[IMG:L]They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so — from just sizing-up movie stills that caught our eye — here’s the lowdown on March movies at a glance!
Genre: action, adventure, sci-fi, fantasy
Release Date: March 6
Cast: Malin Akerman, Billy Crudup, Matthew Goode, Jackie Earle Haley, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Patrick Wilson, Carla Gugino
Scoop: When a former colleague is murdered, the washed-up yet determined masked vigilante Rorschach (Haley) sets out to uncover a plot to kill and discredit all past and present superheroes. As he reconnects with his former crime-fighting legion, a ragtag group of retired superheroes, Rorschach discovers a disturbing mass conspiracy — with catastrophic consequences for the future.
If a Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words, We Say: Step off, Blue Man Group! A new indigo wonder is in town — and we’re all pumped-up to WATCH the stunts that he and his fellow crime fighters are serving up. The ever-twisting plot may make us wanna scream too, but who cares? We’re so there!
Snapshot Prediction: 3.5 out of 5 flashes
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Genre: Drama
Release Date: March 6
Cast: Rosario Dawson, Paul Dano, Naomie Harris
Scoop: In the city of Philadelphia, young love, drugs and poverty collide creating a tale of hope and demonstrating the power of coming together.
If a Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words, We Say: Looks like it’s all about open mouths and protesting wrongness this month! Dawson and Dano together, we’re sure, will put us squarely in touch with the growing political energy that fueled remarkable change this past year — whether you’re down with it or not.
Snapshot Prediction: 3 out of 5 flashes
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Genre: Crime, Thriller
Release Date: March 6
Cast: Dennis Quaid, Ziyi Zhang
Scoop: At home, a hardened cop Aidan Breslin (Quaid) has grown increasingly distant from his two young sons since the death of his wife. At work, he finds himself thrust into an investigation of perverse serial killings, rooted in the Biblical prophecy of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse — while discovering a shocking connection with the prime suspect.
If a Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words, We Say: Oh Dennis, it’s never a good idea to cozy up to your orange-suited prime suspect — even if it’s the naughtily alluring Ziyi — especially when her body language reads: coy-meets-pounce…and you’re a cop. Curious set-up.
Snapshot Prediction: 2.5 out of 5 flashes
KEEP READING: Phoebe in Wonderland
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Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Family
Release Date: March 6
Cast: Elle Fanning, Felicity Huffman, Bill Pullman, Patricia Clarkson, Campbell Scott, Bailee Madison
Scoop: The fantastical tale of Phoebe (Fanning), a young girl who’s longing to be in the school’s play Alice in Wonderland, while struggling to control her behavior — increasingly dictated by a condition that’s eclipsing her daily life. She begins retreating to an imaginary world peopled with characters from Wonderland, as the people in her ‘real life’ try desperately to understand her..
If a Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words, We Say: She may not have the wily eyes of her big sis’ Dakota, but we’re guessing that Elle is pretty in touch with the fantasy world, given that her family’s been surrounded by Hollywood-ers as long as she can remember. So, yeah, she can channel this complex role.
Snapshot Prediction: 3 out of 5 flashes
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Genre: Documentary, War
Release Date: March 13
Cast: Jake Rademacher, Joe Rademacher, Isaac Rademacher
Scoop: Filmmaker Jake Rademacher sets out to understand the experience, sacrifice, and motivation of his two brothers serving in Iraq, while risking everything — including his life — to tell his brothers’ story.
If a Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words, We Say: When you’re getting up in someone’s face, good to know your brother has your back. This Gary Sinise produced war film won’t suffer from a typical documentary flaw: the director not being familiar enough with his/her subjects. The intimate portrait should rivet.
Snapshot Prediction: 3.5 out of 5 flashes
KEEP READING: The Edge of Love
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Genre: Drama, Romance and Adaptation
Release Date: March 13
Cast: Keira Knightley, Sienna Miller, Kevin McKidd, Cillian Murphy, Matthew Rhys
Scoop: Set in the bohemian underworld of 1940s war-torn London, the complex relationship shared by the brilliant Welsh poet Dylan Thomas and the two feisty, free-spirited women connected by his love — his wife Caitlin (Knightley) and childhood friend Vera Phillips (Miller) — as well as Vera’s to-be husband William Killick.
