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What stands out first about It's Not You, It's Me is the confidence with which Alejandro Springall establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, It's Not You, It's Me asks Eugenio Derbez and Alberto Estrella to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of It's Not You, It's Me is established with useful clarity: Javier is crushed after his new bride leaves him. That direct approach lets It's Not You, It's Me use its 1h 41m running time

What stands out first about Certified Copy is the confidence with which Abbas Kiarostami establishes its romance identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Certified Copy asks Juliette Binoche and William Shimell to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Certified Copy is established with useful clarity: In Tuscany to promote his latest book, a middle aged British writer meets a French woman who leads him to the village of Lucignano. That direct appr

What stands out first about Bill Cunningham: New York is the confidence with which Richard Press establishes its documentary identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Bill Cunningham: New York asks Bill Cunningham and Anna Wintour to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Bill Cunningham: New York is established with useful clarity: A profile of the noted and extraordinarily cheerful veteran New York City fashion photographer. That direct approach l

What stands out first about Raajneeti is the confidence with which Prakash Jha establishes its thriller identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Raajneeti asks Ajay Devgn and Ranbir Kapoor to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Raajneeti is established with useful clarity: Samar, the son of a political family, has chosen to go to the USA to live with his girlfriend. That direct approach lets Raajneeti use its 2h 43m running time for character, a

What stands out first about I Am is the confidence with which Tom Shadyac establishes its documentary identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, I Am asks Tom Shadyac and Desmond Tutu to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of I Am is established with useful clarity: Director Tom Shadyac speaks with intellectual and spiritual leaders about what's wrong with our world and how we can improve both it and the way we live in it. That direct approach lets I

What stands out first about Senna is the confidence with which Asif Kapadia establishes its documentary identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Senna asks Ayrton Senna and Reginaldo Leme to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Senna is established with useful clarity: A documentary on Brazilian Formula One racing driver Ayrton Senna, who won the F1 world championship three times before his death at age 34. That direct approach lets Senna use its

What stands out first about Potiche is the confidence with which François Ozon establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Potiche asks Catherine Deneuve and Gérard Depardieu to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Potiche is established with useful clarity: A housewife and grandma takes over the family business 1977, after her husband is hurt during a strike. That direct approach lets Potiche use its 1h 43m running time for c

What stands out first about Kites is the confidence with which Anurag Basu establishes its action film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Kites asks Hrithik Roshan and Bárbara Mori to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Kites is established with useful clarity: A wounded man searches for his sweetheart in the Mexican desert while on the run from the police, bounty hunters, and others. That direct approach lets Kites use its 2h 3m running t

What stands out first about Flipped is the confidence with which Rob Reiner establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Flipped asks Madeline Carroll and Callan McAuliffe to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Flipped is established with useful clarity: When Juli meets Bryce in the second grade, she knows it's true love. That direct approach lets Flipped use its 1h 30m running time for character, atmosphere and consequence. ⁠

What stands out first about Somewhere is the confidence with which Sofia Coppola establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Somewhere asks Stephen Dorff and Elle Fanning to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Somewhere is established with useful clarity: After withdrawing to the Chateau Marmont, a passionless Hollywood actor reexamines his life when his eleven year old daughter surprises him with a visit. That direct approac

What stands out first about Stone is the confidence with which John Curran establishes its action film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Stone asks Edward Norton and Milla Jovovich to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Stone is established with useful clarity: A convicted arsonist looks to manipulate a parole officer into a plan to secure his parole by placing his beautiful wife in the lawman's path. That direct approach lets Stone use i

What stands out first about The Trip is the confidence with which Michael Winterbottom establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Trip asks Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Trip is established with useful clarity: Steve Coogan has been asked by The Observer to tour the country's finest restaurants, but after his girlfriend backs out on him he must take his best friend and source of e