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What stands out first about Miles Ahead is the confidence with which Don Cheadle establishes its romance identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Miles Ahead asks Don Cheadle and Emayatzy Corinealdi to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Miles Ahead is established with useful clarity: An exploration of the life and music of Miles Davis. That direct approach lets Miles Ahead use its 1h 40m running time for character, atmosphere and consequence. ⁠

What stands out first about Chi Raq is the confidence with which Spike Lee establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Chi Raq asks Nick Cannon and Teyonah Parris to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Chi Raq is established with useful clarity: A modern day adaptation of the ancient Greek play Lysistrata by Aristophanes, set against the backdrop of gang violence in Chicago, Illinois. That direct approach lets Chi Raq use its

What stands out first about He Named Me Malala is the confidence with which Davis Guggenheim establishes its documentary identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, He Named Me Malala asks Malala Yousafzai and Ziauddin Yousafzai to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of He Named Me Malala is established with useful clarity: A look at the events leading up to the Taliban's attack on Pakistani schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai for speaking out on girls' educa

What stands out first about Ip Man 3 is the confidence with which Wilson Yip establishes its action film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Ip Man 3 asks Donnie Yen and Lynn Xiong to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Ip Man 3 is established with useful clarity: When a band of brutal gangsters led by a crooked property developer make a play to take over a local school, Master Ip is forced to take a stand. That direct approach lets Ip Man

What stands out first about Youth is the confidence with which Paolo Sorrentino establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Youth asks Michael Caine and Harvey Keitel to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Youth is established with useful clarity: Retired orchestra conductor Fred Ballinger is on vacation with his daughter Lena and his film director best friend Mick Boyle in the Alps when he receives an invitation from Queen E

What stands out first about The End of the Tour is the confidence with which James Ponsoldt establishes its biographical drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The End of the Tour asks Jason Segel and Jesse Eisenberg to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The End of the Tour is established with useful clarity: The story of the five day interview between Rolling Stone reporter David Lipsky and acclaimed novelist David Foster Wallace, whic

What stands out first about Rock the Kasbah is the confidence with which Barry Levinson establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Rock the Kasbah asks Bill Murray and Leem Lubany to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Rock the Kasbah is established with useful clarity: A down on his luck music manager discovers a teenage girl with an extraordinary voice while on a music tour in Afghanistan and takes her to Kabul to compete

What stands out first about Tanu Weds Manu Returns is the confidence with which Aanand L. Rai establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Tanu Weds Manu Returns asks Kangana Ranaut and Madhavan to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Tanu Weds Manu Returns is established with useful clarity: Tanu and Manu's marriage collapses. That direct approach lets Tanu Weds Manu Returns use its 2h 8m running time for character, atmosphere

What stands out first about Ladrones is the confidence with which Joe Menendez establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Ladrones asks Fernando Colunga and Eduardo Yáñez to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Ladrones is established with useful clarity: Legendary thief Alejandro Toledo return to his roots with a new partner to reclaim land stolen from a hard working community by a ruthless family of crooks. That direct appr

What stands out first about Dil Dhadakne Do is the confidence with which Zoya Akhtar establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Dil Dhadakne Do asks Anil Kapoor and Shefali Shah to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Dil Dhadakne Do is established with useful clarity: The Mehra family must contemplate over their way of living and their love lives while on a cruise celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary. That direct appro

What stands out first about Green Room is the confidence with which Jeremy Saulnier establishes its horror film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Green Room asks Anton Yelchin and Imogen Poots to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Green Room is established with useful clarity: A punk rock band is forced to fight for survival after witnessing a murder at a neo Nazi skinhead bar. That direct approach lets Green Room use its 1h 35m running

What stands out first about Maggie's Plan is the confidence with which Rebecca Miller establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Maggie's Plan asks Greta Gerwig and Ethan Hawke to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Maggie's Plan is established with useful clarity: Maggie wants to have a baby, raising him on her own, but when she gets romantically involved with John, a married man, things get complicated and all the balance