If a Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words, We Say: One thing can be said about both Keira and Sienna, their choices — while often romantic — always give quite a bit of edge. We’re thinking this softly lit, ’40s Brit femme duo may make a few heads turn this season, and debate the dangers of love vs. war.
Snapshot Prediction: 4 out of 5 flashes
KEEP READING: The Last House on the Left
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Genre: Suspense, Thriller, Remake
Release Date: March 13
Cast: Monica Potter, Tony Goldwyn, Sara Paxton, Garret Dillahunt
Scoop: The night she arrives at a lake-house, Mari (Paxton) and her friend are kidnapped by a prison escapee and his crew. Terrified and left for dead, Mari’s only hope is to make it back to her parents (Potter and Goldwyn). Unfortunately, her attackers unknowingly seek shelter at the one place she could be safe. And when her family learns the horrifying story, they will make three strangers pay.
If a Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words, We Say: Don’t mess with their baby — doesn’t a vertical poker tell you enough!
Snapshot Prediction: 2 of 5 flashes
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Genre: Comedy
Release Date: March 13
Cast: Zach Cregger, Trevor Moore, Raquel Alessi
Scoop: Prudish Eugene (Cregger) awakens from a four-year coma to learn that his once virginal high school sweetheart has since become a famous magazine’s centerfold. So, he and his sex-crazed best friend, Trucker, decide to take a cross-country road trip to crash a party at the magazine’s legendary mansion headquarters, in hopes to win back the girl.
If a Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words, We Say: Um, would you two like to get a room? C’mon do you guys really think the famed P-boy mansion has corridor-action like this; or is this pure movie fantasy? Either way, we have a feeling this will be a ‘modest’ cult classic for a certain Porky’s-legacy crowd.
Snapshot Prediction: 2 out of 5 flashes
KEEP READING: Race to Witch Mountain
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Genre: Fantasy, Family, Thriller, Remake
Release Date: March 13
Cast: Dwayne Johnson, AnnaSophia Robb, Alexander Ludwig, Ciaran Hinds, Carla Gugino
Scoop: A taxi driver gets more than get bargained for when he picks up two teen runaways. Not only does the pair possess supernatural powers, but they’re also trying desperately to escape people who have made them their targets.
If a Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words, We Say: When you have Tthe Rock’ on your side, getting to an escape route is not that impossible. Things may look a little stiff and stilted, but aren’t we all looking forward to visiting witch mountain … again?
Snapshot Prediction: 3 out of 5 flashes
KEEP READING: Sunshine Cleaning
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Genre: Comedy, Drama, Crime
Release Date: March 13
Cast: Amy Adams, Emily Blunt, Alan Arkin, Steve Zahn
Scoop: Former cheerleading captain, Rose (Adams) now finds herself a thirtysomething, single mom working as a maid — hoping to get her son into a better school. Her sister, Norah (Blunt), still lives at home with their dad. Rose soon persuades Norah to go into the crime scene clean-up business with her to make some quick cash. In no time, the girls are up to their elbows in murders, suicides and other specialized situations, hoping to turn their lives around.
If a Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words, We Say: Haplessly blue, struggling, middle-class, slacker-ish gals who stumble into the crime-scene clean-up biz — sounds like it’s just what the (recession) doctor ordered this season. May we add, it’s brought to you by the producers of Little Miss Sunshine.
Snapshot Prediction: 3.5 out of 5 flashes
KEEP READING: Valentino: The Last Emperor
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Genre: Documentary
Release Date: March 18
Cast: Valentino Garavani, Giancarlo Giammetti
Scoop: A non-fiction portrait of the legendary designer Valentino Garavani in the wake of his exit in 2008 from the company he founded in Rome more than 45 years ago. Unprecedented access to Valentino, his entourage and his world of bygone glamour results in this chronicle of his extraordinary partnership with Giancarlo Giammetti — and a story about a master confronting the final act of his celebrated career.
If a Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words, We Say: Who says runway better than Valentino? Not many. And we have a feeling that a determined, glamorous sashay through his unparalelled career will certainly be worth the journey.
Snapshot Prediction: 3.5 out of 5 flashes
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Duplicity
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Release Date: March 20
Cast: Julia Roberts, Clive Owen, Tom Wilkinson, Paul Giamatti, Billy Bob Thornton
Scoop: CIA officer Claire Stenwick (Roberts) and MI6 agent Ray Koval (Owen) have left the world of government intelligence to cash in on the highly profitable cold war raging between two rival multinational corporations. Their mission? Secure the formula that will bring a fortune to the company that patents it first. And as they each try to stay one double-cross ahead, two career loners find their schemes endangered by the only thing they can’t cheat their way out of: love.
