March has arrived! For much of the country, this means the weather is going to become a bit more bearable than it was the previous three months, but still too cold to do anything. Plus, we aren’t completely in the clear when it comes to Covid. This provides you with the perfect opportunity to check out some of the best movies being released on Netflix this month, including a pair of originals and some Academy Award-winning classics!
1. Dances With Wolves (1990)
Set in the time of the Civil War, a lieutenant has been tasked with setting up a post in the remote frontier where Lakota Sioux roam. Winner of 7 Oscars (and 5 additional nominations), this one clocks in at more than 3 hours if you’re watching the theater cut, and 4 hours if the longer version strikes your fancy. It beat out Goodfellas for Best Picture. Was it well-deserved? Why not find out for yourself?
2. Batman Begins (2005)
The Batman franchise got so ridiculous in the 90s that they took a nearly decade-long break before giving it a reboot. The Christopher Nolan era — starring Christian Bale as the Caped Crusader — brought a return to darker storytelling and vivid cinematography that had made Tim Burton’s 1989 version a hit.
3. The Dark Knight (2008)
The sequel to Batman Begins brought us an unforgettable performance by Heath Ledger as the Joker, who posthumously received the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. This one is regarded as the greatest superhero movie of all-time, which unfortunately means, of course, every movie that followed had to include philosophical elements and existential crises.
4. Yes Day (2021)
This one is a Netflix original movie! Based upon the children’s book of the same time, Allison (Jennifer Garner) and Carlos (Edgar Ramirez) feel guilty about always saying “no” to their three children, so for the next 24 hours they let the kiddies set the rules. Does that mean watching cartoons all day and then having Lucky Charms for dinner? Hopefully not!
5. Biggie: I Got a Story To Tell (2021)
This new documentary about the life of the Notorious B.I.G. — whose 1997 murder remains unsolved — includes rare footage of the famous rapper along with interviews with those closest to him, including his mother and Sean “Puff Daddy” Combs. Oddly missing is any discussion about his murder, the violent East Coast/West Coast rivalry, or key people such as Faith Evans (whom he had a child with) and producer Suge Knight (who may have played a role in offing the big guy).
6. I Am Legend (2007)
Remember when the only way to experience a pandemic was vicariously through movies? I Am Legend lets you relive those days! It takes place in post-apocalyptic New York City where Army virologist Robert Neville (Will Smith) has to fend off vampire zombies. It also includes the saddest doggy death scene this side of Old Yeller. So make sure you’ve got a box of tissues at the ready.
7. Crazy Stupid Love (2011)
Middle-aged Cal Weaver (Steve Carell) has been hit by some unfortunate news: his wife Emily (Julianne Moore) cheated on him and now wants a divorce. So it’s back to the dating scene for him. It was a huge box office hit, earning more than $142 million worldwide on a $50 million budget. It also earned Ryan Gosling a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy.
8. Rain Man (1988)
Charlie Babbitt (Tom Cruise), is a young, arrogant hustler who discovers that his deceased father has left his considerable fortune to an older brother Raymond, a savant with autism (played by Dustin Hoffman) whom he had no idea existed. This movie won 4 Oscars, including Best Picture and Hoffman for Best Actor in a Leading Role.
9. Two Weeks Notice (2002)
George Wade (Hugh Grant) is an obnoxious, womanizing, wealthy real-estate developer. Lucy Kelson (Sandra Bullock) is a liberal lawyer who has completely opposing views when it comes to real-estate development. Can Kelson set him straight? Can they overcome their differences and find love? It sure would be an unexpected twist if they don’t! But the only real way to find out is to make yourself a bag of popcorn and devote 2 hours of your time to this romcom.
10. Training Day (2001)
Jake Hoyt (Ethan Hawke) is a recent police academy graduate who is learning the ropes courtesy of Detective Alonzo Harris (Denzel Washington) a corrupt cop. An enjoyable, fast-paced movie, Washington went on to win the Oscar for Best Actor while Hawke was nominated for Best Supporting Actor.
