It’s the final release weekend of March and it’s full steam ahead to close out the first quarter of 2023. Wow! The year really is just motoring right along and there are a lot of new movies to get to this week. Shall we?
New in Theaters
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
Director(s): John Francis Daley & Jonathan Goldstein| Writer(s): Jonathan Goldstein, John Francis Daley, Michael Gilio, Chris McKay
Stars: Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Regé-Jean Page
This is not a movie I expected to be interested in despite enjoying stuff like the Dungeons & Dragons games as a kid. However, casting Chris Pine in the lead and having him as a bumbling but humorous hero has me sold. The plan was to see it this weekend, but I don’t know if I can make that happen.
A Good Person
Written & Directed by: Zach Braff
Stars: Florence Pugh, Morgan Freeman, Celeste O’Connor
I covered this one last week for its limited release, but here’s the recap: This is one of the banalest and most forgettable titles I can think of and I have struggled to commit it to memory, but the cast is really good and the substance seems to be pretty heartfelt. It also has the added mystique of what went on behind the cameras as Zach Braff and Florence Pugh were in a relationship for years and most likely at some point in the creative process for this film.
*A Thousand and One – Editor’s Pick*
Written & Directed by: A.V. Rockwell
Stars: Teyana Taylor, Aaron Kingsley Adetola, Aven Courtney
A mom kidnaps her own child from foster care and tries to make a life for them despite the prominent obstacles. This one seems to cover some similar themes to Moonlight in terms of mother-son relationships and identity so I am very curious to check it out! It was a tight race this week, but I am giving this one my Editor’s Pick.
Smoking Causes Coughing
Written & Directed by: Quentin Dupieux
Stars: Gilles Lellouche, Vincent Lacoste, Anaïs Demoustier
Just based on the title I was expecting something satirical, but what I got was a group of knock-off Power Rangers whose power seems to be tobacco-related, and I low-key love that way more. I love to see silly stuff like this getting made because not everything has been doom and gloom. If I can find this one, I will definitely go check it out!
Limited Release
Perfect Addiction (March 27th)
Director(s): Castille Landon | Writer(s): Stephanie Sanditz, Caludia Tan
Stars: Kiana Madeira, Ross Butler, Matthew Noszka
My apologies to those who made this, but this is another in the long line of films that aim to exploit and capitalize on the popularity of mixed martial arts while still treating it like some secret and sexy underground fight club where cliche 80s love stories blossom and die. I would think this was a joke if it wasn’t taking itself so very seriously. I hope it’s better than the trailer makes it look, but I’m not holding my breath and I’ll let someone else take the plunge.
Helen | Believe (March 30th)
Written & Directed by: Dylan Mulick
Stars: Helen Maroulis
If you want a real, truly inspiring story about combat sports, check this one out!
Enys Men
Written & Directed by: Mark Jenkin
Stars: Mary Woodvine, Edward Rowe, Flo Crowe
I got a chance to see this one on an early preview on Wednesday, not knowing much about it aside from having seen the trailer. I am not sure how I felt afterward and I think I should see it again but I am also not in a rush to do that. In reading the IMDB description, at least I see that my response to it was not far off. It’s certainly weird and what kept popping into my head was “the nightmarish monotony of routine”.
Malum
Director(s): Anthony DiBlasi | Writer(s): Anthony DiBlasu, Scott Poiley
Stars: Jessica Sula, Natalie Victoria, Candice Coke
I am really glad to see this one was sold out at both Thursday evening showings near me! There is a horror renaissance going on and it’s coming in all shapes and sizes. Just looking at the trailer, this looks like the complete opposite end of the spectrum from Enys Men but I like demons and stuff in my horror. I ended up checking it out in the afternoon and it didn’t really do much for me.
Assassin
Director(s): Jesse Atlas | Writer(s): Jesse Atlas, Aaron Wolfe
Stars: Bruce Willis, Andy Allo, Dominic Purcell
Part Possessor part Upgrade but seemingly not as cool as either. With Bruce Willis deteriorating health I want to enjoy his final roles while I can, but this one is going to be a stretch. had this come at the right time in history it could have had the budget and the cast to at least look the part, but I don’t know what this is. Idea-wise, it’s definitely in my wheelhouse.
