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Dance Flick arrives as a comedy directed by Damien Dante Wayans, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Marlon Wayans and Shawn Wayans give Dance Flick a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Dance Flick comes into focus without a long explanation: Street dancer Thomas Uncles is from the wrong side of the tracks, but his bond with the beautiful Megan White might help the duo realize their dreams as they enter in

Brooklyn's Finest arrives as a thriller directed by Antoine Fuqua, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Richard Gere and Don Cheadle give Brooklyn's Finest a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Brooklyn's Finest comes into focus without a long explanation: Three unconnected Brooklyn cops wind up at the same deadly location after enduring vastly different career paths. Across its 2h 12m running time, Antoine

Saw VI arrives as a horror film directed by Kevin Greutert, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Costas Mandylor and Mark Rolston give Saw VI a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Saw VI comes into focus without a long explanation: Agent Strahm is dead, and FBI agent Erickson draws nearer to Hoffman. Across its 1h 30m running time, Kevin Greutert keeps Saw VI uncertain about tone and dramatic emphasis. ⁠ The

Brothers arrives as a thriller directed by Jim Sheridan, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Jake Gyllenhaal and Natalie Portman give Brothers a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Brothers comes into focus without a long explanation: While on tour in Afghanistan, Sam's helicopter is shot down and he is presumed dead. Across its 1h 45m running time, Jim Sheridan keeps Brothers clear enough to keep the emoti

The Uninvited arrives as a horror film directed by Charles Guard, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Emily Browning and Arielle Kebbel give The Uninvited a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in The Uninvited comes into focus without a long explanation: Anna returns home after a stint in a mental hospital, but her recovery is jeopardized by her father's new girlfriend and ghastly visions of her dead mother. A

The Stepfather arrives as a thriller directed by Nelson McCormick, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Penn Badgley and Dylan Walsh give The Stepfather a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in The Stepfather comes into focus without a long explanation: Michael Harding returns home from military school to find his mother, Susan, happily in love and living with her new boyfriend, David. Across its 1h 41m running

Did You Hear About the Morgans? arrives as a comedy directed by Marc Lawrence, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Hugh Grant and Sarah Jessica Parker give Did You Hear About the Morgans? a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Did You Hear About the Morgans? comes into focus without a long explanation: In New York City, an estranged couple who witness a murder are relocated to small town Wyoming as part of t

Daybreakers arrives as a horror film directed by Michael Spierig, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Ethan Hawke and Willem Dafoe give Daybreakers a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Daybreakers comes into focus without a long explanation: In the year 2019, a plague has transformed almost every human into vampires. Across its 1h 38m running time, Michael Spierig keeps Daybreakers engaging in bursts but u

The Soloist arrives as a biographical drama directed by Joe Wright, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey Jr. give The Soloist a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in The Soloist comes into focus without a long explanation: A newspaper journalist discovers a homeless musical genius and tries to improve his situation. Across its 1h 57m running time, Joe Wright keeps The Soloist caref

9 arrives as an animated adventure directed by Shane Acker, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Elijah Wood and Jennifer Connelly give 9 a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in 9 comes into focus without a long explanation: A rag doll that awakens in a postapocalyptic future holds the key to humanity's salvation. Across its 1h 19m running time, Shane Acker keeps 9 clear enough to keep the emotional line visib

Push arrives as an action film directed by Paul McGuigan, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Camilla Belle and Dakota Fanning give Push a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Push comes into focus without a long explanation: Two young Americans with special abilities must race to find a girl in Hong Kong before a shadowy government organization called Division does. Across its 1h 51m running time, Paul McGu

500 Days of Summer arrives as a comedy directed by Marc Webb, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon Levitt give 500 Days of Summer a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in 500 Days of Summer comes into focus without a long explanation: After being dumped by the girl he believes to be his soulmate, hopeless romantic Tom Hansen reflects on their relationship to try and figure out