According to
Cat
20 - Hunting Housewives
(3/9)
Director: Marco Deufemia
Writer:
Paula Tiberius
Actors:
Denise Richards, Mark Ghanimé, Kym Johnson Herjavec, Melyssa Ford, NeNe Leakes,
Martin Roach, Sergio Di Zio, Kip Brown, Tom Morton
Genre:
Drama, Thriller
Rated: TV-14
Length: 1h
30min
IMDb Blurb: Four housewives plan a weekend getaway, but end up
stranded in the wilderness.
I know this might sound a little crazy – but I actually
added a Lifetime movie to the Top 20 list this month. Hunting Housewives
doesn’t feel like the typical copy & paste or color by number movies that
typically play on this network or others like it.
The concept of a group of rich housewives getting set up by
their spouses or significant others to have a plane crash survival scenario
instead of the spa vacation they wanted feels like a fresh idea to me. Further,
to make it more interesting, the spouses have cameras set up everywhere so they
can watch their nefarious sabotage plan unfold.
I’m curious to see if the significant others are
legitimately hoping their other halves will perish in the crash or survival
aftermath, or if there’s a plan to run to the rescue eventually (so they can no
doubt be seen as heroes).
I’m also liking the cast they’ve put together for the
housewife roles. Nene Leakes (The New Normal, Glee, Uncle Drew), Denise
Richards (Twisted, Love Accidentally, Glow & Darkness), and Kym
Johnson Herjavec (Sharknado 4: The 4th Awakens, Love Alaska, Christmas with
the Knightlys) are among the stranded and betrayed wives. I’m especially
giddy to see Johnson-Herjavec, as I’ve been a fan of hers dating back to her
run as a pro on Dancing With the Stars (2005-) – so I’m really looking
forward to where she takes her acting career.
Hunting Housewives will be airing on the Lifetime network Saturday, March 9th and
will be available to stream on their platform the next day.
19 - Glitter & Doom
(3/8)
Director: Tom Gustafson
Writer:
Cory Krueckeberg
Actors:
Alex Diaz, Alan Cammish, Ming-Na Wen, Missi Pyle, Tig Notaro, Alejandra Bogue,
Lea DeLaria, Beth Malone, Peppermint, Kate Pierson, Amy Ray, Emily Saliers
Genre:
Musical, Romance
Rated:
Unrated
Length: 1h
55min
IMDb Blurb: In a fantastical romance set to the hits of the Indigo
Girls, two young aspiring performers fall in love at first sight. Punctuated by
a star-studded cast, GLITTER AND DOOM is an electric queer musical about the
power of love.
Glitter & Doom is checking all sorts of boxes for me right
now. Interesting characters? Check. Notable cast? Check. Musical? Check. Indigo
Girls Amy Ray (Boys on the Side, Indigo Girls: Live at the Roxy, Transparent)
and Emily Saliers (Indigo Girls: Live at the Roxy, Ben & Ara,
Transparent)all over the soundtrack AND acting in the movie? Check-check.
I really enjoyed the trailer for this
quirky and compelling LGBTQ+ romance flick. I loved the musical arrangements
and am looking forward to hearing the whole thing, and even probably singing
along with some. It felt like Glitter & Doom just plucked out a
small snippet of the soundtrack of my high school years and put it on the
screen with a cool twist of adding this story.
I’m already invested on a silly level.
Glitter & Doom is receiving a limited
release beginning March 8th. On-Demand rental and streaming service
release dates were not available at the time of this article.
18 - Spaceman (3/1)
Director: Johan Renck
Writers:
Jaroslav Kalfar, Colby Day
Actors:
Adam Sandler, Carey Mulligan, Paul Dano, Kunal Nayyar, Isabella Rossellini,
Lena Olin, Petr Papánek, Marian Roden, Zuzana StivÃnová, Sinead Phelps, Sunny
Sandler, John Flanders
Genre:
Sci-fi, Adventure, Drama
Rated: R
Length: 1h
47min
IMDb Blurb: Half a year into his solo mission on the edge of the
solar system, an astronaut concerned with the state of his life back on Earth
is helped by an ancient creature he discovers in the bowels of his ship.
Spaceman looks like it has a lot going for it. From
the glimpses in the trailer, the production quality looks spot-on. (Though, we
generally expect that from Netflix, right? They’ve got those big bucks.) I’m a
sucker for a good space movie both fiction and non-fiction.
Spaceman falls squarely into the realm of fiction,
however. This movie is a book adaptation for a novel that I have not read. I just
have to throw that out there. I couldn’t tell you if this looks like it might
live up to the source material or not, I’m afraid. Even so, I find the premise
intriguing.
I have so many questions – like why a spider? (Arachnophobes
beware. If you had any issues with the size of critters in Harry Potter and
the Chamber of Secrets (2002), this is your warning.)
What really excites me more than a bit of Sci-Fi/Fantasy
is that Adam Sandler (Pixels, Murder Mystery, Leo) is here playing another
serious dramatic role. His comedy films are a bit doofy sometimes and have me
rolling my eyes when my husband wants to watch them over and over again. His
dramatic work, however? Give that man a good gritty part any day. The praise he
got from Uncut Gems (2019) was well deserved and he really had a slam dunk with
Hustle (2022).
Is there really a creature on his ship while he’s so far
from help, or is this just a figment of his imagination as his mind has broken?
