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What stands out first about Vincere is the confidence with which Marco Bellocchio establishes its romance identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Vincere asks Giovanna Mezzogiorno and Filippo Timi to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Vincere is established with useful clarity: The story of Mussolini's secret lover, Ida Dalser, and their son Albino. That direct approach lets Vincere use its 2h 8m running time for character, atmosphere and cons

What stands out first about Agora is the confidence with which Alejandro Amenábar establishes its romance identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Agora asks Rachel Weisz and Max Minghella to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Agora is established with useful clarity: A historical drama set in Roman Egypt, concerning a slave who turns to the rising tide of Christianity in the hope of pursuing freedom while falling in love with his mistress, the

What stands out first about Ajami is the confidence with which Scandar Copti establishes its crime drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Ajami asks Fouad Habash and Nisrin Siksik to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Ajami is established with useful clarity: Ajami is the religiously mixed community of Muslims and Christians in Tel Aviv. That direct approach lets Ajami use its 2h 4m running time for character, atmosphere and consequence

What stands out first about Amreeka is the confidence with which Cherien Dabis establishes its drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Amreeka asks Nisreen Faour and Melkar Muallem to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Amreeka is established with useful clarity: A drama centered on the trials and tribulations of a proud Palestinian Christian immigrant single mother and her teenage son in small town Illinois. That direct approach lets Amr

What stands out first about Dil Bole Hadippa is the confidence with which Anurag Singh establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Dil Bole Hadippa asks Shahid Kapoor and Rani Mukerji to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Dil Bole Hadippa is established with useful clarity: In a village where girls don't play cricket, Veera puts on a turban and beard and becomes Veer to fulfill her dreams and meets Rohan. That direct approac

What stands out first about The Oscar Nominated Short Films 2009: Live Action is the confidence with which the directing team establishes its feature film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Oscar Nominated Short Films 2009: Live Action asks the lead performer and the principal supporting performer to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Oscar Nominated Short Films 2009: Live Action is established with useful clarity: Collective scre

What stands out first about The Concert is the confidence with which Radu Mihaileanu establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Concert asks Aleksei Guskov and Mélanie Laurent to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Concert is established with useful clarity: Thirty years ago Bolshoi Orchestra conductor Andreï Filipov was fired for hiring Jewish musicians. That direct approach lets The Concert use its 1h 59m running t

What stands out first about Play the Game is the confidence with which Marc Fienberg establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Play the Game asks Paul Campbell and Andy Griffith to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Play the Game is established with useful clarity: A young ladies' man teaches his dating tricks to his lonely, widowed grandfather, and plays his best mind games to meet the woman of his dreams. That direct app

What stands out first about Echelon Conspiracy is the confidence with which Greg Marcks establishes its action film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Echelon Conspiracy asks Shane West and Edward Burns to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Echelon Conspiracy is established with useful clarity: At first, the strange phone messages promised great wealth. That direct approach lets Echelon Conspiracy use its 1h 45m running time for character

What stands out first about The Secret of Kells is the confidence with which Tomm Moore establishes its animated adventure identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Secret of Kells asks Evan McGuire and Brendan Gleeson to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Secret of Kells is established with useful clarity: A young boy in a remote medieval outpost under siege from barbarian raids is beckoned to adventure when a celebrated master illumina

What stands out first about Fanboys is the confidence with which Kyle Newman establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Fanboys asks Dan Fogler and Jay Baruchel to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Fanboys is established with useful clarity: Star Wars fanatics take a cross country trip to George Lucas' Skywalker Ranch so their dying friend can see a screening of Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace (1999) before its rel

What stands out first about The Girlfriend Experience is the confidence with which Steven Soderbergh establishes its drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Girlfriend Experience asks Sasha Grey and Chris Santos to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Girlfriend Experience is established with useful clarity: A drama set in the days leading up to the 2008 Presidential election, and centered on a high end Manhattan call girl meeting