All Articles

What stands out first about Shortbus is the confidence with which John Cameron Mitchell establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Shortbus asks Sook Yin Lee and Peter Stickles to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Shortbus is established with useful clarity: A group of New Yorkers caught up in their romantic sexual milieu converge at an underground salon infamous for its blend of art, music, politics, and carnality. That d

What stands out first about Orchestra Seats is the confidence with which Danièle Thompson establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Orchestra Seats asks Cécile de France and Valérie Lemercier to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Orchestra Seats is established with useful clarity: A young woman arrives in Paris where she finds a job as a waitress in bar next on Avenue Montaigne that caters to the surrounding theaters and t

What stands out first about Fanaa is the confidence with which Kunal Kohli establishes its action film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Fanaa asks Aamir Khan and Kajol to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Fanaa is established with useful clarity: A sweet blind girl Zooni meets a flirty Rehan. That direct approach lets Fanaa use its 2h 48m running time for character, atmosphere and consequence. ⁠ Fanaa demonstrates the value of readable

What stands out first about Priceless is the confidence with which Pierre Salvadori establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Priceless asks Audrey Tautou and Gad Elmaleh to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Priceless is established with useful clarity: Jean, a shy waiter who works at a high end hotel, is mistaken for a young millionaire by the beautiful and intriguing fortune hunter Irene. That direct approach lets Price

What stands out first about Rang De Basanti is the confidence with which Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Rang De Basanti asks Aamir Khan and Soha Ali Khan to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Rang De Basanti is established with useful clarity: The story of six young Indians who assist an English woman to film a documentary on the freedom fighters from their past, and the events that lead

What stands out first about The Host is the confidence with which Bong Joon Ho establishes its horror film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Host asks Song Kang ho and Byun Hee Bong to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Host is established with useful clarity: A monster emerges from Seoul's Han River and begins attacking people. That direct approach lets The Host use its 2h running time for character, atmosphere and consequence.

What stands out first about Lage Raho Munna Bhai is the confidence with which Rajkumar Hirani establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Lage Raho Munna Bhai asks Sanjay Dutt and Arshad Warsi to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Lage Raho Munna Bhai is established with useful clarity: Munna Bhai embarks on a journey with Mahatma Gandhi in order to fight against a corrupt property dealer. That direct approach lets Lage Raho

What stands out first about Perfume: The Story of a Murderer is the confidence with which Tom Tykwer establishes its crime drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Perfume: The Story of a Murderer asks Ben Whishaw and Dustin Hoffman to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Perfume: The Story of a Murderer is established with useful clarity: Jean Baptiste Grenouille, born with a superior olfactory sense, creates the world's finest perfume. Th

What stands out first about Don is the confidence with which Farhan Akhtar establishes its action film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Don asks Shah Rukh Khan and Priyanka Chopra Jonas to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Don is established with useful clarity: Vijay is recruited by a police officer to masquerade as his lookalike Don, the leader of an international gang of smugglers. That direct approach lets Don use its 2h 51m runnin

What stands out first about A Family Secret is the confidence with which Ghyslaine Côté establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, A Family Secret asks Ginette Reno and Joëlle Morin to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of A Family Secret is established with useful clarity: Un premier DE l'an, alors qu'une tempête souffle sur Montréal, DE nombreux parents et amis sont réunis dans un salon funéraire à l'occasion des funérailles

What stands out first about The Fall is the confidence with which Tarsem Singh establishes its fantasy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Fall asks Lee Pace and Catinca Untaru to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Fall is established with useful clarity: In 1920s Los Angeles, a bedridden patient in a hospital captivates a young girl with a fantastic tale of heroes, myths, and villains on a desert island. That direct approach lets

What stands out first about Dhoom 2 is the confidence with which Sanjay Gadhvi establishes its action film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Dhoom 2 asks Hrithik Roshan and Abhishek Bachchan to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Dhoom 2 is established with useful clarity: Mr A, a fearless thief, steals valuable artefacts and teams up with the girl he is attracted to but cannot trust. That direct approach lets Dhoom 2 use its 2h 32m runni