‘Riff Raff’, ‘My Dead Friend Zoe’

If you’re not rushing out to catch Oscar nominees before Sunday’s ceremony there are more new films in theaters now than there have been in weeks. Anora, The Brutalist, A Complete Unknown, Wicked and more are still out there but screens have opened for a crop of moderate releases.    

Grindstone and Roadside Attractions open dysfunctional family crime comedy Riff Raff on just over 1,000 screens. The film by Dito Monteil, which was warmly received at its TIFF 2024 premiere (see Deadline review), was adapted by John Pollono from a stage script from a 1995 production of the same name written by actor Laurence Fishburne.

The ensemble cast features Jennifer Coolidge, Ed Harris, Gabrielle Union, Lewis Pullman, Pete Davidson, Bill Murray, Miles J. Harvey and Emanuela Postacchini.

The story follows Vincent, an ex-criminal seeking a normal life and a nice weekend at a winter cabin with his wife Sandy and their son DJ before he leaves for college. Chaos ensues when Vincent’s disowned son Rocco, his girlfriend Marina and Vincent’s ex-wife Ruth abruptly show up to spoil the festivities with an ominous warning: Vincent’s former associate and famed gangster Leftie, and his new sidekick Lonnie, are coming for them.

Briarcliff Entertainment is out with Kyle Hausmann-Stokes’ dark comedy My Dead Friend Zoe at 780 locations. Written by Hausmann-Stokes and A.J. Bermudez, it follows Merit (Sonequa Martin-Green), a U.S. Army Afghanistan veteran at odds with her family over the presence of Zoe (Natalie Morales), her dead best friend from the Army. Despite the persistence of her VA group counselor (Morgan Freeman), the tough love of her mother (Gloria Reuben) and the levity of an unexpected love interest, Merit’s dysfunctional friendship with Zoe keeps the duo insulated from the world. This is a buddy film about a complicated friendship, a divided family, and the complex ways in which we process grief.

Premiered at SXSW, see Deadline review. It’s at 95% on Rotten Tomatoes.

GKids presents director Kazuya Tsurumaki’s whimsically titled Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX – Beginning at about 780 locations. This is a fresh take on the decades-old Mobile Suit Gundam anime franchise, a first-ever collaboration between the original studio, Sunrise, and the creators of the Evangelion series. It serves as a prequel of sorts to a new series which will air in Japan in April. The film had Imax early access previews on Wednesday in select markets.

Animated A Sloth Story from Blue Fox Entertainment debuts on 750 U.S. screens (adding 40-50 in Canada on March 7). Directed by Tania Vincent and Ricard Cussó, it stars Leslie Jones, Teo Vergara, Olivia Vásquez, Ben Gorroño, Facundo Hache, Herrera and Remy Hii. Written by Ryan Greaves and Tania Vincent. Follows a speedy 12-year-old sloth named Laura whose odd sloth family is left homeless by a devastating storm. Forced to pack up what little is left of their belongings, the family heads to Sanctuary City.

Limited releases: Utopia’s latest, The Accidental Getaway Driver, opens at three theaters — AMC 34th St in NYC, AMC Atlantic Times Square 14, and AMC Orange 30. The gritty crime drama premiered at Sundance 2023 (see Deadline review), where Sing J. Lee won the Best Director for his East-meets-West tale based on a true story about an elderly Vietnamese immigrant taxi driver (Hiệp Trần Nghĩa) taken hostage Word of mouth continues to grow as the film begins connecting in a substantial way with local Vietnamese communities in Los Angeles, Orange County and New York. Expands nationwide on 3/7 across commercial and arthouse screens. At 82% with RT critics.

Well Go USA Entertainment debuts Cold Wallet from SXSW 2024 at five  theaters in Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Atlanta, and San Francisco, and on digital.

After losing everything in a cryptocurrency scam, a ragtag team of vigilante Redditors attempt to kidnap the kingpin who screwed them over. But when the home invasion takes a turn for the worst, they become victims in a sadistic game.

Directed by Cutter Hodierne, written by John Hibey, starring Raul Castillo, Melonie Diaz, Tony Cavalero, Josh Brener, Zoe Winters.

Wacky Texas-shot indie comedy Rats! from Yellow Veil Pictures, by Carl Fry and Maxwell Nalevansky, opens on 25 screens. In 2007, in Pfresno, Texas, Raphael is in county jail following an arrest for graffiti and chaos ensues — from a sting operation, a new mixtape, a delusional police officer, meth pipes, the FBI, rich kids with nothing to lose, Larry the pig, a local aspiring TV newswoman, a plutonium deal gone wrong and more.