14 Movies To Watch In March

“Tomb Raider”
Cast: Alicia Vikander, Dominic West, Daniel Wu
Synopsis: Lara Croft is the fiercely independent daughter of an eccentric adventurer who vanished years earlier. Hoping to solve the mystery of her father’s disappearance, Croft embarks on a perilous journey to his last-known destination — a fabled tomb on a mythical island that might be somewhere off the coast of Japan.
What You Need To Know: Video game adaptations notoriously don’t fare well. From “Prince of Persia” to “Warcraft” to “Assassins Creed,” they’re either too overwrought or too silly or both. There really isn’t anything yet about the Alicia Vikander starring “Tomb Raider” adaptation to make us believe it will be any different, but her involvement along with director Roar Uthaug (who directed by immensely tense disaster thriller “The Wave”) creates an undeniable sense of intrigue. It’s something of a bizarre choice for the Oscar winning actress, but Vikander can make her lesser roles soar.
Release Date: March 16th

“Love, Simon”
Cast: Nick Robinson, Katherine Langford, Keiynan Lonsdale
Synopsis: Everyone deserves a great love story, but for 17-year-old Simon Spier, it’s a little more complicated. He hasn’t told his family or friends that he’s gay, and he doesn’t know the identity of the anonymous classmate that he’s fallen for online. Resolving both issues proves hilarious, terrifying and life-changing.
What You Need to Know: Even if you’re sick of young adult adaptations, “Love, Simon” is worth celebrating. A mainstream, teen romance but with a gay teenager in the lead may not feel revolutionary considering the high profile nature of “Call Me By Your Name,” “Moonlight” and “Carol” these past few years, but “Love, Simon” isn’t a “prestige” film. Rather, it’s playing to its demographic — teens, and the types that adored “The Fault in Our Stars.” Perhaps it’s too much weight to be putting on a film directed by someone who also directed “Green Lantern,” but it’s worth celebrating a step into making LGBTQ stories more universally told and consumed.
Release Date: March 16th

“Journey’s End”
Cast: Sam Claflin, Asa Butterfield, Paul Bettany
Synopsis: In 1918, British officers who are led by a deranged commander in Ainse await their fate.
What You Need To Know: After a bevy of films set in WWII in 2017, we’re diving straight into World War I with “Journey’s End,” a meditative look at one troupe of soldiers directed by Saul Dibb (“The Duchess,” “Suite Française”). With a who’s who lineup of established and up and coming actors including Sam Claflin, Asa Butterfield and Paul Bettany, “Journey’s End” is a knockout of a film for Dibb whose quality of work has often slid to the lower end of the scale. Our critic called it “vital”, saying “ ‘Journey’s End’ is about as good an adaptation as you can imagine of the material, and a film with compassion and humanity that goes far beyond its perhaps uncompromisingly prestige-y exterior.”
Release Date: March 16th

“Pacific Rim Uprising”
Cast: John Boyega, Scott Eastwood, Rinko Kikuchi
Synopsis: Jake Pentecost is a once-promising Jaeger pilot who has since abandoned his training only to become caught up in a criminal underworld. But when an even more unstoppable threat is unleashed to tear through cities and bring the world to its knees, Jake is given one last chance to live up to his father’s legacy.
What You Need To Know: Your excitement regarding the upcoming and long awaited sequel to Guillermo Del Toro’s original will ultimately depend on how won over you were by the Kaiju monster fun that was “Pacific Rim.” As someone firmly in the “this movie is amazing and I can’t talk with anyone who doesn’t vehemently agree” camp, I’m tentatively enthused for John Boyega starring “Pacific Rim: Uprising.” Sure, the trailers hint that del Toro’s sense of whimsy may be missing, but it’s a vibrant blockbuster that will likely play best on the big screen. Scott Eastwood is as bland as it gets (and Charlie Hunnam hardly charmed in the original) and it’s unlikely Steven S. DeKnight will bring the same magic, but it should promise some high soaring fun.
Release Date: March 23rd

“Unsane”
Cast: Claire Foy, Jay Pharoah, Juno Temple
Synopsis: Sawyer Valentini relocates from Boston to Pennsylvania to escape from the man who’s been stalking her for the last two years. While consulting with a therapist, Valentini unwittingly signs in for a voluntary 24-hour commitment to the Highland Creek Behavioral Center.
What You Need To Know: Steven Soderbergh is a fascinating director, jumping between genres with an ease many filmmakers fail to accomplish. Following last year’s under appreciated heist comedy “Logan Lucky,” he’s returning with a mystery thriller starring “The Crown” breakout Claire Foy. Our critic, who had mixed feelings on the film calling it “pulpy and nasty,” said “Given the parameters, ‘Unsane’ is vast deal better than it should be.”
Release Date: March 23rd