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What stands out first about The White Ribbon is the confidence with which Michael Haneke establishes its thriller identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The White Ribbon asks Christian Friedel and Ernst Jacobi to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The White Ribbon is established with useful clarity: Strange events happen in a small village in the north of Germany during the years before World War I, which seem to be ritual punishment. That di

What stands out first about Adam is the confidence with which Max Mayer establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Adam asks Hugh Dancy and Rose Byrne to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Adam is established with useful clarity: Adam, a lonely man with Asperger's Syndrome, develops a relationship with his upstairs neighbor, Beth. That direct approach lets Adam use its 1h 39m running time for character, atmosphere and conse

What stands out first about In the Loop is the confidence with which Armando Iannucci establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, In the Loop asks Tom Hollander and Peter Capaldi to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of In the Loop is established with useful clarity: A political satire about a group of skeptical American and British operatives attempting to prevent a war between two countries. That direct approach lets In the L

What stands out first about Love Aaj Kal is the confidence with which Imtiaz Ali establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Love Aaj Kal asks Saif Ali Khan and Deepika Padukone to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Love Aaj Kal is established with useful clarity: An old fashioned romantic tells his personal love story to a modern man who has just broken up with his girlfriend. That direct approach lets Love Aaj Kal use its

What stands out first about My One and Only is the confidence with which Richard Loncraine establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, My One and Only asks Renée Zellweger and Logan Lerman to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of My One and Only is established with useful clarity: After leaving her philandering husband, an elegant socialite takes her two sons on a road trip across America in search of a better life. That direct

What stands out first about Sin Nombre is the confidence with which Cary Joji Fukunaga establishes its thriller identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Sin Nombre asks Paulina Gaitan and Marco Antonio Aguirre to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Sin Nombre is established with useful clarity: A young Honduran girl and a Mexican gangster are united in a journey across the U.S. border. That direct approach lets Sin Nombre use its 1h 36m running

What stands out first about Chéri is the confidence with which Stephen Frears establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Chéri asks Michelle Pfeiffer and Rupert Friend to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Chéri is established with useful clarity: The son of a courtesan retreats into a fantasy world after being forced to end his relationship with the older woman who educated him in the ways of love. That direct approach let

What stands out first about Chloe is the confidence with which Atom Egoyan establishes its thriller identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Chloe asks Julianne Moore and Amanda Seyfried to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Chloe is established with useful clarity: Suspecting her husband of infidelity, gynecologist Dr Catherine Stewart hires an escort named Chloe in order to test his faithfulness. That direct approach lets Chloe use its 1h 36m

What stands out first about To Save a Life is the confidence with which Brian Baugh establishes its drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, To Save a Life asks Randy Wayne and Deja Kreutzberg to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of To Save a Life is established with useful clarity: After a childhood friend's death, Jake Taylor, an all star athlete must change his life and sacrifice his dreams to save the lives of others. That direct approa

What stands out first about The September Issue is the confidence with which R.J. Cutler establishes its documentary identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The September Issue asks Anna Wintour and Thakoon Panichgul to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The September Issue is established with useful clarity: A documentary chronicling Vogue editor in chief Anna Wintour's preparations for the 2007 fall fashion issue. That direct approach lets T

What stands out first about Good Hair is the confidence with which Jeff Stilson establishes its documentary identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Good Hair asks Chris Rock and Maya Angelou to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Good Hair is established with useful clarity: Chris Rock explores the wonders of African American hairstyles. That direct approach lets Good Hair use its 1h 36m running time for character, atmosphere and consequence. ⁠

What stands out first about Solitary Man is the confidence with which Brian Koppelman establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Solitary Man asks Michael Douglas and Susan Sarandon to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Solitary Man is established with useful clarity: A car magnate watches his personal and professional life hit the skids because of his business and romantic indiscretions. That direct approach lets Solitary