I am looking forward to finding out which.
My only cause for concern here is that this film was
stuck in post-production for 3 years based on test screening results – at least
according to IMDb. Why? Of course, that answer probably isn’t simple, nor is it
readily available. I’m still willing to give Spaceman a chance, in spite
of that.
Spaceman had a very limited theater run in
February and will now hit Netflix for its wide release on March 1st.
17 - The American
Society of Magical Negroes (3/15)
Director: Kobi Libii
Writer:
Kobi Libii
Actors:
Justice Smith, Gillian Vigman, David Alan Grier, Mia Ford, Eric Lutz, Kees
DeVos, Aaron Coleman, Aisha Hinds, Chase Ryan Jeffery, Moe Irvin, Ethan
Herisse, Nozipho Mclean, Isayas Theodros, Gregory James Cohan, Gregor Manns,
Jeremiah Birkett, Aaron Jennings, Tim Baltz, Nicole Byer, An-Li Bogan, Michaela
Watkins, Drew Tarver, Rupert Friend, Bianca Crudo, Floyd Anthony Johns Jr.,
Girvan 'Swirv' Bramble, Farelle Walker, April McCullough
Genre:
Comedy, Fantasy
Rated:
PG-13
Length: 1h
44min
RottenTomatoes Blurb: THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MAGICAL NEGROES is a fresh,
satirical comedy inspired by the "magical negro" cinematic trope
popularized in American cinema and television throughout the 20th Century and
first named and criticized by filmmaker Spike Lee. Flipping the trope on its
head, THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MAGICAL NEGROES follows a young man, Aren, who is
recruited into a secret society of magical Black people who dedicate their
lives to a cause of utmost importance: making white people more comfortable.
Although initially enamored with his new powers, Aren begins to question the
value of using supernatural means to do the very thing he's felt obligated to
do his whole life.
I’m both excited and a little trepidatious to watch this
movie. We’ll get into all the exciting reasons here in a second. First, I want
to focus on why I feel a little apprehensive here, and the irony of it all. I
am uncomfortable and feel squirmy about a movie that highlights that magical
people of one ethnicity have a need to use powers to aid the comfort of another
ethnicity – for the sake of reducing threats and danger to their people as a
whole. I understand that this is satire, and the place where this is coming
from – it’s meant to be thought provoking in this way. It SHOULD make people
feel a bit uncomfortable at times. That’s the point – to point out how silly it
is that people get uncomfortable for wonky reasons.
The American Society of Magical Negroes may not be
everyone’s cup of tea. I, for one, am looking forward to this film.
I adore quire a few members of this cast – primarily Justice
Smith (Ron's Gone Wrong, The Voyeurs, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among
Thieves), Aisha Hinds (Star Trek: Into Darkness, Godzilla: King of the
Monsters, 9-1-1), and David Alan Grier (The Cool Kids, They Cloned
Tyrone, The Color Purple). Grier will forever hold a special nostalgic
place in my heart for his work on In Living Color (1990-1994) – which is
one of my favorite sketch shows of all time. He has quite the range, however,
so I do enjoy seeing him in serious stuff now and again. It seems that this
movie is a bit of a dramedy, so that works out great!
I’m curious to see what happens as Smith’s character begins
to break the rules in the name of love, as the trailer seems to indicate. Will
he get the girl? Will the society reprimand him? Will something catastrophic
happen?
We’ll all find out when The American Society of Magical
Negroes hits theaters in a wide release on March 15th.
16 - In the Land of Saints & Sinners
(3/29)
Director: Robert Lorenz
Writers:
Mark Michael McNally, Terry Loane
Actors:
Liam Neeson, Ciarán Hinds, Colm Meaney, Kerry Condon, Desmond Eastwood, Conor
MacNeill, Seamus O'Hara, Manus Brennan, Niamh Cusack, Michelle Gleeson, Tim
Landers, Mark O'Regan, Jack Gleeson, Anne Brogan, Conor Hamill, Sarah Greene,
Valentine Olukoga, Laura Hughes, Joe Gallagher
Genre:
Action, Crime, Thriller
Rated: R
Length: 1h
46min
IMDb Blurb: In a remote Irish village, a damaged father is forced to
fight for redemption after a lifetime of sins, but what price is he willing to
pay? In the land of saints and sinners, some sins can't be buried.
I’m rather giddy that In the Land of Saints & Sinners
is releasing this month. It just wouldn’t be right if the month containing St.
Patrick’s Day didn’t have an Irish movie eligible (and watchable) for the Top
20 list. This Liam Neeson (The A-Team, The Commuter, Marlowe) helmed
action and crime thriller is not only set in Ireland, but the grand majority of
the actors are Irish as well – even Neeson. I am eagerly anticipating enjoying
nearly 2 hours of lilting authentic Irish accents. I digress…
Neeson is no stranger to this type of role, and he excels in
them – regardless of how many times we see something similar. In this case,
considering he’s on his home turf, I’m hoping there’s a little more spark to
his performance. I thought I might have caught a glimpse of such while watching
the trailer. He’s not the only recognizable Irish actor among the cast, either.
I’m already invested in this story and wonder exactly how
the past catches up to Finbar Murphy – and whether or not those that come
hunting his head are of actual relation to him or not. So many questions that
must wait for answers.
In the Land of Saints & Sinners is receiving a
wide release premiering March 29th. Streaming and digital rental
release information was not available at the time of this article.
