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What stands out first about The Extra Man is the confidence with which Shari Springer Berman establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Extra Man asks Kevin Kline and Paul Dano to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Extra Man is established with useful clarity: A man who escorts wealthy widows in New York's Upper East Side takes a young aspiring playwright under his wing. That direct approach lets The Extra Man use i

What stands out first about Detective Dee: The Mystery of the Phantom Flame is the confidence with which Hark Tsui establishes its action film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Detective Dee: The Mystery of the Phantom Flame asks Tony Ka Fai Leung and Chao Deng to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Detective Dee: The Mystery of the Phantom Flame is established with useful clarity: An exiled detective is recruited to solve a series of mys

What stands out first about Submarine is the confidence with which Richard Ayoade establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Submarine asks Craig Roberts and Sally Hawkins to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Submarine is established with useful clarity: 15 year old Oliver Tate has two objectives: to lose his virginity before his next birthday, and to extinguish the flame between his mother and an ex lover who has resurfac

What stands out first about Heartbreaker is the confidence with which Pascal Chaumeil establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Heartbreaker asks Romain Duris and Vanessa Paradis to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Heartbreaker is established with useful clarity: Alex and his sister run a business designed to break up relationships. That direct approach lets Heartbreaker use its 1h 45m running time for character, atmosph

What stands out first about The Names of Love is the confidence with which Michel Leclerc establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Names of Love asks Sara Forestier and Jacques Gamblin to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Names of Love is established with useful clarity: A young, extroverted left wing activist who sleeps with her political opponents to convert them to her cause is successful until she meets her m

What stands out first about Preacher's Kid is the confidence with which Stan Foster establishes its romance identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Preacher's Kid asks LeToya Luckett and Durrell 'Tank' Babbs to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Preacher's Kid is established with useful clarity: Tired of being a Preacher's daughter and longing to experience more of life, 20 something ANGIE KING strikes out on her own for the very first time an

What stands out first about Even the Rain is the confidence with which Icíar Bollaín establishes its historical drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Even the Rain asks Gael García Bernal and Luis Tosar to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Even the Rain is established with useful clarity: As a director and his crew shoot a controversial film about Christopher Columbus in Cochabamba, Bolivia, local people rise up against plans to priva

What stands out first about Veer is the confidence with which Anil Sharma establishes its action film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Veer asks Salman Khan and Jackie Shroff to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Veer is established with useful clarity: Prithvi seeks revenge on Gyanendra Singh and the British. That direct approach lets Veer use its 2h 49m running time for character, atmosphere and consequence. ⁠ Veer finds additional pu

What stands out first about The Man from Nowhere is the confidence with which Lee Jeong beom establishes its action film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Man from Nowhere asks Won Bin and Kim Sae ron to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Man from Nowhere is established with useful clarity: A quiet pawnshop keeper with a violent past takes on a drug and organ trafficking ring in hope of saving the child who is his only friend. Th

What stands out first about Standing Ovation is the confidence with which Stewart Raffill establishes its music drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Standing Ovation asks Devon Jordan and Ashley Cutrona to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Standing Ovation is established with useful clarity: About a group of friends competing in a national tween music video contest. That direct approach lets Standing Ovation use its 1h 45m running ti

What stands out first about Love Crime is the confidence with which Alain Corneau establishes its thriller identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Love Crime asks Ludivine Sagnier and Kristin Scott Thomas to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Love Crime is established with useful clarity: Ruthless executive Christine brings on young Isabelle as her assistant taking delight in toying with her innocence. That direct approach lets Love Crime use

What stands out first about Khatta Meetha is the confidence with which Priyadarshan establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Khatta Meetha asks Akshay Kumar and Trisha Krishnan to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Khatta Meetha is established with useful clarity: A seemingly corrupt petty contractor faces challenges from the local municipality, his family, his employees, as well as a former girlfriend and her family. Tha