The month of March not only ushers in the beginning of spring, it also provides Hollywood an opportunity to walk the red carpet during the 94th Annual Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences Awards, held on March 27th. The lineup for big screen blockbusters is a bit thin as Tinseltown works its way back from the pandemic. Here is a preview of what your library will be including in its collection.
- Nominated for Best Picture and directed by Guillermo del Toro, Nightmare Alley tells the dark, electrifying psychological story of a manipulative carnival man (Bradley Cooper) who teams with an equally deceptive psychiatrist (Cate Blanchett) to grift the wealthy in 1940s New York society. He learns that his new partner in crime might be his most formidable opponent yet. With Willem Dafoe, Rooney Mara and Richard Jenkins.
- Also nominated for Best Picture (one of seven nominations), Belfast is Kenneth Branagh’s poetic and personal recollection of a young boy, Buddy (Jude Hill), growing up in Northern Ireland during the Troubles. This film was singled out for its creativity, direction and acting.
- The third nominee for Best Picture that can be found in our collection this March is the Steven Spielberg adaptation of West Side Story. The movie presents a new look at the age-old story of where to find love in hard times. Of note is the choreography which builds throughout the production, reflecting the escalating tensions of the two rival gangs.
- A nominee for Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Coming 2 America serves as a sequel to the 1988 film Coming to America. The African monarch Akeem (Eddie Murphy) learns he has a long-lost son in the United States and must return to America to meet this unexpected heir and build a relationship with his son.
Not to be overlooked, A Journal for Jordan is based on the true story of First Sergeant Charles Monroe King (Michael B. Jordan), a soldier deployed to Iraq who begins to keep a journal of love and advice for his infant son. Back at home, senior New York Times editor Dana Canedy (Chanté Adams) revisits the story of her unlikely, life-altering relationship with King and his enduring devotion to her and their child. A sweeping account of a once-in-a-lifetime love, the film is a powerful reminder of the importance of family.
Acorn TV, the streaming television service which concentrates on dramas primarily from the UK, is releasing the following mystery series this month.
- In Manhunt Series 2, Martin Clunes continues his role as DCI Colin Sutton who is on the brink of retirement when he's asked to review the long running inquiry into another infamous predator. Known as "The Night Stalker" to the press and "Minstead Man" to the police, this serial rapist has stalked the elderly of Southeast London for nearly two decades.
- Based on P.D. James's global bestsellers, Dalgliesh stars Bertie Carvel as the enigmatic Inspector Adam Dalgliesh. A recent widower and acclaimed poet, Dalgliesh is a cerebral, reserved man but possessed of exceptional empathy and insight. As he investigates complex crimes in 1970s England, he plumbs the darker depths of the human psyche in his pursuit of justice.
- In the Madame Blanc Mysteries, you’ll meet antiques dealer Jean White (Sally Lindsay) who is nearly bankrupt after her husband's sudden death, so she heads to their one last asset: a cottage in antiques hub Sainte Victoire, France. There, Jean begins investigating his death, aided by sympathetic taxi driver Dom (Steve Edge). She soon finds the colorful locals have a treasure trove of other mysteries for her to assess, too.
Who shot John Dutton? That's the burning question that left Yellowstone fans reeling in the explosive season three finale. Following the brutal attacks on Kayce, Beth, and John Dutton, and with their fates unknown, Rip and the other wranglers wield their own brand of justice to take revenge and defend the Dutton legacy in Season 4.
A complete list of our March releases can be found here.