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What stands out first about Namastey London is the confidence with which Vipul Amrutlal Shah establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Namastey London asks Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Namastey London is established with useful clarity: A man takes his thoroughly British daughter to his home country, India. That direct approach lets Namastey London use its 2h 8m running time for chara

What stands out first about Like Stars on Earth is the confidence with which Aamir Khan establishes its family film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Like Stars on Earth asks Darsheel Safary and Aamir Khan to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Like Stars on Earth is established with useful clarity: A young boy is thought to be nothing but a lazy troublemaker until the new art teacher has the patience and compassion to discover the real p

What stands out first about Eklavya: The Royal Guard is the confidence with which Vidhu Vinod Chopra establishes its action film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Eklavya: The Royal Guard asks Amitabh Bachchan and Saif Ali Khan to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Eklavya: The Royal Guard is established with useful clarity: As the kingdom of Devigarh comes apart at the seams, an aging bodyguard attempts to protect the Royal Family, as w

What stands out first about Funny Games is the confidence with which Michael Haneke establishes its thriller identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Funny Games asks Naomi Watts and Tim Roth to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Funny Games is established with useful clarity: Two psychopathic young men take a family hostage in their cabin. That direct approach lets Funny Games use its 1h 51m running time for character, atmosphere and consequen

What stands out first about No End in Sight is the confidence with which Charles Ferguson establishes its documentary identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, No End in Sight asks Campbell Scott and Gerald Burke to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of No End in Sight is established with useful clarity: A comprehensive look at the Bush Administration's conduct of the Iraq war and its occupation of the country. That direct approach lets No End in S

What stands out first about Heyy Babyy is the confidence with which Sajid Khan establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Heyy Babyy asks Akshay Kumar and Fardeen Khan to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Heyy Babyy is established with useful clarity: Three bachelors who are compulsive womanizers find their lives turned upside down when a baby is left at their doorstep. That direct approach lets Heyy Babyy use its 2h 24m r

What stands out first about Days of Darkness is the confidence with which Denys Arcand establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Days of Darkness asks Marc Labrèche and Diane Kruger to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Days of Darkness is established with useful clarity: Jean Marc Leblanc (Labrèche), a desperate civil servant, escapes reality as we know it by imagining himself as the hero in imaginary adventures. That dir

What stands out first about Married Life is the confidence with which Ira Sachs establishes its crime drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Married Life asks Chris Cooper and Patricia Clarkson to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Married Life is established with useful clarity: A 1940s set drama where an adulterous man plots his wife's death instead of putting her through the humiliation of a divorce. That direct approach lets Married

What stands out first about Year of the Dog is the confidence with which Mike White establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Year of the Dog asks Molly Shannon and John C. Reilly to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Year of the Dog is established with useful clarity: A secretary's life changes in unexpected ways after her dog dies. That direct approach lets Year of the Dog use its 1h 37m running time for character, atmos

What stands out first about Battle for Terra is the confidence with which Aristomenis Tsirbas establishes its animated adventure identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Battle for Terra asks Evan Rachel Wood and Luke Wilson to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Battle for Terra is established with useful clarity: The peaceful alien planet Terra faces annihilation, as the homeless remainder of the human race sets its eyes on it. That direct app

What stands out first about Son of Rambow is the confidence with which Garth Jennings establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Son of Rambow asks Bill Milner and Will Poulter to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Son of Rambow is established with useful clarity: During a long English summer in the early 1980s, two schoolboys from differing backgrounds set out to make a film inspired by First Blood (1982). That direct appr

What stands out first about Salaam E Ishq is the confidence with which Nikkhil Advani establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Salaam E Ishq asks Salman Khan and Priyanka Chopra Jonas to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Salaam E Ishq is established with useful clarity: Six couples in love must face different problems caused by love itself. That direct approach lets Salaam E Ishq use its 3h 36m running time for character