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Singham Returns
What stands out first about Singham Returns is the confidence with which Rohit Shetty establishes its action film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Singham Returns asks Ajay Devgn and Kareena Kapoor to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Singham Returns is established with useful clarity: Owing to the wrongdoings affiliated with evils similar to black money, an honest but ferocious police officer returns as the Deputy Commissioner of Poli
Aug 103 min read
Jai Ho
What stands out first about Jai Ho is the confidence with which Sohail Khan establishes its action film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Jai Ho asks Salman Khan and Daisy Shah to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Jai Ho is established with useful clarity: An upright ex army man, Jai fights a solitary war against corruption and injustice. That direct approach lets Jai Ho use its 2h 15m running time for character, atmosphere and conseque
Aug 103 min read
'71
What stands out first about '71 is the confidence with which Yann Demange establishes its action film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, '71 asks Jack O'Connell and Sam Reid to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of '71 is established with useful clarity: In 1971, a young and disoriented British soldier is accidentally abandoned by his unit following a riot on the deadly streets of Belfast. That direct approach lets '71 use its 1h 39m running
Aug 102 min read
Iris
What stands out first about Iris is the confidence with which Albert Maysles establishes its documentary identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Iris asks Iris Apfel and Harold Koda to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Iris is established with useful clarity: A documentary about fashion icon Iris Apfel, the 93 year old style maven who has had an out sized presence on the New York fashion scene for decades, from legendary late 88 year old docu
Aug 103 min read
The Salt of the Earth
What stands out first about The Salt of the Earth is the confidence with which Juliano Ribeiro Salgado establishes its documentary identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Salt of the Earth asks Sebastião Salgado and Wim Wenders to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Salt of the Earth is established with useful clarity: The life and work of photographer Sebastião Salgado, who has spent forty years documenting societies in hidden corners
Aug 103 min read
Force Majeure
What stands out first about Force Majeure is the confidence with which Ruben Östlund establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Force Majeure asks Johannes Kuhnke and Lisa Loven Kongsli to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Force Majeure is established with useful clarity: A family vacationing in the French Alps is confronted with a devastating avalanche. That direct approach lets Force Majeure use its 2h running time for c
Aug 103 min read
99 Homes
What stands out first about 99 Homes is the confidence with which Ramin Bahrani establishes its crime drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, 99 Homes asks Andrew Garfield and Michael Shannon to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of 99 Homes is established with useful clarity: A recently unemployed single father struggles to get back his foreclosed home by working for the real estate broker who is the source of his frustration. That direct
Aug 103 min read
Infinitely Polar Bear
What stands out first about Infinitely Polar Bear is the confidence with which Maya Forbes establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Infinitely Polar Bear asks Mark Ruffalo and Zoe Saldaña to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Infinitely Polar Bear is established with useful clarity: A father struggling with bipolar disorder tries to win back his wife by attempting to take full responsibility of their two young, spirited d
Aug 103 min read
Two Days, One Night
What stands out first about Two Days, One Night is the confidence with which Jean Pierre Dardenne establishes its drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Two Days, One Night asks Marion Cotillard and Fabrizio Rongione to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Two Days, One Night is established with useful clarity: Liège, Belgium. That direct approach lets Two Days, One Night use its 1h 35m running time for character, atmosphere and consequen
Aug 103 min read
Pride
What stands out first about Pride is the confidence with which Matthew Warchus establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Pride asks Bill Nighy and Imelda Staunton to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Pride is established with useful clarity: U.K. gay activists work to help miners during their lengthy strike of the National Union of Mineworkers in the summer of 1984. That direct approach lets Pride use its 1h 59m running t
Aug 102 min read
Fed Up
What stands out first about Fed Up is the confidence with which Stephanie Soechtig establishes its documentary identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Fed Up asks Michele Simon and Katie Couric to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Fed Up is established with useful clarity: An examination of America's obesity epidemic and the food industry's role in aggravating it. That direct approach lets Fed Up use its 1h 32m running time for character, atm
Aug 103 min read
Awake: The Life of Yogananda
What stands out first about Awake: The Life of Yogananda is the confidence with which Paola di Florio establishes its documentary identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Awake: The Life of Yogananda asks Marc Benioff and Brother Chidananda to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Awake: The Life of Yogananda is established with useful clarity: Unique biopic about Yogananda, telling the story of his life and influence on yoga, religion and science
Aug 103 min read
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