his next film looms, I sincerely hope the same can be said about it. Even though he says it's his director's cut, with a budget well over $100 million, Noah could easily sway towards a more all-audience friendly depiction of the Biblical figure. With a release at the end of the month, my wish is that Aronofsky can keep his vision intact on a much larger playing field.
5. Jodorowsky's Dune (Frank Pavich; March 7th)
Synopsis: The story of cult film director Alejandro Jodorowsky's ambitious but ultimately doomed film adaptation of the seminal science fiction novel.
Trailer
Why You Should See It: Every year in Hollywood, countless projects with hopes of heading into production fail for one reason or another, but the story behind such an event are rarely captured. This recent documentary, which premiered at Cannes, looks at one of the greatest films that was never made, Alejandro Jodorowsky's Dune. Including interviews with everyone from Nicolas Winding Refn to the director himself, we said in our review that "the real inspiration behind Jodorowsky’s Dune is the passion this director has for the love of filmmaking, making it a must-see for aspiring filmmakers and film lovers alike."
4. Enemy (Denis Villeneuve; March 14th)
Synopsis: A man seeks out his exact look-alike after spotting him in a movie.
Trailer
Why You Should See It: With his studio debut Prisoners excelling in its wide release last fall, the powers at be were smart to hold Denis Villeneuve's previously shot feature Enemy for a bow this spring. Technically his first collaboration with Jake Gyllenhaal, the film looks to be a hypnotic, alluring descent into madness -- and one that will let the Canadian director loosen up a bit. We're set to screen it this week, so return for our review next week, and note the film is currently available solely on DirecTV before a theatrical release.
3. The Grand Budapest Hotel (Wes Anderson: March 7th)
Synopsis: The adventures of Gustave H, a legendary concierge at a famous European hotel between the wars, and Zero Moustafa, the lobby boy who becomes his most trusted friend.
Trailer
Why You Should See It: After seemingly being one of the few disappointed by Moonrise Kingdom, Wes Anderson continues with the same rigid, but immaculate style when it comes to The Grand Budapest Hotel. Thankfully he injects a little more empathy this time around, with one of his greatest creations, Ralph Fiennes' Gustave H, a concierge attempting to retain a certain way of life that's soon to be no more. With some of his most gorgeous production design yet, Anderson has outdone himself, crafting his very own country, one tinged with a looming darkness.
2. Mistaken for Strangers (Tom Berninger; March 28th)
Synopsis: Acclaimed indie rockers The National embark on a global tour, and the frontman's brother endearingly and divertingly captures it all.
Trailer
Why You Should See It: While most concert documentaries take on the standard approach of a mix of on-stage footage and a collection of interviews, as well as the occasional back-stage peek, some break the mold. We highlighted our 20 favorites last year and one that would certainly be added to the collection is Mistaken for Strangers, which premiered at Tribeca Film Festival last year and finally rides into theaters and VOD next month. One of our early favorites of the year, I said in my review, that "for fans and newcomers alike, Mistaken For Strangers is a raw, unembellished look at not only one of music’s rising bands, but of the creative process in general."
1. Nymphomaniac: Volume I (Lars von Trier; March 21st)
Synopsis: A self-diagnosed nymphomaniac recounts her erotic experiences to the man who saved her after a beating.
Trailer
Why You Should See It: While it's difficult to judge just half a film, a viewing of Volume I of Nymphomaniac indicates that it's the beginnings of one of Lars Von Trier's finest films. With surprising hilarity and his trademark bare-all style (in more ways then one, as you might have figured), the first four chapters (and a little extra) is among the most impressive filmmaking we're bound to get this year. Arriving in VOD this Thursday ahead of a theatrical release later this month, the second chapter arrives on the same schedule, staggered a few weeks later ; whether it's from the comfort of your own home or on the big screen, it's an experience not to be missed.
All Releases
What are you watching this month?