15 - State of Consciousness (3/15)
Director: Marcus Stokes
Writers:
Guillaume Tunzini, Dikran Ornekian, Rylend Grant, Giacomo Arrigoni
Actors:
Emile Hirschk, Gaia Scodellaro, Tatjana Nardone, Michael E. Rodgers, Lara
Pictet, Kesia Elwin, Joy Libardoni, Jane Alexander, Daniel Lench, Mariano Di
Vaio, Gonzalo Escudero, David Wurawa, Yoon C. Joyce, Alex Ramos, Robin Mugnaini
Genre:
Thriller
Rated: R
Length: 1h
41min
RottenTomatoes Blurb: Accused of murder, a
man winds up in a shady mental facility where an experimental treatment causes
a yearlong gap in his memory, leaving him unable to separate horrific
hallucinations from real life. As he fights to regain the fragments of his old
life, he starts to realize the truth is more frightening than anything he could
ever imagine.
My curiosity is thoroughly piqued with State of Consciousness.
Is Emile Hirsch’s (Once Upon a Time...In Hollywood, The Comeback Trail,
Inside Man) character, Stephen, in some sort of dystopian future? Is he
trapped in some sort of Matrix (1999)-like simulation? The trailer gave
me so many questions that I’m dying to learn the answers.
It’s clear that, at the very least, there is some sort of
control going on in a quasi-Inception (2010) sort of fashion and I can’t
wait for the layers of that mystery to be peeled back.
State of Consciousness feels like just the right
blend of Sci-Fi with thriller to get the pulse pounding and bring audiences to
the edge of seats.
We won’t have to wait long, though. State of
Consciousness is receiving a limited theater release, and is also dropping
on digital On-Demand services on its premier day, March 15th.
14 - American Dreamer
(3/8)
Director: Paul Dektor
Writers:
Theodore Melfi, Christopher Wehner
Actors:
Danny Pudi, Matt Dillon, Peter Dinklage, Shirley MacLaine, Danny Glover,
Michelle Mylett, Donald Heng, Garry Chalk, Kimberly Quinn, Rebecca Olson,
Raresh DiMofte, C. Ernst Harth, Kimberley Shoniker, Brendan Riggs, Frank
Warburton Bailey III, Jennifer-Juniper Angeli
Genre:
Comedy, Drama
Rated:
Unrated
Length: 1h
38min
Rotten Tomatoes Blurb: American Dreamer, based on a true story from Chicago
Public Radio's This American Life, is the story of Phil Loder (Peter Dinklage),
a twice-divorced, frustrated, underpaid professor of economics, whose grand
dream of home ownership is tragically out of reach. When an incredible,
once-in-a-lifetime opportunity comes his way, Phil strikes a deal with Astrid
Finnelli (Shirley MacLaine), a lonely, childless, near-death widow who offers
her sprawling estate for pennies. But Phil quickly learns the deal is too good
to be true and the American dream is not quite what it used to be.
I love a good dark comedy now and again, and Peter Dinklage
(Knights of Badassdom, Game of Thrones, Cyrano) is masterful in such
roles. The combination of Dinklage and Shirley MacLaine (Guarding Tess,
Bewitched, Only Murders in the Building) alone is reason enough for me to
want to watch American Dreamer.
Then you throw in the rest of the amazing cast; such as Matt
Dillon (The Art of the Steal, Wayward Pines, Asteroid City) and Danny
Glover (Almost Christmas, The Dead Don't Die, Jumanji: The Next Level)
and there’s an excellent set=up for a well-rounded comedic romp.
Dinklage’s character, Dr. Phil Loder, seems to be
experiencing a living representation of the “Expectations vs. Reality” memes
that often circulate the internet and social media, and I’m here for it.
American Dreamer is receiving a limited theatrical
release beginning March 8th, though will become available for
digital rental On-Demand on the same day. Streaming service release information
was not available at the time of this article.
13 - Knox Goes Away
(3/15)
Director: Michael Keaton
Writer:
Gregory Poirier
Actors: Al
Pacino, Michael Keaton, Marcia Gay Harden, James Marsden, Joanna Kulig, Ray
McKinnon, Lela Loren, Suzy Nakamura, Dennis Dugan, Chad Donella, John
Hoogenakker, Jay Paulson, Benita Krista Nall, Marisa Echeverria, Nicole
Reddinger, Paul Perri, Lee Dawson, Morgan Bastin, Charles Bisset, Gugun Deep
Singh, Kristofer Gordon, Natasha Galano, Edwin Garcia II
Genre:
Thriller
Rated: R
Length: 1h
54min
TMDB Blurb: A contract killer, after being diagnosed with a
fast-moving form of dementia, is presented with the opportunity to redeem
himself by saving the life of his estranged adult son. But to do so, he must
race against the police closing in on him as well as the ticking clock of his
own rapidly deteriorating mind.
It’s heartbreaking when someone you love develops dementia.
It would be absolutely terrifying for a contract killer to be on the loose and
suffering from the debilitating brain disorder. Knox Goes Away explores that
very concept – with a twist. Perhaps Knox has a chance to redeem himself in the
eyes of his estranged son, played by James Marsden (Lee Daniel's The Butler,
Into the Grizzly Maze, Sonic the Hedgehog), before he completely loses his
mind… literally.
