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Raavan
What stands out first about Raavan is the confidence with which Mani Ratnam establishes its action film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Raavan asks Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Raavan is established with useful clarity: A bandit leader kidnaps the wife of the policeman who killed his sister, but later falls in love with her. That direct approach lets Raavan use its 2h 10m running ti
Aug 102 min read
The Women on the 6th Floor
What stands out first about The Women on the 6th Floor is the confidence with which Philippe Le Guay establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Women on the 6th Floor asks Fabrice Luchini and Sandrine Kiberlain to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Women on the 6th Floor is established with useful clarity: In 1960s Paris, a conservative couple's lives are turned upside down by a group of Spanish maids that live in t
Aug 103 min read
Peepli [Live]
What stands out first about Peepli is the confidence with which Anusha Rizvi establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Peepli asks Onkar Das Manikpuri and Raghubir Yadav to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Peepli is established with useful clarity: An impoverished farmer's threat to end his life invites attention from politicians and media. That direct approach lets Peepli use its 1h 35m running time for character, a
Aug 102 min read
The Tillman Story
What stands out first about The Tillman Story is the confidence with which Amir Bar Lev establishes its documentary identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Tillman Story asks Pat Tillman and Josh Brolin to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Tillman Story is established with useful clarity: Chronicles the life of the late Pat Tillman, who walked away from a multimillion dollar contract with the NFL's Arizona Cardinals in 2002 to join th
Aug 103 min read
13 Assassins
What stands out first about 13 Assassins is the confidence with which Takashi Miike establishes its action film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, 13 Assassins asks Kôji Yakusho and Takayuki Yamada to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of 13 Assassins is established with useful clarity: A group of assassins come together for a suicide mission to kill an evil lord. That direct approach lets 13 Assassins use its 2h 21m running time for charact
Aug 103 min read
What If...
What stands out first about What If... is the confidence with which Dallas Jenkins establishes its romance identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, What If... asks Kevin Sorbo and Kristy Swanson to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of What If... is established with useful clarity: Ben Walker is allowed to see how different his life would be if he had followed his heart. That direct approach lets What If... use its 1h 51m running time for characte
Aug 103 min read
I Hate Luv Storys
What stands out first about I Hate Luv Storys is the confidence with which Punit Malhotra establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, I Hate Luv Storys asks Imran Khan and Sonam Kapoor to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of I Hate Luv Storys is established with useful clarity: Jay doesn't believe in love Stories, and Simran, is a girl who's in love with the idea of Love itself. That direct approach lets I Hate Luv Storys use
Aug 103 min read
Anjaana Anjaani
What stands out first about Anjaana Anjaani is the confidence with which Siddharth Anand establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Anjaana Anjaani asks Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Ranbir Kapoor to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Anjaana Anjaani is established with useful clarity: After numerous attempts at suicide fail, a couple decides to live it up, then kill themselves on New Year's Day. That direct approach lets Anjaa
Aug 103 min read
The Wildest Dream
What stands out first about The Wildest Dream is the confidence with which Anthony Geffen establishes its documentary identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Wildest Dream asks Conrad Anker and Susan Robertson to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Wildest Dream is established with useful clarity: Uses astonishing visuals to tell the intersecting stories of George Mallory, the first man to attempt a summit of Mount Everest, and Conrad A
Aug 103 min read
Meek's Cutoff
What stands out first about Meek's Cutoff is the confidence with which Kelly Reichardt establishes its thriller identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Meek's Cutoff asks Michelle Williams and Bruce Greenwood to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Meek's Cutoff is established with useful clarity: Settlers traveling through the Oregon desert in 1845 find themselves stranded in harsh conditions. That direct approach lets Meek's Cutoff use its 1h
Aug 103 min read
In a Better World
What stands out first about In a Better World is the confidence with which Susanne Bier establishes its romance identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, In a Better World asks Mikael Persbrandt and Trine Dyrholm to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of In a Better World is established with useful clarity: The lives of two Danish families cross each other, and an extraordinary but risky friendship comes into bud. That direct approach lets In a Bett
Aug 103 min read
Guzaarish
What stands out first about Guzaarish is the confidence with which Sanjay Leela Bhansali establishes its romance identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Guzaarish asks Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Guzaarish is established with useful clarity: Ethan, a magician rendered paralyzed in an accident, sets off a furor when he makes a petition to the court to end his own life. That direct approach let
Aug 103 min read
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