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Million Dollar Baby arrives as a sports drama directed by Clint Eastwood, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Hilary Swank and Clint Eastwood give Million Dollar Baby a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Million Dollar Baby comes into focus without a long explanation: Frankie, an ill tempered old coach, reluctantly agrees to train aspiring boxer Maggie. Across its 2h 12m running time, Clint Eastwood keeps

Collateral arrives as an action film directed by Michael Mann, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Tom Cruise and Jamie Foxx give Collateral a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Collateral comes into focus without a long explanation: A cab driver finds himself the hostage of an engaging contract killer as he makes his rounds from hit to hit during one night in Los Angeles. Across its 2h running time, Micha

The Aviator arrives as a biographical drama directed by Martin Scorsese, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Leonardo DiCaprio and Cate Blanchett give The Aviator a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in The Aviator comes into focus without a long explanation: A biopic depicting the early years of legendary director and aviator Howard Hughes' career from the late 1920s to the mid 1940s. Across its 2h 50m runni

The Grudge arrives as a horror film directed by Takashi Shimizu, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Sarah Michelle Gellar and Jason Behr give The Grudge a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in The Grudge comes into focus without a long explanation: An American nurse living and working in Tokyo is exposed to a mysterious supernatural curse, one that locks a person in a powerful rage before claiming their life

The Village arrives as a thriller directed by M. Night Shyamalan, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Sigourney Weaver and William Hurt give The Village a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in The Village comes into focus without a long explanation: A series of events tests the beliefs of a small isolated countryside village. Across its 1h 48m running time, M. Night Shyamalan keeps The Village engaging in bur

Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story arrives as a comedy directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor give Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story comes into focus without a long explanation: A group of misfits enter a Las Vegas dodgeball tournament in order to save their cherished local

A Series of Unfortunate Events arrives as a comedy directed by Brad Silberling, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Jim Carrey and Jude Law give A Series of Unfortunate Events a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in A Series of Unfortunate Events comes into focus without a long explanation: When a massive fire kills their parents, three children are delivered to the custody of cousin and stage actor Count Ola

Fahrenheit 9/11 arrives as a documentary directed by Michael Moore, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Michael Moore and George W. Bush give Fahrenheit 9/11 a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Fahrenheit 9/11 comes into focus without a long explanation: Michael Moore's view on what happened to the United States after 9/11 and how the Bush Administration allegedly used the tragic event to push forward its

Van Helsing arrives as an action film directed by Stephen Sommers, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Hugh Jackman and Kate Beckinsale give Van Helsing a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Van Helsing comes into focus without a long explanation: The famed monster hunter is sent to Transylvania to stop Count Dracula, who is using Dr Frankenstein's research and a werewolf for nefarious purposes. Across its

50 First Dates arrives as a comedy directed by Peter Segal, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore give 50 First Dates a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in 50 First Dates comes into focus without a long explanation: Henry Roth is a man afraid of commitment until he meets the beautiful Lucy. Across its 1h 39m running time, Peter Segal keeps 50 First Dates alive in individual sce

Ocean's Twelve arrives as a thriller directed by Steven Soderbergh, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. George Clooney and Brad Pitt give Ocean's Twelve a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Ocean's Twelve comes into focus without a long explanation: Daniel Ocean recruits one more team member so he can pull off three major European heists in this sequel to Ocean's Eleven (2001). Across its 2h 5m running tim

Troy arrives as an action film directed by Wolfgang Petersen, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Brad Pitt and Eric Bana give Troy a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Troy comes into focus without a long explanation: An adaptation of Homer's great epic, the film follows the assault on Troy by the united Greek forces. Across its 2h 43m running time, Wolfgang Petersen keeps Troy careful about tone and gene