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What stands out first about Everlasting Moments is the confidence with which Jan Troell establishes its historical drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Everlasting Moments asks Maria Heiskanen and Mikael Persbrandt to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Everlasting Moments is established with useful clarity: In a time of social change and unrest, war and poverty, a young working class woman, Maria, wins a camera in a lottery. That dire

What stands out first about Red Cliff is the confidence with which John Woo establishes its action film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Red Cliff asks Tony Leung Chiu wai and Takeshi Kaneshiro to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Red Cliff is established with useful clarity: The first chapter of a two part story centered on a battle fought in China's Three Kingdoms period (220 280 A.D.). That direct approach lets Red Cliff use its 2h

What stands out first about The Stoning of Soraya M. is the confidence with which Cyrus Nowrasteh establishes its drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Stoning of Soraya M. asks Shohreh Aghdashloo and Jim Caviezel to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Stoning of Soraya M. is established with useful clarity: A story told by Zahra to a French journalist of her niece Soraya Manutchehri, a 35 year old married woman, who received ca

What stands out first about Heroes is the confidence with which Samir Karnik establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Heroes asks Sohail Khan and Vatsal Sheth to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Heroes is established with useful clarity: Two boys travel a thousand miles to deliver three letters as a part of their film school assignment. That direct approach lets Heroes use its 2h 19m running time for character, atmosphe

What stands out first about Beer for My Horses is the confidence with which Michael Salomon establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Beer for My Horses asks Toby Keith and Rodney Carrington to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Beer for My Horses is established with useful clarity: Two best friends work together as deputies in a small town. That direct approach lets Beer for My Horses use its 1h 26m running time for chara

What stands out first about Anvil: The Story of Anvil is the confidence with which Sacha Gervasi establishes its documentary identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Anvil: The Story of Anvil asks Robb Reiner and Steve 'Lips' Kudlow to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Anvil: The Story of Anvil is established with useful clarity: Since 1978, Anvil has become one of heavy metal's most influential yet commercially unsuccessful acts. That direct

What stands out first about Mid August Lunch is the confidence with which Gianni Di Gregorio establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Mid August Lunch asks Valeria De Franciscis and Marina Cacciotti to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Mid August Lunch is established with useful clarity: Broke, and armed with only a wry sense of humor, middle aged Gianni lives with his mother in their old apartment. That direct approach

What stands out first about Delgo is the confidence with which Marc F. Adler establishes its animated adventure identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Delgo asks Freddie Prinze Jr. and Val Kilmer to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Delgo is established with useful clarity: Delgo, an adventurous but naive teenager, must rally his group of friends to protect their world from conflict between the Lockni and Nohrin people. That direct approach

What stands out first about Bachna Ae Haseeno is the confidence with which Siddharth Anand establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Bachna Ae Haseeno asks Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Bachna Ae Haseeno is established with useful clarity: Raj is a heartbreaker. That direct approach lets Bachna Ae Haseeno use its 2h 32m running time for character, atmosphere and consequence. ⁠ Wha

What stands out first about North Face is the confidence with which Philipp Stölzl establishes its biographical drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, North Face asks Benno Fürmann and Florian Lukas to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of North Face is established with useful clarity: A secretary at a Berlin newspaper in 1936 gets to write about two Alpinists, as she knows them well. That direct approach lets North Face use its 2h 6m runn

What stands out first about Forever Strong is the confidence with which Ryan Little establishes its sports drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Forever Strong asks Sean Faris and Penn Badgley to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Forever Strong is established with useful clarity: A rugby player is put up in a juvenile detention center, where he plays for the Highland Rugby team and ultimately plays against his father in the National C

What stands out first about Che: Part Two is the confidence with which Steven Soderbergh establishes its biographical drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Che: Part Two asks Demián Bichir and Rodrigo Santoro to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Che: Part Two is established with useful clarity: In 1967, Ernesto 'Che' Guevara leads a small partisan army to fight an ill fated revolutionary guerrilla war in Bolivia, South America. That d