Spinning Gold
Written & Directed by: Timothy Scott Bogart
Stars: Caylee Cowan, Michelle Monaghan, Peyton List
I didn’t realize this was a biopic of Neil Bogart until I just read the description. That makes sense why his son Timothy Scott Bogart is telling this story now. More than that though, it’s an interesting look back at the history of the music industry in the 1970s and how so many great artists came from Casablanca Records.
Róise & Frank
Written & Directed: Rachael Moriarty and Peter Murphy
Stars: Bríd Ní Neachtain, Cillian O’Gairbhi, Lorcan Cranitch
This seems cute in a genuine way, but I’m going to need those subtitles.
Never Forget Tibet
Director(s): Jean-Paul Mertinez | Writer(s): Jean-Paul Mertinez, Rani Singh
Stars: The Dalai Lama, Hugh Bonneville
I never thought I would see a Fathom Events film about the Dalai Lama’s escape from Chinese oppression, but here we are. It looks really interesting because His Holiness has led an interesting life, but I am not sure if that trailer music fits the bill.
Acidman (Theaters + VOD)
Director(s): Alex Lehmann | Writer(s): Chris Dowling, Alex Lehmann
Stars: Thomas Haden Church, Dianna Agron, Sameerah Luqmaan-Harris
This one has grown on me more and more with each subsequent watch of the trailer. Yes, it’s on the quirky side but it seems like a very human story at the center. There may or may not also be aliens involved, so I’m willing to roll the dice.
Space Oddity (Theaters + VOD)
Director(s): Kyra Sedgwick | Writer(s): Rebecca Banner
Stars: Kyle Allen, Kevin Bacon, Alexandra Shipp, Madeline Brewer
As much as I love space and technology and all that, I am really enjoying the more humanistic approach to sci-fi stories. This appears to be more sci-fi lite or maybe not really sci-fi at all, but I’ll allow it because Kevin Bacon said so.
His Only Son
Written & Directed by: David Helling
Stars: Nicolas Mouawad, Sara Seyed, Daniel da Silva
Very few films are non-starters for me but, if I had to design one, it would be a religious film aimed at capitalizing on a religious holiday in order to sell tickets. It may or may not be a good movie, in the end, and for those who see this one I really do hope that it hits on the personal struggle of the characters and not the “value” of their blind allegiance, but I will never know.
In Viaggio
Written & Directed by: Gianfranco
Stars: Pope Francis
Speaking of low-hanging religious fruit, we’ve got this movie that follows Pope Francis. I guess I’d be semi-interested in this because of his station, not in the church or in the eyes of “god” but his position as a figure in the world.
The Worst Ones (Los Angeles)
Director(s): Lise Akoka, Romane Gueret
Writer(s): Lise Akoka, Romane Gueret, Elénore Gurrey
Stars: Mallory Wanecque, Timéo Mahaut, Johan Heldenbergh
I think this was only released in New York when I covered it last week, so here’s the rundown: I love the simplicity of the trailer. Just a bunch of kids from a neighborhood chosen to act in a movie. Judging by the title though, there is going to be more to it than that. It’s been a strong start to 2023 for French releases.
Streaming & Digital
Murder Mystery 2 (Netflix)
Director(s): Jeremy Garelick | Writer(s): James Vanderbilt
Stars: Adam Sandler, Jennifer Aniston, Mark Strong
I never saw the first one, so there is a good chance I won’t catch this one either. However, I do like the cast and am curious about Mark Strong being added in. Maybe I will do a double feature one night.
Kill Boksoon (Netflix)
Written & Directed by: Sung-hyun Byun
Stars: Jeon Do-yeon, Hwang Jung-min, Fahim Fazli
If there’s a Netflix movie I will be watching this weekend, this is certainly the front-runner. A single mother who is secretly John Wick in her professional life…that sounds like a lot to juggle for both her and the filmmakers, but if done right it could be quite could.
