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What stands out first about Get Low is the confidence with which Aaron Schneider establishes its mystery identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Get Low asks Robert Duvall and Bill Murray to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Get Low is established with useful clarity: A movie spun out of equal parts folk tale, fable and real life legend about the mysterious, 1930s Tennessee hermit who famously threw his own rollicking funeral party. That dire

What stands out first about Everybody's Fine is the confidence with which Kirk Jones establishes its drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Everybody's Fine asks Robert De Niro and Kate Beckinsale to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Everybody's Fine is established with useful clarity: A widower who realized his only connection to his family was through his wife sets off on an impromptu road trip to reunite with each of his grown child

What stands out first about A Serious Man is the confidence with which Ethan Coen establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, A Serious Man asks Michael Stuhlbarg and Richard Kind to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of A Serious Man is established with useful clarity: Larry Gopnik, a Midwestern physics teacher, watches his life unravel over multiple sudden incidents. That direct approach lets A Serious Man use its 1h 46m runn

What stands out first about Dragonball Evolution is the confidence with which James Wong establishes its action film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Dragonball Evolution asks Justin Chatwin and James Marsters to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Dragonball Evolution is established with useful clarity: The young warrior Son Goku sets out on a quest, racing against time and the vengeful King Piccolo, to collect a set of seven magical or

What stands out first about Away We Go is the confidence with which Sam Mendes establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Away We Go asks John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Away We Go is established with useful clarity: A couple expecting their first child travels the U.S. seeking the perfect "family home." They have misadventures and find fresh connections with relatives and old friends w

What stands out first about Next Day Air is the confidence with which Benny Boom establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Next Day Air asks Yasiin Bey and Mike Epps to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Next Day Air is established with useful clarity: Two inept criminals are mistakenly delivered a package of cocaine and think they've hit the jackpot, triggering a series of events that changes 10 people's lives forever. Th

What stands out first about The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is the confidence with which Niels Arden Oplev establishes its thriller identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo asks Michael Nyqvist and Noomi Rapace to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is established with useful clarity: Influential industrialist Vanger's niece Harriet disappeared under mysterious circumstances 40 year

What stands out first about The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day is the confidence with which Troy Duffy establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day asks Sean Patrick Flanery and Norman Reedus to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day is established with useful clarity: The MacManus brothers are living a quiet life in Ireland with their father, but w

What stands out first about Whiteout is the confidence with which Dominic Sena establishes its action film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Whiteout asks Kate Beckinsale and Gabriel Macht to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Whiteout is established with useful clarity: U.S. Marshal Carrie Stetko tracks a killer in Antarctica as the sun is about to set for six months. That direct approach lets Whiteout use its 1h 41m running time for ch

What stands out first about Pandorum is the confidence with which Christian Alvart establishes its horror film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Pandorum asks Dennis Quaid and Ben Foster to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Pandorum is established with useful clarity: Two crew members of a spaceship wake up from hypersleep to discover that all their colleagues are missing. That direct approach lets Pandorum use its 1h 48m running time f

What stands out first about Not Easily Broken is the confidence with which Bill Duke establishes its romance identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Not Easily Broken asks Morris Chestnut and Taraji P. Henson to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Not Easily Broken is established with useful clarity: A car accident and shifting affections test the bond between a married couple. That direct approach lets Not Easily Broken use its 1h 39m running

What stands out first about Extract is the confidence with which Mike Judge establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Extract asks Jason Bateman and Kristen Wiig to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Extract is established with useful clarity: Joel, the owner of an extract plant, tries to contend with myriad personal and professional problems, such as his potentially unfaithful wife and employees who want to take advantage