If a Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words, We Say: Julia and Clive together again in espionage. Sounds like a juicy his and hers film — as in, he gets his … and she gets hers.
Snapshot Prediction: 4 out of 5 flashes
KEEP READING: The Great Buck Howard
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Genre: Comedy, Drama
Release Date: March 20
Cast: Colin Hanks, John Malkovich, Emily Blunt, Tom Hanks, Tom Arnold
Scoop: A mentalist extraordinaire, Buck Howard (Malkovich) spent years in the limelight — hypnotizing audiences — but has fallen of the radar. However, convinced his comeback is imminent, he believes he just needs a new manager and personal assistant. As it turns out, recent law school drop-out and unemployed, would-be writer, Troy (Colin Hanks) needs a job and a purpose. With a bold stroke of fate, Buck lands back into the public eye, taking Troy along for the ride of his life.
If a Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words, We Say: A character that’s waaay ‘out there’ and possessing a big, unsheltered ego — Malkovich knows how to play like a fiddle. This ragtag group that populates the dark comedy with two generations of ‘Hanks’ should be a slyly hypnotic.
Snapshot Prediction: 4 out of 5 flashes
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Genre: Comedy, Romance
Release Date: March 20
Cast: Paul Rudd, Jason Segel, Rashida Jones, Andy Samberg, Jaime Pressly, Jon Favreau
Scoop: Peter Klaven (Rudd) is a successful realtor who, upon getting engaged to the woman of his dreams, Zooey (Jones), realizes he has no male friends to serve as the best man at his wedding. Peter embarks on a series of bizarre, awkward “man-dates” finally connecting with Sydney (Segel), a charming, opinionated bohemian. But his insta-bond his new BFF soon puts a strain on his relationship.
If a Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words, We Say: Open mouth … insert foot! Yeah, we know he’s singing, but … isn’t that how these romantic comedies always chart love-in-distress? Well, when Paul Rudd’s in the house, not to mention Segel and Pressly there’s a high chance you’ll be laughing — a lot.
Snapshot Prediction: 3 out of 5 flashes
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Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Release Date: March 20
Cast: Nicolas Cage, Rose Byrne
Scoop: Professor John Koestler (Cage) makes the startling discovery that an encoded message discovered in a time capsule from 1958 predicts — with pinpoint accuracy — the dates, death tolls and coordinates of every major disaster of the past 50 years. As John further unravels the document’s chilling secrets, he realizes it foretells three additional events — the last of which hints at destruction on a global scale and seems to somehow involve John and his son.
If a Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words, We Say: Give Nic a flashlight, a map and a mystery, and he’s good to go. We’re impressed that he’s teaming up with the enigmatic Byrne on this one.
Snapshot Prediction: 3 out of 5 flashes
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Genre: Thriller
Release Date: March 20
Cast: Paulina Gaitan, Edgar Flores, Hector Jimenez, Kristyan Ferrer
Scoop: After murdering his gang’s leader, a teenager joins a family of Honduran immigrants — making the dangerous journey across Mexico to the United States — while trying avoiding a fellow gang member who has been sent to kill him along the way.
If a Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words, We Say: You don’t have to be a mind reader to know: trouble’s brewing here. Exec produced by Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna — and awarded Excellence in Directing (Dramatic) and Cinematography at this year’s Sundance — this thoughtful thriller is bound to make you contemplate the cost of border-crossing.
Snapshot Prediction: 4 out of 5 flashes
KEEP READING: Spinning Into Butter
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Genre: Drama
Release Date: March 20
Cast: Sarah Jessica Parker, Beau Bridges, Miranda Richardson
Scoop: A vicious hate crime at an elite New England college thrusts the new dean, Sarah Daniels (Parker), into the investigation. When charged with maintaining order on campus, she is forced to examine her own feelings about race.
If a Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words, We Say: Time for us to remember that SJP can serve up ‘serious-face’, as well as Manolos. This actress may be branded for yet a while as sexed-up columnist Carrie B., but her new role promises some controversy that steps into a brave new territory everyone avoids — talking about race.
