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What stands out first about The Man is the confidence with which Les Mayfield establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Man asks Samuel L. Jackson and Eugene Levy to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Man is established with useful clarity: Special Agent Derrick Vann is a man out to get the man who killed his partner, but a case of mistaken identity leads him to Andy Fiddler, a salesman with too many questions and

What stands out first about An Unfinished Life is the confidence with which Lasse Hallström establishes its romance identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, An Unfinished Life asks Jennifer Lopez and Robert Redford to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of An Unfinished Life is established with useful clarity: Desperate to provide care for her daughter, down on her luck Jean moves in with her father in law from whom she is estranged. That direct ap

What stands out first about Aliens of the Deep is the confidence with which James Cameron establishes its documentary identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Aliens of the Deep asks James Cameron and Anatoly M. Sagalevitch to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Aliens of the Deep is established with useful clarity: James Cameron teams up with NASA scientists to explore the Mid Ocean Ridge, a submerged chain of mountains that band the Earth and

What stands out first about Transamerica is the confidence with which Duncan Tucker establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Transamerica asks Felicity Huffman and Kevin Zegers to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Transamerica is established with useful clarity: A transgender woman takes an unexpected journey when she learns that she had a son, now a teenage runaway hustling on the streets of New York. That direct approa

What stands out first about The Ice Harvest is the confidence with which Harold Ramis establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Ice Harvest asks John Cusack and Billy Bob Thornton to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Ice Harvest is established with useful clarity: A shady lawyer attempts a Christmas Eve crime, hoping to swindle the local mob out of some money. That direct approach lets The Ice Harvest use its 1h 3

What stands out first about Cry Wolf is the confidence with which Jeff Wadlow establishes its horror film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Cry Wolf asks Julian Morris and Lindy Booth to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Cry Wolf is established with useful clarity: Eight unsuspecting high school seniors at a posh boarding school, who delight themselves on playing games of lies, come face to face with terror and learn that nobody believe

What stands out first about The Great Raid is the confidence with which John Dahl establishes its action film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Great Raid asks Benjamin Bratt and Joseph Fiennes to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Great Raid is established with useful clarity: Taking place towards the end of WWII, 500 American Soldiers have been entrapped in a camp for 3 years. That direct approach lets The Great Raid use its 2h

What stands out first about Domino is the confidence with which Tony Scott establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Domino asks Keira Knightley and Mickey Rourke to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Domino is established with useful clarity: A recounting of Domino Harvey's life story. That direct approach lets Domino use its 2h 7m running time for character, atmosphere and consequence. ⁠ The craft of Domino is defined by

What stands out first about In the Mix is the confidence with which Ron Underwood establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, In the Mix asks Usher and Chazz Palminteri to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of In the Mix is established with useful clarity: A successful DJ manages to rescue a powerful mobster one night. That direct approach lets In the Mix use its 1h 35m running time for character, atmosphere and consequence. ⁠

What stands out first about Shopgirl is the confidence with which Anand Tucker establishes its romance identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Shopgirl asks Steve Martin and Claire Danes to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Shopgirl is established with useful clarity: A film adaptation of Steve Martin's novel about a complex love triangle between a bored salesgirl, a wealthy businessman and an aimless young man. That direct approach lets Shop

What stands out first about Mrs. Henderson Presents is the confidence with which Stephen Frears establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Mrs. Henderson Presents asks Judi Dench and Bob Hoskins to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Mrs. Henderson Presents is established with useful clarity: Laura Henderson (Dame Judi Dench) buys an old London theater and opens it up as the Windmill, a performance hall which goes down in hi

What stands out first about Lords of Dogtown is the confidence with which Catherine Hardwicke establishes its biographical drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Lords of Dogtown asks Heath Ledger and Emile Hirsch to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Lords of Dogtown is established with useful clarity: The film follows the surf and skateboarding trends that originated in Venice, California during the 1970s. That direct approach lets Lo