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The Lost Medallion: The Adventures of Billy Stone
What stands out first about The Lost Medallion: The Adventures of Billy Stone is the confidence with which Bill Muir establishes its fantasy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Lost Medallion: The Adventures of Billy Stone asks William Brent and John Marengo to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Lost Medallion: The Adventures of Billy Stone is established with useful clarity: A man who steps into a foster home to drop off some dona
Aug 103 min read
The Attorney
What stands out first about The Attorney is the confidence with which Woo seok Yang establishes its crime drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Attorney asks Song Kang ho and Kwak Do won to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Attorney is established with useful clarity: An ambitious tax attorney decides to represent an old friend in court. That direct approach lets The Attorney use its 2h 7m running time for character, atmospher
Aug 103 min read
Robber
What stands out first about Robber is the confidence with which Vikramaditya Motwane establishes its romance identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Robber asks Ranveer Singh and Sonakshi Sinha to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Robber is established with useful clarity: An aristocrat's daughter falls in love with a visiting archaeologist, but he holds a secret that could drive them apart. That direct approach lets Robber use its 2h 16m run
Aug 102 min read
Salinger
What stands out first about Salinger is the confidence with which Shane Salerno establishes its documentary identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Salinger asks Philip Seymour Hoffman and Edward Norton to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Salinger is established with useful clarity: An unprecedented look inside the private world of J.D. That direct approach lets Salinger use its 2h running time for character, atmosphere and consequence. Th
Aug 102 min read
Walking the Camino: Six Ways to Santiago
What stands out first about Walking the Camino: Six Ways to Santiago is the confidence with which Lydia B. Smith establishes its documentary identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Walking the Camino: Six Ways to Santiago asks Annie O'Neil and Anna Marie Misser to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Walking the Camino: Six Ways to Santiago is established with useful clarity: A profile of six pilgrims taking the Camino De Santiago pilgrimage. Th
Aug 103 min read
Jodorowsky's Dune
What stands out first about Jodorowsky's Dune is the confidence with which Frank Pavich establishes its documentary identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Jodorowsky's Dune asks Alejandro Jodorowsky and Michel Seydoux to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Jodorowsky's Dune is established with useful clarity: The story of cult film director Alejandro Jodorowsky's ambitious but ultimately doomed film adaptation of the seminal science fiction no
Aug 103 min read
Parkland
What stands out first about Parkland is the confidence with which Peter Landesman establishes its thriller identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Parkland asks Zac Efron and Tom Welling to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Parkland is established with useful clarity: A recounting of the chaotic events that occurred at Dallas' Parkland Memorial Hospital on the day President John F. That direct approach lets Parkland use its 1h 33m running tim
Aug 102 min read
The Berlin File
What stands out first about The Berlin File is the confidence with which Ryoo Seung wan establishes its action film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Berlin File asks Ha Jung woo and Han Suk kyu to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Berlin File is established with useful clarity: Jong seong, a North Korean ghost agent, interrupts an illegal arms sale in Berlin. That direct approach lets The Berlin File use its 2h running time for
Aug 103 min read
Besharam
What stands out first about Besharam is the confidence with which Abhinav Kashyap establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Besharam asks Ranbir Kapoor and Pallavi Sharda to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Besharam is established with useful clarity: A car thief falls in love with a woman whose car he has stolen. That direct approach lets Besharam use its 2h 23m running time for character, atmosphere and consequence.
Aug 102 min read
Muscle Shoals
What stands out first about Muscle Shoals is the confidence with which Greg 'Freddy' Camalier establishes its documentary identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Muscle Shoals asks Rick Hall and Aretha Franklin to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Muscle Shoals is established with useful clarity: A documentary that celebrates Rick Hall, the founder of FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, and the signature sound he developed in songs such a
Aug 103 min read
Satyagraha
What stands out first about Satyagraha is the confidence with which Prakash Jha establishes its drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Satyagraha asks Amitabh Bachchan and Ajay Devgn to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Satyagraha is established with useful clarity: A corporate go getter sees his priorities shift when a personal tragedy brings him face to face with political corruption. That direct approach lets Satyagraha use its 2h 3
Aug 102 min read
Palo Alto
What stands out first about Palo Alto is the confidence with which Gia Coppola establishes its drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Palo Alto asks Emma Roberts and James Franco to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Palo Alto is established with useful clarity: An unflinching portrait of adolescent lust, boredom, and self destruction that centers around a shy young girl on the cusp of an illicit relationship with her soccer coach. That
Aug 103 min read
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