All Articles

What stands out first about Haider is the confidence with which Vishal Bhardwaj establishes its action film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Haider asks Shahid Kapoor and Tabu to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Haider is established with useful clarity: A young man returns to Kashmir after his father's disappearance to confront his uncle, whom he suspects of playing a role in his father's fate. That direct approach lets Haider use it

What stands out first about 50 to 1 is the confidence with which Jim Wilson establishes its drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, 50 to 1 asks Skeet Ulrich and Christian Kane to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of 50 to 1 is established with useful clarity: Based on the inspiring true story of Mine That Bird, a misfit group of New Mexico cowboys find themselves on the journey of a lifetime when their crooked footed racehorse qualifies f

What stands out first about Laggies is the confidence with which Lynn Shelton establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Laggies asks Keira Knightley and Chloë Grace Moretz to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Laggies is established with useful clarity: In the throes of a quarter life crisis, Megan panics when her boyfriend proposes. That direct approach lets Laggies use its 1h 39m running time for character, atmosphere an

What stands out first about The Captive is the confidence with which Atom Egoyan establishes its thriller identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Captive asks Ryan Reynolds and Scott Speedman to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Captive is established with useful clarity: Eight years after the disappearance of Cassandra, some disturbing incidents seem to indicate that she's still alive. That direct approach lets The Captive use its 1h

What stands out first about Timbuktu is the confidence with which Abderrahmane Sissako establishes its war drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Timbuktu asks Ibrahim Ahmed and Abel Jafri to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Timbuktu is established with useful clarity: A cattle herder and his family who reside in the dunes of Timbuktu find their quiet lives which are typically free of the Jihadists determined to control their faith ab

What stands out first about Leviathan is the confidence with which Andrey Zvyagintsev establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Leviathan asks Aleksey Serebryakov and Elena Lyadova to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Leviathan is established with useful clarity: In a Russian coastal town, Kolya is forced to fight the corrupt mayor when he is told that his house will be demolished. That direct approach lets Leviathan use

What stands out first about The Rover is the confidence with which David Michôd establishes its action film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Rover asks Guy Pearce and Robert Pattinson to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Rover is established with useful clarity: 10 years after a global economic collapse, a hardened loner pursues the men who stole his only possession, his car. That direct approach lets The Rover use its 1h 43m r

What stands out first about Hector and the Search for Happiness is the confidence with which Peter Chelsom establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Hector and the Search for Happiness asks Simon Pegg and Rosamund Pike to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Hector and the Search for Happiness is established with useful clarity: A psychiatrist searches the globe to find the secret of happiness. That direct approach lets Hect

What stands out first about Where Hope Grows is the confidence with which Chris Dowling establishes its family film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Where Hope Grows asks Kristoffer Polaha and David DeSanctis to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Where Hope Grows is established with useful clarity: A baseball player whose professional career was cut short due to his personal problems is suddenly awakened and invigorated by a young man w

What stands out first about The Remaining is the confidence with which Casey La Scala establishes its horror film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Remaining asks Johnny Pacar and Shaun Sipos to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Remaining is established with useful clarity: Friends gather at a wedding, but the celebration's shattered by terrifying apocalyptic events, which force them to re examine life, choices they've made. Tha

What stands out first about Black Sea is the confidence with which Kevin Macdonald establishes its thriller identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Black Sea asks Jude Law and Scoot McNairy to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Black Sea is established with useful clarity: In order to make good with his former employers, a submarine captain takes a job with a shadowy backer to search the depths of the Black Sea for a submarine rumored to be lo

What stands out first about Goodnight Mommy is the confidence with which Severin Fiala establishes its horror film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Goodnight Mommy asks Lukas Schwarz and Elias Schwarz to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Goodnight Mommy is established with useful clarity: Twin boys move to a new house with their mother after she has face changing cosmetic surgery, but under the bandages is someone the boys don't recogn