After a culturally poor February, you will be glad to hear that there is much more to look forward to in March!
Films
Continuing with the theme of horror films from February: personally I am extremely excited for the release of A Quiet Place 2 starring Emily Blunt, directed by John Krasinski. If you enjoyed the deadly fight for silence in 2018, this sequel won’t fail to make your skin crawl. Similarly, the American thriller, The Hunt follows stars Ike Barinholtz and Emma Roberts. If you want something just as intriguing but not as creepy, Vivarium starring Jesse Eisenberg and Imogen Poots may capture your interest. As a couple looking for the perfect suburban house, they find themselves trapped in a labyrinth of identical houses. Jesse Eisenberg also stars in Resistance which sees him play an unlikely war hero as he attempts to save the lives of orphans whose parents have been killed by Nazis during WWII.
For something more light-hearted, don’t miss Peter Rabbit 2 (because who doesn’t love Peter Rabbit?) as well as Onward starring Tom Holland and Chris Pratt. Don’t worry, it’s not an Avengers spin-off, but it promises to be an entertaining animation, as two elves go on a quest to see if there is still magic left in the world. Speaking of animations, Mulan will also be released this month. Whatever your views on the slew of remakes hitting the cinema recently, this promises not to disappoint, even though it does not feature any of the original musical numbers.
Hollywood is a sucker for stories that follow people’s roads to redemption – as are we, so be sure to watch Ben Affleck’s interpretation of a former high school basketball star struggling with alcohol addiction in The Way Back. In an attempt to revive their acting careers, Ethan Hawke and Catherine Deneuve star in The Truth exploring (ironically) an ageing French movie star who, despite memory lapses, remains a strong force to be reckoned with. March will see many recurring faces on the big screen, as Hawke is also starring in the New Orleans heist thriller Cut Throat City.
Furthermore, no one can resist a biographical film – especially one that stars KJ Apa as Christian music megastar Jeremy Camp in I Still Believe.
I know March is looking very male-dominated, but fear not because this month we will also witness the ensemble of Anya Taylor-Joy and Rosamund Pike in Radioactive. The film tells the story and discoveries of polish scientist Marie Skoldowska-Curie (Pike) during the 20th century.
TV Shows
Netflix never disappoints, and this month is no different. Season 9 of Brooklyn Nine-Nine will be released at the end of the month. Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker starring Octavia Spencer, Tiffany Haddish and Carmen Ejogo is an inspiring true story based on the first African American female self-made millionaire.
The much-anticipated adaptation of Malorie Blackman’s Noughts + Crosses will be BBC’s newest drama this month, exploring an alternate world where racism is flipped on its head. The limited series The Plot Against America is another novel adaptation appearing on television this month. It imagines an alternate American history during WWII as told through the eyes of a Jewish family.
Theatre
Sister Act: The Musical, hosted by the LSESU Drama Society and supported by the LSESU Music Society, will be showing at the Old Theatre from the 18th – 20th of March. Get your tickets now for a night of disco fun!
Oscar Wilde’s much loved The Importance of Being…Earnest will be showing at the Omnibus Theatre if you fancy some much-needed comedy in your post-reading week blues.
Shakespeare is popular across the capital this month with Julius Caesar playing at The Space and The Tempest at Jermyn Street Theatre.
With only 9 performances, The National Theatre will be showing The Seven Streams of the River Ota this month. It traces how a few kilos of uranium falling on Japan changed the course of human history. This is not the only play that will feature at the National Theatre: All of Us explores timely themes about what defines us. While, at The Hampstead Theatre, Harold Pinter’s The Dumb Waiter returns, sixty years on.
Continuing with Jamie Lloyd Webber’s season at the Playhouse Theatre, Emilia Clarke goes from dragons to seagulls with Chekhov’s The Seagull.
Albums
The only arts and culture sector letting is down this month is the limited variety of albums on offer. Sea Girls will release their new EP Under Exit Lights.
If you’re after some hip hop, don’t forget to listen to CJ Fly’s album Rudebwoy as well as $NOT’s release of Tragedy.
Or, if you’re after some rap, X Ambassadors are releasing their EP, Belong. Silverstein will also be releasing A Beautiful Place to Drown.
Books
Just in case you didn’t have your fill of reading over reading week, we’ve got some more books – hopefully to entertain you better than your coursework readings:
These Ghosts Are Family is Maisy Card’s debut novel and explores the formations and fractures of a Jamaican family over generations. Another debut novel is Kawai Strong Washburn’s Sharks in the Time of Saviors which interweaves the legends of Hawaiian gods into a family saga.
James McBride, winner of the National Book Award, is releasing his novel Deacon King Kong which explores the aftermath of a shooting. It may not sound like the most uplifting book, but given McBride’s reputation, I am sure it will be exceptional.
With March having so much to offer, be sure to soak up all this goodness before the exam season sets in – treat yourself!
