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What stands out first about Phata Poster Nikhla Hero is the confidence with which Rajkumar Santoshi establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Phata Poster Nikhla Hero asks Shahid Kapoor and Ileana D'Cruz to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Phata Poster Nikhla Hero is established with useful clarity: Vishwas Rao is raised by his mother who wants him to become a police officer while he wants to become an actor. That direct

What stands out first about Grand Masti is the confidence with which Indra Kumar establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Grand Masti asks Riteish Deshmukh and Vivek Oberoi to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Grand Masti is established with useful clarity: Meet, Prem, and Amar look to have a blast at their college reunion, though they soon find themselves in another predicament. That direct approach lets Grand Masti use

What stands out first about The German Doctor is the confidence with which Lucía Puenzo establishes its thriller identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The German Doctor asks Alex Brendemühl and Diego Peretti to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The German Doctor is established with useful clarity: The story of an Argentine family who lived with Josef Mengele without knowing his true identity, and of a girl who fell in love with one of the b

What stands out first about Sound City is the confidence with which Dave Grohl establishes its documentary identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Sound City asks Trent Reznor and Tom Petty to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Sound City is established with useful clarity: A documentary on the fabled recording studio that was located in Van Nuys, California. That direct approach lets Sound City use its 1h 47m running time for character, atmos

What stands out first about Upstream Color is the confidence with which Shane Carruth establishes its mystery identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Upstream Color asks Amy Seimetz and Frank Mosley to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Upstream Color is established with useful clarity: A man and woman are drawn together, entangled in the life cycle of an ageless organism. That direct approach lets Upstream Color use its 1h 36m running time fo

What stands out first about In Secret is the confidence with which Charlie Stratton establishes its thriller identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, In Secret asks Elizabeth Olsen and Tom Felton to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of In Secret is established with useful clarity: Thérèse grows up with her aunt and cousin. That direct approach lets In Secret use its 1h 47m running time for character, atmosphere and consequence. ⁠ Beneath its plot

What stands out first about New World is the confidence with which Park Hoon jung establishes its action film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, New World asks Lee Jung jae and Choi Min sik to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of New World is established with useful clarity: An undercover cop finds it difficult to play both a cop and a goon. That direct approach lets New World use its 2h 15m running time for character, atmosphere and conseq

What stands out first about The Inevitable Defeat of Mister & Pete is the confidence with which George Tillman Jr. establishes its drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Inevitable Defeat of Mister & Pete asks Skylan Brooks and Ethan Dizon to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Inevitable Defeat of Mister & Pete is established with useful clarity: A coming of age story about two inner city boys who are left to fend for themselves

What stands out first about Tracks is the confidence with which John Curran establishes its biographical drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Tracks asks Mia Wasikowska and Adam Driver to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Tracks is established with useful clarity: A young woman goes on a 1,700 mile trek across the deserts of West Australia with four camels and her faithful dog. That direct approach lets Tracks use its 1h 52m running

What stands out first about The Face Reader is the confidence with which Han Jae rim establishes its action film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Face Reader asks Song Kang ho and Lee Jung jae to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Face Reader is established with useful clarity: About Nae kyung who is able to assess the personality, mental state and habits of a person by looking at his face. That direct approach lets The Face Rea

What stands out first about Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf's is the confidence with which Matthew Miele establishes its documentary identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf's asks Rachel Zoe and Candice Bergen to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf's is established with useful clarity: A documentary on the Manhattan department store with interviews from an array of fashion designers, style

What stands out first about Dom Hemingway is the confidence with which Richard Shepard establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Dom Hemingway asks Jude Law and Richard E. Grant to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Dom Hemingway is established with useful clarity: After spending 12 years in prison for keeping his mouth shut, notorious safe cracker Dom Hemingway is back on the streets of London looking to collect what he's