With the Academy Awards putting a final stamp on 2013, we can now look towards 2014 and March will have one doubting any naysayers that claim the early months of the year has a void of worthwhile films. Featuring new features from a handful of cinema's greatest auteurs, along with a few well-crafted genre movies, a documentary on one of music's finest bands and another on perhaps the best film we'll never see, it's a stellar month. Some may question why a certain highly-anticipated film we loved out of Sundance didn't make a spot, but even as a fan of the first film, I simply couldn't connect with The Raid 2. Nonetheless, check out the rundown below, and let us know what you are most looking forward to.
Matinees to See: Journey to the West (3/7), Art of the Steal (3/14), Ernest & Celestine (3/14), Le Week-End (3/114), Veronica Mars (3/14), The Missing Picture (3/19), Muppets Most Wanted (3/21), Blood Ties (3/21), and Breathe In (3/28)
10. Bad Words (Jason Bateman; March 14th)
Synopsis: A spelling bee loser sets out to exact revenge by finding a loophole and attempting to win as an adult.
Trailer
Why You Should See It: After being a go-to comedy star for the last few years, Jason Bateman has hopped behind the camera for the first time in a feature that looks to have more bite than his studio offerings. In our positive review out of TIFF, we said with Bad Words the star "has finally found a role that will let him prove he can be the mercurial, loudmouth dickhead, while everyone else on the periphery can attempt to appeal to whatever morsel of humility he may have left."
9. Cheap Thrills (E.L. Katz; March 21st)
Synopsis: Recently fired and facing eviction, a new dad has his life turned upside down when he meets a wealthy couple who offer a path to financial security... but at a price.
Trailer
Why You Should See It: Cheap Thrills left a horrible taste in my mouth, but I imagine that's the intended effect of this South by Southwest award winner. It's certainly unlike anything we're bound to get this year, as we said in our review, "Every now and then a film completely sideswipes your mental capacities and takes over. Since seeing Cheap Thrills, I’ve hardly been able to get the film out of my head. It’s stuck there, jabbing me every dozen minutes and reminding me how much I was in its deathgrip for around 90 minutes. There is very little fat to this work, a good sign, considering I don’t know if I could have taken any more visceral punishment. The stakes, the violence and the intensity were constantly moving higher as each minute ticked away."
8. Teenage (Matt Wolf; March 14th)
Synopsis: Teenagers did not always exist. In this living collage of rare archival material, filmed portraits, and voices lifted from early 20th Century diary entries, a struggle erupts between adults and adolescents to define a new idea of youth.
Trailer
Why You Should See It: Each year we get countless coming-of-age stories that detail that specific transitional period in one's life, and while many seem authentic, this new documentary aims to provide a new, much different take. Coming from producer Jason Schwartzman, Teenage features voiceover from Jena Malone and Ben Whishaw, as well as an original score by Deerhunter & Atlas Sound's Bradford Cox (seen briefly in Dallas Buyers Club). After an impressive trailer, we're looking forward to seeing this ambitious documentary.
7. Grand Piano (Eugenio Mira; March 7th)
Synopsis: Moments before his comeback performance, a concert pianist who suffers from stage fright discovers a note written on his music sheet
Trailer
Why You Should See It: Although the release seems to be comparatively quiet, Grand Piano is one of the most well-tuned thrillers I've seen in some time. Reminiscent of Brian De Palma in his prime, with a touch of Alfred Hitchcock, Mira is eloquently displaying that he has what it takes to be one of the next major Hollywood directors in this genre. As discussed in our latest podcast, the similarities to last weekend's Non-Stop is fairly striking, but this one has a bit more meat on its bones. Starring Elijah Wood and John Cusack, it's already out on VOD ahead of a theatrical release this month and one can read our review here.
6. Noah (Darren Aronofsky; March 28th)
Synopsis: The Biblical Noah suffers visions of an apocalyptic deluge and takes measures to protect his family from the coming flood.
