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What stands out first about Race is the confidence with which Abbas Alibhai Burmawalla establishes its action film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Race asks Anil Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Race is established with useful clarity: Destiny makes two brothers Ranvir and Rajiv enemies of each other. That direct approach lets Race use its 2h 29m running time for character, atmosphere and consequence. ⁠ Th

What stands out first about Departures is the confidence with which Yôjirô Takita establishes its drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Departures asks Masahiro Motoki and Ryôko Hirosue to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Departures is established with useful clarity: Soon after buying an expensive cello, Daigo learns that his orchestra is disbanding. That direct approach lets Departures use its 2h 10m running time for character, atm

What stands out first about Gomorrah is the confidence with which Matteo Garrone establishes its crime drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Gomorrah asks Gianfelice Imparato and Salvatore Abbruzzese to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Gomorrah is established with useful clarity: Scampia Vele is the Corbusian architecture which has become a stronghold for Mafia of Naples, Italy. That direct approach lets Gomorrah use its 2h 17m runni

What stands out first about New York, I Love You is the confidence with which Fatih Akin establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, New York, I Love You asks Shia LaBeouf and Natalie Portman to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of New York, I Love You is established with useful clarity: Eleven love stories set in one of the most loved and hated cities of the world, New York City. That direct approach lets New York, I Love You

What stands out first about It Might Get Loud is the confidence with which Davis Guggenheim establishes its documentary identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, It Might Get Loud asks Jimmy Page and The Edge to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of It Might Get Loud is established with useful clarity: A documentary on the electric guitar from the point of view of three significant rock musicians: The Edge, Jimmy Page, and Jack White. That direct a

What stands out first about Summer Hours is the confidence with which Olivier Assayas establishes its family film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Summer Hours asks Juliette Binoche and Charles Berling to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Summer Hours is established with useful clarity: Two brothers and a sister witness the disappearance of their childhood memories when they must relinquish the family belongings to ensure their decease

What stands out first about Every Little Step is the confidence with which Adam Del Deo establishes its documentary identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Every Little Step asks Bob Avian and Justin Bellero to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Every Little Step is established with useful clarity: Follows the plight of real life dancers as they struggle through auditions for the Broadway revival of "A Chorus Line". That direct approach lets E

What stands out first about Valentino: The Last Emperor is the confidence with which Matt Tyrnauer establishes its documentary identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Valentino: The Last Emperor asks Valentino Garavani and Giancarlo Giammetti to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Valentino: The Last Emperor is established with useful clarity: A look at the life of legendary fashion designer Valentino. That direct approach lets Valentino: The L

What stands out first about Rudo y Cursi is the confidence with which Carlos Cuarón establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Rudo y Cursi asks Gael García Bernal and Diego Luna to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Rudo y Cursi is established with useful clarity: Two siblings are rivals in the world of professional soccer. That direct approach lets Rudo y Cursi use its 1h 43m running time for character, atmosphere and con

What stands out first about Henry Poole Is Here is the confidence with which Mark Pellington establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Henry Poole Is Here asks Luke Wilson and Radha Mitchell to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Henry Poole Is Here is established with useful clarity: Henry Poole moves in to a house in his old neighborhood, to spend what he believes are his remaining days alone. That direct approach lets He

What stands out first about Is Anybody There? is the confidence with which John Crowley establishes its drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Is Anybody There? asks Michael Caine and Bill Milner to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Is Anybody There? is established with useful clarity: A lonely boy who lives in his parents' home for the elderly explores his obsession with the afterlife through his friendship with an aging magician. Tha

What stands out first about The Wackness is the confidence with which Jonathan Levine establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Wackness asks Josh Peck and Ben Kingsley to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Wackness is established with useful clarity: It's the summer of 1994, and the streets of New York are pulsing with hip hop. That direct approach lets The Wackness use its 1h 39m running time for character, atmos