Adam Gunton
The Batman
Released: 4 March
The Bat is back with a new film. I remember watching Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins with my mum and for the first hour and a half she kept asking, “Is he Batman yet? Is he Batman yet?” Mercifully, this movie is skipping the origin story of how he became Batman.
This time round, the Batman is Robert Pattinson. You might roll your eyes at that casting but Pattinson has proved he has talent far beyond Twilight with his performances in films like The Lighthouse, The King and The Devil All the Time. Batman has a huge library of characters and stories and this time round he’s teaming up with Catwoman (Zoë Kravitz) to take on the Penguin (Colin Farrell) and the Riddler (Paul Dano). It’s going to be dark, it’s going to moody and you’re going to be so glad to be back in Gotham City.
Ali & Ava
Released: 4 March
If you’re looking for something with a little more weight, then look no further than this piece of British cinema from Clio Bernard, director of the fantastic film; The Selfish Giant. Ali and Ava meet each other when they’re both incredibly lonely for different reasons. Over the course of a month, they grow closer, finding comfort in each other despite their personal baggage. It’s a beautiful and raw story about human connection and the importance of being seen.
Everything Everywhere All At Once
Released: 25 March
I like to throw a wildcard in each month and this is a pretty wild wildcard. Michelle Yeoh is an aging Chinese immigrant who just can’t seem to finish her taxes when she finds she’s able to connect with other versions of herself in other universes and only she can save the world. Wildcard! It’s exciting to have a film like this with an unconventional lead and it’s got a great supporting cast including, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jenny Slate and Harry Shum Jr. It’s mind-bending, it’s funny, it’s full of heart, its… it’s hard to describe but if you’re looking for something different this month, then look no further.
Turning Red
Released: 11 March
Disney and Pixar’s latest offering is all about a little girl who turns into a red panda whenever she gets too excited or stressed. Pretty normal for a Disney movie. But she’s not a little red panda; she’s a red panda the size of a big ol’panda bear which causes all kinds of chaos. As it’s Disney, there’s a lesson to learnt in all this; the magical changes are a metaphor for growing up and finding yourself as a young teen. Much like the fantastic Inside Out, it’s going to go straight for your emotions in a fun and fantastical way.
Operation Fortune: Ruse De Guerre
Released: 18 March
Did you catch Guy Ritchie’s last film, The Gentlemen? The best thing about it was Hugh Grant acting off-type and it seems Ritchie has recognised that and cast him in an equally funny role. The film follows Jason Statham as Special Agent Orson Fortune as he and his team (including the brilliant Aubrey Plaza) recruit one of Hollywood’s biggest stars to try and stop arms dealer Hugh Grant. It looks slick, fun and most importantly, classic Guy Ritchie.