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What stands out first about While We're Young is the confidence with which Noah Baumbach establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, While We're Young asks Ben Stiller and Naomi Watts to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of While We're Young is established with useful clarity: A middle aged couple's career and marriage are overturned when a disarming young couple enters their lives. That direct approach lets While We're Young

What stands out first about Vampire Academy is the confidence with which Mark Waters establishes its horror film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Vampire Academy asks Zoey Deutch and Lucy Fry to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Vampire Academy is established with useful clarity: Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, half human half vampire, a guardian of the Moroi, peaceful, mortal vampires living discreetly within our world. That direct approa

What stands out first about Inherent Vice is the confidence with which Paul Thomas Anderson establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Inherent Vice asks Joaquin Phoenix and Josh Brolin to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Inherent Vice is established with useful clarity: In 1970, drug fueled Los Angeles private investigator Larry "Doc" Sportello investigates the disappearance of a former girlfriend. That direct approach l

What stands out first about The Quiet Ones is the confidence with which John Pogue establishes its horror film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Quiet Ones asks Jared Harris and Sam Claflin to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Quiet Ones is established with useful clarity: A university professor and a team of students conduct an experiment on a young woman, uncovering terrifyingly dark, unexpected forces in the process. That dir

What stands out first about Moms' Night Out is the confidence with which Andrew Erwin establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Moms' Night Out asks Sarah Drew and Sean Astin to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Moms' Night Out is established with useful clarity: Hardworking mom Allyson has a crazy night out with her friends while their husbands watch their children. That direct approach lets Moms' Night Out use its 1h 38

What stands out first about Sabotage is the confidence with which David Ayer establishes its action film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Sabotage asks Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sam Worthington to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Sabotage is established with useful clarity: Members of an elite DEA task force find themselves being taken down one by one after they rob a drug cartel safe house. That direct approach lets Sabotage use its

What stands out first about Magic in the Moonlight is the confidence with which Woody Allen establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Magic in the Moonlight asks Colin Firth and Emma Stone to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Magic in the Moonlight is established with useful clarity: A romantic comedy about an Englishman brought in to help unmask a possible swindle. That direct approach lets Magic in the Moonlight use its

What stands out first about PK is the confidence with which Rajkumar Hirani establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, PK asks Aamir Khan and Anushka Sharma to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of PK is established with useful clarity: An alien on Earth loses the only device he can use to communicate with his spaceship. That direct approach lets PK use its 2h 33m running time for character, atmosphere and consequence. ⁠ What

What stands out first about The Drop is the confidence with which Michaël R. Roskam establishes its thriller identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Drop asks Tom Hardy and Noomi Rapace to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Drop is established with useful clarity: Bob Saginowski finds himself at the center of a robbery gone awry and entwined in an investigation that digs deeply into the neighborhood's past where friends, families, and

What stands out first about Foxcatcher is the confidence with which Bennett Miller establishes its biographical drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Foxcatcher asks Steve Carell and Channing Tatum to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Foxcatcher is established with useful clarity: U.S. Olympic wrestling champions and brothers Mark Schultz and Dave Schultz join "Team Foxcatcher", led by eccentric multi millionaire John du Pont, as they

What stands out first about Love & Mercy is the confidence with which Bill Pohlad establishes its biographical drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Love & Mercy asks John Cusack and Paul Dano to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Love & Mercy is established with useful clarity: In the 60s, Beach Boys leader Brian Wilson struggles with emerging psychosis as he attempts to craft his avant garde pop masterpiece. That direct approach lets

What stands out first about Winter's Tale is the confidence with which Akiva Goldsman establishes its mystery identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Winter's Tale asks Colin Farrell and Jessica Brown Findlay to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Winter's Tale is established with useful clarity: A burglar falls for an heiress as she dies in his arms. That direct approach lets Winter's Tale use its 1h 58m running time for character, atmosphere