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Classic Screening,

March UK Film Releases

March is a bumper month with a good variety of releases. The full list and dates of the UK's March cinema releases can be found here. Our top picks are as follows:


This months top choice will have to be Peter Greenway’s Nightwatching. Completed in 2007 it’s finally getting a general release and promises a return to earlier form for the Master of cinema Peter Greenway.

The film is centred on the creation of The Night Watch, Rembrandt's most famous work, depicting civilian militiamen who wanted to be celebrated in a group portrait. The film posits a conspiracy to murder within the musketeer regiment of Frans Banning Cocq and Willem van Ruytenburch, and suggests that Rembrandt may have immortalized a conspiracy theory using subtle allegory in his group portrait of the regiment, subverting what was to have been a highly prestigious commission for both painter and subject.

The film also depicts Rembrandt's personal life, and suggests he suffered serious consequences in later life as a result of the accusation contained in his most famous painting.

Nightwatching
Director: Peter Greenaway
Starring: Martin Freeman, Sarah Polley, Minnie Driver

Expectations are also running high for Scorsese and DiCaprio's fourth chilling outing Shutter Island.

Shutter Island
Director: Martin Scorsese
Starring: Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Emily Mortimer

Superb acting and (Oscar winning) performances lift the touching on mediocre Crazy Heart to greatness. Jeff Bridges is always excellent, Maggie Gyllenhaal still developing leaving Colin Farrell to almost steal the story of a former country and Western star (Jeff Bridges) at the end of his career.

Crazy Heart
Director: Scott Cooper
Starring: Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Colin Farrell

Both moving and meaningful the French The Father Of My Children will hit a nerve in these financially stormy times.

The Father Of My Children
Director: Mia Hansen-Løve
Starring: Louis-Do de Lencquesaing, Chiara Caselli, Alice de Lencquesaing

If you are a fan of good music the revelatory No One Knows About Persian Cats by Negar Shaghaghi is not to be missed. (Full review up soon). Persian Cats follows a pair of young musicians, on a mission to take their rock band to Europe. Forbidden by the authorities to play in Iran, they plan their escape abroad with a fast—talking music promoter.

No One Knows About Persian Cats
Director: Negar Shaghaghi
Starring: Bahman Ghobadi, Ashkan Koshanejad, Hamed Behdad

In the psycho sexual department Bernard Rose's The Kreutzer Sonata with the increasingly compelling Danny Huston make for good viewing.

The Kreutzer Sonata
Director: Bernard Rose
Starring: Danny Huston, Elisabeth Röhm, Matthew Yang King

Documentaries that shine this month are Banksy's cringe worthy Exit through the gift shop. Has to been to be believed.

Exit through the gift shop
Director: Banksy

Hard hitting dramas that make the grade are hardcore prisoner drama Lion's Den and the gripping war crimes trial film Storm.

Lion's Den
Director: Pablo Trapero
Starring: Martina Gusman, Elli Medeiros, Rodrigo Santoro

Storm
Director: Hans-Christian Schmid
Starring: Kerry Fox, Anamaria Marinca, Stephen Dillane

Two small films with big hearts are also worth noting. Ondine, the enchanting story of Syracuse, a lonely fisherman who one day pulls a beautiful woman named Ondine out of the sea in his nets. His young daughter Annie is convinced that she is a "selkie" —a creature from Irish folklore much like a mermaid. Syracuse has his doubts, but as Ondine brings some luck and joy to his otherwise downcast life, he starts to come around as well. Ondine deftly blends romance and fantasy with the realism of modern life in an Irish seaside town.

Ondine
Director: Neil Jordan
Starring: Colin Farrell, Alicja Bachleda, Stephen Rea

Perrier's Bounty
Director: Ian Fitzgibbon
Starring: Cillian Murphy, Jim Broadbent, Brendan Gleeson

Lock and load high action efforts include:

Damon and Greengrass team up again for Green Zone a Middle Eastern military actioner continuing their Bourne theme.

Green Zone
Director: Paul Greengrass
Starring: Matt Damon, Amy Ryan, Greg Kinnear

If the trailer is anything to go by Takers looks like it may be a blast.

Takers
Director: John Luessenhop
Starring: Hayden Christensen, Idris Elba, Matt Dillon

Nicolas Winding Refn’s previous effort Bronson was highly entertaining and Valhalla Rising looks to up his game. It centers on a mute warrior and his ally who escape the imprisonment of an evil chieftain and embark on a series of dark adventures.

Valhalla Rising
Director: Nicolas Winding Refn
Starring: Mads Mikkelsen, Maarten Steven, Jamie Sives

British futuristic gang war fare in a dystopian London. Looks like Class of 1984 mixed in with Kidhulthood as directed by Guy Ritchie

Shank
Director: Mo Ali
Starring: Kedar Williams-Stirling, Ashley Thomas, Michael Socha

Chills from the superior Scandinavian The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and very spookyThe House of the Devil.

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
Director: Niels Arden Oplev
Starring: Michael Nyqvist, Noomi Rapace


The House of the Devil
Director: Ti West
Starring: Jocelin Donahue, Tom Noonan, Mary Woronov



The guy behind Office Space is back with Extract and his observations of work & mid life scenarios is sure to tickle your funny bone.

Extract
Director: Mike Judge
Starring: Kristen Wiig, Mike Judge, Jason Bateman



From the mainstream we have

Alice In Wonderland
Tim Burton and Johnny Depp continue there successful collaboration with the 3D extravaganza that is Alice In Wonderland. Top notch effects and cast make this a good Saturday kids matinee viewing.

Alice In Wonderland
Director: Tim Burton
Starring: Mia Wasikowska, Anne Hathaway, Johnny Depp

Nice to Uma Thurman in mainstream role that she can get her teeth into as the put upon lead in the very entertaining Motherhood.

Motherhood
Starring: Minnie Driver, Uma Thurman

I love a good sword and scorcery tale and hope that Season of the Witch manages to maintain the promise of the trailer, even though it does look like a complete rip off of Solomon Kane.

Season of the Witch
Director: Dominic Sena
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Ron Perlman, Stephen Graham

The big budget Precious The Blindside is surprisingly good and hits all the right emotional notes. But I’m not sure if it’s Oscar good though?

The Blindside
Director: John Lee Hancock
Starring: Sandra Bullock, Kathy Bates

Vintage Jim Carrey in I Love You Phillip Morris is sure to have people in stitches.

I Love You Phillip Morris
Director: John Requa
Starring: Jim Carrey, Ewan McGregor, Leslie Mann