Black Clover: Sword of the Wizard King (Netflix)
Director(s): Ayataka Tanemura | Writer(s): JOhnny Onda, Ai Orii, Yuuki Tabata
Stars (voices): Jun’ichi Suwabe, Miyuki Sawashiro, Hôchû Ôtsuka
I am not into anime so I don’t know anything about the legacy of Black Clover. That said, I was still mostly on board until I heard whatever song the editors decided to use for that trailer. Talk about a tonal mismatch. I hope this one lives up to the expectations of its fans, but I’ll not be taking the plunge right now.
Prom Pact (Disney+)
Director(s): Anya Adams | Writer(s): Anthony Lombardo
Stars: Wendi McLendon-Covey, Milo Manheim, Christopher Shyer
If you were looking for something in the realm of high school comedy but completely watered down for the Disney+ release, well you’ve found it. Consider it the polar opposite of Euphoria. I am 100% NOT the target demo for this, so no thank you.
Rye Lane (Hulu)
Director(s): Raine Allen-Miller | Writer(s): Nathan Bryon, Tom Melia
Stars: David Johnson, Vivian Oparah, Poppy Allen-Quarmby
If you are looking for a youthful romantic comedy, this is the far better bet. It is never my genre of preference but this is a story that got me interested and the trailer looks really sweet and genuine. Move it up the list. Nice job Hulu. This was runner-up on my Editor’s Pick.
Tetris (Apple TV+)
Director(s): Jon S. Baird | Writer(s): Noah Pink
Stars: Taron Egerton, Mara Huf, Miles Barrow
I can’t lie, I am very interested in this one. I have been seeing the trailer for quite a while now because I watch a lot of Apple TV+ apparently, but that’s neither here nor there. After Taron Egerton’s turn in Black Bird also Apple TV+, I am even more excited to see how this story of a very straight-line videogame got so crazy.
The Unheard (Shudder)
Director(s): Jeffrey A. Brown | Writer(s): Michael and Shawn Rasmussen
Stars: Lachlan Watson, Michele Hicks, Brendan Meyer
This kind of reminds me of a 1993 John Carpenter movie called Body Bags and one of the stories in it where Mark Hamill’s character gets an eye transplant but then starts seeing and doing horrible things. Hey, I’m not complaining either! I loved that movie and I love Shudder, this is a good option if I can find a way to sneak it into my weekend.
Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham (VOD March 28th)
Director(s): Christopher Berkeley and Sam Liu
Writer(s): Jase Ricci, Mike Mignola, Richard Pace
Stars (voices): David Giuntoli, Gideon Adlon, Karan Brar
The DC Animated Universe has been delivering quality movies for decades now and whenever I want to really see a good movie involving those characters I check the animated options first. I don’t see why this one would be any different.
Interface (VOD March 28th)
Director(s): Kemo Diatta | Writer(s): Kemo Diatta, Rebecca Norris
Stars: Samm Wiechec, Makenna Perkal, Havon Baraka
On paper, this idea is right up my alley. Technology intersects with trauma and loss as two sisters try to save their mom by getting their hands on some kind of multiverse machine. Okay, that’s a lot far-fetched and the trailer looks kinda weak too, but there is always room in my life for taking chances on these kinds of things.
Adalynn (VOD March 28th)
Director(s): Jacob Byrd | Writer(s): Jerrod D. Brito
Stars: Sydney Carvill, Wade Baker, Janet Carter
I don’t think this is the kind of movie that needed the action movie voiceover guy and I think it actually works against it, but such is life. Postpartum depression meets paranoia as a young mother tries to keep her baby alive. Meh, but maybe one day.
The Quest for Tom Sawyer’s Gold (VOD March 28th)
Director(s): Kirk Harris
Writer(s): Nick Pollack, Jerome Reygner-Kalfon, Sebatien Semon
Stars: Joey Lauren Adams, Patrick Muldoon, Alex Hyde-White
Here’s a PG adventure movie for the family. I would have loved to see this kind of stuff available to me when I was a kid so I am glad to see it available for kids now.
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