I would watch Michael Keaton (Dumbo, The Trial of the
Chicago 7, Dopesick) in just about anything. He has become an integral part
of my personal cinematic landscape over the years – beginning with Mr. Mom
(1983). When it comes to Knox Goes Away this is doubly exciting for me;
because Keaton is not only starring in this movie, but also directing it. This
is only his 2nd credited feature he’s directed, and the last was
back in 2008, so this feels like quite the treat to get an updated feeling for
his storytelling style both in front of and behind the camera.
Of course, Keaton isn’t alone on the screen by any means.
Legendary Al Pacino (The Irishman, House of Gucci, Hunters) plays a key role in
this tale, as well, if the trailer is accurate. I also enjoy the work of Marcia
Gay Harden (Code Black, Confess Fletch, The Morning Show) and Ray McKinnon
(Ford v. Ferrari, News of the World, The Continental: From the World of John
Wick). (Although, the latter sometimes makes me irrationally angry just looking
at him because of his role in both Sons of Anarchy (2008-2014) and Mayans
M.C. (2018-2023). He really acted the hell out of the asshole federal agent
part. It’s stuck with me.)
Knox Goes Away will be receiving a wide release in
theaters beginning Friday, March 15th.
12 - Wicked Little
Letters (3/29)
Director: Thea Sharrock
Writer:
Jonny Sweet
Actors:
Jessie Buckley, Olivia Colman, Hugh Skinner, Timothy Spall, Anjana Vasan, Lolly
Adefope, Eileen Atkins, Alisha Weir, Joanna Scanlan, Jason Watkins, Gemma
Jones, Malachi Kirby, Richard Goulding, Paul Chahidi, Susie Fairfax
Genre:
Comedy, Drama, History, Mystery
Rated: R
Length: 1h 40min
IMDb Blurb: When people in Littlehampton--including conservative
local Edith--begin to receive letters full of hilarious profanities, rowdy
Irish migrant Rose is charged with the crime. Suspecting that something is
amiss, the town's women investigate.
Wicked Little Letters looks like it’s going to be a hilarious
period piece with a marvelous feud between the characters portrayed by Olivia
Colman (Secret Invasion, Wonka, The Crown) and Jessie Buckley (Chernobyl,
The Lost Daughter, Women Talking). Of course, at the center of everything
is also the mystery of who sent the titular shockingly profane letters.
I am eagerly anticipating watching both to find out the
answer to “whodunnit” and laugh my head off at the shenanigans unfolding on the
screen. Of course, Wicked Little Letters is set in 1920s England, and
the events detailed in this story would have been quite the jolt to anyone of
decorum and propriety in that age.
Crazily enough, however, I’ve learned that Wicked Little
Letters is actually based on a true story. It has taken quite a bit of
willpower to refrain from researching ahead of time to find out the answers to
all of the burning questions.
Wicked Little Letters will receive a limited theater
release on Friday, March 29th; but will open to a wide release
beginning April 5th. At the time of this article, information
regarding digital on-demand rental and the like was not available.
11 - Arthur the King
(3/15)
Director: Simon Cellan Jones
Writer:
Michael Brandt, Mikael Lindnord
Actors:
Mark Wahlberg, Nathalie Emmanuel, Simu Liu, Bear Grylls, Juliet Rylance, Paul
Guilfoyle, Rob Collins, Ali Suliman, Cece Valentina, Elizabeth Chahin, Alani
Ilongwe, Oscar Best, Roger Wasserman
Genre:
Drama, Adventure
Rated:
PG-13
Length: 1h
30min
TMDB Blurb: Over the course of ten days and 435 miles, an
unbreakable bond is forged between pro adventure racer Michael Light and a
scrappy street dog companion dubbed Arthur. As the team is pushed to their
outer limits of endurance in the race, Arthur redefines what victory, loyalty
and friendship truly mean.
Arthur the King is one of those uplifting true
stories that you want to root for.
Of course, as long as the titular critter – in this case, a
dog – doesn’t die during the movie. I’ve had my share of heartache from
watching furry friends die on the screen after becoming emotionally invested in
their story and wellbeing. I am not really up for adding any more animal
friends to that body count, thank you.
There is an app for that! Well, at least there’s a website
that checks out potentially triggering things for you and is able to provide
answers without much spoiling of the stories involved. If you want to know if Arthur
makes it through before buying a ticket or renting this movie, maybe check out Doesthedogdie.com. I’ll leave it to you whether or not
you want to spoil that fact.
Regardless of that, the tale of Arthur the dog and the crazy
long adventure race he decided to tag along for is absolutely amazing. There’s
a great cast on board, the cinematography looks on point, there will be plenty
of action and adventure, and of course there will be plenty of “the feels”
along the way. Sounds like a recipe for success!
Arthur the King is set for a wide theatrical release
beginning March 15th. Digital on-demand and streaming information
was not available at the time of this article.
