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What stands out first about Doogal is the confidence with which Dave Borthwick establishes its animated adventure identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Doogal asks Jon Stewart and Judi Dench to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Doogal is established with useful clarity: The clumsy dog Doogal frees a cruel wizard, who seeks to find three magical diamonds capable of, together, freezing the sun. That direct approach lets Doogal use its 1h 18m

What stands out first about A Good Year is the confidence with which Ridley Scott establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, A Good Year asks Russell Crowe and Abbie Cornish to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of A Good Year is established with useful clarity: A British investment broker inherits his uncle's chateau and vineyard in Provence, where he spent much of his childhood. That direct approach lets A Good Year use its

What stands out first about El cantante is the confidence with which Leon Ichaso establishes its biographical drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, El cantante asks Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of El cantante is established with useful clarity: The life story of Hector Lavoe, who started the salsa movement in 1975 and brought it to the United States. That direct approach lets El cantante use its 1h

What stands out first about Slither is the confidence with which James Gunn establishes its horror film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Slither asks Nathan Fillion and Elizabeth Banks to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Slither is established with useful clarity: A small town is taken over by an alien plague, turning residents into zombies and all forms of mutant monsters. That direct approach lets Slither use its 1h 35m running time

What stands out first about The Night Listener is the confidence with which Patrick Stettner establishes its horror film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Night Listener asks Robin Williams and Toni Collette to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Night Listener is established with useful clarity: In the midst of his crumbling relationship, a radio show host begins speaking to his biggest fan, a young boy, via the telephone. That d

What stands out first about The Painted Veil is the confidence with which John Curran establishes its romance identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Painted Veil asks Naomi Watts and Edward Norton to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Painted Veil is established with useful clarity: Dr Walter gets married to the beautiful Kitty but soon finds out that she is cheating on him. That direct approach lets The Painted Veil use its 2h 5m run

What stands out first about Bella is the confidence with which Alejandro Monteverde establishes its romance identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Bella asks Eduardo Verástegui and Tammy Blanchard to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Bella is established with useful clarity: A chef with a mysterious past spends the day with a waitress who needs a friend. That direct approach lets Bella use its 1h 31m running time for character, atmosphere an

What stands out first about Hoot is the confidence with which Wil Shriner establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Hoot asks Logan Lerman and Luke Wilson to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Hoot is established with useful clarity: A young man (Lerman) moves from Montana to Florida with his family, where he's compelled to engage in a fight to protect a population of endangered owls. That direct approach lets Hoot use its

What stands out first about Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny is the confidence with which Liam Lynch establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny asks Jack Black and Kyle Gass to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny is established with useful clarity: To become the greatest band of all time, two slackers, wannabe rockers set out on a quest to steal a legend

What stands out first about Black Snake Moan is the confidence with which Craig Brewer establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Black Snake Moan asks Christina Ricci and Samuel L. Jackson to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Black Snake Moan is established with useful clarity: A God fearing bluesman takes to a wild young woman who, as a victim of childhood sexual abuse, looks everywhere for love, never quite finding it.

What stands out first about Once is the confidence with which John Carney establishes its romance identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Once asks Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Once is established with useful clarity: A modern day musical about a busker and an immigrant and their eventful week in Dublin, as they write, rehearse and record songs that tell their love story. That direct approach lets Once

What stands out first about Penelope is the confidence with which Mark Palansky establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Penelope asks Christina Ricci and James McAvoy to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Penelope is established with useful clarity: A modern romantic tale about a young aristocratic heiress born under a curse that can only be broken when she finds true love with "one who will accept her as one of their ow