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Monica la mitraille
What stands out first about Monica la mitraille is the confidence with which Pierre Houle establishes its drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Monica la mitraille asks Céline Bonnier and Roy Dupuis to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Monica la mitraille is established with useful clarity: The oldest daughter of an impoverished Montreal family, Monique Sparvieri vows to find a way to get out of the ghetto in which she lives. That dir
Aug 153 min read
2046
What stands out first about 2046 is the confidence with which Wong Kar Wai establishes its romance identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, 2046 asks Tony Leung Chiu wai and Ziyi Zhang to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of 2046 is established with useful clarity: Several women enter a science fiction author's life over the course of a few years, after the author has lost the woman he considers his one true love. That direct approach lets 2046 u
Aug 153 min read
Night Watch
What stands out first about Night Watch is the confidence with which Timur Bekmambetov establishes its horror film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Night Watch asks Konstantin Khabensky and Vladimir Menshov to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Night Watch is established with useful clarity: A fantasy horror set in present day Moscow where the respective forces that control daytime and nighttime do battle. That direct approach lets Nigh
Aug 153 min read
The Woodsman
What stands out first about The Woodsman is the confidence with which Nicole Kassell establishes its drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Woodsman asks Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Woodsman is established with useful clarity: A child molester returns to his hometown after 12 years in prison and attempts to start a new life. That direct approach lets The Woodsman use its 1h 27m running tim
Aug 153 min read
Battle of the Brave
What stands out first about Battle of the Brave is the confidence with which Jean Beaudin establishes its romance identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Battle of the Brave asks Noémie Godin Vigneau and David La Haye to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Battle of the Brave is established with useful clarity: In the mid 18th Century, as England and France battle over control of Canada, an epic romance between a peasant woman and a trapper unf
Aug 153 min read
Look at Me
What stands out first about Look at Me is the confidence with which Agnès Jaoui establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Look at Me asks Marilou Berry and Jean Pierre Bacri to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Look at Me is established with useful clarity: A french girl gifted with a great voice, has a complex about her weight and her appearance. That direct approach lets Look at Me use its 1h 50m running time for charac
Aug 153 min read
Main Hoon Na
What stands out first about Main Hoon Na is the confidence with which Farah Khan establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Main Hoon Na asks Shah Rukh Khan and Sushmita Sen to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Main Hoon Na is established with useful clarity: An army major goes undercover as a college student. That direct approach lets Main Hoon Na use its 3h 2m running time for character, atmosphere and consequence. As
Aug 153 min read
The Blue Butterfly
What stands out first about The Blue Butterfly is the confidence with which Léa Pool establishes its drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Blue Butterfly asks Marc Donato and William Hurt to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Blue Butterfly is established with useful clarity: A dramatic adventure about courage, redemption and love being filmed in the rain forests of Costa Rica, and in Montreal. That direct approach lets The Blu
Aug 153 min read
Elvis Gratton 3: Le retour d'Elvis Wong
What stands out first about Elvis Gratton 3: Le retour d'Elvis Wong is the confidence with which Pierre Falardeau establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Elvis Gratton 3: Le retour d'Elvis Wong asks Julien Poulin and Yves Trudel to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Elvis Gratton 3: Le retour d'Elvis Wong is established with useful clarity: . That direct approach lets Elvis Gratton 3: Le retour d'Elvis Wong use its 1h 45
Aug 153 min read
The Five of Us
What stands out first about The Five of Us is the confidence with which Ghyslaine Côté establishes its crime drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Five of Us asks Jacinthe Laguë and Julie Deslauriers to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Five of Us is established with useful clarity: In Montreal, childhood friends gather at a lakeside cottage. That direct approach lets The Five of Us use its 1h 27m running time for character, a
Aug 153 min read
We Don't Live Here Anymore
What stands out first about We Don't Live Here Anymore is the confidence with which John Curran establishes its romance identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, We Don't Live Here Anymore asks Mark Ruffalo and Laura Dern to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of We Don't Live Here Anymore is established with useful clarity: An indiscretion between two close friends tears down their respective marriages. That direct approach lets We Don't Live Here
Aug 153 min read
The Sea Inside
What stands out first about The Sea Inside is the confidence with which Alejandro Amenábar establishes its biographical drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Sea Inside asks Javier Bardem and Belén Rueda to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Sea Inside is established with useful clarity: The factual story of Spaniard Ramon Sampedro, who fought a 28 year campaign in favor of euthanasia and his own right to die. That direct appro
Aug 153 min read
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