It’s March! Spring is almost here and will last approximately twenty minutes before the sweltering heat of summer makes another early appearance. However, there’s always a cool, air-conditioned movie theater calling your name this and every month, with exciting new films to see.
Starting the month strong, we have Dune: Part II. A sequel to the highly successful and well received Dune from 2021, this follow-up looks to conclude the story of the 1965 book of the same name by Frank Herbert. Again directed by Denis Villeneuve, the film sees another stacked cast with returning actors Timothee Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin and Dave Bautista, with newcomers Florence Pugh, Christopher Walken and Austin Butler joining the story. There’s a huge amount of lore here, so make sure you refresh your memory by watching the first one prior to viewing part two. Prepare to control the spice when the film hits theaters on March 1.
If you need another science fiction fix, take a look at Spaceman. Starring Adam Sandler as an astronaut sent to the edges of the galaxy to collect a mysterious ancient dust, he encounters a voice (Paul Dano) who tries to help him along the way … and also happens to be a creature from the beginning of time. This doesn’t appear to be the regular Adam Sander schlock that Netflix normally churns out, so we’ll see if this is a cut above when it lands on the streaming service on March 1.
Looking for a weird romantic thriller by A24? Look no further than Love Lies Bleeding. The story follows Lou (Kirsten Stewart), a gym manager that falls hard for Jackie (Katy O’Brian), a bodybuilder headed for Vegas. Lou’s father, played by an unhinged looking Ed Harris, is involved in the criminal underworld and seemingly pulls both of them into it. It has a bizarre ’80s setting with what appears to be some steroid-induced muscle growth that borders on the comical, but we’ll see how it all holds together on March 8.
For pure action and machismo, check out Road House. A remake of the 1989 film of the same name, this updated version stars Jake Gyllenhaal in the lead role of Elwood Dalton, an ex-UFC fighter now working at a roadhouse in the Florida Keys. Of course, nothing is as it seems. Directed by Doug Liman (The Bourne Identity), the film has a lot of potential to be an excellently made action ride full of great fights and one-liners. It comes to theaters on March 21.
Lastly, check out the TV show Nirvanna the Band the Show. Created by and starring Matt Johnson and Jay McCarrol, playing exaggerated versions of themselves, the mockumentary follows the duo as “Nirvanna the Band” and their ill-fated attempts at getting a show despite having no preparation. The show utilizes hidden camera techniques along with pre-planned scripting to create something that is often influenced by the actions of an unsuspecting person. It’s genuinely unique and extremely funny. All seasons are available on Internet Archive for free.
