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The Oscar Nominated Short Films 2013: Live Action
What stands out first about The Oscar Nominated Short Films 2013: Live Action is the confidence with which Bryan Buckley establishes its drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Oscar Nominated Short Films 2013: Live Action asks the lead performer and the principal supporting performer to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Oscar Nominated Short Films 2013: Live Action is established with useful clarity: Collective screening of the
Aug 103 min read
The Saratov Approach
What stands out first about The Saratov Approach is the confidence with which Garrett Batty establishes its action film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Saratov Approach asks Corbin Allred and Maclain Nelson to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Saratov Approach is established with useful clarity: This riveting drama tells the true story of two young American Mormon missionaries held captive and brutalized for a week in a remote
Aug 103 min read
Austenland
What stands out first about Austenland is the confidence with which Jerusha Hess establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Austenland asks Keri Russell and JJ Feild to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Austenland is established with useful clarity: Obsessed with Pride and Prejudice (1995), a woman travels to a Jane Austen theme park in search for her perfect gentleman. That direct approach lets Austenland use its 1h 37m r
Aug 102 min read
Words and Pictures
What stands out first about Words and Pictures is the confidence with which Fred Schepisi establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Words and Pictures asks Clive Owen and Juliette Binoche to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Words and Pictures is established with useful clarity: An art instructor and an English teacher form a rivalry that ends up with a competition at their school in which students decide whether words or
Aug 103 min read
Krrish 3
What stands out first about Krrish 3 is the confidence with which Rakesh Roshan establishes its action film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Krrish 3 asks Hrithik Roshan and Vivek Oberoi to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Krrish 3 is established with useful clarity: Krrish and his scientist father must save the world and their own family from an evil man named Kaal and his gang of mutants, led by the ruthless Kaya. That direct approa
Aug 103 min read
Oldboy
What stands out first about Oldboy is the confidence with which Spike Lee establishes its action film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Oldboy asks Josh Brolin and Elizabeth Olsen to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Oldboy is established with useful clarity: Obsessed with vengeance, a man sets out to find out why he was kidnapped and locked into solitary confinement for twenty years without reason. That direct approach lets Oldboy use
Aug 103 min read
Blue Is the Warmest Colour
What stands out first about Blue Is the Warmest Colour is the confidence with which Abdellatif Kechiche establishes its romance identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Blue Is the Warmest Colour asks Léa Seydoux and Adèle Exarchopoulos to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Blue Is the Warmest Colour is established with useful clarity: Adèle's life is changed when she meets Emma, a young woman with blue hair, who will allow her to discover desi
Aug 103 min read
Le Week-End
What stands out first about Le Week End is the confidence with which Roger Michell establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Le Week End asks Lindsay Duncan and Jim Broadbent to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Le Week End is established with useful clarity: A British couple return to Paris many years after their honeymoon there in an attempt to rejuvenate their marriage. That direct approach lets Le Week End use its 1h
Aug 103 min read
The Christmas Candle
What stands out first about The Christmas Candle is the confidence with which John Stephenson establishes its family film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Christmas Candle asks Hans Matheson and Samantha Barks to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Christmas Candle is established with useful clarity: A pastor who's suffered a personal loss accepts a position in a town that believes in a Christmas miracle candle, which he strives
Aug 103 min read
The East
What stands out first about The East is the confidence with which Zal Batmanglij establishes its thriller identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The East asks Brit Marling and Alexander Skarsgård to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The East is established with useful clarity: An operative for an elite private intelligence firm finds her priorities changing dramatically after she is tasked with infiltrating an anarchist group known for execu
Aug 103 min read
Trance
What stands out first about Trance is the confidence with which Danny Boyle establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Trance asks James McAvoy and Rosario Dawson to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Trance is established with useful clarity: An art auctioneer mixed up with a group of criminals partners with a hypnotherapist in order to recover a lost painting. That direct approach lets Trance use its 1h 41m running time f
Aug 102 min read
I'm in Love with a Church Girl
What stands out first about I'm in Love with a Church Girl is the confidence with which Steve Race establishes its crime drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, I'm in Love with a Church Girl asks Martin Kove and Zahn McClarnon to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of I'm in Love with a Church Girl is established with useful clarity: Miles Montego was king of the streets as a high level drug trafficker. That direct approach lets I'm in Love
Aug 103 min read
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