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What stands out first about Fading Gigolo is the confidence with which John Turturro establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Fading Gigolo asks John Turturro and Woody Allen to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Fading Gigolo is established with useful clarity: Fioravante decides to become a professional Don Juan as a way of making money to help his cash strapped friend, Murray. That direct approach lets Fading Gigolo us

What stands out first about Ida is the confidence with which Pawel Pawlikowski establishes its drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Ida asks Agata Kulesza and Agata Trzebuchowska to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Ida is established with useful clarity: A novice nun about to take her vows uncovers a family secret dating back to the German occupation. That direct approach lets Ida use its 1h 22m running time for character, atmospher

What stands out first about Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani is the confidence with which Ayan Mukerji establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani asks Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani is established with useful clarity: Kabir and Naina bond during a trekking trip. That direct approach lets Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani use its 2h 40m running time for c

What stands out first about The Lunchbox is the confidence with which Ritesh Batra establishes its romance identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Lunchbox asks Irrfan Khan and Nimrat Kaur to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Lunchbox is established with useful clarity: A mistaken delivery in Mumbai's famously efficient lunchbox delivery system connects a young housewife to an older man in the dusk of his life as they build a fantasy

What stands out first about The Railway Man is the confidence with which Jonathan Teplitzky establishes its romance identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Railway Man asks Colin Firth and Nicole Kidman to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Railway Man is established with useful clarity: A former British Army officer, who was tortured as a prisoner of war at a Japanese labor camp during World War II, discovers that the man responsible

What stands out first about Snowpiercer is the confidence with which Bong Joon Ho establishes its action film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Snowpiercer asks Chris Evans and Jamie Bell to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Snowpiercer is established with useful clarity: In a future where a failed climate change experiment has killed all life except for the survivors who boarded the Snowpiercer (a train that travels around the globe),

What stands out first about 20 Feet from Stardom is the confidence with which Morgan Neville establishes its documentary identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, 20 Feet from Stardom asks Darlene Love and Merry Clayton to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of 20 Feet from Stardom is established with useful clarity: Backup singers live in a world that lies just beyond the spotlight. That direct approach lets 20 Feet from Stardom use its 1h 31m runn

What stands out first about The Wind Rises is the confidence with which Hayao Miyazaki establishes its animated adventure identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Wind Rises asks Hideaki Anno and Hidetoshi Nishijima to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Wind Rises is established with useful clarity: Jiro Horikoshi studies assiduously to fulfill his aim of becoming an aeronautical engineer. That direct approach lets The Wind Rises use it

What stands out first about Chennai Express is the confidence with which Rohit Shetty establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Chennai Express asks Deepika Padukone and Shah Rukh Khan to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Chennai Express is established with useful clarity: A man travelling to Rameswaram via Chennai express for his late grandfather's ashes immersion finds himself in trouble after helping a don's daughter a

What stands out first about Closed Circuit is the confidence with which John Crowley establishes its thriller identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Closed Circuit asks Eric Bana and Rebecca Hall to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Closed Circuit is established with useful clarity: A high profile terrorism case unexpectedly binds together two ex lovers on the defense team testing the limits of their loyalties and placing their lives in jeop

What stands out first about Pulling Strings is the confidence with which Pitipol Ybarra establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Pulling Strings asks Laura Ramsey and Jaime Camil to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Pulling Strings is established with useful clarity: After a night of drinking, Rachel (Laura Ramsey), a diplomat working in Mexico City finds her world turned upside down after she's saved by Alejandro (Jaime

What stands out first about The Bling Ring is the confidence with which Sofia Coppola establishes its crime drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Bling Ring asks Katie Chang and Israel Broussard to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Bling Ring is established with useful clarity: Inspired by actual events, a group of fame obsessed teenagers use the internet to track celebrities' whereabouts in order to rob their homes. That dire