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What stands out first about Breakfast on Pluto is the confidence with which Neil Jordan establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Breakfast on Pluto asks Cillian Murphy and Morgan Jones to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Breakfast on Pluto is established with useful clarity: In the 1970s, a young trans woman, Patrick "Kitten" Braden, comes of age by leaving her Irish town for London, in part to look for her mother and i

What stands out first about Mirrormask is the confidence with which Dave McKean establishes its fantasy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Mirrormask asks Stephanie Leonidas and Jason Barry to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Mirrormask is established with useful clarity: In a fantasy world of opposing kingdoms, a fifteen year old girl must find the fabled MirrorMask in order to save the kingdom and get home. That direct approach lets M

What stands out first about Duma is the confidence with which Carroll Ballard establishes its family film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Duma asks Alex Michaeletos and Campbell Scott to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Duma is established with useful clarity: An orphaned cheetah becomes the best friend and pet of a young boy living in South Africa. That direct approach lets Duma use its 1h 40m running time for character, atmosphere

What stands out first about Where the Truth Lies is the confidence with which Atom Egoyan establishes its thriller identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Where the Truth Lies asks Kevin Bacon and Colin Firth to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Where the Truth Lies is established with useful clarity: Karen O'Connor, a young journalist known for her celebrity profiles, is consumed with discovering the truth behind a long buried incident that

What stands out first about Venom is the confidence with which Jim Gillespie establishes its horror film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Venom asks Agnes Bruckner and Jonathan Jackson to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Venom is established with useful clarity: A group of teenagers fear for their lives in the swamps of Louisiana, chased by Mr Jangles, a man possessed by 13 evil souls, and now relentless in his pursuit of new victims.

What stands out first about Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World is the confidence with which Albert Brooks establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World asks Albert Brooks and Sheetal Sheth to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World is established with useful clarity: To improve its relations with Muslim countries, the United States government sends co

What stands out first about Heading South is the confidence with which Laurent Cantet establishes its drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Heading South asks Charlotte Rampling and Karen Young to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Heading South is established with useful clarity: Three female tourists have their eyes opened while visiting the poverty stricken and dangerous world of 1980s Haiti. That direct approach lets Heading South

What stands out first about Separate Lies is the confidence with which Julian Fellowes establishes its thriller identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Separate Lies asks Tom Wilkinson and Emily Watson to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Separate Lies is established with useful clarity: A couple's marriage is complicated by the introduction of a third party. That direct approach lets Separate Lies use its 1h 25m running time for character, a

What stands out first about Bunty Aur Babli is the confidence with which Shaad Ali establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Bunty Aur Babli asks Abhishek Bachchan and Rani Mukerji to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Bunty Aur Babli is established with useful clarity: A small town pair become the legendary Bunty and Babli, turning the world on its head caper after caper until they meet a very upset police officer. That d

What stands out first about Mangal Pandey is the confidence with which Ketan Mehta establishes its biographical drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Mangal Pandey asks Aamir Khan and Rani Mukerji to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Mangal Pandey is established with useful clarity: This is a film about the leader of the 1857 mutiny and his fight against the British rule. That direct approach lets Mangal Pandey use its 2h 30m running

What stands out first about Garam Masala is the confidence with which Priyadarshan establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Garam Masala asks Akshay Kumar and John Abraham to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Garam Masala is established with useful clarity: A rib tickling tale of two flirts who constantly flirt with women despite one of them being engaged. That direct approach lets Garam Masala use its 2h 26m running tim

What stands out first about The Beat That My Heart Skipped is the confidence with which Jacques Audiard establishes its crime drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Beat That My Heart Skipped asks Romain Duris and Aure Atika to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Beat That My Heart Skipped is established with useful clarity: Will Thomas still lead a life of crime and cruelty, just like his thuggish father, or will he pursue his d