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What stands out first about Synecdoche, New York is the confidence with which Charlie Kaufman establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Synecdoche, New York asks Philip Seymour Hoffman and Samantha Morton to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Synecdoche, New York is established with useful clarity: A theater director struggles with his work and the women in his life as he creates a life size replica of New York City inside

What stands out first about Two Lovers is the confidence with which James Gray establishes its romance identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Two Lovers asks Joaquin Phoenix and Gwyneth Paltrow to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Two Lovers is established with useful clarity: A Brooklyn set romantic drama about a bachelor torn between the family friend his parents wish he would marry and his beautiful but volatile new neighbor. That direct

What stands out first about I've Loved You So Long is the confidence with which Philippe Claudel establishes its drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, I've Loved You So Long asks Kristin Scott Thomas and Elsa Zylberstein to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of I've Loved You So Long is established with useful clarity: A woman struggles to interact with her family and find her place in society after spending fifteen years in prison. That

What stands out first about Blindness is the confidence with which Fernando Meirelles establishes its thriller identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Blindness asks Julianne Moore and Mark Ruffalo to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Blindness is established with useful clarity: A city is ravaged by an epidemic of instant white blindness. That direct approach lets Blindness use its 2h 1m running time for character, atmosphere and consequence

What stands out first about Jodhaa Akbar is the confidence with which Ashutosh Gowariker establishes its action film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Jodhaa Akbar asks Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Jodhaa Akbar is established with useful clarity: A sixteenth century love story about a marriage of alliance that gave birth to true love between a great Mughal emperor, Akbar, and a Rajput pr

What stands out first about Happy Go Lucky is the confidence with which Mike Leigh establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Happy Go Lucky asks Sally Hawkins and Alexis Zegerman to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Happy Go Lucky is established with useful clarity: A look at a few chapters in the life of Poppy, a cheery, colorful, North London schoolteacher whose optimism tends to exasperate those around her. That direct

What stands out first about The Brothers Bloom is the confidence with which Rian Johnson establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Brothers Bloom asks Rachel Weisz and Adrien Brody to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Brothers Bloom is established with useful clarity: The Brothers Bloom are the best con men in the world, swindling millionaires with complex scenarios of lust and intrigue. That direct approach lets

What stands out first about Elegy is the confidence with which Isabel Coixet establishes its romance identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Elegy asks Ben Kingsley and Penélope Cruz to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Elegy is established with useful clarity: Cultural critic David Kepesh finds his life, which he indicates is a state of "emancipated manhood," thrown into tragic disarray by Consuela Castillo, a well mannered student who awake

What stands out first about The Class is the confidence with which Laurent Cantet establishes its drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Class asks François Bégaudeau and Agame Malembo Emene to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Class is established with useful clarity: Teacher and novelist François Bégaudeau plays a version of himself as he negotiates a year with his racially mixed students from a tough Parisian neighborhood. T

What stands out first about Bottle Shock is the confidence with which Randall Miller establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Bottle Shock asks Chris Pine and Alan Rickman to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Bottle Shock is established with useful clarity: The story of the early days of California wine making featuring the now infamous, blind Paris wine tasting of 1976 that has come to be known as "Judgment of Paris". T

What stands out first about Witless Protection is the confidence with which Charles Robert Carner establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Witless Protection asks Larry the Cable Guy and Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Witless Protection is established with useful clarity: When a small town sheriff witnesses what he believes to be an attempted kidnapping, his effort to save the beautiful dams

What stands out first about Food, Inc. is the confidence with which Robert Kenner establishes its documentary identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Food, Inc. asks Michael Pollan and Eric Schlosser to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Food, Inc. is established with useful clarity: An unflattering look inside America's corporate controlled food industry. That direct approach lets Food, Inc. use its 1h 34m running time for character, atmosphe