10 - Ricky Stanicky
(3/7)
Director: Peter Farrelly
Writers:
Jeffrey Bushell, Brian Jarvis, James Lee Freeman, Peter Farrelly, Pete Jones,
Mike Cerrone, David Occhino, Jason Decker
Actors:
Zac Efron, John Cena, Andrew Santino, Jermaine Fowler, William H. Macy, Jeff
Ross, Riley Stiles, Oscar Wilson, Gaius Nolan, Brian Jarvis, Jackie Flynn,
Kevin Flynn, Jasmine Anders, Lex Scott Davis, Stan Grant, Anja Savcic, Bob
Farrelly, Nathan Jones, Jasper Bagg, Debra Lawrance, Heather Mitchell, Daniel
Monks, Sloan Fischer, Jane Badler, Apple Farrelly, Marta Kaczmarek, Francesca
Waters, Charlie Torr, Jackson Tozer, Ryan Shelton, Harrison Frick, Sean Gildea,
Jim Knobeloch, Sharon Johal, Kieran Rahilly
Genre:
Comedy
Rated: R
Length: 1h
48min
IMDb Blurb: When three childhood best friends pull a prank that
goes wrong, they invent the imaginary Ricky Stanicky to get them out of
trouble. Twenty years later, they still use the nonexistent Ricky as a handy
alibi for their immature behavior.
This trio of best buddies has been lying to everyone around
them for over 20 years about a fictional person – why stop now? I mean, what
could possibly go wrong when you hire an adult performer with questionable taste
to pretend to be the infamous scapegoat for so many alibis?
Honesty is the best policy, mmkay?
Ricky Stanicky looks like it’s going to be quite the
rollercoaster ride with both hilarity and cringe humor. Both Zac Efron (The
Greatest Showman, The Greatest Beer Run Ever, The Iron Claw) and John Cena
(Peacemaker, Fast X, Argylle) have shown over the years that they are
equally capable of serious roles and absolute cornball craziness. I have a
feeling that Ricky Stanicky is going to be decidedly on the goofy end –
with an adult humor twist.
Audiences won’t have to wonder when this title will be available
for streaming, though, as Ricky Stanicky is releasing on March 7th
as an Amazon Prime Original.
9 - Kung Fu Panda 4
(3/8)
Directors: Mike Mitchell, Stephanie Stine
Writers:
Jonathan Aibel, Glenn Berger
Actors:
Jack Black, Awkwafina, Viola Davis, Dustin Hoffman, James Hong, Bryan Cranston,
Ian McShane, Ke Huy Quan, Ronny Chieng, Lori Tan Chinn, Cece Valentina
Genre:
Comedy, Adventure, Animation, Action
Rated: PG
Length: 1h
34min
IMDb Blurb: After Po is tapped to become the Spiritual Leader of
the Valley of Peace, he needs to find and train a new Dragon Warrior, while a
wicked sorceress plans to re-summon all the master villains whom Po has
vanquished to the spirit realm.
They’ve made another one? That seems to be the question I
hear a lot – and the answer is yes, yes they did. Am I happy about it? Yes, yes
I am. I can’t get enough of these silly panda movies. Seriously. They’re a lot
of fun! Each one has also had something new to bring to the table so it hasn’t
been the same story over and over, either.
I really appreciate that they’ve given Po this mega-arc for
character development. He progresses from noodle-shop worker to Dragon Warrior,
but then needs to learn how to be a good leader and a good student. He also
gets to rediscover his roots along the way. Each new story is a progression.
That’s still true, from what I’ve seen of this 4th installment. This
time Po has to learn to embrace peace, let go of the Dragon Warrior title as it
is passed down, and become a teacher in his own right – while fighting the
newest big bad …who embodies (sometimes literally) all of the major villains he’s
already vanquished and then some. This story progression truly hasn’t been the
rinse and repeat that most sequels offer.
While I haven’t seen mention of the Furious 5 in the cast
listings or even the trailer, the majority of the key players are still
returning for this new quadriquel, as it’s being called. Jack Black (Weird:
The Al Yankovic Story, The Super Mario Bros. Movie, The Mandalorian) is reprising
Po, as it should be. Dustin Hoffman (Little Fockers, The Program, As They
Made Us) returns as Shifu. Bryan Cranston (The One and Only Ivan, Jerry
and Marge Go Large, Argylle) has returned as Li, Po’s biological father,
after picking the role up in the 3rd movie. Ian McShane (Deadwood:
The Movie, American Gods, John Wick: Chapter 4) brings back the original
Big Bad with Tai Lung. Finally, James Hong (Turning Red, Gremlins: Secrets
of the Mogwai, Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight) is lending his talent once
more to Mr. Ping – Po’s adopted father, the noodle shop owner.
There’s phenomenal talent joining the cast in new roles, as
well. Ke Huy Quan (Everything Everywhere All at Once, American Born Chinese,
Loki), continuing his glorious Hollywood resurgence, is playing a pangolin
named Han. Awkwafina (Raya and the Last Dragon, Renfield, Migration) is
lending her voice to the little fox character, Zhen, who is seen with Po
throughout the trailer. Will that character be his new protégé? That’s my
guess. Last, but absolutely not least, Viola Davis (Ma Rainey's Black
Bottom, The Woman King, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes)
is voicing the villain, Chameleon. We all know she is a badass. This is going
to be great!
Kung Fu Panda 4 will be getting a wide theatrical
release on March 8th. It is unclear at this time when it will become
available for digital on-demand rental or streaming services.
