All Articles

What stands out first about The Station Agent is the confidence with which Tom McCarthy establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Station Agent asks Peter Dinklage and Patricia Clarkson to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Station Agent is established with useful clarity: When his only friend dies, a man born with dwarfism moves to rural New Jersey to live a life of solitude, only to meet a chatty hot dog vendor a

What stands out first about Luther is the confidence with which Eric Till establishes its biographical drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Luther asks Joseph Fiennes and Bruno Ganz to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Luther is established with useful clarity: During the early sixteenth century, idealistic German monk Martin Luther, disgusted by the materialism in the Catholic Church, begins the dialogue that will lead to the Protes

What stands out first about American Splendor is the confidence with which Shari Springer Berman establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, American Splendor asks Paul Giamatti and Shari Springer Berman to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of American Splendor is established with useful clarity: An original mix of fiction and reality illuminates the life of comic book hero everyman Harvey Pekar. That direct approach lets Amer

What stands out first about Gigli is the confidence with which Martin Brest establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Gigli asks Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Gigli is established with useful clarity: Larry Gigli is assigned by a crime boss to kidnap the brother of a prominent district attorney, and a beautiful woman known only as Ricki is sent to stay with him to make sure he doesn't

What stands out first about Chasing Papi is the confidence with which Linda Mendoza establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Chasing Papi asks Eduardo Verástegui and Roselyn Sanchez to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Chasing Papi is established with useful clarity: A successful executive in the cosmetic industry has three sexy girlfriends in three different states. That direct approach lets Chasing Papi use its 1h 20m

What stands out first about Mambo Italiano is the confidence with which Émile Gaudreault establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Mambo Italiano asks Luke Kirby and Peter Miller to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Mambo Italiano is established with useful clarity: The son of Italian immigrants to Canada struggles to find the best way to reveal to his parents that he's gay. That direct approach lets Mambo Italiano use it

What stands out first about The Young Black Stallion is the confidence with which Simon Wincer establishes its family film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Young Black Stallion asks Biana Tamimi and Richard Romanus to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Young Black Stallion is established with useful clarity: A young girl befriends a wild black stallion. That direct approach lets The Young Black Stallion use its 50m running time

What stands out first about Willard is the confidence with which Glen Morgan establishes its horror film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Willard asks Crispin Glover and R. Lee Ermey to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Willard is established with useful clarity: A young man with an unusual connection to rats uses them at his own sociopathic will. That direct approach lets Willard use its 1h 40m running time for character, atmosphere a

What stands out first about The Triplets of Belleville is the confidence with which Sylvain Chomet establishes its animated adventure identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Triplets of Belleville asks Michèle Caucheteux and Jean Claude Donda to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Triplets of Belleville is established with useful clarity: When her grandson is kidnapped during the Tour de France, Madame Souza and her beloved pooch Bruno

What stands out first about It Runs in the Family is the confidence with which Fred Schepisi establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, It Runs in the Family asks Kirk Douglas and Michael Douglas to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of It Runs in the Family is established with useful clarity: This is the story of a dysfunctional New York family, and their attempts to reconcile. That direct approach lets It Runs in the Family

What stands out first about The Order is the confidence with which Brian Helgeland establishes its horror film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Order asks Heath Ledger and Mark Addy to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Order is established with useful clarity: A young priest is sent to Rome to investigate the troubling death of the head of his order. That direct approach lets The Order use its 1h 42m running time for character,

What stands out first about Tupac: Resurrection is the confidence with which Lauren Lazin establishes its documentary identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Tupac: Resurrection asks Tupac Shakur and Rappin' 4 Tay to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Tupac: Resurrection is established with useful clarity: Home movies, photographs, and recited poetry illustrate the life of Tupac Shakur, one of the most beloved, revolutionary, and volatile hip