Cinema Snapshots: March 2025

What I watched last month...

Welcome to this month’s Cinema Snapshots! At the beginning of each month, I reflect on what I watched the prior month and provide a quick “snapshot” of my thoughts on those films. So without further ado, here are my Cinema Snapshots for March 2025.

The Monkey

When twin brothers find a mysterious wind-up monkey, a series of outrageous deaths tear their family apart. Twenty-five years later, the monkey begins a new killing spree forcing the estranged brothers to confront the cursed toy.

The Monkey is an absolute blast from start to finish. Far too many filmmakers would take an inherently silly premise like this and make a self-serious horror film. Instead, Osgood Perkins crafts a perfectly wacky tonal balance between dark comedy and genuine tension. Superb performances and impressive craftsmanship all contribute to the film’s twisted, comedic tone.

Fair warning: the film doesn’t shy away from its graphic violence. So be prepared for a fun time, but go in with a strong stomach!

★★★★☆

Mickey 17

Unlikely hero Mickey Barnes finds himself in the extraordinary circumstance of working for an employer who demands the ultimate commitment to the job… to die, for a living.

Mickey 17 is an unhinged and unfiltered delight on a large scale that we rarely get to see, thanks in no small part to director Bong Joon Ho’s recent Oscar win. The film incorporates all of the director’s trademark themes from class inequality to animal cruelty to corrupt leaders, and it’s all packaged within his expected comedic stylings and technical prowess. Composer Jung Jae II provides a fun and emotional score (I particularly love Nasha’s theme), and the extensive visual effects are impressively integrated throughout.

The real highlight of the film, however, is the performances. Mickey 17 only works with the right actor playing multiple “Mickeys”, and Robert Pattinson is more than up to the task. He brings a silly but sweet vulnerability to the title character, while adding fun quirks to differentiate each of his clones. And that’s to say nothing of Mark Ruffalo’s hilarious over-the-top performance as a failed politician, Toni Collette’s eccentricity as Ruffalo’s wife, and Naomi Ackie’s strong-willed portrayal of Pattinson’s love interest, Nasha.

The film’s strange tone may not be for everyone (especially those who have never seen a Bong Joon Ho film), but the experience is rewarding nonetheless.

★★★★☆

Magazine Dreams

Aspiring bodybuilder Killian Maddox struggles to find human connection in this exploration of celebrity and violence. Nothing deters him from his fiercely protected dream of superstardom, not even the doctors who warn him of the permanent damage he causes to himself with his quest.

Magazine Dreams is a deeply tragic and upsetting experience, as we watch a lonely, angry, and misguided bodybuilder physically, mentally, and emotionally unravel.

While the film doesn’t have anything drastically new to say (comparisons to Taxi Driver and Joker are apt), the lens through which it views its main character is surprisingly empathetic. The lingering camera closeups, the contemplative glances from Jonathan Majors, and the recurring letters to his hero offer us a glimpse into his psyche far beyond the typical “men are crazy” message, all without absolving him of responsibility for his actions. That perspective makes the film far more engaging, and all the more heartbreaking.

It’s a tad overlong, the music choices feel occasionally misguided, and (as mentioned) the story is something we’ve seen before, but the performances and camerawork make this well worth the watch.

Lastly, if you’re not familiar with the news cycle surrounding lead actor Jonathan Majors, I’d encourage you to familiarize yourself with the situation before watching the film. It doesn’t prohibit the film’s effectiveness, but it certainly adds a disturbing layer to his portrayal of Killian Maddox and may be enough to deter some viewers from wanting to support a film that he leads.

★★★☆☆

Warfare

A platoon of American Navy SEALs in the home of an Iraqi family overwatches the movement of US forces through insurgent territory.

Warfare places viewers firmly in the middle of the action, making for an intense, nightmarish glimpse into the lives of soldiers. There’s very little character (or story for that matter), but the experience is incredibly effective. The sound design is anxiety-inducing, the editing fills even the most mundane of scenes with tension, and the camerawork is very careful about what it shows - and doesn’t show - the viewer.

It’s a film with writer and director Alex Garland’s fingerprints all over it, and even more interestingly, it was co-written and co-directed by a Navy veteran who brought his experiences to life for this film. While the war genre has more than enough entries by now, Warfare’s unique POV is enough to make it worth watching.

★★★☆☆

Snow White (2025)

A princess joins forces with seven dwarfs to liberate her kingdom from her cruel stepmother, the Evil Queen.

A pleasant surprise! After months of bad press I was prepared for the worst, but Disney’s latest live action remake makes for a good (if not great) family film.

Rachel Zegler is outstanding as Snow White, proving once again that she’s a star. Marc Webb lends a steady hand in the director’s chair, even if I was unimpressed with his approach to staging certain musical numbers. And speaking of music, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul won me over with their original songs, even if a few of them predictably fall back into their typical power anthem style (Dear Evan Hansen, The Greatest Showman).

Much like Cinderella (2015) and The Jungle Book (2016), Snow White knows when to “play the hits” of the classic animated film, but also knows when to deviate from that original story. The character of Snow White is given much more depth and agency than her animated counterpart. Her romance with Jonathan (a rebel woodsman, not a prince) and her conflict with the queen are given time to naturally develop, creating an arc that has real purpose and meaning.

Admittedly the visuals aren’t noteworthy (a mix of bland compositions and unconvincing CGI), but the weakest element by far is Gal Gadot’s performance as the evil queen. She’s painfully miscast in the role and horribly misguided in her acting choices–it’s tough to watch at times.

But at the end of the day this won me over with sheer heart, a worthy evolution of the Snow White fairytale.

★★★☆☆

But wait…there’s more!

After a quiet start to 2025, a lot of films came out in March. Here are my ratings for a few more films that I didn’t have time to fully review.

Black Bag | ★★★☆☆

When his beloved wife is suspected of betraying the nation, an intelligence agent faces the ultimate test – loyalty to his marriage or his country.

The Actor | ★★★☆☆

Paul Cole finds himself stranded in a mysterious small town with no memory of who he is or how he got here. As bits and pieces of his past slowly emerge, he attempts to find his way home, but time is slippery, appearances can’t be trusted, and it’s unclear which of his identities is real.

Paddington in Peru | ★★★☆☆

Paddington travels to Peru to visit his beloved Aunt Lucy, who now resides at the Home for Retired Bears. With the Brown Family in tow, a thrilling adventure ensues when a mystery plunges them into an unexpected journey through the Amazon rainforest and up to the mountain peaks of Peru.

Opus | ★★☆☆☆

A young writer is invited to the remote compound of a legendary pop star who mysteriously disappeared thirty years ago. Surrounded by the star’s cult of sycophants and intoxicated journalists, she finds herself in the middle of his twisted plan.