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What stands out first about Calvary is the confidence with which John Michael McDonagh establishes its crime drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Calvary asks Brendan Gleeson and Chris O'Dowd to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Calvary is established with useful clarity: After he is threatened during a confession, a good natured priest must battle the dark forces closing in around him. That direct approach lets Calvary use its 1h 42

What stands out first about Mr. Turner is the confidence with which Mike Leigh establishes its biographical drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Mr. Turner asks Timothy Spall and Paul Jesson to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Mr. Turner is established with useful clarity: J.M.W. Turner, an unconventional British painter, goes down memory lane and recalls his romantic relationship with a seaside landlady and the various accolades he

What stands out first about My Old Lady is the confidence with which Israel Horovitz establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, My Old Lady asks Kevin Kline and Kristin Scott Thomas to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of My Old Lady is established with useful clarity: An American inherits an apartment in Paris that comes with an unexpected resident. That direct approach lets My Old Lady use its 1h 47m running time for charac

What stands out first about The Water Diviner is the confidence with which Russell Crowe establishes its historical drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Water Diviner asks Russell Crowe and Olga Kurylenko to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Water Diviner is established with useful clarity: An Australian man travels to Turkey after the Battle of Gallipoli to try to locate his three missing sons. That direct approach lets The

What stands out first about Dear White People is the confidence with which Justin Simien establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Dear White People asks Tyler James Williams and Tessa Thompson to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Dear White People is established with useful clarity: The lives of four black students at an Ivy League college. That direct approach lets Dear White People use its 1h 48m running time for chara

What stands out first about The Skeleton Twins is the confidence with which Craig Johnson establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Skeleton Twins asks Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Skeleton Twins is established with useful clarity: Having both coincidentally cheated death on the same day, estranged twins reunite with the possibility of mending their relationship. That direct app

What stands out first about Cesar Chavez is the confidence with which Diego Luna establishes its biographical drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Cesar Chavez asks Michael Peña and America Ferrera to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Cesar Chavez is established with useful clarity: A biography of the civil rights activist and labor organizer Cesar Chavez. That direct approach lets Cesar Chavez use its 1h 42m running time for charact

What stands out first about A Most Violent Year is the confidence with which J.C. Chandor establishes its thriller identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, A Most Violent Year asks Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of A Most Violent Year is established with useful clarity: In New York City 1981, an ambitious immigrant fights to protect his business and family during the most dangerous year in the city's history

What stands out first about The Loft is the confidence with which Erik Van Looy establishes its thriller identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Loft asks Karl Urban and James Marsden to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Loft is established with useful clarity: Five married men secretly share a penthouse loft in the city where they can carry out secret affairs. That direct approach lets The Loft use its 1h 48m running time for charact

What stands out first about Meet the Mormons is the confidence with which Blair Treu establishes its documentary identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Meet the Mormons asks Jermaine Sullivan and Ken Niumatalolo to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Meet the Mormons is established with useful clarity: Meet the Mormons examines the very diverse lives of six devout members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints. That direct approach

What stands out first about The Interview is the confidence with which Evan Goldberg establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Interview asks James Franco and Seth Rogen to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Interview is established with useful clarity: Dave Skylark and his producer Aaron Rapaport run the celebrity tabloid show "Skylark Tonight". That direct approach lets The Interview use its 1h 52m running time f

What stands out first about Cantinflas is the confidence with which Sebastian del Amo establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Cantinflas asks Óscar Jaenada and Michael Imperioli to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Cantinflas is established with useful clarity: The untold story of Mexico's greatest and most beloved comedy film star of all time, from his humble origins on the small stage to the bright lights of Hollywood