8 - Late Night with
the Devil (3/22)
Directors: Cameron Cairnes, Colin Cairnes
Writers:
Colin Cairnes, Cameron Cairnes
Actors:
David Dastmalchian, Laura Gordon, Ian Bliss, Fayssal Bazzi, Ingrid Torelli,
Rhys Auteri, Josh Quong Tart, Georgina Haig, Steve Mouzakis, Gaby Seow,
Christopher Kirby, Paula Arundell, Mitchell Brotz, Nicole Chapman, Imaan
Hadchiti
Genre:
Horror
Rated: R
Length: 1h
26min
IMDb Blurb: A live television broadcast in 1977 goes horribly
wrong, unleashing evil into the nation's living rooms.
When I first watched the trailer for Late Night with the
Devil, I was getting serious The Cleansing Hour (2019) vibes. That
was a surprisingly great movie, by the way. However, I don’t think this is
going to be exactly like that, but the stakes might ultimately be similar to
the events in that film.
Honestly, when I saw that David Dastmalchian (Boston
Strangler, Oppenheimer, The Last Voyage of the Demeter) is front and center
in this horror movie, I couldn’t resist. I have to watch it. He is so excellent
at subtly sinister and creepy characters. He also pulls off the complete opposite
just as effectively.
Would you like to know more? (I couldn’t resist.) Michael
Ironside (Synchronicity, Nobody, BlackBerry) is also lending his voice
as the narrator to bring us this harrowing tale of late-night talk show gone
wrong – presented as found-footage.
This movie doesn’t seem to offer anything so overt as a live
exorcism on air, but rather is featuring a set of talk show guests that spell a
recipe for disaster - a Halloween
episode featuring a parapsychologist and the sole survivor of a cult that all
offed themselves, who also happens to be the subject of the parapsychologist’s
new book. What could possibly go wrong? Apparently, quite a lot.
I’m excited about this new IFC Films offering. Late Night
with the Devil will receive a limited theatrical release beginning March 22nd,
and will become available exclusively on AMC+/Shudder as of April 19th,
2024.
7 - Asphalt City
(3/29)
Director: Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire
Writers:
Ben Mac Brown, Shannon Burke, Ryan King
Actors:
Sean Penn, Tye Sheridan, Gbenga Akinnagbe, Michael Pitt, Katherine Waterston,
Mike Tyson, Raquel Nave, Kali Reis, Shelly Burrell, Daniel Foote, Onie Maceo
Watlington
Genre:
Thriller, Drama
Rated: R
Length: 2h
5min
IMDb Blurb: Ollie Cross is a young paramedic assigned to the NYC
night shift with an uncompromising and seasoned partner Gene Rutkovsky. Each
911 call is often dangerous and uncertain, putting their lives on the line
every day to help others.
On the best of nights, the profession of a fire department
paramedic is an intense and stressful occupation. Then throw in the mix one of
the biggest cities of the world – New York. FDNY has some of the craziest and
toughest challenges out there when it comes to emergency medical response, and
this movie gives us but a little taste of what it’s like behind the proverbial
curtain… in fictionalized form, of course.
I tend to watch a few crime procedurals here and there, but
I also have been enjoying the hell out of the 9-1-1 (2018-) shows. One
is set in Los Angeles, and 9-1-1: Lone Star (2020-) is set in Austin,
TX. There have been a few movies over recent years that have also featured
paramedics in key, if not lead, roles. I like this trend of showing a different
kind of superhero on screen…the ones that you have working every day in your
city, often at much cost to themselves physically and mentally.
That brings us to what seems to be at the core of this
rookie + veteran EMT duo’s story. Somewhere, and somehow a line gets crossed
and something happens that requires a lot of red tape and this ambulance squad
is called to account for it. Asphalt City looks like it’s going to be a
hard-hitting and emotional rollercoaster of possibly literal heart-stopping
moments.
This film is also in good hands with Sean Penn (Gangster
Squad, The Professor and the Madman, Licorice Pizza) and Tye Sheridan (Scouts
Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse, Ready Player One, The Tender Bar) as the
pair of paramedics Asphalt City focuses on. We also get a treat of
seeing Mike Tyson (The Hangover, A Madea Family Funeral, Mike Tyson
Mysteries) as their Chief.
So far, there seem to be a lot of mixed reviews for this
movie; however, a lot of them seem to reference the film by the title Black
Flies – which is the name of the book this movie is adapted from. It appears
that initial screenings used that title first. Perhaps, with Asphalt City,
the production team could have potentially done a little tweaking as part of
post-production and gave it a re-branding. That’s just conjecture on my part. I’m
willing to give it a shot either way.
Asphalt City is set for a limited theatrical release
beginning March 29th. Information regarding digital on-demand and
future streaming services was unavailable at the time of this article.
6 - Imaginary (3/8)
Director: Jeff Wadlow
Writers:
Greg Erb, Jason Oremland, Jeff Wadlow
Actors:
DeWanda Wise, Tom Payne, Veronica Falcón, Betty Buckley, Alix Angelis, Dane
DiLiegro, Taegen Burns, Pyper Braun, Matthew Sato, Cecilia Leal, Sean Albertson
Genre:
Horror, Thriller
Rated:
PG-13
Length: 1h
44min
IMDb Blurb: A woman returns to her childhood home to discover that
the imaginary friend she left behind is very real and unhappy that she
abandoned him.
There are at least 2 movies releasing in the near future involving
imaginary friends and what happens with their humans have grown up and moved beyond
them. One is lighthearted and intended to be a fun family movie called IF,
which is due to be released in May 2024. The other is a much darker take on the
topic with a Blumhouse horror treatment.
