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What stands out first about Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont is the confidence with which Dan Ireland establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont asks Joan Plowright and Rupert Friend to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont is established with useful clarity: All but abandoned by her family in a London retirement hotel, an elderly woman strikes up a curious friendship with

What stands out first about Kinky Boots is the confidence with which Julian Jarrold establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Kinky Boots asks Chiwetel Ejiofor and Joel Edgerton to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Kinky Boots is established with useful clarity: A drag queen comes to the rescue of a man who, after inheriting his father's shoe factory, needs to diversify his product if he wants to keep the business afloat.

What stands out first about A Sound of Thunder is the confidence with which Peter Hyams establishes its horror film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, A Sound of Thunder asks Edward Burns and Ben Kingsley to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of A Sound of Thunder is established with useful clarity: A single mistake in the past, by a time travel company in the future, has devastating and unforeseen consequences. That direct approach lets A S

What stands out first about The Proposition is the confidence with which John Hillcoat establishes its crime drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Proposition asks Ray Winstone and Guy Pearce to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Proposition is established with useful clarity: A lawman apprehends a notorious outlaw and gives him nine days to kill his older brother, or else they'll execute his younger brother. That direct approa

What stands out first about The Work and the Glory II: American Zion is the confidence with which Sterling Van Wagenen establishes its western identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Work and the Glory II: American Zion asks Sam Hennings and Brenda Strong to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Work and the Glory II: American Zion is established with useful clarity: In November of 1833, the state of Missouri turned a blind eye as hundred

What stands out first about Strangers with Candy is the confidence with which Paul Dinello establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Strangers with Candy asks Amy Sedaris and Stephen Colbert to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Strangers with Candy is established with useful clarity: Follows a 46 year old ex junkie ex con who returns to high school in a bid to restart her life. That direct approach lets Strangers with Can

What stands out first about Brick is the confidence with which Rian Johnson establishes its thriller identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Brick asks Joseph Gordon Levitt and Lukas Haas to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Brick is established with useful clarity: A teenage loner pushes his way into the underworld of a high school crime ring to investigate the disappearance of his ex girlfriend. That direct approach lets Brick use its 1h 50

What stands out first about Oliver Twist is the confidence with which Roman Polanski establishes its crime drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Oliver Twist asks Barney Clark and Ben Kingsley to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Oliver Twist is established with useful clarity: An adaptation of the classic Dickens tale, where an orphan meets a pickpocket on the streets of London. That direct approach lets Oliver Twist use its 2h 10m r

What stands out first about BloodRayne is the confidence with which Uwe Boll establishes its horror film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, BloodRayne asks Kristanna Loken and Ben Kingsley to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of BloodRayne is established with useful clarity: In the eighteenth century, a vampire escapes from the freak show, in which she once participated, and teams up with a group of vampire slayers to kill the man who raped

What stands out first about The Lost City is the confidence with which Andy Garcia establishes its romance identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Lost City asks Andy Garcia and Inés Sastre to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Lost City is established with useful clarity: A wealthy Havana club owner and his family are torn apart by the violent sociopolitical upheaval brought about by the transition from the dictatorial regime of Batis

What stands out first about Junebug is the confidence with which Phil Morrison establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Junebug asks Embeth Davidtz and Alessandro Nivola to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Junebug is established with useful clarity: A dealer in "outsider" art travels from Chicago to North Carolina to meet her new in laws, challenging the equilibrium of this middle class Southern home. That direct approa

What stands out first about My Brother's Wife is the confidence with which Ricardo de Montreuil establishes its drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, My Brother's Wife asks Bárbara Mori and Christian Meier to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of My Brother's Wife is established with useful clarity: Unable to get intimate with her husband of 10 years, a woman embarks on a steamy affair with his brother. That direct approach lets My Brothe