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What stands out first about Hard Candy is the confidence with which David Slade establishes its thriller identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Hard Candy asks Patrick Wilson and Elliot Page to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Hard Candy is established with useful clarity: Hayley's a smart, charming teenage girl. That direct approach lets Hard Candy use its 1h 44m running time for character, atmosphere and consequence. ⁠ The narrative of Ha

What stands out first about Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man is the confidence with which Lian Lunson establishes its documentary identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man asks Leonard Cohen and Bono to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man is established with useful clarity: A documentary on the legendary singer songwriter, with performances by those musicians he has influenced. That direct approa

What stands out first about Joyeux Noel is the confidence with which Christian Carion establishes its romance identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Joyeux Noel asks Diane Kruger and Benno Fürmann to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Joyeux Noel is established with useful clarity: In December 1914, an unofficial Christmas truce on the Western Front allows soldiers from opposing sides of the First World War to gain insight into each other's w

What stands out first about Undiscovered is the confidence with which Meiert Avis establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Undiscovered asks Kip Pardue and Carrie Fisher to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Undiscovered is established with useful clarity: Aspiring entertainers try to establish careers for themselves in Los Angeles. That direct approach lets Undiscovered use its 1h 37m running time for character, atmosphe

What stands out first about Heights is the confidence with which Chris Terrio establishes its romance identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Heights asks Elizabeth Banks and Glenn Close to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Heights is established with useful clarity: Spanning 24 hours, "Heights" follows five New Yorkers challenged to choose their destiny before the sun comes up the next day. That direct approach lets Heights use its 1h 33m ru

What stands out first about Bee Season is the confidence with which Scott McGehee establishes its family film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Bee Season asks Richard Gere and Juliette Binoche to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Bee Season is established with useful clarity: Wife and mother Miriam begins a downward emotional spiral as her husband avoids their collapsing marriage by immersing himself in his 11 year old daughter's quest

What stands out first about Slow Burn is the confidence with which Wayne Beach establishes its thriller identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Slow Burn asks Ray Liotta and Jolene Blalock to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Slow Burn is established with useful clarity: A district attorney is involved in a 24 hour showdown with a gang leader and is, at the same time, being manipulated by an attractive assistant district attorney and a crypti

What stands out first about Tristram Shandy is the confidence with which Michael Winterbottom establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Tristram Shandy asks Steve Coogan and Jeremy Northam to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Tristram Shandy is established with useful clarity: Director Michael Winterbottom (Northam) attempts to shoot the adaptation of Laurence Sterne's essentially unfilmable novel, "The Life and Opinions

What stands out first about El vacilón: The Movie is the confidence with which Agustin establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, El vacilón: The Movie asks Luis Jimenez and Moonshadow to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of El vacilón: The Movie is established with useful clarity: The adventures and misadventures of New York Spanish language radio personalities Luis Jimenez and Moonshadow, from the morning program El Vacilón

What stands out first about Happy Endings is the confidence with which Don Roos establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Happy Endings asks Lisa Kudrow and Steve Coogan to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Happy Endings is established with useful clarity: A weave of multiple stories to create a witty look at love, family and the sheer unpredictability of life itself. That direct approach lets Happy Endings use its 2h 8m

What stands out first about Sarah Silverman: Jesus Is Magic is the confidence with which Liam Lynch establishes its documentary identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Sarah Silverman: Jesus Is Magic asks Sarah Silverman and Steve Agee to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Sarah Silverman: Jesus Is Magic is established with useful clarity: Narrative digressions on sex, race, politics, and more from comedienne Sarah Silverman. That direct appro

What stands out first about Thumbsucker is the confidence with which Mike Mills establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Thumbsucker asks Lou Taylor Pucci and Tilda Swinton to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Thumbsucker is established with useful clarity: Justin throws himself and everyone around him into chaos when he attempts to break free from his addiction to his thumb. That direct approach lets Thumbsucker use its