Snapshot Prediction: 3 out of 5 flashes
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Genre: Action, Thriller
Release Date: March 27
Cast: John Cena, Ashley Scott, Steve Harris, Aidan Gillen
Scoop: Detective Danny Fisher (Cena) discovers that his girlfriend has been kidnapped by a nearly untraceable internationally-known terrorist named Miles Jackson. Fisher is forced into “12 Rounds” of dangerous games carefully plotted throughout the streets of New Orleans.
If a Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words, We Say: Are you having a little Van Damme-meets-Seagal flashback? Us too. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing!
Snapshot Prediction: 2.5 out of 5 flashes
KEEP READING: The Accidental Husband
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Genre: Romantic Comedy
Release Date: March 27
Cast: Uma Thurman, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Colin Firth, Sam Shepherd
Scoop: New York firefighter Patrick Sullivan (Morgan) isn’t too happy when an engaged, preachy, radio sexpert, Dr. Emma Lloyd (Thurman), gives unwelcomed advice to his fiancée, resulting in them splitting. He finds himself newly single, bitter and in attempt to exact revenge he “accidentally” marries Dr. Lloyd via the internet.
If a Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words, We Say: Uma we live for you. But we also have our hands raised to the sky, praying that this film will finally turn things around for your streak of not-as-great-as-they-could-be films that you keep showing up in. But alas, this one may not do the trick…
Snapshot Prediction: 2 out of 5 flashes
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Adventureland
Genre: Comedy
Release Date: March 27
Cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Ryan Reynolds, Kristen Wiig, Bill Hader
Scoop: When an uptight recent college graduate (Eisenberg) realizes he cannot afford his European dream vacation, he is forced to take a minimum-wage job at a local amusement park — and strikes up a very special friendship along the way.
If a Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words, We Say: Superbad director, Greg Mattola, returns to the fold. And the looming panda pictured in the background should give a hint that — while the leads, Squid‘s Eisenberg and Twilight‘s Stewart, may giving that “I-think-I-like-you-but-I’m-feeling-awkward” uncomfortable flavor — there are always shenanigans looming in ‘Adventureland’.
Snapshot Prediction: 4 out of 5 flashes
KEEP READING: The Education of Charlie Banks
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The Education of Charlie Banks
Genre: Drama
Release Date: March 27
Cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Jason Ritter, Christopher Marquette, Eva Amurri
Scoop: Charlie Bank’s (Eisenberg‘s) sheltered world at his Ivy League campus is shaken when Mick (Ritter), a former playground bully, unexpectedly shows up at his dorm room. The now charismatic Mick quickly wins over Charlie’s friends and his crush, Mary, as he seamlessly integrates himself into Charlie’s life.
If a Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words, We Say: Higher learning anyone? After dabbling in acting, Limp Bizkit’s Fred Durst is trying is hand at something new: directing; and it’s no surprise there’s a little bit of edge, sex and drugs in the mix. With its fine young cast, this Tribeca Fest buzz film should easily get a following.
Snapshot Prediction: 3 out of 5 flashes
KEEP READING: The Haunting in Connecticut
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Genre: Horror, Thriller
Release Date: March 27
Cast: Virginia Madsen, Elias Koteas, Kyle Gallner
Scoop: A family is forced to relocate, soon discovering their recently renovated home was once a former mortuary with a dark history. After experiencing violent supernatural events they seek the help of ghost hunters, and also the Catholic Church to perform an exorcism.
If a Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words, We Say: If you caught Virginia Madsen — years ago — in the unstoppable, nightmare-inducing Candyman, you’d know she’s pretty handy with this genre.
Snapshot Prediction: 3 out of 5 flashes
KEEP READING: Monsters vs. Aliens
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Monsters vs. Aliens
Genre: Animation
Release Date: March 27
Cast: (Voices of) Reese Witherspoon, Hugh Laurie, Seth Rogen, Paul Rudd, Rainn Wilson
Scoop: When a meteorite from outer space hits a young girl (Witherspoon) and turns her into a giant monster, she is taken to a secret government compound where she meets a ragtag group of monsters also rounded up over the years.
If a Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words, We Say: And back to our theme this month: open mouthed blue, um, men. Well, perhaps we’re trippin’, but this Cyclops’d gelatinous “being” somehow does look like Seth Rogen. And in an IMAX smackdown with voiced characters by Witherspoon, Laurie, Rudd, and Wilson — bring it on, we’re ready and waiting!
Snapshot Prediction: 4 out of 5 flashes
