March has arrived, and it brings a wild selection of new films to enjoy. All kinds of genres are present this month, so hopefully something catches your eye and convinces you to venture out on movie night.
First up, a bizarre sci-fi black comedy titled Mickey 17. Based on the 2022 book of the same name, the story follows Mickey Barnes (Robert Pattinson) and his journey to leave Earth to become an “expendable,” a disposable employee who takes part in incredibly dangerous jobs. However, if he dies, another version is regenerated with most of the original memories intact. Of course, one version manages to survive the culling, and two Mickeys must now fight to survive. Directed by Bong Joon-ho (Parasite), the film looks like a comedic ride with an incredibly dedicated Pattinson. After multiple delays, it hits theaters on March 7.
Next up, get your adrenaline pumping with Novocain. Starring Jack Quaid (The Boys) as Nathan Caine, the movie follows our hero – a mild mannered banker – with a girlfriend who is, unfortunately, taken hostage during a robbery. The twist: Nathan has a rare condition in which he feels absolutely no pain. The movie looks to have some comedic action set pieces, full of Quaid trying to rescue his love while getting maliciously injured – and not really noticing or caring. It will probably be a bloody good time when it releases on March 14.
For your spy thriller, look no further than Black Bag. The film follows Kathryn and George Woodhouse (Cate Blanchett and Michael Fassbender) as two prolific intelligence agents. When George is informed that his beloved wife is suspected of betraying the nation, he must decide what is more important: his love or his country. Directed by Steven Soderbergh (Ocean’s 11), the movie looks to be a real showcase for the lead actors, with twists and turns galore alongside beautiful cinematography. See if you can figure out the mystery when it releases on March 14.
If you want a biographical crime drama, The Alto Knights should be right up your alley. Starring Robert De Niro in dual roles as Vito Genovese and Frank Costello, the plot revolves around these two real life giants of the mafia underworld in their twilight years. The screenplay is penned by Nicholas Pileggi, who also wrote Goodfellas and Casino, so he’s no stranger to the gangster genre or what De Niro is meant to play. Hopefully it does well when it hits theaters on March 21.
Lastly, another sci-fi thriller as a bookend to Mickey 17, don’t miss Ash. Riya (Eiza Gonzales, Baby Driver) wakes up on a distant planet and comes to realize everyone on her space station has been killed. She must now decide if the man sent to rescue her (Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad) is as trustworthy as he says. The trailer shows a good chunk of trippy imagery and violence, indicating Riya’s perspective may also be suspect to the audience. This looks to have a real shot at cult status when it lands in theaters on March 21.
