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What stands out first about Brotherhood of the Wolf is the confidence with which Christophe Gans establishes its horror film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Brotherhood of the Wolf asks Samuel Le Bihan and Mark Dacascos to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Brotherhood of the Wolf is established with useful clarity: In 18th century France, the Chevalier de Fronsac and his Native American friend Mani are sent to the Gevaudan province at

What stands out first about Antitrust is the confidence with which Peter Howitt establishes its action film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Antitrust asks Ryan Phillippe and Tim Robbins to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Antitrust is established with useful clarity: A computer programmer's dream job at a hot Portland based firm turns nightmarish when he discovers his boss has a secret and ruthless means of dispatching anti trust pro

What stands out first about The Shipping News is the confidence with which Lasse Hallström establishes its drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Shipping News asks Kevin Spacey and Julianne Moore to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Shipping News is established with useful clarity: An emotionally beaten man with his young daughter moves to his ancestral home in Newfoundland to reclaim his life. That direct approach lets The Sh

What stands out first about Get Over It is the confidence with which Tommy O'Haver establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Get Over It asks Kirsten Dunst and Ben Foster to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Get Over It is established with useful clarity: A high school senior's girlfriend breaks up with him. That direct approach lets Get Over It use its 1h 27m running time for character, atmosphere and consequence. ⁠ The

What stands out first about Winged Migration is the confidence with which Jacques Perrin establishes its documentary identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Winged Migration asks Jacques Perrin and Philippe Labro to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Winged Migration is established with useful clarity: Documentary on the migratory patterns of birds, shot over the course of three years on all seven continents. That direct approach lets Winged M

What stands out first about Knockaround Guys is the confidence with which Brian Koppelman establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Knockaround Guys asks Barry Pepper and Vin Diesel to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Knockaround Guys is established with useful clarity: The wannabe sons of mobsters go to a remote town in the Midwest, and get themselves into more trouble than anyone could anticipate. That direct approach

What stands out first about Frailty is the confidence with which Bill Paxton establishes its thriller identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Frailty asks Bill Paxton and Matthew McConaughey to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Frailty is established with useful clarity: A mysterious man arrives at the offices of an FBI agent and recounts his childhood: how his religious fanatic father received visions telling him to destroy people who were i

What stands out first about Jason X is the confidence with which James Isaac establishes its horror film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Jason X asks Kane Hodder and Lexa Doig to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Jason X is established with useful clarity: Jason Voorhees is cryogenically frozen at the beginning of the 21st century, and is discovered in the 25th century and taken to space. That direct approach lets Jason X use its 1h 3

What stands out first about Sugar & Spice is the confidence with which Francine McDougall establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Sugar & Spice asks Marla Sokoloff and Marley Shelton to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Sugar & Spice is established with useful clarity: A popular high school cheerleader becomes pregnant by the star quarterback and turns to crime to support her desired lifestyle. That direct approach lets

What stands out first about American Outlaws is the confidence with which Les Mayfield establishes its action film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, American Outlaws asks Colin Farrell and Scott Caan to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of American Outlaws is established with useful clarity: 5 Southern friends return home when the war ends 1865. That direct approach lets American Outlaws use its 1h 34m running time for character, atmospher

What stands out first about Tomcats is the confidence with which Gregory Poirier establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Tomcats asks Shannon Elizabeth and Jerry O'Connell to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Tomcats is established with useful clarity: At the wedding of a friend, the remaining bachelors bet on staying single. That direct approach lets Tomcats use its 1h 35m running time for character, atmosphere and con

Osmosis Jones arrives as an animated adventure directed by Bobby Farrelly, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Laurence Fishburne and Chris Rock give Osmosis Jones a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Osmosis Jones comes into focus without a long explanation: A policeman white blood cell, with the help of a cold pill, must stop a deadly virus from destroying the human they live in, Frank. Across its 1h 35m