top of page
All Articles
Rain
What stands out first about Rain is the confidence with which Christine Jeffs establishes its romance identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Rain asks Alicia Fulford Wierzbicki and Sarah Peirse to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Rain is established with useful clarity: Whilst on a family vacation on the Mahurangi Peninsula in New Zealand, 13 year old Janey begins to realize that her parents' marriage is on the rocks. That direct approach l
Aug 153 min read
The Affair of the Necklace
What stands out first about The Affair of the Necklace is the confidence with which Charles Shyer establishes its romance identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Affair of the Necklace asks Hilary Swank and Simon Baker to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Affair of the Necklace is established with useful clarity: In pre Revolutionary France, a young aristocratic woman left penniless by the political unrest in the country must avenge h
Aug 153 min read
Bully
What stands out first about Bully is the confidence with which Larry Clark establishes its crime drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Bully asks Brad Renfro and Nick Stahl to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Bully is established with useful clarity: A pack of naïve teenagers conspire to murder a mutual friend, whose aggressive demeanour has proven too much. That direct approach lets Bully use its 1h 48m running time for character, a
Aug 153 min read
Shaolin Soccer
What stands out first about Shaolin Soccer is the confidence with which Stephen Chow establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Shaolin Soccer asks Stephen Chow and Wei Zhao to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Shaolin Soccer is established with useful clarity: A young Shaolin follower reunites with his discouraged brothers to form a soccer team using their martial art skills to their advantage. That direct approach lets S
Aug 152 min read
Tape
What stands out first about Tape is the confidence with which Richard Linklater establishes its drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Tape asks Ethan Hawke and Robert Sean Leonard to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Tape is established with useful clarity: Three old high school friends meet in a Michigan motel room to dissect painful memories from their past. That direct approach lets Tape use its 1h 26m running time for character, a
Aug 152 min read
Karmina 2
What stands out first about Karmina 2 is the confidence with which Gabriel Pelletier establishes its horror film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Karmina 2 asks Gildor Roy and Yves Pelletier to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Karmina 2 is established with useful clarity: Following the first Karmina, all the vampires need to take the special potion to be humans. That direct approach lets Karmina 2 use its 1h 37m running time for chara
Aug 153 min read
Madison
What stands out first about Madison is the confidence with which William Bindley establishes its sports drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Madison asks Jim Caviezel and Mary McCormack to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Madison is established with useful clarity: A story about a man's personal struggle to victory in the 1971 Madison, Indiana hydro plane regatta. That direct approach lets Madison use its 1h 39m running time for cha
Aug 153 min read
The Grey Zone
What stands out first about The Grey Zone is the confidence with which Tim Blake Nelson establishes its historical drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Grey Zone asks David Arquette and Velizar Binev to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Grey Zone is established with useful clarity: A Nazi doctor, along with the Sonderkommando, Jews who are forced to work in the crematoria of Auschwitz against their fellow Jews, find themselve
Aug 153 min read
The Fluffer
What stands out first about The Fluffer is the confidence with which Richard Glatzer establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Fluffer asks Scott Gurney and Michael Cunio to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Fluffer is established with useful clarity: A young man employed as a fluffer in the adult entertainment industry finds himself falling for a gay for pay porn star whose hedonistic lifestyle may lead them both
Aug 153 min read
My First Mister
What stands out first about My First Mister is the confidence with which Christine Lahti establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, My First Mister asks Albert Brooks and Leelee Sobieski to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of My First Mister is established with useful clarity: A 17 year old girl has a troubled relationship with a 49 year old man. That direct approach lets My First Mister use its 1h 49m running time for chara
Aug 153 min read
Forgive Me Father
What stands out first about Forgive Me Father is the confidence with which Ivan Rogers establishes its crime drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Forgive Me Father asks Ivan Rogers and Rich Komenich to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Forgive Me Father is established with useful clarity: A ruthless mob hit man, has been living a new life in Canada as a Priest after faking his own death. That direct approach lets Forgive Me Father us
Aug 153 min read
The Holy Land
What stands out first about The Holy Land is the confidence with which Eitan Gorlin establishes its drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Holy Land asks Oren Rehany and Tchelet Semel to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Holy Land is established with useful clarity: Mendy is a young man struggling to keep his mind focused on rabbinical school. That direct approach lets The Holy Land use its 1h 42m running time for character, at
Aug 153 min read
bottom of page