Although the calendar says otherwise, March marks the start of the summer movie season. Please note: All release dates are subject to change.
March 5
‘Vladimir’
In this limited-series romantic comedy, Rachel Weisz stars as M, a woman whose marriage to her professor husband, John (John Slattery) is in tatters. Things start looking up when M meets the much younger Vladimir (Leo Woodall) who instantly becomes her obsession. (Netflix)
March 6
‘Youngblood’
Based on the 1986 Rob Lowe movie of the same name, this sports drama stars Ashton James as Dean, a black Canadian teen who dreams of making it all the way to the National Hockey League. Blair Underwood co-stars as Dean’s father. (Well Go USA)
‘Protector’
In a gender swap of the action thriller “Taken” concept, Milla Jovovich plays a former soldier who is forced out of retirement when her daughter Chloe (Isabel Myers) is kidnapped. Showing up in supporting roles are Matthew Modine, Don Harvey, and D.B. Sweeney. (Magenta Light)
March 13
‘Reminders of Him’
The latest adaptation of a Colleen Hoover beach-read paperback stars scream queen Maika Monroe (“It Follows,” “Longlegs”). Monroe plays Kenna, a just-released felon who served seven years for a DUI that resulted in the death of her boyfriend, the father of her child. (Universal)
March 20
‘Project Hail Mary’
Recalling “Armageddon,” “The Martian,” and “Alien,” this sci-fi action thriller stars Ryan Gosling as Ryland, an astronaut charged with saving the planet from a dying sun. Assisting him on the mission is Rocky (voiced by puppeteer James Ortiz), an amiable being from another planet. (MGM)
‘Tow’
Sticking close to the actual events, Rose Byrne stars as Amanda Ogle, a homeless Seattle woman whose car—which doubles as her home—is towed and subsequently sold. The ensuing legal wrangling lasts more than a year and presents a perfect “David vs. Goliath” metaphor. (Vertical/Roadside Attractions)
‘Wardriver’
Rebecca Thomas directs this action crime thriller starring Dean DeHaan as Cole, a computer hacker who electronically robs businesses and banks. The arrival of a mysterious woman (Sasha Calle), who could become his future lover, business partner, or foil, turns Cole’s world upside down. (The Avenue)
‘Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man’
Unless you’ve already seen the six seasons of the eponymous TV series, or plan to binge them beforehand, you’ll likely be unable to make heads or tails of this not-standalone feature. Series creator Steven Knight has said the movie is effectively a condensed seventh and final season. (Netflix)
March 25
‘Pretty Lethal’
Originally titled “Ballerina Overdrive,” this action thriller from director Vicky Jewson looks like a camp Quentin Tarantino flick. Uma Thurman leads the mostly female cast, who must fight for survival after their bus breaks down en route to a dance competition. (Amazon Studios/MGM)
March 27
‘Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice’
Details on this buddy action crime comedy are fuzzy but the gist is that Vince Vaughn and James Marsden play guys in love with the same woman (Eiza Gonzales). At some point—perhaps for the duration—a time machine figures into the mix. (Hulu/20th Century)
‘Fantasy Life’
Writer-director-producer Matthew Shore also stars in this odd ball romantic comedy as Sam, a recently fired paralegal desperate for work. Sam (kind of) catches a break when his therapist (Judd Hirsch) gets him a job babysitting his granddaughters. This leads to Sam falling for the girls’ mother (Amanda Peet). (Greenwich Entertainment)
‘The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist’
As he prepares for fatherhood, co-director Daniel Roher (“Navalny”) conducts a series of interviews with artificial intelligence experts to determine how worried he should or shouldn’t be about his child’s future. (Focus)
‘The Magic Faraway Tree’
Based on a series of children’s books, this throwback fantasy sounds ideal for family viewing. A married couple, played by Andrew Garfield and Claire Foy, must move with their children from the city to the remote countryside to escape the hustle and bustle of the modern world. (Entertainment Film Distributors)
What to Look For
As was the case in February, I’m most looking forward to two titles released on the same day —March 20. Ryan Gosling has done sci-fi and action before but not in the same movie. Look for “Project Hail Mary” to be both a critical and audience winner.
I’ve already seen “Tow” (twice, actually) and it is beyond inspirational. A woman (Rose Byrne) living out of her car becomes embroiled in a legal stalemate when a Seattle towing company demands payment for her own car after it was stolen.
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