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What stands out first about Incendies is the confidence with which Denis Villeneuve establishes its mystery identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Incendies asks Lubna Azabal and Mélissa Désormeaux Poulin to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Incendies is established with useful clarity: Twins journey to the Middle East to discover their family history and fulfill their mother's last wishes. That direct approach lets Incendies use its 2h 11m

What stands out first about Rabbit Hole is the confidence with which John Cameron Mitchell establishes its drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Rabbit Hole asks Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Rabbit Hole is established with useful clarity: Life for a happy couple is turned upside down after their young son dies in an accident. That direct approach lets Rabbit Hole use its 1h 31m running time for

What stands out first about The Illusionist is the confidence with which Sylvain Chomet establishes its animated adventure identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Illusionist asks Jean Claude Donda and Eilidh Rankin to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Illusionist is established with useful clarity: A French illusionist finds himself out of work and travels to Scotland, where he meets a young woman. That direct approach lets The Illus

What stands out first about The Grace Card is the confidence with which David G. Evans establishes its drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Grace Card asks Michael Joiner and Michael Higgenbottom to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Grace Card is established with useful clarity: Everything can change in an instant and take a lifetime to unravel. That direct approach lets The Grace Card use its 1h 41m running time for characte

What stands out first about Never Let Me Go is the confidence with which Mark Romanek establishes its romance identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Never Let Me Go asks Keira Knightley and Carey Mulligan to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Never Let Me Go is established with useful clarity: The lives of three friends, from their early school days into young adulthood, when the reality of the world they live in comes knocking. That direct a

What stands out first about N Secure is the confidence with which David M. Matthews establishes its thriller identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, N Secure asks Cordell Moore and Essence Atkins to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of N Secure is established with useful clarity: A once successful man's descent into insecurity, toxic relationships, betrayal, and murderous actions amidst affluent professionals, exploring the consequences of unche

What stands out first about The Way Back is the confidence with which Peter Weir establishes its historical drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Way Back asks Jim Sturgess and Ed Harris to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Way Back is established with useful clarity: Siberian gulag escapees travel four thousand miles by foot to freedom in India. That direct approach lets The Way Back use its 2h 13m running time for character,

What stands out first about Everything Must Go is the confidence with which Dan Rush establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Everything Must Go asks Will Ferrell and Rebecca Hall to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Everything Must Go is established with useful clarity: When an alcoholic relapses, causing him to lose his wife and his job, he holds a yard sale on his front lawn in an attempt to start over. That direct ap

What stands out first about Letters to God is the confidence with which David Nixon establishes its drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Letters to God asks Tanner Maguire and Jeffrey Johnson to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Letters to God is established with useful clarity: A young boy fighting cancer writes letters to God, touching lives in his neighborhood and community and inspiring hope among everyone he encounters. That dir

What stands out first about Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work is the confidence with which Ricki Stern establishes its documentary identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work asks Joan Rivers and Melissa Rivers to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work is established with useful clarity: A documentary on the life and career of Joan Rivers, made as the comedienne turns 75 years old. That direct appro

What stands out first about Another Year is the confidence with which Mike Leigh establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Another Year asks Jim Broadbent and Ruth Sheen to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Another Year is established with useful clarity: A look at four seasons in the lives of a happily married couple and their relationships with their family and friends. That direct approach lets Another Year use its 2h

What stands out first about Catfish is the confidence with which Henry Joost establishes its documentary identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Catfish asks Nev Schulman and Ariel Schulman to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Catfish is established with useful clarity: Young filmmakers document their colleague's budding online friendship with a young woman and her family which leads to an unexpected series of discoveries. That direct approac