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What stands out first about Bright Star is the confidence with which Jane Campion establishes its romance identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Bright Star asks Abbie Cornish and Ben Whishaw to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Bright Star is established with useful clarity: Nineteenth century English poet, John Keats and his dressmaking neighbor, Fanny Brawne, have total disregard for each other. That direct approach lets Bright Star use i

What stands out first about Miss March is the confidence with which Zach Cregger establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Miss March asks Zach Cregger and Trevor Moore to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Miss March is established with useful clarity: Awakening from a 4 year coma, a young man finds out that his former high school sweetheart is now a Playboy centerfold model. That direct approach lets Miss March use its 1

What stands out first about Mao's Last Dancer is the confidence with which Bruce Beresford establishes its romance identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Mao's Last Dancer asks Chi Cao and Bruce Greenwood to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Mao's Last Dancer is established with useful clarity: In Maoist China, a boy is taken from his family and trained to become a dancer, but everything he knows is challenged when he is chosen to attend a b

What stands out first about I Am Love is the confidence with which Luca Guadagnino establishes its romance identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, I Am Love asks Tilda Swinton and Flavio Parenti to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of I Am Love is established with useful clarity: Emma left Russia to live with her husband in Italy. That direct approach lets I Am Love use its 2h running time for character, atmosphere and consequence. ⁠ What I Am L

What stands out first about Moon is the confidence with which Duncan Jones establishes its mystery identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Moon asks Sam Rockwell and Kevin Spacey to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Moon is established with useful clarity: Astronaut Sam Bell has a quintessentially personal encounter toward the end of his three year stint on the Moon, where he, working alongside his computer, GERTY, sends back to Earth parcels

What stands out first about Broken Embraces is the confidence with which Pedro Almodóvar establishes its thriller identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Broken Embraces asks Penélope Cruz and Lluís Homar to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Broken Embraces is established with useful clarity: Harry Caine, a blind writer, reaches this moment in time when he has to heal his wounds from 14 years back. That direct approach lets Broken Embraces us

What stands out first about The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest is the confidence with which Daniel Alfredson establishes its thriller identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest asks Michael Nyqvist and Noomi Rapace to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest is established with useful clarity: Lisbeth is recovering in a hospital and awaiting trial for three murders when she

What stands out first about Bandslam is the confidence with which Todd Graff establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Bandslam asks Aly Michalka and Vanessa Hudgens to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Bandslam is established with useful clarity: A new kid in town assembles a fledgling rock band together, they achieve their dreams and compete against the best in the biggest event of the year, a battle of the bands. That

What stands out first about Whatever Works is the confidence with which Woody Allen establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Whatever Works asks Evan Rachel Wood and Larry David to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Whatever Works is established with useful clarity: A middle aged, misanthropic divorcé from New York City surprisingly enters a fulfilling, Pygmalion type relationship with a much younger, unsophisticated Sout

What stands out first about Coco Before Chanel is the confidence with which Anne Fontaine establishes its biographical drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Coco Before Chanel asks Audrey Tautou and Benoît Poelvoorde to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Coco Before Chanel is established with useful clarity: The story of Coco Chanel's rise from obscure beginnings to the heights of the fashion world. That direct approach lets Coco Befor

What stands out first about Post Grad is the confidence with which Vicky Jenson establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Post Grad asks Alexis Bledel and Michael Keaton to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Post Grad is established with useful clarity: Ryden Malby graduates from college and is forced to move back into her childhood home with her eccentric family, while she attempts to find a job, the right guy, and just a

What stands out first about The Secret in Their Eyes is the confidence with which Juan José Campanella establishes its thriller identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Secret in Their Eyes asks Ricardo Darín and Soledad Villamil to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Secret in Their Eyes is established with useful clarity: A retired legal counselor writes a novel hoping to find closure for one of his past unresolved homicide cases and f