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What stands out first about Born Into Brothels: Calcutta's Red Light Kids is the confidence with which Zana Briski establishes its documentary identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Born Into Brothels: Calcutta's Red Light Kids asks Kochi and Avijit Halder to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Born Into Brothels: Calcutta's Red Light Kids is established with useful clarity: Two documentary filmmakers chronicle their time in Sonagchi, Calcutta

What stands out first about The Chorus is the confidence with which Christophe Barratier establishes its music drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Chorus asks Gérard Jugnot and François Berléand to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Chorus is established with useful clarity: Pierre, a successful orchestra conductor, returns home when his mother dies. That direct approach lets The Chorus use its 1h 37m running time for charact

What stands out first about The Merchant of Venice is the confidence with which Michael Radford establishes its romance identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Merchant of Venice asks Al Pacino and Joseph Fiennes to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Merchant of Venice is established with useful clarity: In 16th century Venice, when a merchant must default on a large loan from an abused Jewish moneylender for a friend with romantic amb

What stands out first about Vera Drake is the confidence with which Mike Leigh establishes its crime drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Vera Drake asks Imelda Staunton and Jim Broadbent to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Vera Drake is established with useful clarity: Abortionist Vera Drake finds her beliefs and practices clash with the mores of 1950s Britain a conflict that leads to tragedy for her family. That direct approach le

What stands out first about Benji: Off the Leash! is the confidence with which Joe Camp establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Benji: Off the Leash! asks Nick Whitaker and Chris Kendrick to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Benji: Off the Leash! is established with useful clarity: Lost and alone on the streets of a small Mississippi town, Benji struggles to save his mom from a backyard puppy mill, avoiding two dopey do

What stands out first about Melinda and Melinda is the confidence with which Woody Allen establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Melinda and Melinda asks Will Ferrell and Vinessa Shaw to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Melinda and Melinda is established with useful clarity: Two alternating stories, one comedy and the other tragedy, about Melinda's attempts to straighten out her life. That direct approach lets Melinda

What stands out first about The Door in the Floor is the confidence with which Tod Williams establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Door in the Floor asks Jeff Bridges and Kim Basinger to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Door in the Floor is established with useful clarity: A writer's young assistant becomes both pawn and catalyst in his boss's disintegrating household. That direct approach lets The Door in the

What stands out first about Camping sauvage is the confidence with which André Ducharme establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Camping sauvage asks Guy A. Lepage and Sylvie Moreau to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Camping sauvage is established with useful clarity: A man falls for a woman while he is hiding among campers to elude his criminal pursuers. That direct approach lets Camping sauvage use its 1h 40m running

What stands out first about A Day Without a Mexican is the confidence with which Sergio Arau establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, A Day Without a Mexican asks Caroline Aaron and Tony Abatemarco to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of A Day Without a Mexican is established with useful clarity: When a mysterious fog surrounds the boundaries of California, there is a communication breakdown and all the Mexicans disappear,

What stands out first about Spartan is the confidence with which David Mamet establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Spartan asks Val Kilmer and Derek Luke to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Spartan is established with useful clarity: The investigation into a kidnapping of the daughter of a high ranking US government official. That direct approach lets Spartan use its 1h 46m running time for character, atmosphere and

What stands out first about Mindhunters is the confidence with which Renny Harlin establishes its horror film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Mindhunters asks Val Kilmer and LL Cool J to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Mindhunters is established with useful clarity: A group of FBI trainees are taken to a remote island for simulation training. That direct approach lets Mindhunters use its 1h 46m running time for character, atmosphere

What stands out first about The Libertine is the confidence with which Laurence Dunmore establishes its romance identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Libertine asks Johnny Depp and Samantha Morton to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Libertine is established with useful clarity: The story of John Wilmot, a.k.a. That direct approach lets The Libertine use its 1h 54m running time for character, atmosphere and consequence. ⁠ Visually,