This film, Imaginary, is that very Horror/Thriller
with a rating a bit more restrictive at PG-13.
I think it’s phenomenal that we get to see both sides of the
concept explored this year.
As for the horror take, there were points in the trailer
that had me squirming and all of my mom-senses were wigging out on behalf of
the little girl being manipulated by the former friendly, now sinister, “imaginary”
entity.
This looks like it’s going to be a wild ride, and I’m
curious to see if we get to see the world that these companion entities hail
from – or where they go when they are left behind.
Imaginary is set to receive a limited theatrical
release beginning March 8th.
5 - Godzilla x Kong:
The New Empire (3/29)
Director: Adam Wingard
Writers:
Terry Rossio, Simon Barrett, Jeremy Slater, Adam Wingard
Actors:
Rebecca Hall, Dan Stevens, Rachel House, Brian Tyree Henry, Fala Chen, Kaylee
Hottle
Genre:
Sci-fi, Action, Adventure
Rated:
PG-13
Length: 1h
55min
IMDb Blurb: Two ancient titans, Godzilla and Kong, clash in an
epic battle as humans unravel their intertwined origins and connection to Skull
Island's mysteries.
It’s a team-up! Honestly, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire
had me at “Godzilla.”
I adore these features about massive creatures. Though, I
will admit I tend to lean in towards favoring the Godzilla-centric stories. I
am curious how this will all play out, and to see if they make any explanation
in the movie for some of the design changes (such as the red/magenta hue as Godzilla
powers up instead of the blue as it’s been in the most recent movies).
Bonus, too, that Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire also
has Dan Stevens (The Guest, Beauty and the Beast, The Boy and the Heron) and
Brian Tyree Henry (Godzilla vs. Kong, Bullet Train, The Magician's Elephant)
among the cast.
“Go, go Godzilla!” – Blue Oyster Cult
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire will have a wide
theatrical release beginning March 29th. Digital On-Demand rental
information was not available at this time, though you can bet that Godzilla
x Kong: The New Empire will most likely land on Max after the required time
in theaters elapses.
4 - Road House (3/21)
Director: Doug Liman
Writers:
Anthony Bagarozzi, Chuck Mondry, R. Lance Hill, Hilary Henkin
Actors:
Jake Gyllenhaal, Conor McGregor, Daniela Melchior, Jessica Williams, Lukas
Gage, Billy Magnussen, Darren Barnet, Post Malone, Joaquim de Almeida,
Dominique Columbus, Arturo Castro, JD Pardo, Beau Knapp, Hannah Love Lanier,
Kevin Carroll, Bob Menery, B.K. Cannon, Travis Van Winkle, Catfish Jean, Chad
Guerrero, Jay Hieron, David Warren, Kenny Lorenzetti, Bruce Buffer, Jon Anik,
Daniel Cormier, Megan Olivi
Genre:
Action, Drama, Thriller
Rated: R
Length: 1h
54min
IMDb Blurb: Ex-UFC fighter Dalton (Jake Gyllenhaal) takes a job as
a bouncer at a Florida Keys roadhouse, only to discover that this paradise is
not all it seems.
Alright, let’s deal with the elephants in the room – because
I think there are a few of them here.
I absolutely adore the original Road House (1989) with
Patrick Swayze (Dirty Dancing, Point Break, Donnie Darko), Sam Elliott (Tombstone,
A Star is Born, 1883), and Kelly Lynch (Charlie's Angels, Magic City,
Rock the Kasbah). There simply is no replacing that movie. The pairing of
Swayze and Elliott was something magical for that film, and it all worked. It
was a product of its time and that’s great.
I’m not mad that the new Road House is happening,
however.
This new remake has a lot going for it – primarily the cast.
Jake Gyllenhaal (Spider-Man: Far from
Home, Ambulance, The Covenant) is perfect for this lead role. He’s lean and
scrappy and fits the character well. He’s believable in the required action and
has the temperament for the part. Daniela
Melchior (Marlowe, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Faxt X) playing the
doctor that helps clue Dalton in on the complexities of the area he just moved
to. Conor McGregor (Game of War:
Prepare for War, Bipolar Rock 'N Roller, The Ultimate Fighter) works as a
hot-headed and arrogant fixer for the local bad guy, played by Joaquim de
Almeida (Our Brand is Crisis, Queen of the South, Warrior Nun). Each of
these parts was well cast. There’s even a musical talent among the cast with Post
Malone (Spenser Confidential, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem,
This is Me...Now).
All of the pieces are in place for Road House to have
a great resurgence in popularity – and those who have watched this new one will
likely go back and watch the original, too.
Though, there is some controversy circling because Amazon acquired
the production of this movie when they bought MGM. The original screenwriter
from the 1989 movie tossed their hat in the ring regarding copyright, and now
the director has stated they plan to skip the premiere at SXSW film festival as
a protest that Amazon intends to release this movie directly to streaming after
the film festival. There’s further scuttlebutt that Amazon utilized AI with the
film due to the strike, but the company has denied those allegations and there haven’t
been any court proceedings yet to decide one way or another. Gyllenhaal has
made public statements that he always understood
Amazon was going to stream this film, but he appreciates the directors’ tenacity.
Lawsuits have been filed – as of now, however, there doesn’t seem to be any
change to Amazon’s plans. Until and unless some sort of court injunction stops
them from releasing Road House, it’s going to hit Prime Video as
scheduled.