Trailer
Why You Should See It: Before this latest feature, The Fountain was Darren Aronofsky's most ambitious undertaking -- wildly imaginative, with a boldly told story, it's easily my favorite work from the director. As the release of his next film looms, I sincerely hope the same can be said about it. Even though he says it's his director's cut, with a budget well over $100 million, Noah could easily sway towards a more all-audience friendly depiction of the Biblical figure. With a release at the end of the month, my wish is that Aronofsky can keep his vision intact on a much larger playing field.
5. Jodorowsky's Dune (Frank Pavich; March 7th)
Synopsis: The story of cult film director Alejandro Jodorowsky's ambitious but ultimately doomed film adaptation of the seminal science fiction novel.
Trailer
Why You Should See It: Every year in Hollywood, countless projects with hopes of heading into production fail for one reason or another, but the story behind such an event are rarely captured. This recent documentary, which premiered at Cannes, looks at one of the greatest films that was never made, Alejandro Jodorowsky's Dune. Including interviews with everyone from Nicolas Winding Refn to the director himself, we said in our review that "the real inspiration behind Jodorowsky’s Dune is the passion this director has for the love of filmmaking, making it a must-see for aspiring filmmakers and film lovers alike."
4. Enemy (Denis Villeneuve; March 14th)
Synopsis: A man seeks out his exact look-alike after spotting him in a movie.
Trailer
Why You Should See It: With his studio debut Prisoners excelling in its wide release last fall, the powers at be were smart to hold Denis Villeneuve's previously shot feature Enemy for a bow this spring. Technically his first collaboration with Jake Gyllenhaal, the film looks to be a hypnotic, alluring descent into madness -- and one that will let the Canadian director loosen up a bit. We're set to screen it this week, so return for our review next week, and note the film is currently available solely on DirecTV before a theatrical release.
3. The Grand Budapest Hotel (Wes Anderson: March 7th)
Synopsis: The adventures of Gustave H, a legendary concierge at a famous European hotel between the wars, and Zero Moustafa, the lobby boy who becomes his most trusted friend.
Trailer
Why You Should See It: After seemingly being one of the few disappointed by Moonrise Kingdom, Wes Anderson continues with the same rigid, but immaculate style when it comes to The Grand Budapest Hotel. Thankfully he injects a little more empathy this time around, with one of his greatest creations, Ralph Fiennes' Gustave H, a concierge attempting to retain a certain way of life that's soon to be no more. With some of his most gorgeous production design yet, Anderson has outdone himself, crafting his very own country, one tinged with a looming darkness.
2. Mistaken for Strangers (Tom Berninger; March 28th)
Synopsis: Acclaimed indie rockers The National embark on a global tour, and the frontman's brother endearingly and divertingly captures it all.
Trailer
Why You Should See It: While most concert documentaries take on the standard approach of a mix of on-stage footage and a collection of interviews, as well as the occasional back-stage peek, some break the mold. We highlighted our 20 favorites last year and one that would certainly be added to the collection is Mistaken for Strangers, which premiered at Tribeca Film Festival last year and finally rides into theaters and VOD next month. One of our early favorites of the year, I said in my review, that "for fans and newcomers alike, Mistaken For Strangers is a raw, unembellished look at not only one of music’s rising bands, but of the creative process in general."
1. Nymphomaniac: Volume I (Lars von Trier; March 21st)
Synopsis: A self-diagnosed nymphomaniac recounts her erotic experiences to the man who saved her after a beating.
Trailer
Why You Should See It: While it's difficult to judge just half a film, a viewing of Volume I of Nymphomaniac indicates that it's the beginnings of one of Lars Von Trier's finest films. With surprising hilarity and his trademark bare-all style (in more ways then one, as you might have figured), the first four chapters (and a little extra) is among the most impressive filmmaking we're bound to get this year. Arriving in VOD this Thursday ahead of a theatrical release later this month, the second chapter arrives on the same schedule, staggered a few weeks later ; whether it's from the comfort of your own home or on the big screen, it's an experience not to be missed.
All Releases
What are you watching this month?
