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There is a useful directness to August, a drama shaped by Austin Chick with a firm understanding of its audience. In August, Josh Hartnett provides the anchor while Naomie Harris introduces a contrasting energy. Without revealing later complications, August opens from this situation: August centers on two brothers fighting to keep their start up company afloat on Wall Street during August 2001, a month before the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The resulting its 1h 28m running time f

There is a useful directness to Lake City, a crime drama shaped by Hunter Hill with a firm understanding of its audience. In Lake City, Sissy Spacek provides the anchor while Jason Davis introduces a contrasting energy. Without revealing later complications, Lake City opens from this situation: A desperate young man, on the run from a dangerous drug dealer, returns to his mother, years after a family tragedy drove them far apart, to hide. The resulting its 1h 33m running time

There is a useful directness to The Art of Being Straight, a comedy shaped by Jesse Rosen with a firm understanding of its audience. In The Art of Being Straight, Jesse Janzen provides the anchor while Tyler Jenich introduces a contrasting energy. Without revealing later complications, The Art of Being Straight opens from this situation: A sexy, comedic drama about two college friends questioning their careers and sexuality in east Los Angeles. The resulting its 1h 7m running

There is a useful directness to Harold, a comedy shaped by T. Sean Shannon with a firm understanding of its audience. In Harold, Spencer Breslin provides the anchor while Cuba Gooding Jr. introduces a contrasting energy. Without revealing later complications, Harold opens from this situation: A teenager with an early onset of male pattern baldness befriends his high school's janitor. The resulting its 1h 30m running time feels most convincing whenever Harold trusts behaviour

There is a useful directness to Kicking It, a documentary shaped by Susan Koch with a firm understanding of its audience. In Kicking It, Colin Farrell provides the anchor while Brandon Francis introduces a contrasting energy. Without revealing later complications, Kicking It opens from this situation: The lives of homeless people are changed forever through an international soccer competition. The resulting its 1h 38m running time feels most convincing whenever Kicking It tru

There is a useful directness to Sherman's Way, a comedy shaped by Craig M. Saavedra with a firm understanding of its audience. In Sherman's Way, James Le Gros provides the anchor while Enrico Colantoni introduces a contrasting energy. Without revealing later complications, Sherman's Way opens from this situation: An odd couple take to the open road. The resulting its 1h 37m running time feels most convincing whenever Sherman's Way trusts behaviour more than explanation. ⁠ She

There is a useful directness to The Escapist, a thriller shaped by Rupert Wyatt with a firm understanding of its audience. In The Escapist, Brian Cox provides the anchor while Damian Lewis introduces a contrasting energy. Without revealing later complications, The Escapist opens from this situation: Frank is 14 years into a life sentence when he decides to break out of the London prison to set things right with his ill junkie daughter. The resulting its 1h 42m running time fe

There is a useful directness to Laila's Birthday, a drama shaped by Rashid Masharawi with a firm understanding of its audience. In Laila's Birthday, Mohammad Bakri provides the anchor while Areen Omari introduces a contrasting energy. Without revealing later complications, Laila's Birthday opens from this situation: Abu Laila used to be a judge, but because the government doesn't have the means to renew his assignment he is forced to be a taxi driver. The resulting its 1h 11m

There is a useful directness to Splinter, a horror film shaped by Toby Wilkins with a firm understanding of its audience. In Splinter, Shea Whigham provides the anchor while Jill Wagner introduces a contrasting energy. Without revealing later complications, Splinter opens from this situation: Trapped in an isolated gas station by a voracious Splinter parasite that transforms its still living victims into deadly hosts, a young couple and an escaped convict must find a way to w

There is a useful directness to Kabei: Our Mother, a drama shaped by Yôji Yamada with a firm understanding of its audience. In Kabei: Our Mother, Sayuri Yoshinaga provides the anchor while Tadanobu Asano introduces a contrasting energy. Without revealing later complications, Kabei: Our Mother opens from this situation: In 1930s Japan, a mother endures hardship to raise her children when her academic husband is marked as an enemy of the state and imprisoned. The resulting its

There is a useful directness to Leonera, a crime drama shaped by Pablo Trapero with a firm understanding of its audience. In Leonera, Martina Gusmán provides the anchor while Guadalupe Rébora introduces a contrasting energy. Without revealing later complications, Leonera opens from this situation: An incarcerated woman struggles to raise her son from prison. The resulting its 1h 53m running time feels most convincing whenever Leonera trusts behaviour more than explanation. ⁠

There is a useful directness to Chocolate, an action film shaped by Prachya Pinkaew with a firm understanding of its audience. In Chocolate, JeeJa Yanin provides the anchor while Hiroshi Abe introduces a contrasting energy. Without revealing later complications, Chocolate opens from this situation: An autistic girl with powerful martial art skills looks to settle her ailing mother's debts by seeking out the ruthless gangs that owe her family money. The resulting its 1h 50m ru