I get where everyone is coming from, but I also really
REALLY want to watch this movie ASAP. So, I’m crossing my fingers that it
carries on. It’s not up to me to determine if Amazon has gone back on their
word, etc. Both parties will need to prove their sides in court.
Road House will hit Amazon Prime Video on March 21st,
providing courts do not intervene.
3 - Dune: Part Two
(3/1)
Director: Denis Villeneuve
Writers:
Denis Villeneuve, Jon Spaihts, Frank Herbert
Actors:
Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin,
Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, Dave Bautista, Christopher Walken, Léa Seydoux,
Stellan Skarsgård, Charlotte Rampling, Souheila Yacoub, Roger Yuan, Babs
Olusanmokun, Alison Halstead, Giusi Merli, Kait Tenison, Steve Wall, Zoe Kata
Kaska, Anya Taylor-Joy
Genre:
Action, Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi
Rated:
PG-13
Length: 2h
46min
IMDb Blurb: Paul Atreides unites with Chani and the Fremen while
seeking revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family.
I have been waiting with bated breath for Dune: Part Two
to be released. With the ripple effects of the global pandemic and the strike,
I got worried that we’d have to wait longer.
The time has finally come! If you want to see how much I
gushed over the first movie and how much I adore this treatment of Frank Hebert’s
books, head on over to our review of Dune
(2021) from November of its release year.
I am quite sure Dune: Part Two will have been worth
the wait, and I’m hoping to even go see it on the big screen.
Dune: Part Two will be hitting theaters for a wide
release today, Friday, March 1st. While exact dates are yet unknown,
you can look for this film to stream on Max at some point before summer.
On-demand details weren’t available at the time of this article.
2 - Damsel (3/8)
Director: Juan Carlos Fresnadillo
Writer:
Dan Mazeau
Actors:
Millie Bobby Brown, Ray Winstone, Angela Bassett, Brooke Carter, Nick Robinson,
Robin Wright, Milo Twomey, Nicole Joseph, Patrice Naiambana, Ulli Ackermann,
Tasha Lim, Brogan Mcfarlane, Sonya Nisa, Esther Odumade, Margarita Ren, Eloise
Shephard, Szofia Sallia, Matt Slack, Manon Stieglitz, António Craveiro, Shohreh
Aghdashloo
Genre:
Fantasy, Adventure, Action
Rated:
PG-13
Length: 1h
48min
IMDb Blurb: A dutiful damsel agrees to marry a handsome prince,
only to find the royal family has recruited her as a sacrifice to repay an
ancient debt.
I have been dying to watch Damsel ever since Netflix
released its first teasers featuring Millie Bobby Brown (Stranger Things,
Godzilla vs. Kong, Enola Holmes) in that tiny cave opening along the cliff
wall.
Who doesn’t love a story about the maiden who refuses to become
a sacrifice to the fire-breathing dragon and decides to save herself?! This is
one revenge tale that should play out quite satisfactorily, if the trailers are
to be believed.
The cast is phenomenal, the effects look great so far, and
the cinematography seems stunning and spot-on, given what was offered in the
trailer’s brief glimpses.
Damsel is releasing as a Netflix Original on March 8th.
1 - Ghostbusters:
Frozen Empire (3/22)
Director: Gil Kenan
Writers:
Gil Kenan, Jason Reitman, Ivan Reitma, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis
Actors:
Mckenna Grace, Celeste O'Connor, Carrie Coon, Annie Potts, Paul Rudd, Bill
Murray, Finn Wolfhard, Kumail Nanjiani, Ernie Hudson, Patton Oswalt, Dan
Aykroyd, Emily Alyn Lind, William Atherton, Logan Kim, James Acaster, Emily Ng,
Deisy Patiño, Natalie Cousteau
Genre:
Comedy, Fantasy, Adventure
Rated:
PG-13
Length: 2h
5min
IMDb Blurb: When the discovery of an ancient artifact unleashes an
evil force, Ghostbusters new and old must join forces to protect their home and
save the world from a second ice age.
I can’t get enough Ghostbusters. That’s really the only
reason I need to watch Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.
The original cast is returning, the cast from Ghostbusters:
Afterlife (2021) is coming back as well, and once more they’ll be where it
all began – New York City.
The trailers showed that there will be callbacks and nods to
the original as well as this last sequel, and there will be returning supporting
cast as well as some new faces – such as Patton Oswalt (The Goldbergs, The
Sandman, Mystery Science Theater 3000).
I can assure you that I will be watching Ghostbusters:
Frozen Empire as soon as humanly possible along with my whole family.
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire lands in theaters for a
wide release on March 22nd, but if you live in New York City, you can
watch it as early as March 14th. Streaming and on-demand details
were not available at the time of this article.
Movies to Look out For
According to Selina
With Love and a Major Organ .20
Love Lies Bleeding .19
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire .18
In the Land of Saints and Sinners .17
Late Night with the Devil .16
Spaceman .15
Ricky Stanicky .14
Glitter & Doom .13
My Name is Loh Kiwan .12
Femme .11
Damsel .10
Kung Fu Panda 4 .9
Riddle of Fire .8
Arthur the King .7
The American Society of Magical Negroes .6
American Dreamer .5
Road House .4
Wicked Little Letters .3
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire .2
Dune: Part Two .1
FAQ:
